Pig races, pumpkins and play!

Harvest fun at Bishops Pumpkin Farm! We started our day with the pig races--our pig won both heats! Then we were off to the petting zoo and to indulge in our first round of treats-apple pie and cookies! The corn maze got two thumbs down due to bore factor-too long, and the slides were not as fun as the kids remembered. We explained to Karly and Kyle that things change as you get older. :) We did however come home with a pocket full of marbles from the marble mines and a few great pumpkins! The weather was quite pleasant and we had great family time!




The highlight of the day: the animals. The kids just love farm animals. We saw an amazing, huge Tom turkey! We spent many a quarter feeding the same few goats pellet food.




Ah, the slides that seemed slower and the lines longer than the kids remember. Funny how different things look at age three and age eight! They are growing up but trying to hold on to the magic!

Of course the M&M caramel apple and ice cream cone were a hit as well! The perfect way to end our harvest tradition!

Leaping Lizards!

Boys will be boys right? After driving home with the kids today, we noticed that our lizard family (we have a group of lizards frequenting our front and back yards) was sunning on a rock in the front yard. After dragging overstuffed backpacks inside, Karly hits her homework and Kyle asks if he can go out and see if the lizards are still there. The front door opens and closes a few times and Kyle mumbles updates about how many lizards he saw, where they darted to when he went close, etc. Then the quiet came. 15 minutes passes-I'm working away on volleyball stuff at the computer and the front door slams and Kyle calls for help.

"Mom, can you come and help?"

"Sure buddy, what do you need?"

"My darts...."

"Your darts?" "What?"

"They are in the bushes......there are bees."

I get up and round the corner of the kitchen to find Kyle standing tall with nerf gun in hand.

"You aren't shooting at our poor lizard family are you?"

Kyle grins and states with certainty, "Nope, I was sure to aim about two inches off."

Too funny! I cracked up. At least his compassion left the suckers two inches! I guess that's exactly what a healthy little boy does! Reminds me of my dad shooting hoses with bow and arrow when he was little. BOYS!

Ready for some FOOTBALL!

The team: Texans. Kyle's most regular positions: QB and receiver. The commitment: Thursday night practices, Saturday games. Win/Lose record: all wins. The successful experience factor: TBA

It's been an interesting experience for Kyle to take the field and work under a coach with a little more intensity in a sport that requires a little more rough and tough than Kyle is used to. Sure, he's an athlete. He can play the game. He can see the play, he get's where to be and how to get there. He feels the instincts. It's his emotions and inner battles are what seem to hold him back the most.

The intensity of the coach was an issue at first, but I think he's getting more used to that now. Then, he struggles with hearing coaching. He sees it as being critical rather than helpful and it hurts him. But the biggest hurdle...he dreads making a mistake (darn, of all his mother's traits to get, I wish he didn't catch this one)! Just this week, he had his best play of the season, caught a pass and ran half way down the field..........but he then stepped out of bounds when the pressure of footsteps were looming in. He was SO upset he stepped out of bounds! We talked for two hours over it. I had him get me a QB football card, he brought Tony Romo. We looked at his stats. His fumbles, his interceptions. Point being good players, who get paid serious $$ for their skills, make mistakes. He tried to understand, but?

Will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes. Kent and I treading carefully wanting to be firm with him that he needs to be coachable, but cautious to hear his heart and calm anxiety. Not easy!

Nonetheless he's a fabulous player! He does very well and I hope he can learn to balance his emotions so he can continue forward in the sports he loves!

Kyle is clearly focused and ready to head out deep for a pass!
This one caught. Kyle has great hands!

Kyle plays the most at QB. Here he takes a hike!
Last play of the game. Great throw (you can see the ball if you look closely) though it wasn't caught. The Texans still take the win!

BONKERS!!!!!

Yes, bonkers! This blog mini-story is simply a Mama vent. The exasperations of a mother who can't believe how busy the weeks are and how the hours of the day slip by! Every week I say, next week will have less in it. Next week I'll be able to keep up better, get more done, finish that project......you name it. I have no important job title, I have no accomplishments that I can hang on a wall and I have no job description-but I sure do a lot of nothing. How on Earth can I not keep up with "nothing"?

Anyways, if you are wondering why there aren't more blog stories lately it's because I'm running around, volunteering somewhere, picking up a kid, buying more cereal, milk and apples (the commodities we run out of the most), helping a friend, exercising for sanity, and so on!

I love living the bonkers lifestyle, wouldn't trade it for the world, just wish I could get ahead of it one of these days!

Aren't these two pictures funny! I asked the kids to show me some "bonkers"!

"Gone Fishing"

Last weekend the boys headed up the road to the Sierras before sunrise armed with little more than fishing poles and hostess donuts! It's a Sayler tradition, fishing at Little Twin, and the Kern boys were happy to join Pop in the quest for trout.
Pop gave Kyle rave reviews for his patience-"he's a good little fisherman". Kyle, being the rule follower he is, was most interested in the techniques and instruction that Pop and Daddy voiced true to catch a big one! Five hours in that aluminum boat and not a complaint, just a pout or two when Daddy caught all the early fish. Kyle brought in four fish! A great days catch. He also got to listen to Pop and Daddy tease and talk "guy talk". Heaven only knows what that means!
A fabulous trip and a great time for Kyle to spend with two of his mentors! I am thrilled he has such a wonderful opportunity to be "gone fishing"!

Happy Dance!!!

This Mama is doing a Happy Dance! She's left her mini-van days behind and found pleasure in the cross-over vehicle world! After a year of waiting, we finally found the right vehicle at the right price! The GMC Acadia is a smooth ride, fits the kids, and I love it! Wahoo! Happy Dance! Happy Dance!

Back to the Midwest!

Sometimes friends do pop up out of nowhere--as crazy as it seems. Who new that on the beaches of Mexico I would acquire such a fabulous new friend who lives half way across the country! We were emailing and chatting by phone and then Kent decided to send me there for the weekend! What a treat! I was able to see what life is like for Carla and her husband, I met her cutie son and was amazed by the space they enjoy in their neighborhood. So green it is there! We spent an afternoon at the spa, ate on the Lake of the Ozarks-beautiful, and I also got to see pieces of St. Louis. Kyle would have loved to see where the Cardinals and Rams play!

I love trips like this. Spontaneous (somewhat) and full of girltime!