Go Colts!

Jeff and I at the Colts game

Lovin This!

His new Beats by Dre headphones that his aunts and cousins got him!

Christmas Action!

Infinity

This is one of my gifts from Jeff.  I picked this out on Etsy and made sure one of the girls at work made the "suggestion" of what he should get.  The little tags are "J" and "W" for Jeff and Wendy.  

He also got me one of each product they make in my favorite scent at Bath and Body Works.  This Christmas was much better than last!

My Eyes May Pop Out Of My Head

Finally had to break down and have the final two wisdom teeth pulled today.  Was having a lot of pain so I couldn't put it off any longer.  I should have listened to the dentist when he wanted to do this years ago.  It has been a lot harder to recover at 40 than it would have been at 25!  He has to really work to get those babies out, I know I'm going to be so sore tomorrow!  No having a rummage sale after this like I did when I was in my twenties and had the first one removed.  Going home to bed and may not get up for a couple of days....they told me at work I wouldn't be back in but I swore I was tough.  I'm not.

Another Birthday to Celebrate

We all went to Fugi for Mason's birthday and it was the best time we've had there!  Definitely better with a large group and even more fun when kids are with.  It always helps when you get a really good chef too and the one the kids had at their table was great!  He got them all involved and they had a blast, even got Jayke trying some new things!  I need to have that guy come to my house at dinner time every night!

Trying to show Jayke how to flip and catch an egg on his spatula.  We had the entire end of the restaurant with two grills, that is Bob and Angie (his girlfriend) in the back right hand corner.

Getting Her Nails Did

I have a new buddy to get my nails done with, Emily, Jeff's daughter.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Jeff had these pretty, pretty, roses sent to me at work for my birthday!  Down in the bottom of the left hand corner you can see the top of a picture he colored for me as well...he is by far, the best boyfriend I've had.  None of the past issues I had with guys exist with Jeff AND he sends me flowers!!!!

Delta Eagle Already

 I got a call several weeks ago from a guy whose son goes to school with Jayke.  He has coached one of the teams on the Royerton League  in previous years and noticed Jaykeb when we played against his team.  He is also the same coach that saw Jayke at the YMCA one day when mom had taken him and asked, "Is that Howell?"  She told him yes and he told her that Jayke is really good and he remembered watching him play for the Royerton team.  He was calling to tell me he was putting together an AAU travel team and wanted to know if Jayke would be interested in playing on it?  OF COURSE HE WOULD BE INTERESTED!!

I'm not sure which one of us is more excited about this, Jayke or me!  First of all, for him to have noticed Jayke and feel that he was who he wanted to play point guard on this team was awesome!  Secondly, the experience he is going to get playing for this team versus the other elementary school team will be ten times better.  Also, all of the kids on this team are Jayke's friends and the boys who he will hopefully continue to play with for many years.

We play in the Richmond league so that means there is some travel for us.  Here the boys are waiting for their game to start in the big Richmond gym.

We also get to play in the Muncie Central Field house.  This was exciting for the boys because of the size of the gym, exciting for me because I hadn't been in there since I was a freshman in high school, and exciting for the grandparents because they hadn't been in there in a lot longer than that!  It's going to be fun watching these boys develop there game over the next several years.

One Unhappy Zombie

One thing you don't want to do is tick off a zombie, especially one trained in combat. I have managed to do  this quite easily.  Personally, I think he looks great!  He on the other hand thinks I am the WORST at putting on Halloween makeup ever and wants me to take him straight to Bob's so he can put his makeup on for him.

Once we got to Bob's he convinced him that his makeup was applied well and he wasn't in need of a touch up.  I think maybe he was really afraid that he would end up looking like a green faced Brett Michaels zombie!!!

Jeff joined us with his kids and two of their friends.  Zach is the werewolf in the back and Emily is in the pink dress in front.  Seth wouldn't join the picture, I guess when you are twelve it isn't cool to get your picture taken in costume with a bunch of younger kids!  

We took them all Trick or Treating around Bob's neighborhood and they got tons of candy.  All the kids got along well which is encouraging for future get togethers.

Halloween Classic and the End of the Season

Every year we end our fall soccer season with the Halloween Classic tournament.  It is one of my favorites both for it's theme and also it is the closest tournament to home that we play.  This year the tournament fell on the weekend after Halloween but it didn't lessen the fun!

Double Dose

We carved our pumpkin this evening and Jayke had an assistant of course.  Nemo loves pumpkins!  After carving our own pumpkins we got a second chance over at Bob's.  Alec looks like he is enjoying hacking that thing up way too much!  We quickly learned that you cannot leave three boys alone with pumpkins.  Bob and I left the room briefly and when we returned the pumpkin goo was flung every where.  What fun is carving a pumpkin without a pumpkin gut fight?

She's Just Rotten!!

Luna likes to sit in Zoey's cage so she can't go in it.  Zoey is terrified of Luna and won't even look at her when she is perched in there like the queen she thinks she is.

4th Grade

ooOOoo That Smell!

This morning after Jayke left for school I noticed the entire house smelled like a department store perfume counter.  I figured out that The Boy had obviously doused himself generously with cologne before leaving for school.  This was odd behavior for a kid who acts like brushing his teeth is one step away from water boarding so I had to wonder, what brought on this sudden urge to freshen up.  Later this evening I think I solved the mystery.  Laynie, the little girl from down the street and my boy were looking nice and cozy in the garage getting acquainted over some Play Doh.  I'm going to have to teach him that theres more to getting a girl than just smelling good, although it doesn't hurt...and obviously...its working for the playa!

Mom, Come ON!!!

It's that time of year again!!!  Time for me to drag The boy around and make him stick crazy things on his head so I can take his picture.  As you can see, he is absolutely thrilled about it.  I wonder how many more years I will be able to get him to cooperate with this?

Bowling Bash

Aidan, from Jayke's soccer team, had a bowling birthday party.  Once the kids were done the adults cranked up the juke box and took a turn.  Think I will have a bowling party for Jayke this year.  No better place to turn a bunch of wild boys loose!

Back at It! Fall Soccer

Just another spectator on the soccer sideline

More soccer than ever this year.  It keeps us running at least 5 days a week with practice Tuesday through Thursday and games at least Saturday or Sunday.

Jayke is on the U10 academy team this season.  Each year they mix up the kids in his age group and form two separate teams as equally matched as possible.  They all practice together and most of the time travel together.  He has been playing with some of these kids for several years now and made some really good friends, including a boy whose mom I went to high school with.  

I had this blanket made for him with the team shield.  After seeing it many of the parents ordered them as well.  Yea...I'm a trend setter.

FIRE!!

One of the neighbors in Mason's neighborhood decided to catch their deck on fire today and the boys were on the scene to check it out!  Everything is a photo op for me!

Little Fisherman

He's turning into quite the little fisherman this summer.  Goes out all by himself and usually does pretty well!

He caught this HUGE bass but needed a little help with it.  It looks almost as big as he is!