~~ Christine's Corner ~~

Belated Happy New Year! :)

2012-01-13T14:28:00.002-05:00

We had a great Christmas, but I am glad it's over! The boys are happy, so it was nice. Of course, they got waay too much. They are back in school, which is nice too ;).

Beauty and the Beast comes out today in 3D! I want to go see it - not because I haven't seen it before, but because it's an excuse for a date, and I adore this movie! I have it recorded on my dvr, but not in 3D, so I must see it!

Brandon's birthday is coming up. He's going to be 10! My babies are growing up so fast. It's so hard that his bday is so soon after Christmas, but I think we have a few things that he'll be thrilled with.
He's been taking ice skating/hockey lessons and he's really enjoying it. He got skates for Christmas. It stinks that we have to drive more than 1/2 hour to get to the place, but it's nice, and he likes the coaches. Plus, baseball will be coming up soon, so I should be grateful that hockey is only once a week. Between the 2 of them, we'll be running nonstop, I think.

JT will be having JV baseball tryouts at the end of the month. I can't believe he's trying out for the high school team already! He got a gym/weight thing for Christmas, and he's been doing strength training and conditioning at the school for a couple of months now, so hopefully he's ready for it. My fingers are crossed for him to make it.

Got the stupid garage door opener fixed today. The guy told me that from what he saw, the company who "fixed" it before (about 5 years ago) only replaced part of what should have been replaced. Nice. Makes me wish I knew how to do everything so I'd be sure it'd be done right. Jerks. I woke up to a garage door that wouldn't stay down, and a piece of siding that blew off the side of the house! It was so windy last night... That was my excitement for today. And with it being Friday the 13th, that's *enough* excitement.

It's been awhile!

2011-10-12T10:47:00.001-04:00

I didn't realize how long it's been since I've done this. Slacking again... Time to catch up!

Why does it seem, that when Tom is out of town, there is so much more to do?! With baseball, school, and all of the things they love to do, I'm running around every day!

B, showing us his
"Moves Like Jagger"
at the Road Warriors
game.

And, joy of joys, hockey is starting up. We went to a preseason game, and the boys loved it. The best thing about hockey for me - they play good music! Well, most of the time... Brandon has decided he wants to try to play it now. He's *okay* on skates, but he may have to go into the "learn to skate" class before the "learn to play hockey" class. Either way, he's excited, so I'm happy for him. I hate that it's such a drive to the skating rink (or is it just called "ice" - or something else completely lol), but nothing I can do about that!

Watch that sword!!!

JT got knighted for showing prowess in school (yes, again!). Early Act First Knight is a program that encourages character building. They focus on a different character trait each month, and "knight" the students who best exemplify that trait at the end of that month. I'm so proud of him! We got to see his girlfriend, although he wouldn't introduce us >:< I wonder why?

Brandon got the Citizen of the Month award for September! He was on his school's tv broadcast accepting it. Way to go, Brandon - you're awesome!!! This is the first year for him that they are doing awards by the month instead of the week.

JT's baseball team won their first tournament. They rocked all 4 games and won the gold division! Way to go Carolina Rockies!

Speaking of fall - fall TV! I'm so glad I'm hooked on only 2 shows. I don't watch much tv, so I tell myself it's okay because these 2 are great! First - Revenge. LOVE that show! The first epi wasn't so hot, but I love seeing Amanda/Emily's devious plots. She is heartless!!! (except for maybe when it comes to Jack ♥).
Second is The Secret Circle. I have the books. I wanted to read them before, but I really do now. However, I'm scared to. I love the show, but, I'm afraid it will be like True Blood. *Everyone* who has read the Sookie books has had strong feelings against True Blood. I like True Blood, and if the books are that much better than the show, I'm waiting to read them so I don't ruin the show for myself. Guess I'll do the same with The Secret Circle, since I know there are entire characters that were left out of the tv show! Sounds crazy - but that's okay :).

Recent Randomness

2011-09-13T10:53:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, I'm not very good at this blogging thing. I think of things that I want to put down into words all the time, but then forget about them when I'm able to sit down and do it! Oh well, such is life...

JT's new baseball team played this past weekend. They went 2-2, but they played really good - their defense was awesome. They won both games the first day. They actually won them pretty good. The scores were 9-1 and 15-0. The 2nd day, they lost 3-1 and 4-1. So, in the tournament as a whole, they finished 3rd out of 9 teams - which isn't bad at all! JT had a great weekend, had some good hard hits, especially Sunday. He played good at catcher as well, threw out more than a couple kids trying to steal on him, which is always awesome! It felt good to get back to the baseball field - and lots of people on the team were with us on other teams in the past, so it was nice. And, I just have to say - what's up with all of the purple baseball teams this year?! We are the Carolina Rockies (purple, white, black - just like the Colorado Rockies). There were 2 other teams in our age group (13-U) with purple jerseys! Since JT started playing travel ball at 9-U, I only remember one other team that entire time that used purple - and they were a year under us! It's my favorite color right now, so it's okay.

We've decided that I'm going on Brandon's field trip to VA in March. I went on this field trip with JT when he was in 4th grade. It does look like the itinerary is a little different this time around. That's a good thing! It's to Colonial Williamsburg, tied in to what they are learning in social studies. Which translates to an 8-10 hour bus ride full of 4th graders...

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. Our temps are supposed to be a LOT cooler - can't wait for fall weather. We got a little tease about a week ago and were able to open the windows overnight.

Oh - and JT's team is doing a fundraiser. We're selling Carolina Girl shirts. I love these shirts - they're so comfortable! If you want to help us out and buy one, just send me an email! Short sleeve, and long sleeve shirts are available, as well as a hoodie. We'd appreciate it :)

K stands for...

2011-08-21T18:02:00.000-04:00

My title totally made me think of this song. So, now it's gonna be stuck in YOUR head, too!!!

You're welcome ;)

Anyhoo - K stands for Keurig! Tom got me one for my birthday (even though my ahem... 29th... birthday isn't for a couple of weeks). It's the coolest thing! I can set it to turn on in the morning and hit a button and have a yummy cuppa joe in a matter of seconds! I've wanted one for awhile, but I knew it would turn me into a coffee drinker. I usually only have coffee on vacation, but I just can't resist the smell of it! There are so many flavors that I could have - I'll have to try them all just to see what's the best! He ordered me a 25 variety pack of flavored coffees - who could go wrong with names like "Vanilla Cupcake" and "Chocolate Glazed Donut"?! I ♥ maple, and there is a Sugar Maple Bush flavor that I hope is good too! What is everyone's favorite flavor to drink??

Another of my favorite things starts with "K" - my kindle! Love it too ♥ Can't leave that one out :) Look at the super cute case I made for it :)

And Brandon came running in when that video was playing and said "B stands for BRANDON"!!! :) Yes, Brandon, it does!

The new school year has begun!

2011-08-16T17:03:00.001-04:00

Brandon had a baseball tournament this weekend in Easley. They lost all of their games, but they improved each game. We didn't have very high expectations, this is the team's first tournament, and one of the boys with us was trying out. They did have fun though, and looked good doing it!

On their last day of freedom (Monday), we went to their new favorite place, Yogo Creations. JT drove the van around the block also (Don't tell Tom)! He actually did good. He is looking forward to driving so much - and I am soo not looking forward to it LOL! Yeah, we're on opposite ends of THAT spectrum! I'm not worried yet, we've still got 2 years until he can get his permit...

The boys went back to school today. It actually was kind of bittersweet. As much as I've been looking forward to it, I'm kinda sad they aren't around. :( JT is in his last year of middle school - where did the time go?! He is almost as old as I was when I met Tom! That is unreal to me. It seems like yesterday when he first started kindergarten! And Brandon is in 4th grade now - getting so big! He's growing like a weed, it's crazy.

Of course, driving them to school was crazy too. I'm really hoping the parking lot isn't always as busy as it was this morning... Hopefully, lots of people took their kids for the first day only, and they'll be on the bus for the rest of the year, lol. The boys actually enjoyed their days. They liked seeing their friends more than their teachers I think - but that's to be expected :). No complaints from either one (yet), but JT has been informed by another teacher that Algebra will have a ton of homework - yay.

Busy week!

2011-08-12T11:28:00.001-04:00

Finally got all of the kids' school supplies - they needed a lot this year! Got the clothes shopping done, we're good to go (at least until winter gets here!).

Brandon had his lingual frenectomy surgery. The little piece of flesh that holds your tongue down to the floor of your mouth - his held his tongue way down, he could barely touch his upper lip with his tongue. He was starting to get a little lisp also. Nothing that required any speech therapy, but we noticed it, and when he went to see his orthodontist, it was recommended. We're hoping it will help with his "S's", but we'll see. It was a laser surgery, and the only food restrictions were no really crunchy things (i.e. potato chips) for a few days.

JT and Brandon both had their back to school orientations yesterday. JT had a mishap with his locker already, though. He was assigned a locker. When he went to put the assigned lock on it, he found that someone else had put their lock on his locker already! Oops - not good. Another not so good thing - he has a bottom locker this year :( It's the first time he's had a bottom locker (and his last year of middle school lol). Brandon is happy with his teachers - he was worried about one, but, after having met her, he's good. He's got a couple friends from football in his class, and he knows just about all of his classmates at this point.

Big Brother - really?! Just have to throw that in here. It's not much more than a joke - America truly voted Brendon back in? Highly unlikely. And, of course, the competition was set up to favor Brendon huuuugely over Lawon. I'm saying I'm not watching anymore, but we'll see how it goes. Maybe if someone wins HOH and puts up Brendon and Rachel, I'll tune in again ;)

Brandon's baseball team plays their first tournament at 10-U this weekend - good luck Hurricanes Baseball!!!

Just found out about Jani Lane - R.I.P.

~And only 4 more days until school starts!!

Where did the time go?!

2011-08-05T15:15:00.000-04:00

My senior picture, 1991

Wow is all I could say a few months ago when I got the letter in the mail. I was somewhere between disbelief, sadness, and complete, utter denial. There was NO WAY that I could have graduated high school *20 years ago*! It feels like maybe 2 years - really! I decided not to go, but I'm regretting it a little now. Never mind that I'm in SC and it's in South FL, but it would be interesting at the least to see what everyone's been up to in the last 20 years. Thanks to the "good ole Boca" thread on Facebook, I've been revisiting all kinds of things from my high school years - all the local hangouts, music, hairstyles and clothes we all wore (but don't readily admit to our kids). Wow. That means I must be nearing the big 4-0. At least some of my classmates are almost there. I've been stuck on 29 for awhile now, and it suits me just fine!

That reminds me - I've always said I'm turning 29 years old (since that fateful day that I actually did). When JT was about 5 years old, he realized that I kept turning 29 every birthday. He asked me one day "Mom, why are you lying about your age?" Wow. Major parenting award right there, huh?! I had to give him some kind of answer that makes sense without telling him I'm just ouright lying. So I told him that I say out loud that I'm twenty-nine, but in my head, I say "plus two" or whatever. So, we're in the grocery store getting my cake. I told the lady (like I always do) to put "Happy 29th Birthday" on it. JT yells out "Plus two" - I wanted to die! He thought he was the cutest thing, and it was pretty funny. But how can I yell at him for that?!

Anyway, Spanish River Class of 1991 - have a blast this weekend, and have a margarita (or 2) for me!

Oh - and only 11 days till the boys go back to school!

The end of the spring baseball season

2011-07-31T21:36:00.002-04:00

JT played his last 12-U baseball game today. He played with the Cyclones in the East Coast National Tourney. They won the gold bracket - and JT had a hand in the last out! They got medallions, rings, and a pretty cool t-shirt. As of August 1, he'll play 13-U tournaments, which puts him on major league sized fields! I can't believe that!

Brandon will have to move up as well, to 10-U. The big difference for him is that they aren't limited in their leads, and can steal a base at any time. We'll see how his team does, they are just getting started back up after taking off this past spring and fall.

*16 days till school is back!!!!!

My blog

2011-07-28T22:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally finished setting up my blog page - for now. I'll probably change it many times before I'm satisfied with it. Off to get a little work done, and hopefully read some more. I'm reading Darynda Jones' First Grave on the Right. I'm really liking it so far - original concept, not an overdone, recycled storyline!

No baseball tomorrow for us! JT is playing in the East Coast Nationals with the Carolina Cyclones, and we're off tomorrow (Thank you Grateful Dead for playing @ Heritage Park tomorrow night!!). Back at it on Saturday though - Brandon will be practicing, JT will be playing. The fun never ends ;)

Oh - and only 19 more days until school starts!!!

~*~ Christine's Corner ~*~