Obama Has Left...um...the park

Cheer

My Brooke loves cheer. She has wanted to be a cheerleader for as long as I can remember. This child was also born wanting to play the violin. She has loved classical music since she was a baby.

It is so amazing to me that every child comes into this world with their own unique set of talents, personalities and tendencies. I could not get Megan to be a cheerleader if my life depended on it. She has her own little niche in life. She is very creative and loves theater and the outdoors. Every kid is so different!

Cuttin' Wood

This weekend we went to cut wood for Beau's parents who heat their home primarily with a wood burning stove. They give permits for burn areas in Nevada. We always have a lot of fun doing it. We went with Beau's sister and her family and 3 out of 4 dogs (Sadie wasn't invited :( ). I didn't seem to get any head-on pictures of Brookelynn and not a single picture of Megan (who I think was hiding in the truck for the 3 minutes I had the camera out) but they were there too.

Obama is Coming to Elko

Some time ago I signed up to receive updates on the Obama campaign by email and I receive a lot of information about local rallies and stuff, which I usually never even open. Today, though, I received this email that Obama is coming to Elko. (The cat is now out of the bag...I have never before written on my blog the name of the cute little Nevada town that we live in.) I am so shocked I can't even believe it. I clicked on the link to RSVP and it says that you have to be at the appointed place at 9:30 on Wednesday morning. I really want to go to this thing...but my Journalism class is from 9:30-noon on Wednesdays. Ugh!

If it were a class that were multiple times a week, I would totally skip it to go to this Obama event. Last Wednesday though, my Journ. teacher said that this Wednesday will be the most important class of the semester and to absolutely not miss it. Since it is a journalism class and having Obama in Elko of all places is such a newsworthy event, I'm thinking maybe we can talk Mr. Wyoming Rossett (my teacher) into letting us go on a field trip! Right?

If he doesn't go for that I will probably head over to the event after class anyway. I am guessing that this is one of those things where you show up at 9:30 am and there is a lot of hooping and hollaring by local democratic party leaders warming up the crowd and then finally around 1 or 2 in the afternoon maybe Obama will actually show up for 15 minutes. Don't you think?

Sarah Palin Rocks!

I know this is very long but if you haven't seen it (especially the last 15-20 minutes), it is well worth your time! This is a truly inspiring speech with real substance. I love her...wish she was running for the top seat. Maybe next time.

Beau's Love

I think softball is Beau's first love...long before I came along. Here are some old pictures of him playing and some new (at the same park too, almost 20 years ago).

Great Teachers

Chase and Mrs. Winsley

Brookelynn and Mrs. Burns

Megan and Mrs. Waldvogel

So, school started yesterday here and I forgot to take first day of school pictures! Who does that??? I do have last day of school pictures from last year though. We have made it a kind of tradition to take pictures with the kids teachers on the last day of school. My kids have been blessed with some excellent teachers. Mrs. Winsley was definitely a God-send for Chase last year. And Mrs. Waldvogel and Megan got along like two peas in a pod. Megan has had some teachers that don't work as well for her. She has also had some absolute gems who really see her talents and help her to excel. I have noticed that for each of my children. And, a teacher that is a perfect fit for one kid may not be for the next. They are all so individual! That is why I spend a lot of my summers praying my heart out that my kids will get the best teacher for them. The right teacher makes all the difference in their behavior, attitude and academics. Don't you think?

Ozzy the Monkey

Watch CBS Videos Online

I am a little obsessed. The new Survivor season starts on September 18th and CBS hasn't released the new cast info yet. It's making me a little crazy! The second video is of the jury and the final two last season right after the final vote. If you're not a Survivor fan then it won't mean anything but I thought it was fun to see...but it does get a little steamy for little eyes.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Softball

One of the treats of being back in Beau's hometown is that he can play softball again. We have had such a great time at his games. This is the only picture I managed to take at his game last night. Megan hopped into the picture at the last second on accident, which is where Beau was standing. He plays third. I always forget to get out the camera but his last games are this Saturday so I will definitely take some more pictures.

By the way, if you look closely at the catcher you will see that he is wearing a shirt with a bikini...the lucky ones who strike out get to wear it. My adolescent-at-heart husband fits right in with this crowd :)

Tomatoes and Zucchini

I have finally, after probably, 10 years of attempts, managed to grow real live vegetables. I have tried from seeds, which never works for me because I forget about them and they get enveloped with weeds, and I have bought the cute little starts from the store which always seem to be forgotten too. My biggest problem with them is forgetting to water. This year, though, I was determined. The poor plants didn't get watered the whole week we were in Washington. I wrote a note for Beau about the dogs and his doctor's appointment and the other little things that needed to be remembered while I was gone and forgot to ask him to water my tomatoes and zucchini. They miraculously survived and are growing actual edible produce. I can't believe it!

By the way, Melanie, the tomatoes from your garden were awesome! And, everyone loved the blueberries too! Val used them the next morning to make the yummiest pancakes ever! He used 1/2 Bisquick and 1/2 oatmeal a little sugar (they use Splenda), a little bit of cinnamon and some blueberries. They were awesome! My kids have been asking me to make them since we got home...I haven't yet been able to stomach paying $4 for 6 oz. of shrivelled up blueberries that you can get around here though. I wonder if frozen would work??