Ten for Tuesday 6.30.09 Nine Lives Edition

I know this is late, but it's been hard to get back into the Tuesday groove. Plus, Reed needed the computer last night. . .

I'm feeling a bit crazy right now. This summer just might cost me my sanity. Will I survive my kids? Not sure. Stay tuned. . .

1. Let's all breathe a great sigh of relief that baseball season is over. Anyone? Anyone?

2. A couple of weeks ago my brother Ryan and brother-in-law Zach took Ty to see the air show. Ty went back and forth between saying "This is freaking awesome!" to "This is freaking boring!" I think he felt pretty special to be able to go along and spend time with Zach and Ryan, and I think he had a lot of fun.

3. Having a sale seems to be the thing to do around our neighborhood. Michael is constantly coming home and asking for money because some kid down the road is selling something. Michael had grand ideas about how much money he could make if he had a sale of his own, and he begged me for weeks to do one. I finally rounded up a bin full of old toys and let him have at it. It was raining on the day he decided to have his sale, so he didn't get much business, but we saved the bin for the next time he wants to do it again.

4. My poor rose tree in the back yard came in so big and full this year that it could not stand up at all. Reed and I kept trying to stake it up, but it just would not work, so I finally went out and trimmed it way back.

I brought the clippings in and put them here,

and here,

and here.

They were gorgeous while they lasted---which, by the way, was not long enough! It kind of made me wish that I could have the same problem next year so that I could fill my house with beautiful blooms again. But, they were so messy (I learned the tree has aphids---yuck) that I don't think I'll do it again.

5. Reed and Ty had their last day of Champ Camp (where the kids learn soccer, baseball and basketball) on Saturday. They both had a lot of fun doing this together. In fact, Reed had so much fun he thinks maybe he needs to have his own Champ Camp with Michael and Ty on the weekends so they can learn all of his skills!

6. I decided to make Strawberry jam, so I bought a bunch of strawberries from Costco and got them all ready, and then I decided to check out in the garden and see if I had any to add to the mix. I came in from the garden with a huge bowl full! We've never gotten this many strawberries before. Anyway, the result was a LOT of jam!

This is only a third of what I made.

7. On Thursday I took the kids out to the Arts Festival. I had fun looking at the different booths, and the kids had fun in the art yard. We all had fun, but I was totally exhausted by the time we left. I was also glad I didn't lose one of the kids in the crowd! Those kinds of things are hard to do with only one adult and three kids! I was definitely out numbered.

8. On Friday I went with my mom to the Gem Faire. Wow. I have never seen anything like it. There were more beads in one room than I could have ever imagined. If you are into jewelry making, this is totally the place to go. Me, I was just overwhelmed by the possibilities. When there are too many choices my brain goes overboard!

9. In other news. . . this whole digital conversion thing has thrown me for a loop. I knew the TV we got for Christmas would be fine, and I assumed the TV in our bedroom was new enough that it would work after the switch too. I figured I'd chance it. I thought that if it didn't work, no big deal. I can live without a TV in my room for awhile. What I didn't count on was my VCR going bust. I was all excited to curl up on the couch and watch SYTYCD, but all I got from my tape was a fuzzy screen. What?! Oh, I was mad! The stupid VCR can't record on digital stations! Argh! So, I was grumpy for a couple of weeks while I missed my show, but I think I've got it all fixed now, and fingers crossed I can watch it tonight!

10. Last but not least. . . this is the boy with nine lives. Ty has recently learned how to ride his bike without training wheels. He's very proud of his new skills, and he loves the freedom it's given him. The problem is that he won't follow any of the bike rules such as "stay out of the street," "always wear your helmet," and "stay close to home." On Friday night he broke all the rules, and got stuck out on the frontage road in the middle of a huge rain storm. I was out searching the neighborhood, and luckily came home right in time to get a message from some nice stranger who picked up Ty and brought him home. Oh, I can't tell you how many times I have feared for that child's life, not to mention the times I've wanted to strangle him myself. He's grounded from his bike for the rest of his life, so you'll have to wait awhile to see a picture of him riding without training wheels.

Doesn't he look so innocent?