We Are Doomed.

I........

I have no words.

Saddle Your Pony. Here We Go!

Down to the talent rodeo!

Words can not express how much I loved this show when I was little. I remember coming home from school in kindergarten and watching reruns (Yes-reruns!) of the original "Mickey Mouse Club" and "Rin Tin Tin.



Today we have our very own musical round up!

First, Braden's been working on more songs from his 50's rock and roll book. These are two of his favorites.

Rock Around the Clock



My Special Angel


This is one of his favorites because it was the last song he learned before moving, and this reminds him of our old hometown. He's got to work on the dynamics a bit. He doesn't want t, though, bcause it's a love song and he doesn't want to sound all lovey-dovey.


And here's Brogan with his newly learned song, the title of which I can't remember right now...

And, finally- Here's Colson thrillin' to a video on the computer.

Happy Anniversary!

M., thank you for 16 wonderful, roller-coaster, nomadic years. I love you!



**Yes, I know the number at the end of the movie is wrong. I made this last year, and cannot update it.

Crash!!!

The littles and I were in a car accident tonight. I was T-Boned by a motorcycle while we were two blocks from home.

Everyone involved is ok, but sadly, my van is not.

The driver side of my van is dented and scratched from bumper to bumper. The driver's window is shattered. Glass is everywhere. And my front tires are now both sort of.... bowlegged? Knock-kneed? Is there a word for what happened? At any rate, the van is not drivable for more than a couple of blocks.

The motorcycle??? No damage. None. It looks completely untouched.

How is it that a little motorcycle rendered my great big van useless?

Not fair.

Not fair. Not fair. Not fair!!!!

OK. My tantrum is over. Tomorrow I call the insurance agent, figure out what I'll be driving for the next little bit, and pray that this whole thing gets settled quickly.

M. watched Grandpa beat Braden in the pool this summer, and got a little cocky.

Apparently Grandpa's victory inspired M. to challenge Braden to a race this weekend.

However, two things were working against M.:

1. M. did not train, as Grandpa did. In fact, I cannot remember the last time M. swam laps in the pool.

2. Braden has dropped 5 seconds off his personal best since racing Grandpa.

The race this weekend was a nail biter. We truly needed touchpads to determine the winner. But after watching the tape over and over and over again, I think we've determined a winner.

I'd Watch Them.

I wonder if they'd win?

Edited: Look! I just noticed that she's on the right and he's on the left! sigh...so true.....

Canadian Crime

A Canadian commercial uses police footage for their ad. I can't believe that crime there has gotten so bad! Canadians have always seemed so friendly and calm!

There's an effort to elect an unknown random person as President... and it's someone we know!

Watch this online video about the surprising new nominee, a write-in candidate I can support!

Click here!

HT to Ramblin' Educat

Guest Blogger: M. Discusses My Chances for "Mother of the Year."

I (M.) shall embark on my first blog entry. I present to you the post that Hillary refuses to write. See if you can guess why?

On Tuesday, in a battle of wills, Brogan refused to engage in his swim team session. He defiantly stood at the edge of the pool knowing full well the wrath that was to come from mom. He got home, and took his medicine bravely.

Then the knowing wife threw down the ultimate card: “Wait until your Dad comes home and you can tell him what you did.”

Remember that torture? Hillary had already taken care of business, and took away all computer and TV time. What else was left for me to do?

I come home, and Brogan had the look of someone who was about to go to the executioner. I took my time marching him upstairs, and I told him he had one more chance or the hammer would fall. “ Brogan, do you realize what you are going to miss this weekend if you don’t get your act together?”

I shared my plan of buying “Iron Man” and having a movie night with snacks Mom doesn’t buy. (That is why we need Dads, right?) Boys who don’t have screen time won’t get to enjoy the movie night. When you don’t do the work you’re supposed to do, you don’t get to enjoy the fun things. I sternly told him that he had to keep my plan a secret

And so Brogan embarked on this week with a secret and a mission. You can imagine how hard it is for a 7 year old to keep a secret. He spent four days about to bust. He made it 3 days with some close calls on the secret, and Friday it was time for his dreaded swim team practice.

He forgot his goggles and towel, but that didn’t matter. He attacked that pool. “I am keeping the secret. I am not missing out on the movie, and I am not feeling Dad’s wrath after practice.”

Today is Saturday and we are getting ready for the trip to the store. All Brogan’s efforts have paid off. He gets to see the surprise for his brothers and is all geared up for the trip to Walmart.

In his moment of triumph, Hillary started prattling about watching “Iron Man“ and our movie night.

Brogan froze in his tracks.

Braden shouted from the kitchen. “What was that?”

Brogan’s eyes bugged out and Dad began shaking his head.

We still will have fun with our movie night, but Hillary has taken a giant step back from that “Mom of the Year” award.

The Match of the Century (Or at Least This Summer)

Years ago, back when the world was still in black and white, my dad swam for his high school team in Southern California. He was good. Very good. (This is according to Grandma Eadi- his mother- who is not biased in any way.) I think he preferred the shorter, "sprintier" races, and I know his coach signed him up for the long distance swims when he needed a little attitude adjustment. Dad also played water polo and was one of his school's top scorers.

But for all his acquatic success during his high school glory days, has hasn't spent much time in the pool over the past 45 years. (Oh my GOSH, Dad! Has it really been FORTY-FIVE YEARS!?!?) Dad works hard to stay in great shape, and has always been very athletic, but I never got the impression that swimming was something he did for exercise anymore. That is, until last year.

My dad started casually asking about Braden's swim times last fall, and I didn't think anything of it, really. How was I to know that my dad was not merely expressing grandfatherly interest - he was training.

Braden has been swimming for nearly 3 years. He's got great endurance, but speed is not his strength. When Brogan joined the swim team, he and Dad e-mailed back and forth about swimming, and drills, etc. This spring, Dad began hinting that he wanted to race Braden when we came to Boise to visit. Braden loved that idea, and the trash talking between the two began.

So it was with great anticipation that we headed to the Boise YMCA to witness Braden and Grandpa Frank race. Braden thought he would win. After all, he could dive and flip turn, Grandpa could not, and he had youth on his side. Braden was worried about Grandpa hurting himself.

They warmed up by racing each other in a 25 free. Both swam hard, and were shocked to have tied at the finish! The race was so close, no one could tell who touched first.

The second race was a 50 Free. I made sure to get it on film.

Who won? You be the judge.



I tease.

It wasn't really that close. No photo finish was needed. But it's great to have the proof on hand.

Dad nearly lost his watch, but he won the race! Not only did he win, he set a personal best* of 42 seconds! ( *Personal best when comparing his practice swim times in the 21st century.)

Plus, dad found 51 cents at the bottom of the pool, so it was a great afternoon for him all around!


(The racers recovering after the big finish.)