Mommy time

It's 12:32 a.m. CST and here I sit catching up on the shows I record and then watch when I get a free moment which happens to be around this time if Eli wears himself out enough to fall asleep at a decent hour. There are a few shows that I don't miss during the week, and yes I know I sound like a TV junkie, but right now it's Dancing With The Stars, Project Runway just completed it's season, Heroes, The Mentalist, Eli Stone (no it's not just because that's my son's name), Law and Order SVU and ER in its final season. Thank goodness for DVR (digital video recorder) because I couldn't live without it!

(Friday afternoon) Evan's team won their second game of the season yesterday against a team that up until yesterday was undefeated. Evan only got in for one play, but I suppose that's better than none right? He told me last night since they only have one running back that he's going to ask his coach about switching positions. There are only two games left in the season, but there's not harm in asking.

I'm singing the offertory this Sunday at church. Aaron Copland's "At the River." Did I mention the church I attend has a membership of 1400 and it's considered small? I'm also going to sing with the Praise Team and Choir too. So it'll be another long Sunday. However I already have lunch taken care of since they're having their annual Brisket and Chicken sales this weekend, so I'll be picking some up after church!

Well, the kids will be home in a little over an hour, then I need to run to the Post Office and get dinner ready. Shrimp Scampi, Alfredo noodles and salad! :)

Keeping up

Ok, so I've become terribly lax in my blogging in the past few weeks. I gave my friend Kelli instructions to remind me I need to blog! My phone buzzed and there it was, a text telling me I hadn't written since the 13th. I suppose part of it is that life is pretty much back to normal now that we have recovered from Hurricane Ike.


Evan had an excellent football game last week. They lost a close one at home against a tough Westfield team, but Evan was put in with the first string defense when the other "rover" was missing some opportunities. He saved six points in goal line extra point attempts with some excellent tackles. Okay, so he also let them score a touchdown because the kid he was defending against was a bout a foot taller than he is, so those six points were a wash, but it was definitely the best game he's had all season. I just hope the coaches recognize his effort as well.


I sang for the first time with A Servant's Heart or ASH or the praise team/band at Windwood this Sunday. I was basically sight singing one of the songs, but it was fun although the second service was extremely long so I spent from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the church which isn't horrible, but it makes for a long day. The first service I sang with what I call "the doo wop" girls, meaning there are about six or seven of us in two rows around mics. Then the main alto had to leave so Bob asked me to sing with his wife in the front. Woo hoo! Actually I was a little nervous about the main song because I had just learned it that morning...but all went well.

Maia has started to plan her birthday party. She decided to have some girls over, although I'm not sure what we're going to do at this point....I have a little time before I have to decide.

I'll try to write more this week! :)

Batman lives at our house!

Is this not THE cutest little Batman you've ever seen?

Things to like

So it's been roughly three months since we arrived here in Texas. People always ask me, "So, do you like it here?" With the exception of the hurricane, my answer is yes. Of course I miss PA and Scottdale and my friends and family, but there are things to like here too.

• Grocery stores, malls, Target, Wal-mart, gas stations and restuarants are all a stones throw away to get to a variety but never travel more than 15 minutes.
• It's October and we're still wearing shorts, tanks and t-shirts because it's 80 during the day. It's cold if it gets to 60. :)
• Mornings and evenings are cool and although it gets dark about 7:30 here, those times are comfortable enough to be outside and are enjoyable.
• I'm starting to get to know my way around here although I don't go too far out of my comfort zones unless it's to an away football game.
• I'm making some good friends and have met a lot of good people.
• There is a lot more diversity meaning ethnicities, and I think that's good for the kids to experience.
• I am really happy at the church I'm at from the groups I'm getting involved in to the pastor and staff at the church. The membership is 1400.

Probably my only complaint is the bugs....spiders (including black widows), centipedes, earwigs (or pincher bugs as we call them), ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, beetles...most of those except the black widows we've had in the house. Thank God for Terminex!

Eli got his Batman costume this weekend. He is SO cute! I'll take a picture of him some time this week and post if for all to see! The best $16.99 I've ever spent!

More later this week! :)

A Week Goes By

I realized at some point today that I hadn't written in the blog since last weekend. Not much going on here, so I suppose with a "slow news week" I can pile everything into one post. The kids got out of school early today because of the long weekend. They have Columbus Day off on Monday. Evan went to Eagle Pass this weekend to spend time with his father, but will be home on Monday in time for practice at 2:30. Maia is going to her first birthday here tomorrow for a little girl in her class - Courtney. The first grading period finished last week and both of the kids are doing well in school, so I have no complaints. Maia signed up for an after school Poetry writing club that will meet on Thursdays. Evan's team lost this week 27-7, but was part of a great goal line stand that prevented the other team from scoring and he also made a tackle and was acknowledged for it! Of course mom did the "woo hoo" (the only one) but that's okay, I'm allowed. Eli has discovered Back at the Barnyard, a cute animated show on Nickelodeon where as soon as the farmer and his wife turn their backs, they stand up on two legs and talk like humans. Actually there is quite a bit of adult humor that would be lost on kids watching it. Have I mentioned Eli is also very much into Batman these days? Partially because of the series of Batman Lego toys they've been giving away in Happy Meals at McDonald's. He will tell you in no uncertain terms that he is going to be Batman for Halloween and will go trick or treating and say "Trick or Treat, smell my feet..." He learned that from a Halloween t-shirt I bought him at Wal-mart. Lately he's enjoying playing Batman while Daddy is the Joker or Maia is Batgirl and they fight crime together. I asked one of the neighbors and unfortunately Trick or Treat here in the plan is not nearly as organized as it was in Scottdale. The kids will come out Oct. 31, but not at any certain time, so this may prove interesting. I figure I'll buy a bunch of candy that I like (in the event there are leftovers) and if I run out I don't answer my door! Okay, that's all for now. :)

Football and singing

I'm sitting here on a Saturday afternoon watching Michigan lose to Illinois while my chicken is roasting in the oven and in a few minutes I'll put the stuffing in too. I'm really waiting until later tonight when I get to watch either Ohio and Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor take on Wisconsin sans their marching band who was suspended this week for hazing or USC. Either way I'll be happy.

The football week here in our family starts on Thursdays. That's the day Evan plays his games at 4:30. Last week they lost (I forget the score) to a good Klein Collins team. His team actually has some good plays and bright moments, however they tend to kill themselves with penalties and receivers who cannot catch the ball to save their lives. This Thursday we'll travel to Klein Oak. Of course going to games becomes a giant eating fest. It's usually pretty warm at 4:30 in the afternoon so we need drinks and Maia and Eli are hungry so they share a nachos and I grab a few when I can. I found prices at home games are ridiculous and I'll learn to take beverages with me and maybe some snacks. I know when Jeff, Maia, Eli and I went to the varsity game last Friday at Spring we easily spent $40 between admission $18, hot dogs, nachos, pop, peanuts, etc.

We've been lucky to have been able to see quite a few Steelers games this season even though we're in Houston. The Texans played their season opener at Pittsburgh so we saw that here, last week the Steelers played Monday night and this week is a Sunday night game both which are nationally televised on ESPN. Now my living room can be appropriately decorated since my mom sent me some black and gold Pittsburgh flags and a bag which I still need to figure out how I will utilize.

Tomorrow is church. I believe next week is the first Sunday the Bell Choir will play, so we'll be practicing like crazy on Wednesday. I think they were supposed to have started Christmas program music rehearsal last Wednesday when I missed. I've also spoken to the Worship and Arts Director about joining A Servant's Heart (ASH). It's their praise and worship band, and I simply told him if he needed an extra female vocal that I would like to be a part of it. The thing is, I'll have to rotate going to ASH and Bell Choir rehearsals because they are at the same time!

Ok, enough for now. I have a few minutes before I make the Harvard Beets and dinner is served!

Hasta manana!

How we spent our Hurricane

Here's how we spent some of our time with no electricity for eight days after Ike!