Summer time is upon us

Ahhh summer.

It has finally come upon us. There was a time last November when I didn’t believe it would ever exist. But, alas it is here. And I am LOVING ever minute of it!

Except for the part where the kids decided to hate each other. That part really stunk, but I think we have moved past it and have moved onto the point where we can bear to be in the same room as each other. Which is good, because I was just about up to here with it, if you know what I mean. Today was the first day in, well, forever that I didn’t have to be at a job that was going to pay me. I was required to be at a job that was not going to pay me, but I wanted to be there. I am able to volunteer for the first time ever to work our churches VBS, and this is the first year that my kids could attend as well. We were all so super duper excited.

Really, we were.

So we woke up early, about 2 hours later than usual, and got ready. Off to the church building we went. The kids off to their groups and I didn’t see them again until lunch time. And they came and found me. I was with a group of kiddos that had just completed the third grade. They were precious. I knew some of them from small group, and some I have never met before. They were all precious. I was paired with another adult and 2 teens. One who has an infections energy. I love my group.
When we were done at 2:30 I gathered my own children up and headed home. The kids couldn't stop talking about it. Jacob LOVED it! Which really suprised me, but thrilled me! I was exhausted. We had slowed down considerable at school the last 2 weeks and this was like the first day of school all over again. I was BEAT! I made the kids come home and take an hour rest time and when I was feeling human again we headed off to the neighborhood pool. I have a feeling we will spend MANY an afternoon there. The kids know others at the pool, I can lay there and read, and actually may end up with a nice, color to me, rather than this pasty white I have been for 8 years. The kids had a great time and we were there for almost 2 hours. We left only because Emily hurt herself, but not to terribly.

The kids have commented several times that this is the best day ever and we didn’t spend a dime and there has been NO fighting. I only hope the rest of the summer continues like this. Even though I know there will be days where they will bicker and things will not go as planned, I enjoyed this, our first official day of summer.

Old Bessie

Well, it appears that “Old Bessie” may be down for good.

On Sunday, as I was driving to drop Emily off at camp, Josh was driving to work. Only he didn’t make it. About halfway the car started over heating and he had just enough time to get her off the highway before she just plain stopped. After towing her back into town, and getting an estimate for a new engine ($4000!) we have decided it is time to let her go. But she has been good to us, for 7 long years. We bought her right after Jacob was born, because we thought we needed a bigger car.
I thought I would show her off in the best way that I can.


Hanging out in the car wash.

Running to the car with our friends.

Reading the Bible in the car.

Just being silly.

Sleeping.

Riding our big boy bike next to her.

Wearing ridiculous hats while driving her.

Carwash again. See, we took car of her.

Working on her.

Taking the dogs for a ride in her.

Going to Six Flags in her.

She even went to Kentucky!

Being dramatic while riding in her.

Celebrating the holidays with her.

Just being Jacob while in her.

Sleeping after seeing the Cheetah Girls.

Lounging in her.

She even made it through the huge ice storm 18 months ago.

What is really odd about the whole situation is- it is really like almost loosing a family member. We have owned her for so long and she has been with us through think and thin.

I am sad to see her go, and even sadder to think about what we are going to do about it.

Goodbye Old Bessie, its been fun.

Jacobs crazy dance

I have two children. They couldn’t be much more different if I had tried. But one thing they both have in common is their “whiteness.” They are both so, so white. Both my husband and I are very pale as well. Now, call it global warming if you like, but the sun seems to be out this summer like never before. It is hotter than I ever remember being, and I come from Southern New Mexico, where it is HOT! I remember growing up and getting into a car, and your legs melting to the seat, almost literally. But this summer the heat has been cranked up. And here in central Texas, it is HOT!

Anyhow, it is really hot here as of late and the kids like to head out back and take a dip in the pool. I spray/rub them down with sunscreen, with reapplication at appropriate times and they still have ended up burnt to a crisp. The first burn they got this year was horrible. They both blistered and moaned and groaned about the pain for weeks. They also stayed away from the pool for a while. They went last week to the local swim park with their sitter and got burnt again. But this time it wasn’t nearly as bad, because they had that first layer of color on them.

Last night, I was chasing my son into the bath and he lowered his britches about 3 inches on his hiney and showed me his white, white, white booty. And giggled. When he laughed it caused me to loose it and began to giggle as well. Then, ladies and gentleman, he began to shake his little white booty at me, nearly falling over with laughter.

It was one of the funniest things I have seen in weeks. That boy, shaking his white rear-end at me while laughing his infectious laugh. I finally had to walk away, but only so I could tell my husband.

Aren't ya'll lucky---two posts today.

Here she is in all her glory. She is excited to be able to see properly for the first time in what appears to have been too long.

Indiana!!!

We here in the Sumpter household are all very big fans of the Indian Jones movies. We are all very excited about the new movie which opened yesterday, even if Harrision Ford is 102 years old.

Here is how Jacob is gearing up for our trip the the Movie Theater on Sunday night:



We love Indy!!!

Flag Football!

Whew!

I am exhausted from the weekend. I need a weekend from my weekend. It was good, but busy and WAY to short and quick.

Saturday morning Jacob had his first flag football game. It was quite a site. We arrived about 30 minutes prior to the game, as Josh is the coach and wanted to be there for when any of the other players showed up. So I sat my chair up and had a seat. Emily and I watched the end of the game that was taking place before Jacob’s game. Once the other kids started showing up they practiced a little bit and then got ready to play. Only the other team had no mouth guards. “I didn’t know!” yelled the coach which is a bunch of bunk, because if I knew, then he knew and failed to follow through with his parents. So we waited. When the mouth guards finally showed up, 15 minutes later, the game began. It was as exciting as a bunch of 6/7 year olds playing flag football can be. Our team was clearly the better team, as we won the game 13-0. Jacob was by far the shortest, skinniest player - on either side of the field. He played “center” most of the game- if that means anything to anyone. And he was a running back for the last play of the game and took 3-4 yards before he was de-flagged.

He had a good time playing, at least that is what he told us. I received a horrific sun-burn from the whole experience. But I got some great pictures- most of which you can see on my new photo-blog http://www.ethelsimages.blogspot.com/ but I will leave you with the best shot I got of the game, in my opinion. It shows everyone on the field moving around, and there stands Jacob, still as a statue.

Ice Cream thief

I walk into the kitchen briskly, on a mission, only to find my son standing on a stool, with his head in the freezer, with the box of Chocolate Chip Ice cram open and a spoon in his mouth.

No bowl, no time for that!

I was so shocked all I said was “Jacob?!”

To which he turned to tears and ran to his room, giving himself more punishment than I had planned to.

At least it wasn't down his underwear this time.

When I am 100 years old

I had a post all ready about Jacob’s big Blue and Gold Banquet from last weekend, but that has been shelved to bring you what I find to be one of the funniest things Jacob has done it quite a while.

Last night I was going through his “Thursday Folder” which contains all the work he has completed in the last week. Usually one every two weeks he brings home a story that he has written and illustrated. There was a story in his folder last night. I read the story he brought home while I sat at my kitchen table I laughed harder that I had in weeks. It has to be the funniest thing I have ever read. I scanned it last night so that I could write about it today, so here you go:

When I am 100 years old I will have a TV. I will have a mustache. I like to watch TV. I would look like a old man. I will also be old. I will have a baby.

And a picture of him-with his mustache.

You may all laugh now.

My babies, oh- my babies

Recently in my home my eldest, Emily has been “reverting” if you will to her childhood- which she left 5 minutes ago. She is still in fact still 9 years old but was going on about 16 for a while. Talking back, slamming doors, the eye-roll and the great stomp off into her room. It had become quite a place to be in our home, especially in the evenings, when she is tired and worn out from the day. There would be all out wars. Serious attitude adjustments and serious contemplation of boarding school. Her life was about the make-up, shoes, HSM2 (High School Musical 3 for all of you lucky enough to not know what that stands for) and iCarley. She had turned into a tween, and she wasn’t supposed to be there for another couple of years.

But recently she has begun to cling to her stuffed animals a little more in the evenings and she has wanted my assistance in choosing her outfits for the day. It was a bit odd in that she wanted my help with anything, or that she wanted my opinion, as it has been shunned for quite a while. She has been allowing me to hold her hand in public and not just when we cross the street. She has wanted loads of hugs before I leave in the morning and is always excited when I get home. She has been extremely helpful in the kitchen- cooking dinner on Monday night all by herself! It was as good of spaghetti as I would have made. She has just been more pleasant.

But now when we sit down in the evenings after dinner has been eaten, homework has been completed and baths have been had I have a little boy sitting to my right to snuggle up with me and my girl- who has been beating him to my side in the evening in the snuggle departments. It is a time that I am required to slow down, sit still and enjoy just being with my children. I know this time will end, sooner than I ever want it to. So for now, I sit on the couch and soak up their love and snuggles for as long as they will let me.