Yellow Light...

What does YELLOW mean on the traffic control signal?
Drivers usually fall in to one of two categories.
When the light goes from Green to YELLOW do you:
              A) DROP THE HAMMER, hope for the best and see what the Vortec engine has left in it after 150,000+ miles, 3 kids and their accompanying carseats, 2 dogs, and endless runs through any and all drive thru windows.
                                     OR
              B) exercise caution, cover your brake and slow your motor vehicle down safely behind the white line that protects you from oncoming traffic.

Lately I've been so busy with life - we've been so busy with life - that I haven't noticed "the light change from Green to Yellow." The pool closed for the season and with it another football season started. Another school year began with all of the fanfare and excitement that a 4th grader and a 1st grader can muster. Our "volunteerism cup" runneth over. House chores never went away and the days didn't suddenly get chronologically shorter. So why then, at the end of most days, do my wife and I giggle in hysterics only because we are too tired to know otherwise?
Life has been a hundred miles an hour. We are constantly on the go and have refrigerator calendars that regulate and delegate to our other refrigerator calendars. Without so much as a moment to breathe, Michele and I are doing our best to stay positive and stay active but if we maintain a pace like this something is surely to give.
The light is turning YELLOW.
The competitive drive inside us makes us think we are invincible. We just need to DROP THE HAMMER and press on through to the next challenge but in reality we know what we want to do.
Time to - exercise caution, cover your brake and slow your motor vehicle down safely behind the white line that protects you from oncoming traffic.
                                                            **********************
The rugrats made us breakfast in bed on Sunday morning. Logan and I spent a lot of time in the woods last weekend listening to barn owls and recharging our own batteries. Mom & Emma got in on some retail therapy and even got my baby girl's ears pierced. Big happening in their little worlds too. Emma got voted on to the Student Council. Logan won a gift certificate to East Central Sanitation which he promptly turned in to $20 bucks - straight cash homie.
Our weekends are precious. For now, it seems like the only time that we can take some time to enjoy the ride. The rest of the time we're just hanging on.
It's good to have responsibilities some times... but some times a guy just wants to sleep in.

Planning.....

Kirby left Thursday night for a BWCA trip with cousin Ryan for a few days this memorial day weekend.  Hopefully he's out in the middle of nowhere doing what he does best.....talking the ears off of Ryan and doing some fishing, enjoying nature (Insert Ted Nugent Call of the Wild  tv show music and cue the American flag blowing in the wind.)

When he first mentioned this trip about a month ago.....My first thought was that I didn't want him to go. I enjoy that 'last' weekend at home with all of us together before summer starts and we are busy with the pool, tball, softball, volleyball, hockey camps, camping, Warroad, etc...    Then I realized that the kind hubby of mine didn't blink an eye when I sent him an email on a snowy, Tuesday morning asking him if I could leave for Mexico on Saturday.   I figured I better return the favor.

It amazes me how much planning and preparing a man can do for a 3 day trip into the wilderness-4 weeks ahead of the trip.

I've witnessed this feat before with various fishing and hunting trips throughout the years so it shouldn't surprise me to be honest.  

Until I realized that..........my husband can't plan a date night.

I've endured numerous phone calls from Ryan and other friends for planning purposes. Emails have been exchanged, pictures, thoughts, advice, concerns and everything else under the sun has been discussed. (At least 3 times by various people)    My husband has spent numerous hours on the IPad searching and reading and learning about the BWCA and the trip he was about to experience.   Before even setting foot on that land-I guarantee he knows everything there is to know about it.

It took him 3 trips to Walmart and the local grocery store before he had his food ready.  He spent 3+ hour packing his clothes and fishing gear.

Which leads me back to my original thought.......my husband does not have the ability to find a babysitter, take me out to dinner and maybe, just maybe a movie or some other sort of entertainment after.     Can someone explain that to me?  

I  jokingly mentioned this fact to him the other day and his reply was, "I'll take you out on a fishing date?"

Point taken.

My Beauty Sleep. 

Each morning my 6^th grade students have come to expect their daily dose of Current Events. Carl Azuz and CNN Student News have done a great job of bringing world news to school age kids. They creatively and poignantly deliver relevant stories and informative pieces in a timely fashion. Today, one of their stories spoke directly to me.

Today’s piece explored why some American’s don’t get enough sleep despite knowing that they need more. Statistics flashed across the screen on how children should get 10-11 hours of sleep a night. Teenagers: 8.5+ hours and Adults 7-9. The reliable reporting went on to discuss possible reasons and data relating to success at school/workplace and healthier life choices in general. Did you know that 45% of men say that, “People can learn to live with less sleep.” Apparently, that’s a myth.

One thing that CNN failed to recognize as a major contributor to sleep depravation…

The Playoffs.

The STANLEY CUP Playoffs.

The Center for Disease Control explained how depression, anxiety and even obesity directly correlate to the lack of appropriate sleep. Maybe the Center for Disease control could put a note in to NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, and suggest some earlier start times to these playoff games. I know that the WILD loss late last night to the Buzzsaw that is the Chicago Blackhawks can be blamed on some depression and anxiety in my life. Obesity? Maybe that’s going a little too far but I do confess that my chunky butt sat on the couch and peeled off 4 Freezie Pops while watching the WILD unsuccessfully try to capitalize on plenty of powerplay attempts. In to the late night, the boys battled and I held out hope that “we” were going to get a bounce. We were hanging with them, even if the rest of my household had been asleep for hours already.

Today, I’m tired.

Memory problems - Heart Problems… this morning the report went on. More sleep could help putting our lives back on a healthier track. But I don’t think CNN understands…

My Team NEEDS me.

It’s the Playoffs!

http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/index.html

It's a Wrap.

My First YouTube Video - the kid's 2012-2013 Hockey Season in review...a chance for me to play with iMovie on the iPad and a chance for me to brag (share) about my kids...it was a lot of fun for everyone.
Enjoy

Happy Birthday to me.....

 

In case you missed it.....my birthday was last Friday.  Don't worry, I'm still accepting presents and cards.

 

Early in the week I received my usual sarcastic card from my brother Jeff....

 

Then a sappy one from my Mom and my Dad....

 

And a few others from family members and friends.

 

Thursday night I came home from my bowling league (doesn't that make me sound old?) and found that Logan was still awake and wanting to be tucked in.  As I was saying good night he mentioned that his tummy hurt and wanted me to take his temperature. I told him that he should get some sleep and that in the morning I would take his temperature. He agreed and soon was fast asleep.

 

Well, until 1am he was.  Thankfully I have a 'Mom' censor that alerts me when my kids are going to puke, on the stairs at 1am in the morning.   I jumped out of bed, turned on the hallway light (that shines directly on Kirby's face who is still sound asleep in our bedroom), grabbed Logan off the stairs and got him to the bathroom before round 2 started.   Yuck.

 

In between 'rounds' I got up and kindly asked Kirby to get up and help. He was laying in bed squinting while he was sleeping.......Dad's must not have that 'puke' censor that Moms have??

 

After getting Logan settled on the couch and comfortable, Kirby worked on the damage done to our carpeted stairs.   I don't think any magic eraser would get rid of that stain that ranged from stair #8 down to stair #2.  

 

Logan still wasn't feeling well and just about the time Kirby gave up on the stairs, Logan went another round in the bathroom.   Watching your kid puke is probably one of the hardest parenting moments.  You know how bad is sucks and feel so bad that they are going through it but at that same moment, you are so proud of them for being tough and just getting through it.  Logan is one tough kid.  When he was 'done' he immediately cracked a joke that made us both laugh.

 

Around 2:45am, Logan was asleep on the couch with a bucket and towel.  Kirby and I creeped back into bed for some sleep hoping he was done for the night.

 

4:30--MOM PUKE ALERT!!! MOM PUKE ALERT!!!! MOM PUKE ALERT!!!  I jumped up and got to Logan just as he was finishing--half in the bucket and half on his blanket.   Poor kid.   And a load of laundry goes in downstairs.   (Kirby missed this one- is anyone surprised at that fact?)

 

So, my birthday was spent at home, hanging out with Logan making sure he was comfortable.  We watched a few movies, he took a nap and it was a low key day. 

 

I had a birthday lunch planned with a friend, we had dinner plans to go out to my favorite Mexican restaurant....neither of those happened.

 



Instead I spent the day making sure that my little boy was hydrated and loved.  I got to spend the day in my pj's and not at work.  I got to enjoy some peace and quiet on my 36th birthday.

 

Kirby and Emma came home later that night and I opened a few handpicked gifts from the people that love me the most.  No birthday cake tonight..... 

 

Saturday morning I woke up to find this bow on my dinning room table.......I guess it was Kirby's birthday too.  

 

 

 

Thankfully, I'm a year older and wiser. Logan is a healthy, happy kid once again.  The stairs were stripped naked on Sunday by myself (girl power!)   And all is back to normal with the Kirby Krew.

 

 

 

I'm a lucky lady.

Who is now closer to 40 than 30...gulp!

 

 



He's a Savant... and he's done it again!

Bear w/ 33" Northern
East Rush Lake 1/30/13
Age 6

1st Walleye
Snake River
Age 2

His brother and sister were swimming... he wanted another bass.

Showing Poppa Tom how it's done.
Crosslake Crappie 2010
Age 3

Lake of the Woods Walleye
ICED 2011

26" Walleye July 2011
"all by myself"

Is that a Marlin?

"I got this one....ohh baby."

LOTW Sauger -Like a Pro
-28 degrees Feb. 2012

 Smallies on the Snake

This is my world.

Say what you will... this kid loves to fish.....he's patient....he's studious and and he's good at it too....
They don't have to be big ones to get this kid's attention. He loves the challenge.
          His grandfather says, "If you catch Big Fish, you have earned the right to tell tall tales!"
                                                            Logan catches BIG FISH.

The hugs that I've gotten from my son immediately after he's landed (and most often times released) these fish is worth more to me than all of the money in the World. I'm so proud of him. Doctor's have proven though that it's a genetic mutation found in some Kirby Kids... X-rays have shown.....

                                                                         He was born for this.

SCORE!!!

Do you remember way back when I was blogging about how my kids were in hockey and it was fun and I enjoyed watching them play but I WAS not a hockey fan?

Fast forward a year later.....

The kids had their outdoor jamboree this past weekend. Yes, I said OUTDOOR.  Which means that their games were held outside and as a parent cheering their child that meant I was outside as well.  I have a strong dislike for cold and winter.

Emma is playing on an all girls team this year. They have special jerseys and pink hats and love screaming, "lady dragons."  She's one of the older girls on the team but it's only her 2nd year of skating still.

Logan is on his second year as well and playing on the Mite D black team. He's still short but he's a year smarter and is probably the best skater on his team. (not that I'm bragging...but I am) He can pretty much score at will during his games, in fact, he scored 4 times in a matter of one shift I think.

Emma, however, is a little different story this year. Her team is in the predicament in which they are playing older skaters who have been skating a year or two or more  than the girls on the lady dragon team.  Scoring isn't as plentiful for the team so far but they sure are improving and that's what you want to see as a parent.

Emma tends to be more 'defensive' minded when she is skating. She LOVED playing goalie in her last game, owning the net and blocking anyone that dared try to put the puck in her net. She enjoys hanging back on defense and helping the goalie out and challenging anyone who brings the puck on her end of the rink.

This weekend however, I gently reminded her that she could look to score a little bit more and work on that part of the game.  She hasn't scored yet this year and took my suggestion to heart. 

However that darn pipe got in her way!!!!  Emma had 4 good looks at the net on Saturday and each shot went 'clang' right off the right pipe.  She was so close and after the 4th time even she shook her head in dismay of coming that close that many times.

Sunday brought the last game of the jamboree and once again, Emma was focused on helping out on defense but we gradually saw her creep closer and closer to the opponents net looking to score. 

Then it happened....Emma was on the right wing and was looking to center the puck and her centering pass snuck right in-pass the goalie.

All I remember doing is throwing both my hands straight up in the air and shouting out something that is not part of the English language. The other hockey Mom's beside me were cheering and clapping as well. I remember looking at Emma with her stick in the air  as she was skating back to her position for the face off with a big mouth guard grin under her facemask.

And here's the sappy Mom part............I seriously had tears in my eyes.

It was a moment of pure joy and celebration.

I am a hockey fan now.

(Sorry for the lack of pictures. Blogger is working on a bug to fix this)