Welcome to the 8th grade Wnba!

Whew! What an exciting and taunting weekend for 8th grade girls basketball. Friday night---we battled against Grapevine...lost by one point. The refs were extremely stinky and were worse the last minute and ten seconds. That is how our team lost. There were some big...big girls on this team too. A big girl was one of the best that Gretchen keept the ball from. The BIG girls' dad was sitting next to me and said...look at that small girl...is she even a 8th grader? SURPRISE!!!! Gretchen stole the ball from her 2 times. Oh ,the dad said she IS GOOD. Oh I said...that is my daughter ---the small one. If looks could ---well you know. The battle went on for awhile...lucky for them there was no OT. G's team came away with scratches and bruises but nothing extreme. The next day, Saturday, we played twice in the tournament. First, against Richland Hills, which was an okay game except Gretchen got pounded. One of the girls slammed her on the floor head first...she laid there a couple of seconds---not good--since she recently had ear surgery--then she got up gave the thumbs up to coach and she went on to score 6 points. She came away from that game with a few more scratches and 3 fouls. Go girl. Second team we played was really out for blood. They were Timbercreek. Hard core cores and very annoying with their ball chant. Which---Gretchen fixed one girl accidentally by bopping her in the throat acccidentally ---- We won this game in OT because their girls fouled out so much they only had 3 left to play the rest of the game. Both teams were very foul tending. We brought this game with everything we had too--of course. The only bad thing was Gretchen got punched in the nose and bled ---then her teeth were bleeding. So yes---these girls were out to WIN...and our team did...3rd place in tournament. Whew!!!

Random--

Random thoughts as my third Christmas season in Texas arrives--

I have come to appreciate the Texas spirit of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Labor Day and football season... whether the area in the city is decorated in flags, lights, spirit or whatever...there is a certain respect here that I haven't noticed anywhere else I have lived. I look forward to seeing the flags out in the islands for miles and miles....I look forward to the goofy Halloween decorations that are displayed by my neighbors and around....I really look forward to alllllll of the lights and decorations that are displayed for fun and competition during the holiday season - many have the mangers displayed out too. Football is a whole different season here and it is one you won't forget and really get into...a lot. I liked football before but I really have become a junky ...I still display my Michigan flag and wear my shirts...I get looks cause obviously the Longnorns, Texas a&m, the frogs etc... are very popular and over powering here.
I get a kick out of how cold the texans get when it dips into the 50's---oh they really freeze anything below that. My neighbors know I am a northerner because I relish the fun and idea of putting my festive lights out when it gets chilly and possibly cold here. Oh Susan---you are such the northerner...what can I say...thank you!!!! All of the Texans have their heat on 70 or so ---me, I keep my heat at 67-68 or if it is windy out and the breeze comes in the house maybe 69. Friends have learned to layer up in my house because comfort is the thing you know----love it.
One really lucky thing for our family is that we got great neighbora again. We talk and share--always wave hello stop and chat--even the men do. we had that somewhat in Indiana as far as the men but more here. In the area where I live people let you know when your brake lights are out---not in Ind..... or Jersey ---or Ohio. In fact---a motocyclist followed me to let me know one of my lights were out...creepy but southern kindness. Dogs rule here in the neighborhood and all over as far as I can tell. Everyone seems to be walking or running with a dog. You will find in Lowe's or Home Depot owners with their dogs small medium and LARGE ones. It cracks us up. We thought about bringing our cats but ---nahhhh. Although I have taken them in the car 3 times since being here to pickup or drop off Gretchen to/from school. Funny! So, if you are smart dog sitting is very popular here---
I think that is all for now--- I now there is more to share but I have stuff to do.

Homecoming and Texas Mums

here is the mum and kayla the other picture is her showing Taylor's name on it from EFY in Texas. They still talk and talk.

It is a huge deal here and maybe somewhere else---mums on your neck from your guy or from yourself. They can be gaudy or just right. This is Kayla's second year in having one designed for her---by mom. We just added some stuff to last years and she was happy! Wait till next year--maybe a guy will make her one.......

Undefeated Volleyball team-Go Gretchen

It has been a great 8th grade volleyball year for Gretchen's team. They have 2 more games till the end of the season... then BASKETBALL. Here are a few views of her efforts as well as the teams. Also--notice the white shirt? She is a "lebarro" (spelling) which means she can come into play anytime.. anywhere and SURPRISE the other team with her talents. Cool!

Roadtrip coming soon

Have you watched the insanely funny movie Roadtrip with Raven Simon(e)? I have seen it twice and belly laughed both times. My husband and daughter are headed to Utah and Idaho Oct. 25th. Just them and the sky and the open road. If you have seen the movie roadtrip you are probably laughing right now... I know I am. The only difference is that Mike isn't wanting her to stay in Texas or have to go to our Alma Mater--- but the whole trip thing with the two of them is a hoot and a half. I wonder if Donny Osmond will happen on their trip?????Anyway off they will go to BYU-I, BYU-Utah, and Utah State/Univ. and whatever else they have time for. OMG!!! I hope they take pictures and learn to enjoy each others company---not happening right now... ...butting of the smart and bullheaded minds. So stay tuned...I know I will.

Our High School's First band Competition

Way to go Stephanie pounding the sound effects! Waiting for her place ...

Kayla and her colorguard's cool moves . Man can they move it.

The band ended with preliminaries of 4th place in the rain....drumline (percussion) got 2nd place and colorguard received 1st place. Finals were not cont'd due to massive rain. Next, homecoming parade and football game.

Life in September

Well--- here we are. The senior, alias Stephanie, has hardly any homework...enjoying life in final year of band. No boys in her life --just friends. Stephanie and her hawaiian friend Milani agreed lately that boys can wait till college... that made both moms very happy. She had her last college test today---cross fingers for scholarship! No toe crossing though. Kayla, the sophomore, enjoying colorguard...but not the new directors. We'll see. So far school is -eek. She, on the other hand, is counting days to the BIG 16. Two boys are in her mind. What can ya do? Horse riding is on hold till winter (hehehehe) what winter? Gretchen, the 8th grader, is loving volleyball, 8th grade, and hanging with her friends. Band is high on her priority to do well in district and sectionals--that is hard here since there are sooo many percussionists. We will see.

On another note-- wehave turned down 2 jobs out of Tx. One in Ohio --the other in Illinois. It just wasn't the right time having a senior in high school. We thought a lot about it---so here we are. It looks like for another 2-3 years. That makes Kayla happy and Gretchen sad. More things are cooking for Mike without us moving so we will see on that too.

All in all--it is time to take pics of downtown Keller-cute and quaint. Since this is where we are --just wait . I will have to download the neat restaurant places we have been too. SO there you have it---

My baby's 13th Birthday Party

The girls and the things they do....

Football!!! Invasion of the bathing beauties!

Water balloon toss getting a makeover.

Yummy ice cream cake! Seconds and thirds!

Lookout below---I am falling backwards!

Can you say eeek? Well, here it is ---the party we have been preparing for weeks. Sixteen invites later, on the 29th of August, we celebrated Gretchen's Birthday with fab and flair hawaiian style. Thirteen girls showed up for burgers and dogs, unlimited swimming, water balloon toss and fight, free lance football with 4 boys from the hood, volleyball with beach balls, and yummies galore, with an evening movie outside by the pool by National Treasure. Wow--so much fun to watch and hear. More than 3/4 of these girls were G's buddies from either volleyball or basketball from the middle school. They all got leggy this summer-Gretchen is still waiting to get leggy. here are some fun pics--

Which picture is THE ONE???

You see--there are many faces of Stephanie-do you know her? Which is your pick? We have several this is just a smidgen of pictures.

Amazing!

The pink cadillac he

bought for his mom.

Elvis!!!

The living room and music area..

The new dishwasher. Oh-ahhh

Gretchen riding the waves her style!!! Huge lake between KY and TN..

I would love to catch up on things since my last pitiful blog. I am flabbergasted at how the months have truly flown by. We are one week and afew days from school starting... Our summer has been different with no visitors coming in but we had lots of storms that led us to projects and stuff. We still do not have a tree in the front but we now have a new roof and new color of paint on our house. To even more more excitement than one can stand, I also have a new stainless steel dishwasher---it is soooo pretty and quiet. Quiet is the key word. We had some exciting decisions to make as far as jobs...Illinois or Ohio. Well, after much thought and prayer and whatever---we decided we d/n need to move and we d/n need to move Stephanie out of another school especially in her senior year. Mike looked at the plant in Ohio... was interested but timing was off. Illinois is still in future but not now. Thank goodness. we have been "stressed out" and on the edge with those decisions. Our months of summer has been filled with EFY, Girls Camp, volleyball and basketball camp (Gretchen) and Mavs basketball camp for Gretchen. As you can see they have been busy...the past 4 weeks the older two have been involved in band and colorguard camp. I have no pics of them doing that. We went on vacation to Arkansas for caving and hinking then strolled over to KY to visit Mike's cousin---there we tubed and jet skied to hearts delight. Loads of belly laughing and snickering ---cause it was funny. From there off we went to Tn....to visit Elvis' mansion. Wowser!!!!! That ws some tour--never to be done again but we did it. Onward home. Work-work-work. I am still trying to find a job...preferably in school system --but who knows maybe I will be working at Home Depot. Other fun times we have spent have been going to quite a few baseball-Rangers games. We have one this weekend in a suite should be very fun and warm---yeah baby! We also have been busy plotting with Stephanie her portfolio for her senior yr...---oh chills. What a fun blast and half that has been!!

Ode to my car

Today I am in a sentimental mood. My Expedition is 10 years old---I have had it for 8 years. It has 162, 517 miles on it and counting. There have been many memories in it and many, many travels. To begin, the girls have had many changes in it from dance to friends houses to softball to basketball to church activities to volleyball to many camps and more friends houses to band camps and practices--loading and unloading. Girls...girls ...girls have been piled in the car and even slept in. In fact Mike and I have even slept(not well) in the expedition. It has been to many places Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Canada, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky, and of course Texas. I am sure I have forgotten some places but you get the message. It has also traveled through many places as well---- It has been a great vehicle to have after driving a minivan for 7-8 yrs.. This car even trudged through our first daughter's driving which is a really good test. Next is number 2 daughter---hopefully she will do well with this piece of machine too. It is fun to overlook other cars when traffic is over booked or look down on ppl. too. LOL. I like to push the speed limit whenever I can---just to show we can haul butt. My girls laugh---what a fun SUV this is! Whenever we go on vacation we have our trusty SUV---we pack it like a mule and love every piece of it. What a great mule it is. Eat your hearts out!!! This year will be lots of packing---colorguard equipment again, snare drum, bags and bags of stuff and even some college trips. Maybe this cool SUV will drive our daughter to college!!! Yeah-baby!!!

Reflections--

Today I am anxious. I officially have a senior in high school. Wowser. Many seniors have come and gone---now mine will be in the same boat. She is getting her senior pictures done today since she has such a social load of work and band we thought it good to do it now before the temps. also get past 103 degrees. Today it will be 101-102. Her thoughts for her pictures were her varsity jacket with Homestead and Keller high plastered all over it because she still is a spartan at heart and an indian ; a nice picture of loveliness; a texan portrayal for fun; her snare drum from school; and whatever she might come up with that is top secret. We went to Charming Charlie's to get accessories for her outfits---she was overwhelmed with the colors that the store had to offer because it is huge! But---off we went with our purchases. It has been fun planning this part of her senior year. The next step will be shelling out money for her cap and gown---invitations---yearbook--ads in yearbook--band parties and events---competitions and what not. She has already taken her college tests and will most likely take another in October. her top picks for college are BYU-Idaho-1st; BYU -Utah-2nd; maybe a college in Ohio. Boys have become a hit on her list--but--oh no serios ones yet. Thank you thank you thank you!!!! It is kind of weird seeing her change in her looks-I have been looking at the past 3 years and am amzed at how she has matured in looks---she is still goofy-which one of her teachers in 4th grade told her not to change---WELL she hasn't . If you don't like her goofyness-TS!!!! AMny friends in Indiana and a couple here found it stupid...and didn't appreciate it for what it is worth---toobad for you. We like goofy. So here's to our senior!!! Wahoo!!!

And the Tree came Tumbling Down!

The final cut.

Above the night of the storm. below--the next day looks.

Last Wednesday we had terrible storm---tornado sirens all over were bursting with sound---- It was me and the cats. Girls were at camp and Mike was on the road home. I took quick check to see how trampoline was doing and heard the most piercing siren and decided to run to THE CLOSET! I grab Misty (furball) and put her in down bathroom...couldn't find LILY...got treats and still couldn't find her and then---- I saw green fly across my front of house and decided to run to safety. This was stinkin serious. My purse and important documents and Misty were with me---I hoped Lily was good where she was and listened to storm around and occasionally the TV cooperated. Then lights out!!! I got a little worried...it was quiet, I looked outside and saw my tree was down...down... The winds were still going 70 mph and I just hung out around the closet just in case. No tv though. I couldn't get my weather radio to keep on... I called Mike---no answer I knew he was smart. So here are the pics of our gone tree. I made it fine--just really weird. Glad the girls were gone and just the cats and me were there to worry.

Final games for X-treme

Pysching the other team out...kicking the bat and lookin' tough!

Monday was a hit! Two games back to back ...Gretchen's team beat the number 3 team 13-2 and onto the number one team for the fourth time...can we do it???? Here she is---stealing to third with flair! The game results---the other team won by 7--but what a fight two double plays by Gretchen and another girl--gretchen caught 2 poppers way in the sky---don't ever bat to her baby!!! She slid to second base to get a girl out!!!! A fellow player missed catching the ball and "G" caught it under her---WOWSER!!!! Can she play or what! She makes it look so easy. We really had fun watching the whole team for 4 hours--