Girls Just Want to shop!

Last night at dinner the girls began scheming on how they could best wrap Dad around their fingers on Saturday.  They decided they wanted Dad to take them shopping.  (Notice that they asked Dad because Mom has tighter purse strings than Dad!  Mom will not let them buy the little trinket junk that Dad lets them!)  They planned the day, and it went like this...

First, we want to eat breakfast at Panera Bread.  (Sounds a little healthy, but not with this bunch.  They only eat the really chocolaty stuff!)

Then it was over to Target!  I think Dad actually decided to stop here to get Mom some new earphones, since the kids have managed to lose her good ones!  In typical girl style, they made sure they got something at the stop!  I think Dad might have confined them to the $1 racks, but they still raked in some loot!

Next stop was the Eastdale Mall.  The girls rode everything that was ridable in the mall.  I did not even know that the mall had some of these rides!  I always go to the carousel and leave!

The girls even talked Dad into a trip through Build-A-Bear.  Yes, they are spoiled little girls!  Dad falls for them every time.  I think he might have a few guilt issues in the mix also!

Next stop was Claire's.  The shop that sends Mom over the edge.  I have never seen so much "junk" in one store, and my girls love it!

Finally, the girls were ready to eat lunch at their favorite mall eatery!  

Then, Mom met the girls at the movie theater to go see Hotel for Dogs.  Dad had to head out "hunting" for the afternoon!

Killing Time

I received an e-mail on Friday that all basketball games for Saturday morning had been cancelled.  My first thought was - Oh, man!  I should have pushed harder to convince Tyler to play in the tennis tournament in Auburn this weekend when a tennis friend called on Monday night to try to persuade me to "let's work out a mutual deal to get the boys to the tournament". Tyler just did not want to miss a basketball game, so I definitely did not want to push things and complicate my life!  

Actually, JM had set up plans for he and Tyler to go hunting this afternoon with the same friends from a few weeks ago.  This time he was taking Tyler out of school by 11 am, so they could have a full afternoon of "hunting".  I think that I agree with JM's PA who calls it "killing time" since JM and his accomplice at the event never seem to come home with the killed prey!  They do always have a good time, and Tyler and Dad needed the quality time together.  Tyler ended up sleeping over with the new friends, and he had a great time.  His ability to make friends so fast gave JM and I reassurance for the future!

The boys all ended up going back out on Saturday afternoon.  They came home with a few stories about actually seeing 2 deer.  Tyler apparently shot at them, but missed.  He makes the story sound much better when he tells it with all the details, but the bottom line is the title of my story "killing time". (JM's editorial comment - they were both 200 yard shots!)

3 wins for the Vermillion's

I really enjoyed watching my kiddos play basketball today.  Lauren scored a goal for her team, and as far as she is concerned they won.  Pretty nice that they do not actually keep score at their level.  Corynne's team actually did win a very close game.  This was their first week to have actual refs which made a huge difference in their game!  Oh, Corynne scored 2 baskets for her team.  Tyler's team pulled another victory this week.  He is a strong player for their team.  He scored 14 points this week.  I overheard a few parents (for the other team) who were sitting behind me yell to their kids, "Don't let #45 (Tyler) get the ball, he scores everytime!!!"  I never turned around to look behind me, but I was laughing inside!  I just continued to cheer for my team without prejudge toward my son.  I was proud of him b/c what I saw was a kid benched the first period (b/c Mom kept him from practice this week - but that is another issue for another time), a kid who cheered on his teammates from the bench when they were down, a kid who came in the 2nd period and helped his team catch up, a kid who sat out another period later on because that was his rotation (remember Upward plays with different rules), a kid that returned to the game and pulled his team ahead, and finally a kid  who fed the ball to his teammates so they could get points on the board when he had the open shot.  He has come so far in the last few years from the kid who was all about himself and never gave the ball up to a teammate.  That kid was hard to watch play a team sport!  I was so proud at the end of the game to turn to a grandmother sitting beside me (of the opposite team who let me know many times who she was routing for)  "#45 is my son and didn't he play a great game!"  

Watching the games!

I changed my background to reflect what Tyler and JM say is the most important thing going on today!  Go Ravens!  I can say that the Ravens are probably the only team I feel any remote connection to (other than the Dallas Cowboys).  I think getting to go see them play 5 years ago really made an impact and getting to play around on the turf while no one else was there!  To Rick, April, Robin, Gary, and JM ----Thanks again for the FUN and MEMORIES!

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Another Busy Week

This week has flown by so fast.  We have been very busy - as always.  This week Corynne's class went on a field trip to Golden Flake Factory in B'ham.  They had a great time seeing all the chips being made and sampling quite a few varieties!  They also came home with 6 or so bags of chips.  Yummy!  While Corynne's class was on the field trip, I helped with the annual Kindergarten/First Grade Open House for their school.  The Open House turned out very nice, and I think everyone had plenty of tasty treats while they were talking!  (The food was my responsibility.  Is anyone surprised that I volunteered for that area!)  

JM was gone to a "learn a new method meeting" Thursday-Saturday.  Even though he is not around much during the week, he does usually take the big kids to school at least 3 mornings a week.  Such a little thing, but it does help me get in an early morning workout and get the day organized.  Earlier this week, he had quite a few meetings at the hospital early in the morning and late at night so that kept him away from us even more.  

By Friday, we were really missing him, and I was exhausted!  Good thing it was Chick-fil-A supports your school night!   I really enjoy this easy "fundraiser".  All I have to do is take my kids to eat supper at the right location!  The kids love it also because their friends are there.  Everyone has a good friend to play with and I have plenty of moms to chat with while they play!  Friday night entertainment...DONE!

Saturday was another day of basketball games.  Of course, the games were so spread out that it consumed our whole day (8:30-4:15).  Lauren's team played hard, but lost.  Corynne's team played hard, but lost.  Tyler's team battled until the very end, but lost.  Everyone lost, but everyone was happy because they played hard and did their best.  Wow!  Maybe they are catching on to this sportsmanship thing?!?  Only time will tell.  Oh, I have to brag a little - Corynne scored 8 points and Tyler scored 16 of the 28 points for his team.  

JM got back at 7:30pm.  The kids were excited to see him.  Corynne - in typical Corynne style - did not even realize JM was out of town.  She thought he was just at work, coming home late and leaving early.  Everyone just laughed because so many times that is the case over a weeks time!  Oh, the life of a trauma wife!  Only a few can really understand!

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Susan and these are the instructions she gave:

1. Go to your photo folders and open the 4th folder.

2. Choose the 4th photo.

3. Explain the photo.

4. Tag 4 other people!

JM moved all my pictures from my old computer that would not turn on (and stay on) anymore this weekend, so I now have all my pics since I went digital on one computer.  My 4th folder was actually a bunch of pics with my brother-in-law & his girlfriend at the time when they came to Temple to visit us for the first time.  I figured that I had better avoid posting those pictures (although I do keep them because they are a part of our history).  So I went to the 1st picture which did not have them in it!   This picture is from July 2004.  We had just moved back to Texas from Maryland.  We hosted a party for all our family to come up, see our new house and celebrate JM completing his residency/fellowship.  Tyler is shooting blow darts at a target that Mimi brought for him.  John Mark can not wait to get his turn.   Our 3rd child Lauren is standing behind Tyler.  Wow!  They have all changed so much.  JM (and myself to be fair) have aged.  Tyler has definately grown into his weight since 2004!  Lauren is now a lean, mean Kindergarten machine!

Now I tag: EA (Bostic Family), Ronda (Life in a Southern Town), Angie (Mommy to AJ2), and I guess I need to follow more blogs because everyone else has already been tagged!