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The spending spree has begun. It is back to school time. Saturday I took Mason to get his saxophone. We are now the proud rent to own owners of a sax at the low, low price of $42 a month. The total cost is around $1400. Why could my son have decided to play the drums? Then all you have to do is buy some sticks. I sure hope he likes playing. He was a little overwhelmed when we got it. He saw a trumpet and said, "Man that only has three buttons, the saxophone has a million. I don't think I can play it." Well buddy, you have your work cut out for you.

Saturday night the boys wanted to go to the mall and spend their allowance. We took two of our neighbors. Mason told me I couldn't hang with him and his friend. So Tanner, his friend, and myself headed out to find something to buy. We pass by an Oakley store and Mason is trying on a $200 pair of sunglasses. That boy has caviar taste on a McDonald's budget. He better grow up and get a good job. I did find a good deal on backpacks at Marshall's. Mason's friend is already in Jr. High and was giving him the ends and outs of what type of backpack would be useful for 6th grade. It was nice having him around. We wouldn't want Mason to be the dork of 6th grade.

Next on our back to school list is shoes and school supplies. I didn't get the school supply order form turned in on time for Tanner, so I will be going and picking out all his stuff. I think I am going without him. When I let them go with me, I always end up spending way too much. Wish me luck. Mason has already picked out the shoes he wants. They only cost $120. That boy is crazy!!!!

Pure Sweetness

Last night I was really tired and decided to go to bed before I tucked the boys in. I went upstairs and kissed them both and told them goodnight. I went to bed and had just fallen asleep and I heard, "mom, mom". I opened my eyes and Tanner was standing there. He said, "I need another kiss." Part of me was annoyed that he woke me up and I had just fallen asleep, but the other part was thinking aw www. Then Mason came and crawled into bed for a few minutes and then left and went up to his bed. Sometimes they seem like they are getting so big and aren't my babies anymore and then they do something like this and it reminds me that they are still little boys and need their mommy.

Mystery Poop

This morning as the boys and I were leaving to go and play with friends we were met with a mystery in our driveway and yard. Very wet and very smelly blobs. I am assuming it is poop of some sort. It starts on one end of our driveway, goes across the driveway and then into the grass by a flowerbed. Then it just stops. I looked all over the neighbors yards, but they did not seemed to be blessed with the mystery poop. None in the streets either. Nothing seems to be disturbed anywhere. So, this leaves me with many questions. What type of animal could do such damage? The only animals we have around are dogs, cats, and ducks. These would have to be some very sick ducks to cause such a mess. Also, the duck would have to be the size of an ostrich. I haven't seen any of those, so it makes me think a cow. I grew up with cows and I don't remember them leaving so many spots all in a row, just a cow patty here and there. Does anyone have any ideas?

I called Brad when I made the discovery and he said he had seen it on his way out to work and didn't know what it was either. He suggested I hose it off the driveway. Well, by the time I discovered it we were already needing to leave and by the time we got home it was baked onto the driveway. I tried, but I think I need a pressure washer. The first picture is after I tried to wash it off the driveway. I think I just made a bigger mess. Too bad Brad is working late, this is a great job for the man of the house.

The World Series is Over

I have spent the last two days recovering from the World Series. I can't believe how draining it is when it wasn't even me playing. I know it was over 100 degrees every day we were there. During the week I went to two opening ceremonies 13 games and 2 swim parties. The games wouldn't have been so bad but you have to get there an hour ahead of time and then the games seemed to all be delayed, which means you waited even longer. Tanner's games were an hour and fifteen minutes long and Mason's were an hour and 40 minutes long.

On the last day Mason's game started at 9 a.m.. We were supposed to be there at 8. I got up rushed Mason around and as we got there Mason asked where everyone was. I asked Mason what time it was and it was only 7 a.m.. When I woke up I looked at the clock but only looked at the minutes. The only good that came out of it was we got to choose the dugout of our choice and we chose the one the sun was not shining directly into. When the other team got there they tried to boot us out saying they were ranked higher than us, so they got to choose the dugout of their choice. I told Mason not to move and we ended up getting to keep the dugout. We ended up killing that team. Who is ranked higher now!!!!? LOL

Tanner's team won three games and lost two. Mason's team won 6 games and lost 2. They ended up in third place for the series out of 18 teams. We were the only Katy team left. The team that won we didn't get to play. The boys played really well and we are so proud of them. Last year we got 4th out of 5 teams. They have learned and improved a lot in a year. Next year we are wanting to go to South Carolina for the World Series. I will be selling a lot of chocolate.

World Series

Both boys are playing in the World Series this week. They are each guaranteed 5 games. That is at least 10 games we will be playing in the 100 degree weather. If we win then the kids play more. The series starts with pin trading. Each team has a pin with their logo on it and they trade it with other teams. You try and get all the pins for all the teams there. It is pretty fun and the kids really get into it, some parents too. Then they have opening ceremonies. Each team enters the field and their names are called out. Then they have a skills competition. Both boys ended up competing in a race where you run around the bases. Tanner's was an individual competition and Mason's was a relay with 4 boys. Mason's team came in second place competing against twenty or more teams.

Both the Curve and the Krushers have gone 2 and 1. Tomorrow starts the elimination games. It is double elimination. Tanner's game is at 7:45 a.m. This is just wrong. If they win they play again at 10:45 and if they lose they play at 1:45. Mason plays at 1:00. So far this has been the series of dropped balls. Tanner's team was ahead by 6 points int he 6th inning. All we needed was two outs and the game was over. A couple of balls went through the short stops legs, first base dropped a ball and two balls were hit to Tanner in the outfield. He dropped both of them. We ended up losing the game. It was not pretty. The picture above with Mason shows him catching a ball thrown to him by the catcher. They were trying to throw out a kid stealing from second. From the picture the kid isn't even close. Mason turns to make the tag and the kid, that is twice Mason's size, plows into him, knocking Mason off his feet and onto his back and he drops the ball. Lucky for Mason he wasn't hurt. Tomorrow will be a very long and hot day. Wish us luck!!

My Cowboy

Brad and I met 15 years ago today at the George Strait look alike contest in Houston at the Post Oak Ranch. I was suppose to meet friends there. We had decided it was going to be a fun night because we would either see a lot of guys that looked like George Strait or we could laugh at the guys that thought they looked like George. I got antsy and decided to go a little early. I think I got there about an hour before my friends. The first person I saw when I walked into the door was a tall cowboy leaning on the bar with a cowboy hat on and a beer in his hands. Our eyes met for a second and then we kind of walked around looking at each other for a while. When my friends arrived we still hadn't said anything to each other. Finally, he walked up to me and asked me what my name was. I was in a silly mood, or maybe just drunk, but I answered, "What do you want it to be?" and then me and Meredith were making up names. He then asked me what I did for a living, and I answered, "What do you want me to do?" We made small talk and then he asked me to dance. This was the true test. We began dancing and I remember thinking, wow he can dance! We don't dance much anymore but 15 years later we are still together doing or own day to day dance.

Corpus Christi

We went to Corpus for a couple of days. We of course stayed at the Navy Base in Corpus. Everyone of our vacations revolves around a base of some sort. Brad likes to use his retirement perks. We can stay on the base pretty cheap. We went to the beach a couple of times. The boys are so different. Mason loves the water and bugs us to get in with him. If we won't get in he finds people to go near. He is a little scared to be out there by himself. Brad and I took turns getting in with him. Tanner played in the sand building sand castles and sandballs. He would bomb his castles with the bombs. He just entertains himself. The water was very pretty. We discovered Brad's hidden talent on this trip. The hotel gave us a frisbee. Mason and I threw it around a little and then Brad threw the frisbee and he was really good. I began laughing and saying I can't believe we finally found a sport you are good at.

Mason had his 11th birthday on the 29th. Time sure does fly. He is growing up so fast. It is amazing. We went to Corpus for his birthday. I told them after they turned 10 there would be no more big parties. I think he had a good time. We went to Olive Garden for dinner at his request. We also went to ride go carts and putt putt golf. Mason is so competitive Brad kept score at Mason's request. It was Tanner, Mason and me playing golf. In the end we all equally sucked. I scored a 72 and the boys scored 73's. We were about 30 strokes above where we should have been. Mason thinks he is a great golfer because he can play Wii golf.

We went bowling too. Tanner had the bumpers up and Mason kept saying it wasn't fair. Mason insisted he and Tanner play another game with out the bumpers up. Tanner kicked his butt. It was pretty funny. For the record I beat all of them, Brad included. (I don't know where my kids get their competitiveness.) Poor Brad got a bowling injury. I laughed so hard. I told him he must be really out of shape if he pulls something while bowling.

Next week both boys are playing in the World Series. It will be a very busy and very hot week.