Youth Group Fun

Guitar Hero competition

Air Nick poses for a jam

Air Ethan poses for a jam

The boys play 'bump'

Ping Pong fun

Now that Nick is in the 6th grade, he gets to join the junior high youth group at church (Cornerstone United Methodist on Kent-Kangley).  Last night we hosted the September kick-off party at our house and it was so much fun!  Ward and I worked so hard on the garage 2 weeks earlier getting it cleared out and cleaned up so we can put up the ping-pong table and not have it be a health hazard.  I took yesterday afternoon off so I could make sure everything was organized and ready to go.  Kids started arriving at 6:30... a couple of girls at first.  Ward and I looked at each other kinda worried that it might just be all girls.  But shortly after, the boys started showing up as well.  The party was scheduled to end at 9:00, which it did, but we definitely could have gone longer.  We had guitar hero competitions, pool, foosball, ping-pong, basketball, group games, and of course bbq hamburgers and hotdogs.  And the weather was absolutely perfect!!   Can't wait for the next event!  Enjoy the pics & videos. 

The Boys playing "Bump"

Group Game "Amoebas and Elephants"

"NICK"names

I am so sorry that I haven't posted in awhile.... no excuse.  I love reading all of your blogs and know I should contribute to mine. 

Nick is doing really well at Cascade.  He is thriving with the bigger atmosphere.  He's made several new friends, is doing quite well with his school work and is getting involved with school sports like basketball.  I just learned today that the kids at school call him "Nicky".  And he LETS them!!  

He is also doing Auburn Little League "Fall Ball" and has just taken off this fall.  He has games every Saturday and is batting 800  so far (8 hits at 10 at-bats).  Today he made an unassisted double play.  He also pitched and did quite well.  The kids on his team call him "High Performance Nick", which has gotten shortened to "HP Nick".  I think that is so cute.  

We are adjusting well to our new fall schedule.  Routine works well in our family, as it does most other places.  

We bought Jill & Derek's pickup truck from them.  It's a Ford F-150, fully loaded and well taken care of.  Fits our family well with baseball and our camping trips, but in order to make the payments, I've had to let the "household staff" go, so we will be doing our own housecleaning and yard work!  Oh dread the thought!  I built a new chore chart that covers all the work that they did and we are doing it ourselves.  Sorry, I don't mean for that to sound as pretentious as it reads. It's just that with Ward and I both working full time, we need some extra help.  Now that Nick is older, he can do most of the jobs.  And, what a great way to learn.  So far, so good. 

The truck is part one of a two-part plan.  The second part is a trailer that we can tow with the truck.  We will have to save our sheckels for that but it will be great to take to the property.

Well, I am off to watch another riveting episode of "BSG".  

Over and out,

Starbuck

(unless she turns out to be a Cylon, then nevermind...) 

My Gift for No Reason

Mom and Jill blessed me with this awesome Kitchen-Aid mixer the other day.  I came home from work and found it on my counter.  Isn't that cool?  I think they finally got tired of using my little hand mixer with the beaters that keep falling out.  I had always wanted one but couldn't justify it because I don't cook that often.  

Thank you mom & Jill!!!

Chris

First Day of Middle School

Nick chose his good sweatshirt and shorts for his back-to-school ensemble!

Nick's school bus (Nick is the last one getting on)

We're off to another year of school - only this year, Nick is attending Cascade Middle School in Auburn.  He has to wake up much earlier in the morning, and has a locker for his backpack to contend with.  He says that he doesn't miss recess and that he is ready for the bigger school.  We're ready for the school routine to be in place again!  His bus picks him up right at the top of the big hill at the same time that I head into work.  I predict spending many a frosty morning with Nick in the car awaiting the arrival of the bus.  Nick says he likes his teachers as well as the new principal (who we know from baseball!!)  He says the cafeteria is AWESOME!  All in all, it was a really good first day.  

Nick has "Mad Skills"

I decided to finally change up my "4th of July" holiday motif in my dining room yesterday.  I went for the "blue on blue" theme - what a surprise!  But anyway, I had a stack of placemats and napkins that needed ironing and thought it would be a great opportunity to teach Nick how to iron.  After only a few protests, bribes and threats, he finally got the hang of it.  Nick reports, "this is dumb". 

Have a great last official day of summer vacation!!!

Chris