I have been feeling somewhat scattered since school and sports started up. We have something going on every night between soccer practices and scouts, but luckily most of the time we are done by 6 so it doesn't interfere with dinner too much. We are getting into the routine, though. I am trying to get to the gym again, and have gone to three one hour classes this week so far.

The kids had their first soccer and baseball games last weekend. Unfortunately, most of their soccer games are at the same or similar time, so Scot and I will have to alternate. I watched Owen's game, so this weekend I will take Declan. It was nice to see Owen's team win after the spring, when they didn't win any games. They got moved back one division, and it seems like a much better fit. Owen played well, and even took the ball up for a shot on the goal, which I've never seen him do before. I keep telling him he needs to practice all the positions and not just stay in defense, so I guess he is finally thinking about it. When he moves up to U-11, he has to try out, so I told him he would have a better chance if he practiced playing in both offense and defense. I guess Declan's game went well and he scored 2 goals. Sunday was baseball, and that went pretty well, too. Declan wasn't feeling well, but he did get one hit. Owen also hit the ball out to center field, but unfortunately, the guy caught it so he was out. He got walked the second time at bat. I'm glad he got a good hit since he really struggled with that last fall and got discouraged. I didn't really expect him to want to do it again, but he is on the team with several kids from school, so that is nice. Declan also has a few friends from school on his team, and some are siblings of kids on Owen's team, so he has kids to hang out with for Owen's games, which tend to run longer. It keeps our weekends pretty busy, but I actually enjoy watching them play.

As for me, I'm not doing much besides trying to exercise. I have 3 bags of clothes the kids have outgrown to donate somewhere, but I haven't had the courage to start in with the toys. Some days I just feel like getting rid of it all! I'm helping at the school library for a couple hours on Friday mornings, which is when Declan's class comes in, along with about 4 others, so it gets busy! Owen doesn't have a library time set aside this year, and can just come down when he wants something. He is reading the Percy Jackson series at home, and another book at school, so he really hasn't needed to check one out. I'm going a field trip with Declan's class on Friday to the Botanic Gardens, so that should be fun. We had a ton of rain today, but it's supposed to be nice again by Friday.

I haven't watched very many movies lately, but I did watch I Love You, Phillip Morris, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I am also watching The Good Wife on DVD and really liking that. I am trying to watch Dexter, but the 2nd disc has been on very long wait, so I am only 3 episodes in. There are a couple new series that look interesting, but I'm not sure I will bother with many new ones since shows seem to get cancelled so quickly. I would rather wait and see if it pans out and then watch it on DVD or online.

I am reading The Blade of Shattered Hope by James Dashner. It's the third in a young adult series. The author is writing another series that I started first and really liked, so I am waiting for the 3rd one of the Mazerunner. I also just finished the Rob Lowe autobiography. It was interesting to read after reading Melissa Gilbert's autobiography, in which she goes on and on about Rob Lowe and how they were soulmates, but it didn't work out because of the timing and the trappings of fame. Rob Lowe mentioned her about twice in his book. lol

Yes, I am lame. I need to get into the habit of updating more now that my days have slowed down a little. We are still kind of nonstop during the afternoon and evening since soccer and baseball are starting up, not to mention Scouts. Somehow the schedule has worked out pretty well except that Owen's scout meetings are scheduled during one of his soccer practices, so we need to see how we can work that out. Luckily it's only through October so maybe we can alternate leaving soccer practice early and being late to scouts or something.

We just booked a Thanksgiving trip to Mexico, back to the same resort we went to last year. I'm very excited, and happy that our friends just booked up, also. I think the kids are always going to expect to have friends with them on trips now! I need to look for a good deal on a waterproof camera since I am unhappy with our little point and shoot anyway. It just isn't focusing very well any more, and I'm afraid it's a sign that it is wearing out. I bought it back when Owen was in preschool, so it's kind of old by now, I guess! I am also looking into getting some prescription snorkel goggles so I don't miss out on that again due to my handicap. I really wish I could wear contacts again, but I'm scared to try after my eyes got so irritated last time. Maybe I will be brave enough to get that surgery. I think I would be happy in the end, but it is a creepy procedure. I guess that's why they offer you a valium before you go in!

We don't have any special plans for Labor Day Weekend. I am hoping the weather is nice one of the days since we were hoping for one more day at the water park part of Elitch's. Scot hasn't really had a chance to go to that part as much as we did. We also might check out Taste of Colorado downtown, although I am not into the crowds. It can be fun to try the various foods, at least for us adults.

This is me, this morning, taken with the webcam but filterized with Photoshop, just for fun. I am really looking forward to the hair cut I will be getting while I am in California! I had a slow start to the day, sleeping in until 10 a.m., thanks to earplugs. Owen had a friend sleep over last night, and they got up pretty early, as I expected. Luckily Scot got up and I was able to catch up on some sleep. When I got up, I saw the email about the adopters being approved for Dottie. They came and picked her up this afternoon. I hope she is settling in well. I gave them the blanket she had been sleeping on while here so she would have something familiar with her. The timing was actually pretty great since we are leaving on a series of three trips and she would have to be shuffled off to someone else's house while we were gone anyway.

Yesterday Scot and I saw Horrible Bosses. It was pretty funny. Next on my list is Harry Potter, but I will wait until the crowds die down. Rio and Kung Fu Panda are both at the cheapy theater right now, so I'll probably take the kids to see those if we get a chance. Our days seem to get booked up pretty fast. I'm hoping to get one more trip in to Elitch's this week since it's supposed to be pretty hot. It's easy to spend the day at the water park part of it!

The kids are signed up for their fall sports, which will be baseball and soccer. I knew Declan wanted to do baseball again, but I was surprised when Owen said he wanted to, also. They both have friends playing, so I'm hoping they get the teams I requested for them. I still need to get school supplies, but that can wait until we're done travelling. We'll still have two weeks left of summer after we get back from Pittsburgh.

I am back, but knows for how long! It is hard in the summer, not because the kids are home (although that can be hard sometimes), but mostly because we have no real schedule. I don't seem to do very well with less structure to my days. I am trying to not worry about it and just be flexible, but it seems like I am never home at the right time to think about dinner since we are often taking off for spontaneous excursions. I guess I need to focus on crock pot meals but I can't seem to get it together enough for that, either.

We just got back from 6 days of camping. It was nice to have the pop-up for the extended time since we are usually just camping for a weekend. I had enough food and only had to get more ice and milk as the week went on. The weather was nice, apart from the day we arrived and the night before we left.

I am being summoned to play Lego Harry Potter, so I will have to tell more tales of summer later!

These are the ribbons from Field Day, and the medal from Run with Rocky. Declan came in 2nd or 3rd for his grade and got the medal.


These are some yummy pastries my mom and I got from the French Bakery while she was visiting.

Some goodies that mom brought me. I love those Espresso Pillows from Trader Joe's!

Maybe I can get back on track for June. Things just got really busy for the last part of May, and now today was the last day of school. School got out two hours early, and mostly they just had pizza parties and free time. Declan's class could bring games to play, so he brough Guess Who? He mentioned a game called Thin Ice that he seemed to like, so I'll have to look that one up. After school we ended up going to Elitch's with friends, supposedly only until dinner time, but we actually didn't get home until 8 p.m. It was finally a pretty warm day, but we didn't do the water park part yet since that takes more preparation. I'm hoping to have a more low-key day tomorrow which will include going to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. Owen also has his piano lesson in the afternoon.

Owen ended up getting all 3's and 4's on his report card, so now we have to prepare to welcome a new pet into the home. Al Pacino is still available from the reptile humane society, so we need to start looking for equipment. I was reading more about skink care and was happy to discover that they don't require live animals. They eat mostly fruits and vegetables, and cooked meat. They only eat every other day, and can go longer without food, so if you have to leave for a few days, they can be left alone as long as you have your lights on timers. I originally thought bearded dragons were cuter, but it sounds like skinks are easier to care for and less fragile, so I guess I'm glad Owen ended up liking them best.

I haven't really signed the kids up for anything, but I may do a speed and agility class for the month of June. The other thing they are interested in is roller hockey, but the class doesn't really match with our schedule, so I may just take them to a learn to roller hockey thing they have for free on Fridays. I want to make sure they like it before investing in any equipment or classes. If they do like it, we can try to sign up during the winter when they aren't doing other sports.

Looks like I will be drinking hot coffee for the foreseeable future. It has been rainy and cold for most of the last week. I'm only hoping that it will be somewhat o.k. on Friday for field day.

Today I went to my exercise class, and then took Dottie to the clinic for her follow-up. We had to wait a long time to be seen, which was kind of annoying. Once we got in, they decided to puncture the cyst and get it draining. I have to squirt the antibiotic cream into the hole, and also spray something on the top. Unfortunately for Scot, he will have to take over nursing duties while I am gone at the workshop this weekend! Her adoption is still up in the air, I guess. The guy called me today to see if I'd heard anything. I really wish they'd get over the whole vaccination thing. I think the personal references are way more important. I really don't think dogs need all those shots every year, but I guess that's a whole other debate.

I am trying to get ready to host bunco tomorrow night. Most of the big cleaning is done, and I just need to do the last minute rooms like bathrooms and kitchen. Unfortunately, it's early release from school tomorrow, so I have to try and keep the kids from messing up all my hard work. I don't think they will be able to play outside due to rain. Owen got his project done tonight, so he won't have to worry about it tomorrow since he will be out and about during most of bunco. Not sure if Declan will have soccer practice or not. We got the schedule for his Memorial Day weekend tournament, and he has games at 8 a.m. on Sat. and Sun. That will be tough!

I don't know why I have this gum since I rarely chew it. It has been sitting around for quite some time! This morning I got up and went to exercise. It wasn't very busy for a Sunday, even though it was cold and yucky outside. Soccer game was cancelled due to rain. Things are looking pretty grim for the weather starting Wednesday again, just in time for field day on Friday. Hopefully something will change before then since it's more fun for the kids when it's at least a little warm! I guess it worked out well since it gave us some time to finish up Owen's Native American art project. Now he just needs to finish writing the report part. He has a bunch of facts, and just needs to organize it into a paragraph. It will be his last homework project for this year.

We also did our usual cleaning today, but a little more than usual since I'm getting ready to host bunco on Wednesday. It worked out nicely since my mom is arriving that night, also, so there are two reasons to clean!

We watched Despicable Me last night, which was cute. Owen said he didn't want to see it, but once it started he enjoyed it. He was hoping to watch a soccer game, but that is not as interesting for Declan, so I thought a movie would be better.