The Dreaded Word......

Ryan had a tummy ache.......

It started right after youth group. At first I thought, maybe it's the ENTIRE bag of sour cream and onion potato chips that he ate. (I still suspect that might of had something to do with it). But the more he explained, the more I thought (the dreaded, ugly, forbidden word)................. GAS? Yes, that's it!!!! Gas! Gas, gas, gas! (Do you understand how hard it is for me to write this?) You know, I could have chose more colorful words. Flatulence, toot, puff, barking spiders (as my momma would say), and the four letter F-word that I cannot stand, FART!!! Ugghhh! Who invented that word? And why, I ask?

Before I get any more off the subject, let me continue. He was in agony all the way home. I, his mother, felt terrible for him. Only because I have this problem occasionally, and it isn't peaches and cream. I had labor pains that wouldn't hold a candle to some of my gas pains. Lordy me, why am I writing this?

I told him to take a nice hot bath when we got home and he would feel better. Well guess what, I must be a mom after all, because my advise worked. He came downstairs smiling, happy, and bubbly. We then got to spend two hours with him laughing because of the gas that he was "passing". Middle school boys usually have a "different" aroma anyway. This blew all those out of the water.

So we all went to bed happy and pain free. Until 3 a.m.. Knock.....knock.....knock.............. tap....tap...tap. Ryan isn't smiling, happy and bubbly anymore. He curls up on the end of our bed writhing in pain. So, his daddy checks him out. He even brought the stethoscope out to check bowel sounds. (strange, huh? It's a fringe benefit) After much inspection Rick decided that it would be best to take him to the hospital to run tests. I knew that he was questioning appendicitis. But I still thought it was gas. I was right! AGAIN!

So before you pass verdict please understand. I have in no way embarrassed him by telling you about his gas, bowel movements or otherwise. I have, however, embarrassed myself, because I told you about mine. Ryan would think that this is very funny. He shared all this information with anyone he came in contact with yesterday. All his sentences began with "When we were at the ER". He had hundreds of "emergency" potty jokes. He wouldn't be offended in the least by this post. Let me say it again, NOT IN THE LEAST. I would go so far to say that it might even make him proud. Strange child? It took three years of dating and two years of marriage before I passed gas in front of Rick. Then when I did, I could have died!!!!!!! I wanted to cry, crawl in a teeny tiny hole and never resurface. Things sure have changed!!!

So, I thought that I would give you some useless facts about gas. I found this on a "gas" web-site". You didn't think there was such a thing? Oh, yes there is!!!!!!

Here goes.......

Everyone has gas. Most people produce about 1 to 4 pints a day and pass gas about 14 times a day. Passing gas through the mouth is called belching or burping. Passing gas through the rectum is called flatulence. Most of the time gas does not have an odor. The odor comes from bacteria in the large intestine that release small amounts of gases that contain sulfur.

Gas in the digestive tract comes from two sources: air that you swallow and the breakdown of undigested food by bacteria in the large intestine. Certain foods may cause gas. Foods that produce gas in one person may not cause gas in another. Drinking lots of water and non-fizzy drinks and chewing food more to lessen the amount of air you swallow when you eat can help reduce gas. For people with lactose intolerance, avoiding milk products will help.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

They say you should learn something every day. Well now you have!!! I can assure you that I will never write about this again.

I'm having trouble pushing the "publish" button. That will send this to cyber world. Ohhh, I can't.

OK, I did it. Please don't call me with fart jokes!!!

Vintage Halloween

These are just a few Halloween images to get you into the spirit. I am busy decorating and organizing Rick's Birthday party. I've not got much time to write.

I will catch you up tomorrow.

By the way...... I found a web-site where you can get these amazing clip art like the ones above. It's called "The Graphic Fairy". Check it out.

Homecoming for the Hornets

Daniel Riekena jammin' to "Hey Jude" during half time. Have you ever seen a electric guitar in a marching band? Well.......I love it!!!!!!!!

Some of our VERY TALENTED coaching staff!!

Coach Willard. Putting his battle gear on. Or headphones as others might call it.

Our Hornets

I can almost hear the music playing overhead. The excitement of the crowd. The announcer calling our Hornets names.

Even our city water tower sports a Hornet

I love that I've always been a Hornet. Now, before you ask, I haven't always lived in Chillicothe! I grew up in Hamilton, MO and we were the Hamilton Hornets. Soooo, I've concluded that I must never live in a town where the school mascot isn't a Hornet. (are there any Hornets in Florida? Oh, I hope so!!!!)

I've never seen a town go so wild over football as Chillicothe. We have more Hornet memorabilia than the MU Tigers, KC Chiefs, and the KC Royals put together! Everything from jewelry, hoodies, t's, socks, blankets, and stadium seats. The list goes on and on and on........

I'm not complaining. I love getting pumped up before a big game. Sitting in the seats with all my friends, family, and fellow Chillicothe-ians to root on our home team.

During the games, Ryan and Ian sit with friends. I usually don't see them until the end of the 4th quarter.

Gracie wanted to paint her face this year. I thought the freckles were cute. We stamped skulls on the cheeks and fists. Then wrote the words Pain.....Gang.

I love this picture. Isn't she precious?

September 25th

Our middle school hornets had another disappointing loss yesterday, despite a well played first half.

It was a better game than last week. If you have to find a positive?

My mom came to the game. That was special to Ryan and I. I was glad to have her there, and so was he.

#83 is Ryan.

He found out this week that the moms could wear their opposite jerseys. They wear white for away and black for home. So, he asked three or four times if I would wear his other jersey. Of course, I will!!!!!!! I didn't realize how excited he was about that until I went into my bathroom yesterday morning and there, on my counter, was his jersey. The kid cannot remember his homework, his cell-phone, or his football cleats, but he wanted me to wear his jersey so much, he brought it down for me. Without me asking him (might I add) Let me tell ya, that tugged at my heart!!! It almost makes me want to tear up thinking about it.

This Wednesday I cooked in the church kitchen, as I always do. We made hundreds of cookies. Not two or even three hundred. Probably not even four. Five or six hundred would be more like it. I gladly avoided making the Neiman Marcus cookie. It had to be Freddy Kruger's recipe. It takes a hour to add all the ingredients. (you have to grind the oatmeal in the food processor). NOOOOO cookie is worth that much trouble. Stop arguing with me!!!!! I'm right and that is that.

Alicia (the best cookie maker ever)

Now I'm hungry. I WANT COOKIES!!!!! Alicia......will you whip me up a batch?

Moving on........

When we built our house, we wanted an European shower. You know, the big kind. Without doors. Lots of knobs and such. I wanted a rain shower head but some fool kept stealing them during construction. After a few shower heads we decided that enough was enough!!!! It wasn't meant to be. Sometimes while showering, I have a good cry over it. I miss all the showers that could have been.

Wow, that was a rabbit trail!!!!! I was going to tell you how the dog showers with us. You see, not having a door on our shower was probably not a smart move. This dog would suck a pond dry and still be thirsty. Rick would vouch for me on this. I've never seen a dog love water so much. He doesn't care that the water he is licking is the water I used to wash my body. Soap, dirt and all. As if he didn't get enough water during the shower, he then tries to lick the water off my legs when I'm done. Dumb dawg!!!!!

I was going to write about how weird our dog was under this picture. However, I'm the one standing nude in the shower with a camera. So, maybe it's not the dog who is weird. Maybe it's the dog's adoptive mother. Who would be, (uuuhhh-hemmm) me.

This is the look that he gives me when I pray he really isn't human. It creeps me out. I feel like there needs to be background music. Bow-chick-a-wow-wow. (did I just write that? Oh, heavens me, I think I did?)

He must not be too impressed because the water won out.

F.Y.I. Today is Carter and Cameron's birthday!!!! They are the big 1-4!!! Happy birthday boyz!!!!

Today is also Chillicothe Homecoming. Exciting!!!!!!!!

Halloween Invitations

Oh-Deary-me!!!! It's Wednesday again. That means time to go cook at church. Last week we fed over 270 people.

I'm wondering what today will have in store for us.

So, this means that I need to get a move on.

This means that I cannot tell you the stories today that I heard from my husband and children last night. Stories of puss, poo, toots, and those sorts of things. I will save them for another time (if I remember them).

I stayed up until 12:30 am last night making invitations for Rick's 40th birthday. He always goes overboard on my gifts. He will buy me a diamond necklace or Coach purse and I will hand him a box of chocolates. It's not because I don't love him. It's because we agree NOT to buy each other much. Then he takes the amount of money that we both would have spent, and buys me something.

So, for his party, I'm sparing no expense!!!!! I don't care if he whines about the money!!!! I'm going to do this. After all, you only turn 40 once. Although I am 20 for the 14th time. hehe

Tootles for today!!!!

(WARNING) DOG ON DECK (WARNING)

What is this...........?

How did you get on the deck?

We have lived here five years and you have never done this.

It is two stories high, did you climb all those steps?

Who told you that this was OK?

I'm waiting................

WHO, T-bone?

Not telling, huh?

Never mind, I think I know.

Gus, you are always up to some sort of mischief. Do you know how much trouble you have caused? Now T-bone is going to be licking me in the summer when I'm trying to sun-bathe and drooling on Rick's pant leg while he is trying to grill. Sometimes, I'm not sure what in the world to do with you.

I'M TALKING TO YOU!!!!!!!!!

YES YOU!!!!!

I will get back to scolding Gus after I finish this post. I have been hard at work today finishing the last details of the house. The mums are out. Most of the pumpkins and gourds have been placed. Whew!!!! I'm already dreading taking it all down. I'm insane folks!!!!!!! Simply and utterly insane!!!!

After doing this I want to make a mug of hot apple cider. Rick's home-made potato soup (or maybe chili) ahhhhh! Doesn't that sound delish? Soup, cider, and watching football on the couch with my warm fleece blanket, right next to my man!!!! There won't be any sleeping though because........ my man is a loud football fan!!!!

I love fall ya'all. What do you know? It's the first day of Fall.

THERE IS A PHOTO BELOW THAT IS PG-13.

THIS MESSAGE IS FOR ADULT EYES ONLY!!!

IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE....STOP!!!!

WARNING!!!!!

WARNING!!!!!

NOT GOING TO WARN YOU AGAIN!!!!!!!

OK, ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!

STILL WARNING!!!!!!!

OK, ENOUGH WARNINGS!!!!!!!!!

This is why Gus was biting T-bone's leg in the above picture.

Gus bites T-bones leg so T-bone will sit down. Then he can do this........

Never mind that T-bone is 200 pounds and Gus is 60. Or that they are both BOYS!!!! Or that I, (their mother) am watching!!!!! Jee whiz. Gus this is wrong in EVERY way!!! ENOUGH, I tell ya!!!!!!

As for you, my readers, I knew that you wouldn't stop reading. (smile and wink)

September weekends

This weekend, as most are, was jam-packed. I remember when I was growing up, we would rent four or five movies, get comfy in the living room, and watch them. Our family does good to watch the DVR movies that we have recorded. It's a busy life for us. And for the most part, I love it.

Our weekend started immediately after school. I picked up Gracie and her friend Magy. They are quite a pair. So different than boys. Giggle, giggle, giggle. We played dress-up (and fashion show), cooked with our Easy-Bake Oven, took a ride on the 4-wheeler, and made some pizzas. Whew!!!!

Magy and Gracie are pretending to eat their uncooked pizzas. However, they really did. They ate more uncooked than they did after it was baked. CRAZY kids!!!!

Our 4-wheeler ride ended quickly after we saw this beast!!! It totally freaked the girls out. They opted for indoor play after that.

This is the girls version of silly faces. I agree, they are pretty silly. No matter how hard they tried though, these girls are still cuter than bug's ears. (as my Grandma used to say)

Ryan has baseball practice in Liberty so we utilized all resources. Grandma!!!!! Grandma Janice took Ryan to the city so I could watch Ian's first football game. Rick is the coach, so he cannot miss. All of Ryan's practices are at the same time as Ian's games. So, I'm afraid that I'm going to miss a few. :( It truly puts a pit in my stomach!!!! Rick and I rarely miss games.

This is Brett. He has been one of Ian's best friends since, well, maybe diapers. His parents are super friends of ours too. And, well, I love this kid.

The guy pictured beside Brett, well, I love him too. He is the coach!!! The Daddy!!! The fan!!!

This particular league is 6th and 7th grade. Ian is in 6th. He has one more year until he will play for the school. Then our Saturdays will be open in the fall. I'm not sure how to digest that. We haven't had a fall Saturday since........hummm......I cannot remember? Ian is number 18. See him on the right making a tackle. Hey, number 18 is my kid. I'm his mom. Watch him.

After the game we took a couple extra kiddos home. One of our best friends, Nancy, had a birthday. Her husband took her out for a day of shopping and one-on-one time. We gladly took the boys. Rick took them to the farm and they worked on deer stands and such. Probably more "such" than working on deer stands. As payment for their hard labor, we lit up a bon-fire and roasted hot dogs, and smores. Ahhh, I love bonfires people!!

Last, but not least, we woke up at the crack of dawn Sunday morning to head to Liberty. Ryan's game, of course. He pitched the first game. The team struggled some this weekend. I'm not sure if it was the early start or the partying the night before (just kidding). We lost both games. Sad

We ate at Texas Roadhouse (Rick's fav.) then boogied home for youth group.

I'm beat guys. Guess what? We get to do it all over again this week.