September 2019

September 1st I finished painting the bathroom cabinets.  We are one step closer to having the beach bathroom done.  We just need to put the window sill back together and decorate with all the fun stuff we have been collecting.  

The cabinets look SOOOOO much better now that they are painted.  

President Page came to visit with Jeremy and make sure he was doing okay.  I love that we have a Stake President who makes himself available to everyone.  

September 2nd was the annual Cross Country Run and Breakfast at the Howlett's home.  The kids all go for a run while the parents get to know each other and reconnect.  When they get back we have a big breakfast and celebrate the beginning of the season.  

The cross country team.  

Naomi found out that her drawing (below) won 3rd place in a contest she entered.  She was so excited because so has entered quite a few of these online contests and her art has never won before.  

The winning picture

Steve got home from a great trip to Colorado late on the 2nd.  We were glad to have him home.  

September 3rd I gave a lesson on the Beattitudes.  I used a webinar that President Fear had done to review the "Blessed are the..." verses and I think the kids liked it.  

After seminary I took Beatswalkin in to get the fan looked at.  Nick had noticed that the air conditioning was working and asked us to check it out.  It was the fan that was not turning on.  Nick didn't think it was a huge deal until I pointed out that without a fan he could not defrost his windows.  It was an easy fix and everything is much better now. 

I got to go to lunch with Jill after dealing with the car.  It was fun to spend some time just talking and reconnecting.  She is so much fun to be around.  

That night we bought a new freezer.  Our old one (17 years and barely going) was showing signs of a slow and painful death.  Steve had found a freezer that was on sale and seemed to fit what we needed.  It was an upright (a must after dealing with the chest freezer for 17 years!!!) and I fell in love the moment I saw it.  YAY!!

September 5th Jeremy did not have to work so we spent the day together.  We started of with a walk and mowing the lawn.  After cleaning up we did some grocery shopping and stopped by Krispy Kreme to try their new pumpkin spice donut that is filled with cheesecake.  It was a good as it sounds. We couldn't resist getting a full dozen and sharing with the family.  It was a fun day.  

September 6th Killingsworth came to do the annual inspection and insect protection renewal.  I always use this as a time to clean out the garage.  Since they need to see the walls and our garage is packed to the max, I move everything into the center of the garage so the walls are easily accessible.  It is a win-win.  They see the walls and the garage gets organized.  An added bonus this year - no mouse nest!!

The 6th was also the first home football game of the season.  The Knight Riders were playing which meant that I got to go and watch the game as well.  It was fun to hear the band.  They have really improved since last year -- our football team, not so much.  At least the band and cheerleaders were good.  

Band moms

September 7th we went to the Greekfest in Charlotte.  This was the first year we were all able to go and it did not disappoint.  Naomi finally got to try some baklava.  The dancing and music was amazing.  We had lamb gyros for lunch.  I would say it was a great day.  

They are crazy!

That night we got to be part of a music video for Kevin Brawley.  I will be sure to post the information where you can view the video when it is completed.  Below are some photos I took while we were waiting between shots.  

The moon was just coming out at twilight. 

Naomi playing in the water

Nick chilling for a minute

Jeremy taking advantage of a quiet moment.

Water, waves and a sparkler.  She is a happy girl. 

September 8th we let Nick play hookie from church in order to join his friends on an end-of-summer outing to the Carrigan Farms Quarry Swimming Hole.  When we got to church and picked up the program this is what we saw:

Notice the youth speaker

Nick had totally forgotten he was supposed to speak in church.  Steve and I decided it was a good thing that Nick wasn't even there because he would have worried himself sick and felt really bad about forgetting.

He has a street named after him!

September 10th I subbed and got to help the kids make music videos.  They rewrote the lyrics to popular songs with information from history and then created a video.  It was fun to watch.   I also got to hold Sansa the hedgehog again.  

September 11th I took the truck in for a check-up and went shopping with Jeremy.  We got all the ingredients to make gyros.  This could be a new tradition for our family.  

September 12th I finally decided that the new sliding glass door was really not sliding as easily as it should and did a little investigation.  There were rub marks on the bottom rail and it was bothering me that it was so hard to open and close.  Sure enough, the wheels underneath the door were at their lowest setting.  I got the screwdriver out and raised the door up about half an inch and the door slides much easier now.   From that point I decided why stop while I am on a roll (ba dum dum, tsch).  I fixed the screen door as well and it is so much better.  We have a fully functional door now.  

September 13th was also a full moon.  I expected the kids to be climbing the walls at school, but they were actually really good, thank goodness.  Naomi and I came home from school and found Nick completely and soundly asleep on the living room floor.  He must have had a hard day and all the cross country practicing was finally catching up.  We left him asleep on the floor and went to Kohls to find a birthday present for one of Naomi's friends.  She also picked out some really cute clothes.  She is trying out a new look and it works for her.  I haven't taken any pictures of her in her new outfits  yet, but they will be coming soon.  

September 14th the band went into uptown and played for the Purple Stride 5K for benefit pancreatic cancer.  Maureen O'Boyle was there from the news.  She filmed the Knight Riders and interviewed Mr. Scaringelli.  It was a really cool day.  Below are some of the pictures I took. 

After helping the band at the 5k we went Halloween shopping with Naomi.  She needed a couple of items to complete her costume.  Another problem we wanted to solve was a comfortable place for me to read.  The couch in the living room was frequently being used and was, therefore, not the best place to get in some quiet reading.  The bean bag chair I stole from Nick when he decided he didn't want it anymore was desperately in need of more bean.  We tried to find bean bag refill and that was proving expensive so we stopped by Ikea to see what they had in the way of comfortable seating.  For less than it would cost to refill the bean bag chair we found this!  (see below)

My new place to sit and read - the only problem now is that everyone else likes to sit in it for some comfy, quiet time.  

That night, Naomi was at a birthday party and Nick went to a movie night with his friends so Steve, Jeremy and I went to Bad Daddy's for dinner and then to find a coat for Jeremy.  It was nice to just have a night to spend with Jeremy and catch up on what he has been doing.  We don't see him much now that he has a job and is in school and has a car. 

September 15th Nick had to go into work and help close up the pool for the year.

September 17th we got our new freezer.  Naomi and I had a blast loading it up.  We are in love with the fact that you can see everything that is in there without having to move the top layer. 

September 19th was the last Young Women in Excellence since the program will be changing at the first of the year.  It was a red carpet event and the girls all wore their best.  Some of them were even in prom dresses.  Since it was an e-learning the next day, Bella got to spend the night with us.         

Naomi is not in this picture, but I love that these girls love our bishop so much.  He is in the center.  

Nick got to help serve the young ladies all night.  

We also got to bring Sansa home with us for the weekend.  That was an adventure to have a hedgehog in the house.               

Isn't she cute?!

September 20th was an e-learning day so we spent the morning in our jammies and had a hot breakfast.  That night Nick went to the powderpuff game with his friends. 

September 21st Nick ran in the Freedom Invitational.  He placed 8th in the JV race and got a medal.  He was only 14 seconds away from lettering.  He is really enjoying cross country and gets better with every race.

Waiting for the race to start

Coming in to the finish line nice and strong.  

Chilling after the race while waiting for the awards ceremony.  

Getting his medal.  

After the race I went shopping with Julie to get a birthday present for our friend, Sara.  We had so much fun picking out things that would make Sara's birthday extra special.  She them came back to the house to meet Sansa.  Her kids have been begging for a hedgehog and she sent them all a picture of her little friend.   

Naomi's Halloween mask.  She made it from scratch. I am constantly amazed by her talent.  

September 25th Nick got his full license.  WOOHOO!!

September 28th Nick finished the race in 19:08.  He is 8 seconds away from lettering and can see that it is a possibility.  He REALLY wants it now.  It was a hard, hilly course and he led his group from LNC the whole race. 

While the boys were gone (Steve and Nick to the race and Jeremy at work) Naomi and I attacked their rooms.  We folded clothes, made beds, dusted and vacuumed.  We also got the drinks together for our night at the French's.  They were fixing dinner and we were bringing the fancy drinks.  This whole night was centered around watching the movie "Yesterday".  We wanted to see it together in the theater over the summer but couldn't get out schedules to match up while it was playing.  This night was so much fun.  I am glad that Nick has such a good friend as Devon.  

September 30th I gave the hands-on lesson about the crucifixion.  I remember doing this in seminary and it has lasted in my vivid memory all these years.  The teacher brought in a beam that would have been the same size of the one they used for Jesus's cross.  He had us feel the weight of the beam and imagine carrying that through the streets of Jerusalem after being whipped and mocked and beaten.  We then got to hammer a huge nail into the wood to get a feel for the amount of force they had to use to drive those nails through the Savior's hands and feet.  To this day I still feel the reverberation going up my arm as I took my turn to hammer the nail.  We read the scriptures and watched videos of the whole experience and interspersed the activities through out.  I hope the kids were able to feel and hear and truly understand what the Savior went through for them.  

I had my yearly physical and I am still healthy.  I also got to go to lunch with Sandra.  We went to Tacos for Life since she had never been there before.  I love catching up with her.  We always have fun when we get together.  

SCHOOL PICTURES

August 2019

August 1st was cross country try-outs.  Nick was ready for this day.  He had trained all summer long and had a goal to make the Varsity team.  In order to make the Varsity team he had to be one of the top 7 runners.  I was counting the runners as they came in and Nick did it.  He was number 7.  He was guaranteed a spot on the Varsity team for at least the first race of the season and he was really excited.   

He was so excited.  

After try-outs we ran home and he got showered and cleaned up for senior pictures.  I can't believe he is already a senior.  Where did the time go?!??!?

He looked so handsome in his tux top. I will include the final pictures when I get them.  

After pictures Nick and I went grocery shopping.  He loves to help pick out the meals we will have during the week. I welcome his help because he watches cooking shows and has great suggestions.  Back at home we edged and mowed the lawn and helped Jeremy with his resume.  It was a full day and we all fell into bed exhausted.

August 2nd I decided that it was time to clean the couches.  They were 12 years old and in desperate need from years of little kids and two years of seminary.  After we finished the couches, Naomi and I went school clothes shopping.  We always have fun and find really cute stuff.  She will be going back to school in style this year.

August 3rd Nick showed me a "spider bite" he had on his upper thigh. It was really inflamed and red and looked really scary.  I immediately took him to Urgent Care.  The doctor said it sounded like a spider bite but looked like MRSA and put Nick on an antibiotic with instructions to return to have it drained if it didn't look better in three days.  That night we went to the Todd's house for a game night.  They are always a blast to hang out with.

This beauty arrived in the mail from Mom.  It is for our beach-themed bathroom.  I can't wait to get it up on the wall.  

August 4th, Julie Todd came over and I helped her alter some sundresses for their trip to Europe.  They are going to visit where her daughter went on her mission as well as Italy.  So cool.

August 5th, Steve and Nick went to help a ward member move a piano.  When they got back Nick showed me the "spider bite".  It had broken open and was weeping liquid and puss and did NOT look good at all.  it was huge and really raised.  We got in the car and went to the only Urgent Care that was still open in uptown.  We had a bit of a wait, but it was worth it.  The doctor didn't mess around once he saw it.  They immediately numbed the area and drained the wound.

It had doubled in circumference and height and was weeping.  

If I hadn't been there watching the whole thing I would not have believed anyone when they told me how much stuff came out.  it was impressive and disgusting at the same time.  

The doctor cleaned in out and packed it with a long strip of gauze to soak up anything else that was left in there.  He also gave Nick a new antibiotic and told Nick to keep it covered.  They would sent a specimen to the lab for analysis and call us in a couple of days with the result.  He also told Nick to not run until the gauze came out (he gave Nick a doctor's note to pass along to Coach excusing him from running for a couple of days).  

August 7th, Nick went to cross country practice (but didn't run - he just helped Coach with things - otherwise it would have been an absence and too many absences means you can't race in the upcoming meet).  I hurried home and got Naomi to band practice and then went back out to pick up Nick from practice and take him to get the gauze taken out.  It stung pretty good when she pulled the gauze out, but it was worth it because he was given the okay to run again.  The wound looked like a bullet hole.  Seriously, we could have easily fit a pencil eraser in the hole with room to spare.  

Getting the packing out.  There was about 3 feet of gauze strip in there.  

Nick's "bullet wound".  It looks SOOOOOO much better.

We went back home for lunch.  I left the boys at home and hurried to the school to help fit the kinds in their band uniforms.  Back at home I had a moment to catch my breath before driving Nick to work (since his leg was feeling a bit too sore to ride his bike.  Who can blame him?)  I went straight from dropping Nick off back to the school to get Naomi from band camp.  

Naomi had been creating again.  She is getting so good. 

August 8th was day 2 of band camp.  The second cross country try-outs were today as well and Nick was knocked out of his #7 position by Chris Torres who happened to run 12 seconds faster.  It is okay.  Nick still gets to run Varsity in the first race of the season so he is happy.   Jeremy also got an interview at Barnes and Noble.  He was so excited.  He found out while I was driving him to the Muller's for Dungeons and Dragons.   Nick had his orientation at CPCC and then I picked Naomi up from band camp.  I had driven 300 miles in 3 days and was exhausted.  At this rate, we would be spending enough on gas in one week to justify buying a third car so the boys could get themselves places.  SERIOUSLY!!!

August 9th, the last day of band camp.  Jeremy had to re-register for all his CPCC classes.  They dropped his classes since he hadn't paid his tuition yet which was frustrating because he had checked the previous week and nothing was posted to his account yet.  Oh well.  It was all made much better when he went in for his interview and came out with a smile.  He got the job!!!!  After the interview we went straight to the school to watch the band show off what they had learned during camp which was really impressive.  On the way home, I got a phone call from the Urgent Care nurse.  She called to tell me that Nick's culture came back positive for MRSA.  We were to continue with the oral antibiotic and keep it covered at all times.   They felt confident that the infection was going to clear up with the this regimen, but we were to call if anything changed in the healing process.  I panicked and asked a ton of questions.  The nurse was amazing and answered everything while calming me down.  It was all going to be okay no matter how scary it sounded.  

August 10 started out with seminary in-service.  It is a long meeting (5 hours) but well worth the time. I always come away having learned so much.  This year they were adding on-line classes to the curriculum and we all needed to know how to use the on-line system for make-up days.  Always a good challenge.  Nick ended up pulling  a double at work.  Steve and I took him dinner on our way to dropping Naomi off at the church dance.  She had a great time with her friends.  

August 12th was Nacho Libre night.  Jeremy made banana cream pie and Nick made spinach puffs.  We ate our delicacies and watched Nacho Libre with Devan.  The movie was funny but not as good as we remembered it being the last time we watched it.  Oh well, we had a good time anyway.  

August 13th Steve took Nick to the school to get his parking pass while I took Naomi to her orthodontist appointment.  We hurried back home in order to get Jeremy up to Birkdale for his training.  I picked Jeremy up after his training and took him to CPCC to get his parking pass.  Cross country practice was cancelled for the day because the heat index was 102 degrees which meant less driving for me.  YAY!  The Knight Riders (the school pep band) played at the freshman orientation so Naomi had to be at the school from 5-6:30.  Jeremy went out with friends and Nick went to a party with Devan and Blake.  Since all the kids were busy, Steve and I went out and looked at a few cars we were considering purchasing.  Steve saw how much I was driving every day and we decided it might be time.  YAY!!!

August 14th was Jeremy's first day of work.  I dropped him off and hurried home to get Naomi and Nick to their eye doctor appointments.  We picked Jeremy up from work and picked up Bella on our way home so she and Naomi could hang out on their last day before school started.  I dropped them off at home and took Nick to cross country.  While I was waiting, Kathy called and we got to talk for a good bit.  I miss my sisters and it is fun to get to catch up with them when I can.  

I sent this picture to Kathy of my view while waiting for Nick.  I was a hot day, but really pretty!

August 15th was the first day of Senior year and CPCC for Nick and 8th grade for Naomi. It was such a whirlwind morning that I didn't take a picture.  WHAT!!??!  I know, memory moment lost for all time.  Oh well.  Jeremy and I went shopping for some new clothes for him to wear to work.  We found some really good stuff and he looks and feels sharp now.   

August 16th Steve drove Jeremy to work and I got the kids to school.  After dropping them off, I headed to Rendee Jarvis's house to go over the seminary curriculum with her.  She had just been called as my co-teacher.  No more teaching every single day.  I was over-the-moon excited about that.  I really liked meeting her and going over how we wanted our class to go for the year.  I left her house and ran a few errands before going to pick up Jeremy from work.  I dropped him off and went over to school to help stuff folders in the office until school let out and I could take Naomi home with me.  I got a few things done at home and then went to pick up Nick from cross country.  Steve called me to tell me that Nissan had the two cars we wanted for the boys and I needed to have the boys ready to go buys some cars when he got home.  I phoned Sandra and explained why we couldn't come to her kitchen reveal party that night, but I would drop off the macaroons I made for the occasion.  She understood completely and was excited that I wouldn't have to live out of the truck any more.  

Steve got home and we drove to Nissan to buy two cars.  Technically we only bought one.  Jeremy bought his own car and we cosigned on it for him.  This might be the craziest thing we have ever done but I am convinced it saved my sanity.  

Nick and his Ford Fusion, Steve with an empty walled, Jeremy with his Nissan Altima

Back at home I called the insurance company and got the cars added to the policy.  I was waiting to cry tears of sadness when they told me the new amount. Instead I cried tears of happiness when the new amount was FAR less than I expected.  I love our insurance company.  A shout-out to Safeco!  They rock!!!

August 17th was a glorious day!!  Jeremy drove himself to and from work.  Steve and Nick ran errands in Nick's car.  Naomi went to the temple with the Young Women. I stayed home and got everything ready for the seminary kick-off meeting as well as got myself a haircut.  Later that afternoon, Nick drove himself to the cross country pool party.  That night was the Fight the Good Fight event to support Brady McKay (a senior at the kid's school) who was battling cancerous brain tumors.  It was a fun party.  

August 18th was the seminary kick-off party.  We played ZAP! (a fun points game where you get to steal others points and trade and ...  the kids love it) in order to answer all the questions the parents have about what to expect during seminary.  It went over really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  

August 19th Nick drove Beatswalkin (that is what he named his car) to school for the first time.  Naomi went with him.  I finally got a "first day" picture of the two of them.  

The first day of school that Nick drove!!! (only two days late)

I went to the school shortly after the bell rang and spent the day in the office helping get ready for Back to School Night.  The school is launching a new capital campaign to raise money for improvements to the football field, parking lot and middle school.  It is going to be HUGE and they needed help getting the folder all put together and organized for the big event.   I was there all day long but we got most of the stuff done.  

August 20th was a long-awaited and amazing day!  We finally got our leaky bathroom window and sliding door replaced.  The bathroom window has been an eye-sore for me since the day we moved in.  I didn't like that I couldn't see out and that it didn't open to let in a flow of air.  The sliding glass door was cheap and let in water and cold air and was not secure.  SOOOOOO much better.  Below is a before and after of the bathroom window and a picture of the new sliding glass door.  The bathroom window can be opened from either the top or bottom and has a sliding screen to cover the part that is open.  The top section is clear and the bottom is opaque.  The sliding glass door is so much more solid feeling.  I love that it has the blinds between the panes of glass!  The room feels bigger with out the old curtains that gave us privacy with the last door.  It also has a double-lock system and a locking screen door.  AMAZING!

That night was Back To School for the high school.  Nick is going to have a really good year.  His teachers are all excited about what they teach and the curriculum is just the right amount of challenge for him.  

August 21st I spent a good portion of the day getting the band uniforms washed and ready for action.  In between loads I went out to lunch with Lynne Reinstadtler (she has been trying to pay me for helping her with her curtains and this was our compromise.  I call it a win-win because she feels like she paid me for my time and I got to spend time chatting with Lynne), Jeremy went to Dr. Moll and had his physical to make sure everything was okay after returning from Brazil.  He got a good report.  I helped in the school library for a bit getting things cleaned up after iPad distribution and got to sit in on a webinar about Matthew 5 and the beattitudes.  I will be using this information in an up-coming class.  

August 23rd Naomi got to dog sit Riley.  He is such a good dog and we love having him around.  That night Naomi and I took the cleaned uniforms back to the school.  Mr. Scaringelli wanted the band to showoff their new uniforms at the game.  While the band suited up, several "band moms" took the drum stands and other equipment out to the stand and got it all set up.  I then went and helped set up the Spirit Wear store.  Before the game even started, the wind kicked up and it stared to thunder/lightening and rain.  We hurried and packed up the Spirit Store and got it back inside before the weather got too bad.  Meanwhile, Mr. Scaringelli decided the band would not be playing.  When I got back over to the high school to help with band stuff I found Mr. Scaringelli standing on the teacher's desk showing the kids how to properly hang their band pants in order to make sure that the creases stayed in the pants.  It took him a half an hour to get this process done.  He was a little exhausted (mentally and physically) after this episode.  I found it immensely amusing but did step in to help alleviate frustration on everybody's part.  

The new band uniforms.

Riley passed out on the couch.

A close up of Riley with his tongue sticking out.  So cute.  

Riley LOVES Naomi and followed her around the whole weekend.

August 24th was the first cross country meet of the season.  Nick ran really well and finished the 5k in 19:31.  To put it in perspective, last year at this meet Nick ran the 5k in 23 minutes.  He is doing well and his hard work is paying off.  The team placed 2nd.  

Looking good and ready to run!!

The Varsity team with their second-place trophy

Immediately after the race we hurried home so Nick could clean up and we could drive him, along with Kaylee and Ravyn, down to the senior lake day for our youth group.  The drive was really fun and the kids said they had a blast hanging out with the other youth.  Nick did a one-mile swim in the lake and said it was invigorating.  

August 25th Jeremy decided to give the Young Single Adult ward one more try.  He said it hadn't changed that much as would still attend the family ward with us each Sunday.  Back at home we got an emergency call from a family in our ward.  A pipe had burst in their wall and their entire first level was flooding.  We dropped everything we were going and grabbed the shop vac and all the towels we could find and ran over to help.  Steve helped to find the source of the leak while the rest of us started sogging and sucking up the water.   It didn't take long to get the water to the house shut off and the water off the floor cleaned up.  We went back to our house and filled up a bunch of containers of water so the family would have some thing to drink.  During all this action Nick was at his final day of work for the summer.  Bittersweet!

August 27th - HAPPY 26 years!!!  Steve went to work and I spent the afternoon at the school handing out pizza at lunch.  That night we went to the Back To School night at the middle school and then went to dinner at Wild Wings.  It was a good day.  

August 28th was a productive day.  I checked quite a few items off my to-do list.  That afternoon I met Steve in Weddington to cheer Nick on at the Weddington 2x2x2x2 race.  The runners were put in teams of two and each runner would run 4 miles of the race in 2 mile increments alternating their running times.  It was fun to watch.  Nick was paired with Owen Lay and they put on an impressive performance.  It was fun to watch.  

The first of his 2x laps. 

He finished up strong.  

Back at home Steve got himself all packed with his weekend trip to Colorado to spend time with Bradden.  He had  been looking forward to this trip for  months and it was finally here.  

August 29th - Steve flew out bright and early.  That night I attended a Canvas meeting to learn about how the on-line seminary program was going to work and how to use it in my classes for make-up work days.  It was interesting and will be a great addition to the program.  I have a lot to learn!  One of the other teachers said they gave their kids the assessment already to see what they knew and what areas needed to be taught.  I loved the idea.  Rendee and I are going to do this as well.  

August 30th I spent the day watching "The Croods" in Spanish.  It was interesting and fun.  Steve spent the day in his happy place doing what he loves - in the mountains fishing.  

August 30th, Naomi spent the day ice-skating with Bella.  Jeremy had to work.  Nick went running and then spent the day with Ben.  I stayed home and got the bathroom cabinets painted. Pictures of the finished product in the next blog post.   Steve hiked to Pike's Peak with Bradden and Hyrum.  We all had a good day.  

The view from the top

Scenes from the hike.  

Also in the 30th, Naomi's social studies class was introducing the 13 colonies video project and showed Nick's video he made when he was in 8th grade.  Naomi said it was funny to see everyone from our family in the video.  Nick is famous with Naomi's peers now.  

A blast from the past.  His video is still the ideal for this project.  They have yet to find another video that comes close to the quality that Nick produced all those years ago.