First Injury

Nemo doesn't look like he likes hugs.  

Not much going on around here.  No new pics to post even though basketball season has started and he got a nice new uniform.  He isn't going to be able to play for a while since injuring his leg a little over 2 weeks ago while playing football in the parking lot at a BSU football game.  Tailgating is dangerous!  We went to the hospital today to get x-rays.  The doctor is trying to rule out a fractured hip.  I guess if he has a fracture I will be up for a "Mom of the Year Award"!  Results will be back tomorrow.  I'm betting there isn't a fracture.  He wouldn't be able to run and jump if it were.  

Didn't Mean for that to Sound Ominous

I requested pictures for the final Grandparent's Day.  It is the last one since The Boy goes to middle school next year.  I said something about it being the last Grandparent's Day on Facebook and got a bunch of questions.  I guess I should have explained WHY it would be the last one.  It's just because The Boy is growing up!

Thanks for cooperating Grandparents...I know how you all love to have your picture taken, and you wonder where I get it!

By the way, Mom, I have your pictures. LOL...obviously!  They are on top of the pie safe.  I know I won't remember to tell you since I now have "40 year old brain"!

40 is the Magic Number!

Finally, made it to Kings Island on our second attempt.  We first tried on Saturday but once we got there we were told that they wouldn't run the roller coasters unless it got over 40 degrees.  It was 35 when we got to the park an hour before they opened.  The forecast predicted sunny and 50 the entire week as we watched to see if we would be able to go.  Unfortunately, it didn't look like it was going to turn out to be what was predicted.    We decided to go find a restaurant where we could eat lunch and give it a little time to warm up.  We found a "bar and grille" near by.  Turns out we spent the next four hours in that restaurant watching the weather channel, hoping it would hit that magic number, 40!

It didn't and finally, I convinced Jeff to leave and try again the next day.  There was no way the kids were going to last much longer couped up in that restaurant.  They were really good, but I could see that was coming to an end and it was time to go!  He agreed, and we headed home.  

We came back the next day and had much better weather.  The sun was shining, the rides were running, and it was nearing 50 degrees.  Being that it was Sunday, we wouldn't get as much time in the park but we lucked out with no lines so we were still able to ride everything there!

We took a friend for Emily.  My co-worker's daughter, Kaylee.  That was a great plan since it gave someone to occupy her and for her to ride the rides with.  We went straight to the back and jumped on the Racers to get our feet wet.  The boys ended up leaving us shortly after that to go ride the big coasters while Jeff and I took the girls to Snoopy Land.  It worked out well.  Everyone got to do everything they wanted including me, which was leave early!  LOL  Since the park closed at 7p.m. I got my wish too and no one could even protest!  Good day.

The Hunter

Jayke the Zombie Hunter.  Last year the zombie, this year the hunter.  Another awesome costume!  Love the pose too.  I had to keep telling him to stop smiling.  We had terrible weather for Trick or Treating this year.  Jeff and I ended up driving the van the entire way so they could get in and warm up when there was a gap between houses.  It started out cold and rainy then the wind picked up and before it was over, it was snowing!  They hung in there though and got a huge haul.  I think they lasted over 2 hours and covered all of Carrington Woods and part of Farmington, then our street on the way home.

Look at this scary bunch!  Zack Jeffers, Jayke, Mason, Jonathan Chimbanda, Emily and Zach.

Jonathan says he is a Dingus Wingus...whatever that is.  His costume was pretty creative!  

Any Reason to Bust out The Booze

This group looks like they need some booze.  The work crew, all decked out in their Halloween best!  Above is the entire group who dressed up.  I think we had more this year than we did last and the costumes were better too!

Above is our department.  I didn't want to wear an uncomfortable costume all day so I just made a prop and went as in Instagram post.  

Our boss, The King.  Rollerskating Elvis who later, when the booze was brought out, dedicated songs to different departments/people.  I left early so I missed this part of the party, along with the booze, but I did see a video.  My favorite dedication was the one he did for the warehouse and EDI department (This would be Jeff and all who participate in the drop ship program) Return to Sender.  Hilarious!

Creepy the Clown was waiting for us in the darkened cubes.  Good thing clowns are about as scary as kittens to me.  He chased people around all morning with his creepy voice and laugh.  Not all are as unaffected by clowns as I am though.

My favorite, by far, The Gingerbread Man!  Doug, from Quality, as The Gingerbread Man.  He had a video from Shrek all cued up for us to watch with the part including The Gingerbread Man.  Then he had a performance of his own...running, flopping around on the floor, and yelling EAT ME!  By far the best and most entertaining.

Our sales team, Neil, Jeff Bird, and Brad.  We work with the BEST people!  There was tons of food and entertainment all day and at the end of the day they brought out the wine for one of Midwest's infamous "Happy Hours".  The owners enjoyed themselves so much they told us to figure out something for Thanksgiving so we could party again!  I love my job.  Stressful as it is, this makes it worth it!

Meet Jimmy

He said, "When you put that on Facebook, make sure you say it's Jayke and Jimmy!"  Meet Jimmy the Jack 0 Lantern.  He thinks the stem makes it.  I tried to shred it some.  It was a little too dry to get the full effect I was going for but The Boy likes it...that's all that matters!

Tourney Champs!

Cold morning.  This tournament is always cold.  The forecast was predicting it to warm up into the 70s though.  Fingers crossed.  We were hoping the warmer weather would be the key to helping us finally bring home a championship.  So many seasons of coming up short in the freezing cold.

We took all of the usual pictures...

Except this year, we got to take the team photo as champs!  We won our age group.  Finally these kids got to see what it feels like to be called tourney champs!  

After months of practice.  Coming up short of the championship games, not once but twice, in our two earlier tournaments.  Dropping from 1st in our division to 3rd by the end of the season on a 3 game losing streak.  Losing to the last place team. Watching Jayke deal with a lack of playing time.   Overcoming many pulled muscles and finally fighting through 4 tough games this weekend to come out on top by beating the team that dropped us to 3rd place. We finally beat the Indy Premier team that beat us in our final two games of the season.  Finally got a trophy that wasn't a participation trophy.  Finally get to be called Champions.  Instantly all of those previous things didn't matter.

It was a great weekend of soccer.  It was 70 degrees.

Zoo Boo

Mom took Jayke and Mason to Zoo Boo over fall break.  From what Jayke said, the animals were pretty active and fun to watch.

She sent me pics throughout the day to post to Facebook, Instagram, and any where else I could think of.  Below is a shot of the boys eating their $7 DipNDots.  They probably washed it down with a $4 water!

Jayke was oddly thrilled that the walrus kept chewing up his food and then spitting it on the glass only to slurp it back up and repeat.  I was overjoyed to hear this part of the day's events.

The 'rents

Mom and Jim at Mitch and Mallory's wedding.  SOMEONE had a few glasses of wine and tried to dance with everyone.  This victim doesn't look too thrilled about it.  LOL!!!

Treats!

Treat bags for the co-workers

BOO!!!

I was "Booed" at work by a co-worker...Got these wine glasses, that pumpkin decoration, and a bottle of sparking grape juice.  Fun!  Wish we did this in our neighborhood too.  

Cube 3

That's me on the left...cube number 3( The one with the flag banner going down the side)  All decorated for Halloween.  Thought I should post a picture of my "other home".

And...the outside view with our new flag...

Because MidWest is Pretty Awesome!

MidWest donated about 40 skids of dog beds to, not only ARF, but also the Muncie Animal Shelter (donation pictured below with facebook post following) and several other shelters in the surrounding counties.  Love that we do this! This happened back in August but I thought I'd share now.

MidWest Homes for Pets shared Muncie ARF's photo.

August 25

Last week MidWest had the opportunity to provide QuietTime® pet beds to multiple pet rescues and shelters in and near our community. We are grateful for each organization. We appreciate their efforts to care for animals and pets when they are in need and their work in uniting pets with loving and caring families. Thank you for all you do!

We are more than grateful for the wonderful donation of many dog and cat beds from Midwest. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Many ARF animals will sleep snuggled in these gifts.

MidWest Facebook Post: Luna was Featured!

MidWest Homes for Pets

September 30

Wendy, a member of our customer service team, has shared two adorable photos of her "fur baby" for this week's MidWest Employee Pet Spotlight. Luna, short for Lunatic, has earned her name.  She is 6-years-old and has three fur siblings including two dogs and another cat. Luna likes to hang out in fancy room décor and her sister Zoe's LifeStages crate.

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Party at Jayke's Place!

(This is only a small representation of the entire group)

Literally.  I had the entire team plus some of their younger siblings in our "other" hotel room...aka..."Jayke's Place".  

After coming home from Colorado I had to turn around and go back to Carmel for a soccer game the very next day.  That, in itself, wasn't too bad but didn't leave much time for packing...or should I say RE-packing for the following weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Friday after we returned from our trip out west, we headed south to Louisville for a two day soccer tournament.  We got two hotel rooms, one for the 3 kids and one for us (Jeff and me).  Saturday we had two games and afterwards the entire team headed back to the hotel for swimming, a carry-in dinner, and then...party at Jayke's place.  He invited the entire team up to his hotel room for a "party".  I must have been temporarily out of my mind and agreed to this.  

All the kids made a break for the elevators and stairs before I could even blink.  I was trying to get up there with them so I could lay down some ground rules but kept getting hung up by more parents asking if they could, conveniently, send their kid up as well.  Sure!  The more the merrier...(wth was I thinking?)

I finally got up there and luckily, I had a key since I was unaware of the secret code word to get admission.  Once inside I was overwhelmed by the smell of kids who had been out playing soccer, swimming, eating garlic bread sticks, and running through the hotel.  They had turned the air conditioner off which helped contribute to the ripeness in that room.  After the smell hit me, the next thing I was aware of was that all the lights were off, there was a strobe light going, and they had chosen to listen to Eminem while all laying around on the beds and floor playing their tablets.  Pretty tame, as long as they kept the noise level down and the AC up.  Each kid had also brought host gifts, it appeared.  There was a collection of half eaten bags of Goldfish crackers, fruit roll ups, and other chosen snacks piled on the tv stand.  I also discovered that before I arrived there must have been a pretty intense Cheese ball war waged.  

I can't even imagine how people have more than two kids and keep their sanity.  I felt like a top, spinning around and around.  Picking up shoes, socks, cheese balls, orange coated wash clothes (from the cheese balls) and even a toothbrush and toothpaste.  I had kids coming at me from all angles asking questions, telling me things, and Jayke showing off by MOUTHING off and trying to usher me out of the room.  My main objective was to get them to understand they had to be quiet or the wheelchair bound gentleman in the room adjacent to theirs would likely get us removed from the premises.  Once it was down to a dull roar, I left for my room with one last order...they had to come tell me if they were leaving to go back to their room or any other reason.

I then made my way across the hall and down towards the elevator where I propped the door open and set up camp in a chair where I could see both the tv, and the hall way.  The party broke up not too long after it started.  They were in there maybe an hour before they all started heading to their own rooms, whether by their choice or their parent's.   All in all, it wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be.  We didn't get kicked out and all the lamps were still standing.  Everyone had to get to bed for an early morning game.  We played for the win in our bracket but, ultimately were eliminated and didn't advance.  We headed home in shock after rolling through the first day and only allowing one goal the entire tournament.   Too bad it was the one that put us out.

Precious!

Uncle Mark sent me this picture he took of my cherub at the wedding a few days after we got home.

Day 5: One for the Road

On the plane heading home...a selfie for the road!