Driving Mr. John

Mr. John Deere that would be!

Brandon eagerly took dad up on his offer to teach him how to drive the tractor. What could be more fun right?? Of course dad was ecstatic to have the help with all the stuff he has to do around here.

So the boys spent the day working outside..moving stuff from here....to there..to there...and back to here... whatever it took!

Gave Bubba an opportunity to use his new found skill!!

Ready!..Aim!...Fire!

The Pius bunch came out for a visit this weekend. We greeted them with open arms....and Air Soft guns!! Never fear... they were fully prepared for battle!! Let the games begin!!

I do believe I see two big boys in this picture! Who is having more fun?? The kids? or the BIG kids??

Don't mess with this house man!!

I, of course, played the official photographer of the games! ( I value my life ya know!!)

Soccer Tournament

This weekend we ended the 2008 Soccer season with a bang! The boys came out fired up and it showed the entire weekend. They won 2, and lost 1 of the regular games, but it was enough to send them to the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
Their opponent was a team that had beat them the day before and was caulked and ready to go thinking they were going to squish our boys! OH ..did they have a surprise coming for them! Our boys played the most intense, well thought out and perfect game that I have ever seen. It looked like a professional team was out there! We dominated the game...had numerous attempts at the goal, just never could quite seem to get it in there. If it wasn't for the one goal that snuck its way into our goal early in the game, our boys would have technically won the game. So it stood...after a LONG hard battle 1-0...our loss. But in all of our eyes...they had won!
Congrats Bubba!!

Bunco Night

Never rope a 13 year old boy into playing Bunco as a fill in player. Beware...they will take no prisoners! Sally, as we affectionately called him, walked away with the most buncos....5 to be exact...the most wins....14 works for him...totalling $30.00 bucks! ( Yes..we play for cold hard cash!)
Next time...I'll leave him in his room playing Nintendo Wii!!!

Trying to Adjust

To Whom it may concern:

Nearly five months ago, I stumbled across a front porch that had a bowl with a few pieces of food in it. I was famish...hadn't eaten for days...had almost dwindled down to nothing but skin and bones, so anything tasted good at that point! I even went as low as letting this strange lady sit with me while I purred for her. She seemed to enjoy it, so I thought why not! Can't hurt...I might even get some more food from it!
They continued to throw me pieces of scraps in that bowl...keeping me around only to hear my pur. Little by little they would persuade me to come inside from the cold and dark nights spent on the streets. They loved on me, trying to break down the walls I had up against being with people.
I was always the outsider though. I was out numbered by the other females in the house, one of which wasn't exactly pleased with my presence...and she daily reminded me WHO was in charge. She clearly stated that I was to stay away from her food! (as if I really wanted any of her food anyway!)
I tried to fit in. I would sleep on their bed, they would kick me out. I would try to get a drink of water and they would close the toilet lid and block me out. They've closed down the all you eat buffet bar here...locked the lid tight on it! Now I have to wait to eat! I never could measure up to what they wanted!
Don't get me wrong, I like it here. I think it's just going to take some time for me adjust to this domestic lifestyle. Until then, I'm still here...working on it.
Please send food!
Sincerely,
Garfield Von Snouzer

ps. They may try to post pictures to incriminate me...but don't be fooled...they are all photo shopped! I would NEVER just lay and relax like that! I am a tough, wild kitty!




am I cute or what??

Halloween 2008

While at Disneyland for birthdays, they both came up with their ideas of dressing up as Disney characters for Halloween. From that, Miss Minnie Mouse and Mr. Goofy were born!
Miss Minnie had to work that night, but it wasn't all that bad, because where she works ( at a store in the outlet mall) they were handing out candy! Making kids smile is her number one gift...so this was great for her!!
Mr. Goofy made his appearance at the mall of course...to collect his candy!

Aren't they cute!!


aawww....so cute you could just pinch em!

Colorado 2008

They may have come back empty handed, but they sure had a good time. The stories are long and detailed, so if you want to hear their exciting stories...give one of the boys a jingle! They'd be glad to share it with you...for now, I'll just post some pictures!


5 am and ready to hit the road!


First morning of hunting...nothing like a little cat nap in the great outdoors to keep you going!


Snow!!



Give 2 boys a camera and leave them alone in the woods...and this is what you get!! but aren't they a handsome pair!!

Packing In! What a treat and an awesome 1st time experience for Bubba!

Colorado 2008~ Father/Son Elk Hunting Trip

Despite what hubby says....success isn't just measured on what animal you bring home...it's based on the memories you made!! Way to go boys!!

Colorado Bound

It's 5:30 AM and my boys, along with several others are headed out for a "Father-Son" hunting trip to Colorado for 10 days. They've been planning this since...oh....February!! The last week around here has been full of excitement...packing...strategizing....gathering up homework...all the fun stuff!
Please pray for safe travels and safe hunting for all the guys!
Bring us home some meat boys!!

California Adventure

This was a park that was completely new to us all so we were eager to check it out! We had heard all about it, and the fun rides we the night before we plotted our attack on the park!

Another perfect day...quite a bit more sunshine today with warmer temperatures! But we are on vacation...what could be better? (ok..Hawaii...but that's beside the point!)




Getting ready to ride California Screamin' rollercoaster ride. Can't you see the excitement in Bubba's face? The fear of the unknown (oh..and the going upside down part) was getting to him...It wasn't until about 1/4 way through the ride that I heard him behind me screaming " I LOVE this ride!!" And so it was.... we rode it again...and again!


"I've got my eye on you Wasowski!"
(I'm thinking with all the thumbs up..they must be having a great time!!)


An all time favorite of Bubba's....Mr. Potato Head. We had several of those!!


Miss V striking her California Adventure Pose!


Our second daughter...Miss Katie and her family live down the street from us. She was one of Nessa's first friends when we moved down here and spent many a days and nights at our house. Just this past August, she moved to Anaheim to attend school and work at where else? Disneyland Resorts! What fun it was to see someone from home! Hope we made her smile too!!


Two full days of Fun and Celebration wears even the toughest teenager out!!
( I think the Goofy gloves help him sleep...don't you?)

Disneyland 2008

It all started last April when Bubba announced that for his 13th birthday this year he wanted to go to Disneyland! What a great idea! The last time we were there he was a year old and scared to death of all the characters, rides...etc..!
We had decided that the best deal out there was just to buy Southern California resident Season Passes...just as cheap as buying a two day pass...AND we can go back anytime for the next year! Sunday night we took the tram over to the ticket booths to purchase our passes (anything to save time the next morning!) and as we were giving them our birthdates, the cast member(as they are called in the park) saw that Bubba's big day was Monday. So..he gave him a special birthday button! (We had heard you could go to City Hall inside and get these...but little did we know what they meant!) He gave Nessa an "Honorary Citizen" button since her birthday was just a few days prior!
Monday was a perfect day! The weather was sunny and little bit on the warm side...but very tolerable. The crowds weren't as bad as they could have been...and Disneyland...well...was Disneyland!!
Since the kids were only 7 and 1 the last time we were there, everything was practically new for them! Space Mountain, Indian Jones NEVER get old!
The best part about it is, the parts/rides we didn't get to that day...we will be going back and seeing those again!
So here is to our Teenagers! ...and their birthdays!

Waiting for the tram...all ready to go enjoy the day!



Disney's birthday button means that everywhere you go, a cast member or complete stranger wishes you a happy birthday! As we ate lunch on Main Street, the gentleman entertaining us with piano music noticed it was Bubba's birthday and lead the entire outside seating guests in singing Happy Birthday to him!


Birthday picture with Mickey!


Nessa's friend, Hannah (whom she met at Hume Lake Camp this past summer) lives about 10 minutes away and came Monday afternoon to spend the rest of the day with Nessa! The girls took off on their own and had some wacky times!


The longest line we waited in was for Splash Mountain (the water ride)..but well worth the cool off! Boys can get a little goofy (no pun intended!) while waiting in line!


The story behind this picture is.... we have one just like this when he was a year old...only Hubby had to help hold him up! Bubba was insistent on getting a picture just like it only THIS time...he didn't need dad to hold him up!

Birthday Boy!

Breakfast in Bed? Well...almost! With much excitement, Bubba woke up on his birthday and was treated to a hot breakfast thanks to Hampton Inn Anaheim!

Happy Birthday Bubba boy!!

Birthday Dinner

Ever since we went to Maui 7 years ago, the kids have always loved Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. If you've never been there, it is a fun and lively place to eat. Just make sure you watch the movie Forrest Gump before you go that way when they come to your table and give you the "Gump Trivia" you can Ace it!

We have this same exact picture from Maui...just ask the kids about the humor of the original photo!


Thinking they would just "sing" to the kids for their birthdays...we made no secret about telling our server it was their birthday......Little did we know that The "Gump Way" of celebrating is to actually get the birthday people up and do a little dance called the "Gump Bump"...and shake your Rump!

Almost a Teenager....

Nessa did not hesitate when it came to planning Bubba's 13th Birthday! She figured her mama embarassed her plenty on her big day...she was going to make Bubba feel the same "pain"!
Since we were going to be in Disneyland on his actual birthday, Nessa took some time from her day and made sure her plans were put into action!

First the car....all decked out


and then there was the locker....filled with balloons, covered with wrapping paper..then there was the signs and streamers everywhere in the courtyard!

Is that a smile of embarassment???

Fighting it...

Ugh...with Women's Retreat coming up this weekend, and Disneyland next week...I'm fighting something and I'm not liking it!
Praying my body snaps outta this "funk"!

Early Celebration

Since she has school and work the next few days, and hubby works the night of her birthday....we celebrated Nessa's 19th birthday tonight as a family.
Her favorite dinner was made and Boston Creme Pie was adorned with candles in honor of the birthday girl.
(can't help but notice the Mickey Mouse ears she is wearing...think someone is excited about Disneyland??...NEVER too old for Disneyland!)
Happy Early Birthday Nessa!!!Last year of being a teenager!! (ooo...mom doesn't like the sound of that! ugh!)

It's that time of year

Where we begin the Birthday Celebrations!!! If we disappear for awhile...you'll know why... we are busy anticipating the Big Birthdays!!

Family Night

So, before you look at these pictures and think that we have COMPLETELY lost our minds...let me explain!
Five years ago, Hubby and I went to a Marriage Retreat in Monterey CA put on by Family Life Today. During the session on parenting, we enjoyed listening to a gentleman that had 6 children himself. As we learned different styles of parenting, etc... we also enjoyed his witty stories of life with 6 kids. One of those stories was about a monthly ritual that they had around their household.

It went like this: Once a month, they would lay out a vinyl table cloth on the dining room floor. In the middle of this table cloth, they would dump a large bowl of spaghetti, and without using plates, etc...they ate their dinner. Hence it was called Barbarian Night!

We came home from that retreat promising we would do that! We talked it up to the kids but NEVER did it! For years we wanted to do it...but never did! (still not sure what stopped us!)
Last night while we were trying to figure out what we wanted for dinner, the mention of Barbarian Night was brought up. It was time.

Although we called it Barbarian Night, we were a bit more civilized and put the table cloth actually on the table....and set out utensils as optional. No plates...just lots of napkins.
Weird as it was...we started out using forks (because the spaghetti was hot) but once we got started, we ALL really got into it! Even Hubby...who was certain he was going to use a fork the whole time!!! HA!!

The laughter and entertainment was SOOOOO worth it! We had a blast!! I guarantee it won't be the last Barbarian Night around here!!








These smiles are priceless!!

Elections 2008

I'm not one to get too involved in politics. I mean.. I have my opinion but I'm not out there working the campaign trail....unless of course it's for a candidate that I know and trust. One that stands true to his promises....

That's why I am putting my FULL support behind Bubba Spiller for Coastal Christian School's 7th Grade Class President!

Join me, and put your full support behind the one candidate that can actually Make a Change in this world!

Fall Fever

It's that time of year! The time of year when you begrudgingly wake up early on a Saturday, throw on your comfy jeans, sweatshirt and tennis shoes and stumble out the door. The brisk cold air hits you as you walk outside and suddenly you become aware of the sights and smells around you. The warm cup of coffee in your hand warms you as pace the sidelines trying to keep from freezing. Suddenly the whistle blows from a distance and you notice that all these growing boys are eagerly running around on a field after a little ball. Ahh...the sights and sounds of fall.....

Soccer season officially began last Saturday! Woo Hoo!!! And to our pleasure we have five 8:00 AM games...which means Bubba has to be there to warm up at 7:15AM!! ON A SATURDAY!! Apparently the person in charge of scheduling is playing a mean trick on all of us parents!! To make it even better, today was picture day. So guess what? We got to be there by 6:55 AM for pictures at 7:05AM...AM!! Did I mention it was AM?? as in morning???

ok...so despite my above gripes of the early morning, I actually LOVE this time of year and this sport! Bubba just come alive when he plays this one. This year he moved up to a new division...one in which some of these boys are more like grown men! And then there is my little Bubba....not afraid of any one of them!! He'll take them all on if it means he gets the ball!! He's got a great coach and team this season and we're looking forward to seeing how well they do! So far..so good!

Bubba swipes the ball..


It's all about teamwork! Way to go!

Played hard the entire game and still lookin good!!

First Year Spiritual Emphasis

Every year the Jr. High and High Schoolers from Bubba's school go out to the Christian Campground behind Lopez Lake (the same one that we go out to for summer camp) and spend 3 days having fun, being goofy all the while growing closer to each other and ultimately to the Lord. It is a unique and special time for these kids and the highlight of the year!

Venturing into Junior High this year meant that he was joining the others in the right of passage to attend this trip. Nessa even gave him the pep talk on everything he needed to know to survive!!

This year the theme verse was Matt 22:37-40 which all the small group times and chapel sessions worked from that.

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

One of the activities is for each team to come up with a skit that goes along with the theme. The more wild and crazy...the better.

Bubba and Matt (a 10th grader) prepare for their team skit


Bubba proudly wears his team flag