Homesick

I hooked up one of our old computers and found a bunch of pictures that didn't transfer when we moved all of our stuff over. It made me homesick...for a home. Our own home. This summer and past 9 months have been much better than we expected, but I miss gatherings like this...

And my kids riding down the streets like this...

And these guys hanging out together....

and parties like these....

and this one.....
There is just something great about neighbors that can come out at any time. Visit, hang out, always knowing there will be some kind of block (or in our case, street) party going on, especially at the holidays. I miss the girls night in, and the buckets of kids.

Like I said I miss all those things, A LOT! But this summer hasn't been all bad, in fact it's been quite nice thanks to some awesome kids (and their mom's) who live just around the corner and have kept us all entertained from dusk 'till dawn. Who have provided us with playmates on the holidays and not holidays. Life has been in fact...good. I just miss the old. So much is changing and will keep changing. Many of those fun friends don't even live on that street any more. But they are still good friends to us.

Todd has an interview on Sept. 13th with a company call American Eagle. We are really praying hard for this one to work out. It pays better than Colgan and would probably put us in a much better location than Colgan. If things work out than it will for sure mean change by Jan. But, one step at a time.

Ok, time for me to stop reminiscing, the kids will be home soon and it will be time for homework and after school chores...something that I am sure will never change no matter where will live or what new friends we have made.

A list.

The boys are back in school now. The house is pretty quiet. Things stay clean. The boys like their teachers and are excited for math (who knew) and I'm happy. So who knew you could get SO many things done during the day when your not checking on 10 other kids...not that I have that many but when you combine all the neighbor kids...Well here's a list of things I have managed to accomplish in the past 4 days since school began.

-cleaned the house by 9:30 am every morning

-all the laundry caught up, and staying that way for 2 days now

-cleaned and organized 2 filing cabinets

-organized and cleaned entertainment center

-cleaned and organized white cupboard

-clean and organized 1 desk

-tried out a new store. Winco- results good.

-gone grocery shoping 2x's. Each trip taking less than 45 min. Nice.

-helped with homework

-got 4 parties with Pampered Chef set up

-dealt with one sick kid

-2 dr appointments. just check ups for Tobyns preschool

-answered "are my brothers home yet?" about 500 x's

- watch a few episodes of my new favorite show, Bones.

-cleaned the bathroom (deep clean, not just normal wipe down) 2x's

-organized my room

-washed sheets

-organized movies

-cut hair

-cleaned kids room

-gone for a run 3x's. One of those might have been combine with a really good walk ;-)

-gone swimming

-gone on a date with my hubby

-updated the blog a few times

and this list doesn't include all the normal day to day stuff, fixing lunch, dinner and breakfast, getting kids ready for school, me ready for the day, ect. Man, I will have one clean house in a few weeks. The time is nice though. I miss the kids a little , but it is SO nice to have things in a good routine again. I am working on some hobbies to fill my time so I can have my time also. I am sad to see summer go, but excited for the things school brings.

Swimming

Last week Connie promised the boys that they would go swimming with some friends as the last sha-bang before school started again. The day the went the weather did cooperate and there were thunderstorms all over so the pool was closed. They were supposed to go with the Hessing family.

It got moved to last Saturday and I got roped into going. I like swimming, but I like to go swimming when there is a cliff to jump off, rope swing to swing off, old boat house to ride a bike off (ah...the good old days), bridges and trees to jump out of, and boats or other fun things to ride in the water.

Getting to the point, our boys are fish and love to go to the pool. I don't really like the pool. While we were there, TC and Titus and their friends were over at the diving board, so I went over to see what was going on. I got challenged to dive off because some other old guy had just done it. So I did.

They were all blown away that I could do a swan dive. Next I tried to talk the boys into doing a flip. they all backed down with embarrassed "No's," and "I can't, I'll land on my back." Needless to say, they all got shown up by the old man...yep...I still got it. ;-)

Tate came to me not to long after that and was pretty upset about not being able to swim yet. He was embarrassed because he didn't want people to make fun of him for the fact that Tobyn was better at swimming then he was. He really wanted to go of the diving board like his brothers.

We spent a good half hour practicing how to swim to the surface once he jumped of the side. By this time he was getting really good and Tobyn showed up and wanted to go off the diving board too. They both practiced some more and got to the point that they could jump in the water, swim to the top, then swim 4-5 feet to the side without help from dad.

Now the both though they were ready for the big, bad low-dive. I talked to the lifeguard and got permission to be in the water to help to the side after they jumped in. They were both ecstatic with the news that they would get to go off the diving board. Tobyn was up first (only because he couldn't hold back the excitement and butted about 5 people.)

He climbs up the steps bouncing with joy, yelling at the girl that just went off to hurry so he could go. He comes strutting out to were the rail ends and stops, fear stricken and panicked. I tell him that he has to jump off the end and I'll help him swim to the side when he come back up. He gives me the look of death and turns around and gets off. Tate is now not sure what to think, Tobyn, fearless little brother Tobyn just came running back. He walks out the were the rail ends, same look as Tobyn and asks if he can jump into my arms? I told him he couldn't, that he'd have to jump off the end.

Unfortunately the line was building up behind him, and he decided not to jump. If the line wasn't so big I could have talked him into going off. They didn't get to go off the diving board, I don't think they were to bummed, but I loved spending the time with both of them practicing and would go every time to the pool if it helped them build their confidence levels.

First Day of School!

Happy First Day of School boys!

TC- 5th grade, Titus 4th and Tate 2nd

*picture was taken on my phone...really hope Todd gets a good idea to get me a DECENT camera for my bday...just hoping that's all...

Biesinger Family

This is a big part (several couldn't make it) of the Biesinger family. Thanks Julie for taking such a great picture of us. I'm so glad to be a part of a great family like this!