BUT I WANT TO WATCH "CUBS POST GAME LIVE!"

This is what my 5 year old just said to us.  I kid you not.

We were watching the Cubs hammer the Rockies.  It was the 6th inning and I told Josh he had to go to bed.  And this was his reply.  Jeremy and I are still chuckling.  This baseball obsession has gone a little far, don't you think?  How in the world can a 5 year old want to watch  a statical breakdown of a baseball game???  Now I know...some of you are going to say that he's just delaying bedtime.  And I will grant you, that is true to some extent.  But...if it was the middle of the afternoon he would actually be watching the post show. 

My day was comprised of interesting events like dropping kids at camp, picking them up from camp, taking them to their backyard bible club, getting Salomon's eyes tested, exercising, picking up the proofs for Hunter's senior pictures (I can't believe I just wrote that!), and taking Hunter and Salomon shopping at the outlet mall.  Not a bad day, all in all. 

Jona is in Camp Illini this week.  He goes from 9:30 - 3:00.  So far he's had a lot of fun... except for the tremendous downpour that caught us all off guard today.  He did NOT like getting that wet.  So much so, he vowed he was never going back to camp ever again.  As if the rain was the camp's fault. 

Josh is in Camp Goodtimes this week.  He was making a pirate boat with three other boys out of a paper plate, paper towel rolls, newspaper, tape and a plastic bag when I picked him up today.  They had to use all the materials they were given and their challenge was to make the boat that would stay afloat the longest in the camp.  It was quite interesting to watch him work cooperatively with the other boys.  He was actually the youngest and was truly helping.  I was surprised.

Jacob was in Camp Mean Green this week, or so I thought.  I dropped him off there on Monday at 9 and by 11 I was taking a call from the park district telling me that they did not have him registered.  I pulled out my registration card to assure them I was and noticed the date.... July 9.  I had registered him for the session that begins in two weeks.  Sheepishly, I quickly left to pick him up.  He was not happy with me.  So.... Backyard bible club for him and Josh will have to do.  They attend that in the afternoon around the corner from our home. 

Hunter is off of football this week.  We are all glad for the break.  He's spending his week resting, doing his summer reading and helping around the house.

Lost another pound this week too.  Slow but steady...

Contrary to Popular Belief...

I have not passed away.  I have not vanished.  And I have not given up on Xanga.  I have no explanation for why I have not posted other than the usual general busyness.  I usually make my posts at night but since mother's day the nights have been long and full and by the time everyone is in bed I am just too tired.

This is the case once again tonight but I have a wee bit of energy left that I hope to take advantage of to complete a post. 

I have also been discouraged because I have been trying to upload some great pictures and just keep running into one problem after another. So..now...how do I get across the most information in the least amount of time to get you caught up on life at the T household?  Let me try the list method...  Noncreative, I'll grant you but effective, nonetheless.

1.  All the boys passed their classes and advanced to the next grade level.  Well, technically.  Josh did pass Kindergarten but we have chosen to have him repeat this grade.  Though able to read, count past 1000 and play a full football and baseball game by himself, he's still a bit developmentally behind his peers.  Hunter will be a senior at Aurora Christian, Jacob will be in fifth grade...his last year in elementary school, and Jona will be in 2nd grade.  For the first time, the three little boys will be in the same school.  How nice!

2.  Jacob and Jona left school the last week of May with one week left, flew to join their grandmother, Georgia Lee at her place on the Ohio River and then they then drove to Norfolk and have been there since.  It sounds like they have had a wonderful time and not missed home much at all.  Having only two children has nearly been the equivocal of having none.  At least it seems that way.  It's been so peaceful and easy and we have enjoyed the extra time to focus on the two here without feeling like we are neglecting the others.  Georgia Lee and Arch have done a wonderful job of thoroughly spoiling the boys, no doubt.  They feel very loved and safe there and that gives me such peace of mind.  I am very grateful for them.

3.  No sooner had school ended for Hunter that Hunter's Sr. year of football began.  Generally, he has weightlifting and chalk talk on MWF and then running, hitting, and play running on Tu and Th.  This schedule has him up at 5 off to school at 6 and home again around 11.  He will get about two weeks off, one next week and one at the end of July, to rest.  This schedule, though grueling at times is very good for him.  It keeps him on a disciplined scheduled, keeps him exercising and eating right and not sleeping him summer away.  He is still not back driving since the accident so that means that I am the taxi driver for these practice days.  For the first time however, I have had a bit of help.  There is a new freshman on the team that lives in a town about 15 minutes away that's joined the team.  So we have tried to carpool a bit and that has helped.

4.  We have been blessed to know a new friend of Hunter's.  Salomon, a foreign exchange student from France, ended up living about 5 minutes away with a friend of his mother's until another host family could be located for him.  He also joined the football team so we have been giving him rides and getting to know him in the process.  He's funny, kind, very tall (6'6), loves God and makes life exciting.  I expect he'll be spending quite a bit of time with us this summer.

5.  My weight loss campaign continues.  Though the actual loss has slowed a bit, I have yet to gain back one pound!  I have had tests that have shown the actual fat mass/muscle mass transfer and I have watched my basic metabolic rate increase on these same tests.  It's been almost as rewarding as the new clothes I have had to buy.  As much as I still hate doing it, I am convinced it is the core work and weights that have made the difference.  I am coming to grips with the fact that this is going to be a one to two year process to get down to my goal.  I was depressed by this at first but I am beginning to view it as a marathon and have settled into the idea now.

Well, I think I have run out of things to say....or else the lights just went out and now no one's home.... and if I had to bet, I'd guess it's the latter.  So, at this point...I will try those pictures again and see how far I get...