Bits and Pieces from the week

It's been a busy week. I'm looking forward to the long weekend. Some things that happened this week:

* Cole decided to wipe out on the pavement. Unfortunately he gets his coordination from me, his mother. No.... He there was no exciting bike wreck, no collision between brothers, etc. He was just walking outside on the driveway and tripped over his own feet. Poor thing. He gets it from me. It takes talent to not only fall down the stairs, but to trip UP them as well. No hope for him I'm afraid. He wasn't too thrilled when I decided to make this little accident a "Kodak moment." Now, he proudly displays his "road rash" to just about anyone. Oh and he was heard saying (about his "boo boo") "I LOVE it!." BOYS!

* Jonas this week was complaining about an unruly child in his class. He said... "Mom, I'm POSITIVE he forgot to take his medicine this morning!"

* We had pizza and movie night last night. We've been taking turns picking some of the "old" movies that we remember watching growing up. This week's was "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The COOL version with Gene Wilder, not the weird one with Johnny Depp. Don't get me wrong... I love me some Capt. Jack, but he is and never will be Willy Wonka to me. Anyways, Cole was watching it with me and the part where Wonka takes them on that weird boat ride, he turns and tells me he's not going to watch this part. I asked him... "Why is it a little scary?" He said... "No, it's a LOT scary!"

*We were driving around town running some errands and Jeremiah out of nowhere says.. " I was just thinking.... I wonder if I can get a job as a candy taster when I grow up?" Now keep in mind, this was before we watched the Willy Wonka movie. In fact, I believe it's what gave us the idea in the first place. This, of course, is the kid that woke me up one morning when he was three. I heard some noise in the kitchen and there he was standing with the refrigerator door open and DRINKING the Hershey syrup out of the bottle.

* Last thing... Jonas and I went out on a date Thursday evening. We got a babysitter and went to O'Charley's. I was really nice! Before we left, Jonas told the boys he's pay them 10 cents for every pile of crab grass they pulled out of the yard. Our yard is covered in the stuff. We got back after being gone just a short time and our driveway was lined with PILES and PILES of the crab grass. Whoever said money isn't an incentive? Needless to say my husband is about $20 poorer. :)

Ups and Downs

I'm sitting here watching the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics as I type this. I just love the Olympics. I remember watching as a little kid. Probably the first one I remember watching was the '88 games is Seoul, Korea. I only would've been about 10 years old. I remember watching Greg Louganis dive. Is that the same games where he cracked his head on the diving board? I can't quite remember. I really got into the Winter games in '92 when Paul Wylie won his silver medal. Yeah... just Silver, but it was amazing. He wasn't expected to come close. I remember Shannon Miller winning the Silver Medal that same year in Barcelona. In '96 who doesn't remember Kerri Strugg and the famous vault? She was a part of the "magnificent 7" women's gymnastics team that won the team gold in Atlanta. There have been many exciting moments in Beijing. Michael Phelps winning a record 8 gold medals, (I was jumping up and down in my living room several times during the swimming competitions! Talk about close!) Nastia Liukin winning the all around gold, the women's volleyball team winning the gold medal and a record 108 matches, the Men's basketball team or the "redeem team" so they called it, Dara Torres competing at her age and still winning silver while showing superb sportsmanship to her competitor who had a torn swimsuit, Shawn Johnson FINALLY getting that gold medal after coming in second so many times.... There were some disappointments as well.... Track and Field not even qualifying for the finals of the relay, the one gymnast that kept missing her routines and probably cost us the gold, some of our swimmers not even making the finals, the Chinese track star plagued with an injury and feeling as though he had let down a nation, etc. I love hearing the individual stories of the athletes, their trials, heartache, and hard work. Through adversity and perseverance, the amazing feats they are able to accomplish. I love the Olympic spirit.
This has been a week filled with many ups and downs. On one hand the kids have started school, I've started back into scouts, work is picking up for Jonas, and our family has gotten into their everyday routines. Life is good. Then we get some bad news. One of our dearest friends and a coworker of my husband was diagnosed this week with terminal brain cancer. He has a wife and three children. I was sick when my husband told me. How can someone seemingly be so healthy and have a hidden germ inside them? He had a surgery on Friday to remove the tumor. He is doing remarkably well, but is obviously not the same. He is good man and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. For example: His wife was telling me that they would be eating at a restaurant and see an elderly couple eating. He would ask their server for their ticket and pay for their meal. He would then tell them on their way out... "I don't get to take my grandparents out to lunch anymore, so I'd like to take you out to lunch instead!" Those random acts of kindness were just normal for our friend. Now begins a long road of healing and rehabilitation. The doctors gave him two years. I think of the Olympians preparing for a meet or a gold medal game, etc. How many times does the underdog win? I think of the Men's swimming relay. They weren't favored for gold, just when it looked like they were going to lose the race, they came back fighting, using their last boost of energy and ended up winning. Attitude is important. Doctors can say what they "think" a man's time left on earth is. Do they really know? I believe it's all according to someones determination, will , and desire. Will he win the race? Only time will tell. I do know one thing for sure... if we could all be a little more charitable, a little more kind, putting ourselves in the service of others, working hard, and determined to do what is good..... I believe we will be at the top of the podium one day. May a little bit of the Olympic spirit burn inside all of us.

Back to School

Today was the first day of school. I remember when we used to start the day after Labor day. They start earlier and earlier every year. It was time though. My boys were beginning to be couch potatoes. Honestly, if I had to watch one more episode of Sponge Bob, I think I'd have to do something drastic. We went out on tax free weekend and bought all of the necessities. They got new clothes, new shoes, and all of their supplies. I am beginning to think that the August school preparations are worse than Christmas. It is so expensive. Last night as we put them to bed, they were excited to wake up, meet their new teacher and see their friends. They even woke up EARLY! I give that, oh, about a week. Then I'll be dragging them out of bed and the whining and complaining will begin! I took their pictures before they left. Jeremiah got his taken at his desk. Jonas, being a 4th grader, was too embarrassed. Sigh. I just can't believe I have a 4th grader, a first grader and a preschooler. Time really does fly. It didn't seem like that when I was growing up. I picked them up and both said they had a great day! They liked their teachers and are anxious to go back tomorrow. Jeremiah told me about the fun things in his classroom and Jonas told me that the best part of his day was at recess when he just "talked" to all of his friends. He said they just walked and walked around the track and said what they had been doing all summer. I hope they keep good friends. I recently got reacquainted with an old friend from elementary school thanks to Facebook. We hadn't seen or heard from each other in about 18 years. Isn't that crazy? She has a husband, a daughter and is a journalist. It's been fun to reconnect with her and it has brought back many memories of my school days. I remember a lot about 1st grade and even more about 4th. It's funny to think I have kids that age now and they will one day be looking back on their school days as I am. I hope they continue to make many good choices and in turn have many good memories.