Aircraft Carrier

Just a few pictures that I recently took during a tour on an aircraft carrier

New Happenings

A few changes have taken place in our family recently. First, Kelby now gets to do "regular"scout stuff (Doesn't he look good?). Second, Kelby got glasses. He didn't know he needed them until they tested his eye sight. When his glasses came in, he put them on and looked out into the store and was amazed that the signs have writing on them. Poor kid.

Third, Levi got his permanent drivers license. He also went and got his hair cut short. His Dad and I didn't even say anything that would MAKE him do this, he did it all on his own. Kirk was wondering if it was because he had to actually go to court and have a judge present the drivers license to him. Well, I was in that court room with Levi and I appreciate how "clean-cut" my boys are. There is some wierd stuff out there! These kids all had a parent with them too. How do they let them out of the house looking like that????!!

Housework is a Scary thing

Tuesday I cleaned all day (I only worked upstairs). When I clean, I wear a big old t-shirt and PJ pants, and fuzzy sock slippers. I think I might have combed my hair ...once. Anyway, that evening, Kelby came upstairs wanting to know where Levi was because there was someone from church downstairs asking for him. I thought -- "oh no, I have to go down there like this". I thought that maybe I could hide behind the door, but the kids had already invited him in. I was mortified! When I clean upstairs, people come and see downstairs. When I clean downstairs, nobody comes to my house. When I don't clean at all, everybody comes to visit. I know, if I would keep it all clean at all times I wouldn't have to worry, but I would be very lonely ;-)
And have you ever gone to the store when you looked decent and didn't see anybody that you knew, but when you sneak out to WalMart in sweats and no make-up just to pick up some more cleaning supplies, everybody you know bumps into you. Not Fair!

Bowling

Today we went bowling. It was the first time in years that I have bowled. When I used to bowl, back when we used stones, the bumpers were big vinyl tubes that they had to set up and everybody on your lane used the bumpers. Now they have a little rail (like in the picture below) that pops up when you need it, and then goes back down for the next person. Another difference is that the scoring is done automatically with a computer. Pretty amazing.

Kelby is our little secret weapon. He would pick up the ball, hurry and let it go and then turn around and walk back like nothing was happening, as all the pins were falling down. It kind of ticked his dad off because he wasn't even trying.

The kids also played a game of pool while we waited for a lane. They really looked like they were concentrating.

Knotts Island

During the Christmas holidays, we always take a drive to Knotts Island. There is nothing out there but a wildlife preserve and farms. The first year we went there, all you could see out across the slough was white. It wasn't snow, but it was snow geese. I guess they stop over during their migration. Each year after, we saw fewer and fewer. Don't know what that's about, whether there are few of them or if they migrate at a different time now. Anyway, we still drive down there and stop at the only store on the island to get a sandwich from the deli in back, and then we stop at the Charles Kurault Trail and look out over the water. This year is all we could see was swans. It was still pretty neat. Clancy and Levi just humored us by going with us. They will appreciate our rides some day.... I'm sure they will.

Change Gears!

Did you know that you can change the gears on a bike to make it petal easier? I went out and tried it again and had no problem after I changed the gears (duh). I was able to go twice the distance and back and I didn't even break a sweat. I did realize that I need to go buy a gel seat because the seat on the bike is about as uncomfortable as it comes. I am just happy that I am not as seriously out of shape as I thought I was ..... it was the bike (ha, ha).

The Sign!

One Saturday before Christmas, Levi asked his dad if he could go and do something with his friend. His dad said yes (not thinking to get details). I came home and asked where Levi went. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Where is Levi?
Kirk: I don't know.
Me: Well, when will he be home?
Kirk: I'm not sure.
Me: Can you call him and ask if he will be home in time to go with us to the party?
Kirk calls Levi and asks where he is. Levi responds "at Ft. Story". Kirk tells him that he needs to find a ride to the party because we are leaving soon.
When we get to the party, the parents of Levi's friend approach us and tell us that we need to talk about our sons. Apparently Levi and his friend went driving up scout hill on the base. Now mind you, scout hill is pretty much a big sand dune with bushes and trees. I guess they got in some loose sand and the truck got really stuck. Niether of them wanted to call their dads and tell them that they were stuck. Luckily (??) the military police showed up and pulled them out.
The next day we were driving to church when Levi declairs "I think I have been given a sign that I should get a Chevrolet truck!" Upon further explaination, he said that both of the times that he got the truck stuck (in the mud and later in the sand), it was a Chevy that pulled him out, and that is surely a sign! (A sign of what, I don't know)

It's Like Riding a Bike...

For Christmas Kelby and I both received bicycles. I was kind of excited because I actually used to bike a lot, and I would rather be riding a bike than running on the treadmill or other form of physical fitness. I thought this would be a good way to get back into shape. Well... Kelby and I decided to try out our new bikes since the weather was nice. After riding about two blocks, and Kelby constantly saying "come on Mom, you're being slow", I very weakly told Kelby that we had gone far enough for today. We got home and it was all I could do to get off the bike and into the house. I literally had to crawl up the stairs and I thought I was going to die! I think I was pretty close to having a heart attack. Kirk thought it was kind of funny. I'd like to see HIM get on a bike after not riding one for about 20 years! Oh, and just as I got up the stairs, Kelby comes in and informs me that we don't park our bikes in the front yard. We put them away on the back porch. Little smart-mouth ..... I'll park my bike wherever I have the energy to park it!!

PEACE!

Well, it's been a while since I posted. The picture pretty much explains how life has been around our house. The day we took this picture, I had everything set up, the lights draped and just had to plug in the lights. I plugged them in and the kids started whining and complaining that they were squished, or the lights were getting hot, etc.. After we finished, Kirk came in and asked what point I was trying to get across in the picture. I thought about it and realized that I totally forgot the point -- which was to have peace by puting christmas labels on the kids mouths. We laughed and called the kids back in, wrapped them in lights, and covered their mouths. That was a much quieter photo session. DUH!