November 10

One week from today Teen will be leaving for Auburn, Alabama to compete in the B.E.S.T. Robotic's competition at Auburn University.

His high school technology and shop classes took 13 volunteer students and they built a robot, set up a presentation booth, video, brochure, presentation book and t-shirt. This is the first year that they have done this program.

In early October they went to Pittsburgh for a preliminary competition and did very well there. In fact some of the other schools were studying their robot to get ideas to improve their own.

On October 23rd they went to Grove City College and competed in the regional event. Although their robot didn't make it to the final round they place 2nd over all. They are not only judged on the robot and what it can do but also on the other factors from above (booth, video, t-shirt, etc).

The school administration could hardly believe that these kids who never worked together before did so well. And on Oct 25th the school board approved for all 13 students and their 2 teachers to travel to Auburn all expenses paid to compete at the National level. Only the first place robot and the first and second overall get to move on.

We are so proud of Teen and all the work he and his team have put into this project. Each of the students were in charge of a different aspect of the robot and Teen was in charge of programming it. This project has also encourage Teen to pursue programming and networking in college.

His school has also set up a web site to tell more about their robot and their adventures: Big Red Robots. Teen is the one on his knees in the group photo with their medals and trophy.

By the way B.E.S.T. stands for Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.

Congrats Teen and the Big Red Robots Team! Good Luck in Auburn!

Stacy

November 9

I started reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich this summer when we joined the library. I read through books 1-3 pretty quickly and then I started working. It took me almost a month to get through book 4 between work and the kids fall activities getting started.

Then I found out that I can borrow books on tape from the library. My new job is about a 20-30 minute drive depending on the traffic and time of day. I love that I can now listen to a book in about 2 weeks, just when they are due back to the library.

This also gives me a little down time and relaxation before I get in the door from work and all the chaos starts.

I am so glad that Teen can now drive as he has been a great help in getting the other two where they need to be if I am running late or Hubby gets called out or has something else going on that night. I sure am going to miss that next fall when he is gone off to college.

The boys got their report cards this week as well and have all done really great. I am so proud of the work that they do in school.

Stacy

November 8

We recently started a book club/Bible study at our church.

Our new selection is:

What an eye opener. I am seeing some of these women of the Bible in a whole new light. And I am also realizing that even if we have made stupid mistakes, God still loves us.

If you have a group of women and are looking for a great Bible study, I would highly recommend this series by Liz Curtis Higgs.

I was privilege enough to hear her speak in person at a women's weekend with my church 2 years ago. And believe me if any one is a 'Bad Girl' turned good and can tell about it, it would be her.

One thing that really stuck out to me about her background was that she used to be a co-star on a radio show you may have heard of: Howard Stern. Yes, Liz Curtis Higgs knows what a bad girl is and she knows what God can do for us and how He can use bad girls for good.

If you get a chance to check her out, please let me know what you think.

Stacy

November 7

I love Sunday's.

We get up and go to church. Spend time there with our friends and those that are like family to us.

We come home and get a little lunch and then just relax. Or in my case, take a nap. I live for my Sunday afternoon naps.

Sundays are also the day that hubby makes dinner. Today we had pulled pork sandwiches and roasted potatoes....yummy!

Then in the early evening I usually sit with Little S and listen to him read some books. He is becoming quite a good reader. He will soon be reading chapter books.

After that we chill out and watch Sunday TV. I love to watch Desperate Housewives and especially Brothers and Sisters. There is just something about B&S that I love. The big family, the ups and downs and how they all get through it together.

What is your favorite part about Sundays?

Stacy

PS - Check out the new link/billboard at the top of my blog.

November 6

We went to YSU today for our first college visit. All I can say is so many things have changed since I was in college and yet surprisingly so many things are the same.

Some of the things that are the same are the dorms. Dorms will always be small cramped little places that they shove too many kids who are then forced to share a community bathroom. One of the biggest differences I noticed was the smell...lol As soon as you stepped onto the floor you could tell if it was a girl floor or a guy floor. Blecht..guys just smell!

On the other hand, when I was in college the dorms were either for guys or for girls. There was one co-ed dorm but it was for upper class men and separated by two different wings. The dorms there were mostly co-ed by floor and they were allowed on each others floors at anytime.

We had restrictions on our visitors and they had to be out by a certain time...in other words we had a curfew. The rule now is that you can not have a visitor spend the night more than 3 nights in a row....Ummmm...Hello?!?! How about NO overnight guests? Guess I am asking too much for 2010.

And the dorms now have FREE laundry. Boy would my Mum have appreciated that. I remember coming home with baskets and baskets of dirty laundry. (btw - thanks Mum for doing all that laundry when I came home)

This school seems more dedicated to helping the students succeed as well. They have plenty of resources for all the students whatever their need may be. They are able to get tutoring with almost any class for free. Even if you just want to have someone look over your English paper before you submit it they will. And the prof's even encourage it.

We plan on going back for a better one on one visit soon. This was an Open House setting and the groups were pretty big so you couldn't ask a whole lot of questions or get the individual attention that we were looking for today.

Overall it seems like a very secure and welcoming campus. I actually can't wait to go back and see it again and then go to a few more schools before he makes his final decision.

Stacy

November 5

Better late than never. Here are some of my Halloween pics from this year.

This is my friend Kandy's son Logan. I had to share this picture cause to me he looks just like a little Eddie Munster.

This nutso kid is not mine. In fact I don't even know who he is but I had to take a picture of him to share. It was about 50* during trick or treat and he walked around like this the whole time. I'm not sure if I am appalled or entertained at his creativity.

This is my little munchkin Little S. He was so proud to be a 'fighter-fighter'. Our local VFD (volunteer fire department) was on almost every corner slowing down traffic and helping kids to cross. He walked by them so excited that he was 'one of them' that day.

This was our seniors at the Halloween football game. The whole band turned into Zombies for half-time and then they played Thriller as the seniors were featured by doing a Zombie dance. Teen is the third from the right in the ripped white shirt with the green underneath. And yes, that is Shrek standing there watching them.

These are my two 'zombies' Teen and Tween. They are so silly with their faces. They even had scar tattoo's all over themselves. Tween had a nice one right across his throat with blood dripping from it.

And this was a little something I picked up for them last night in the clearance Halloween candy aisle. There were 3 flavors: Snottermelon, Sour Green Boogy, and Lemon Loogy. The back says they were 'Picked Out Especially For You'. Sometimes having boys can be gross and fun at the same time.

Stacy

November 4

I just got back from the schools Financial Aid night for high school seniors preparing for college. I am a little bit overwhelmed by all there is to do. Saturday we are going to an open house at a nearby college.

I'm pretty sure that I can no longer pretend that Teen is not a senior.


Sadly we are starting to see less and less of him. He has a job, a driver's license and lots of activities to keep him busy.

It is hard to believe that pretty soon I will be missing this:

He makes me laugh and gives great hugs and still even sneaks in an 'I love you' every once in a while.

Last Friday was Senior Night at the football game. As we stood in line preparing to go out to the field I ask him if we could just step out of line and pretend that he wasn't a senior. He chose to move forward. I promised I wouldn't cry at the game that night and I didn't even though I was dying inside.

I sure hope that the next two aren't as hard to let go as this one is.

Stacy

November 3

Little S and Daddy were in charge of carving the pumpkins this year. I have been so busy and so sick that I just didn't have the time or energy to do it.

This one was carved by Daddy and it is a witch:

Daddy and Little S shared this one:

This on belongs to Little S alone:

Tonight the neighbors and Little S got together and voted on who had the best pumpkin. And guess who won?

This little pumpkin won the carving contest!!

Stacy

November 2

Our church recently got a new pastor. He is young and full of life and ideas. We went from almost never having anything at our church to it being used 3 and 4 times a week for different things. I am so glad we got such a young energetic pastor to keep up with us.

One of the ideas he brought to us for October was Treats at the Trunk Night. It's a fun safe way for the kids to collect candy and play some games without the worry of strangers and moving vehicles.

The youth and leaders organized a few games for the kids while the adults went back to their cars and 'decorated' their trunks.

They had silly games like Pumpkin Bowling

And Put the Pumpkin Together. They had some one cut a pumpkin in a few pieces and then left long toothpicks sitting there for the kids to put it back together.

Pumpkin Decorating - Lots of markers and glitter glue and stickers and such.

Guess How Much Candy - Jars with different types of candy to guess (Little S actually guessed the exact amount on one of these jars)

And then after cider and donuts, the kids went trunk to trunk and collected their goodies. This is my trunk. It looked much scarier in the dark with just the flashlights shining up through the webbing.

The kids had a great time and we can't wait to see what else is in store for the future. Thanks Pastor Jeff!

Stacy

November 1

I think some of this month is going to be about memories and traditions.

What made me think of this was a simple birthday card I came across last night. It was a simple birthday card, nothing grand or extravagant. It was in a simple blank envelope not addressed to anyone. And when I pulled it out of the envelope it hadn't been signed by anyone either. But I knew exactly who the card was from.

I know without a doubt that my Mummum gave me that card for my birthday.

My Mummum came through the depression and then was a single parent raising her daughter alone as my grandfather died young. So she believes in saving and reusing everything that she can. So in an effort to save money and be able to use a card again, she doesn't sign them. She just inserts the card in the envelope and hands it to the recipient. That way the receiver can then use the card again in the future.

There was a time when she would save wrapping paper as well. Let me tell you it was pure torture on a small child who wrapped a present for her. While we would all rip through our gifts, Mummum would open hers very slowly take great care to not tear the paper. She would then fold it up very neatly and set it aside to be put away and used again in the future.

Sometimes we would even use extra tape in an effort to make her rip the paper...lol

I can think of many more Mummum stories to tell, so I will save those for another day.

-S.