More Stros'....

As I've said before, I love a good promo night with the Astros. Half off tickets and fireworks are like sweet music to the Davis family. And the Astros won the last game we attended and this game. I'm not saying we are the reason for the victories; I'm just laying out the facts. Draw your own conclusions.

Batter up

(That's all I could come up with.)

True Astros fans wear pink.

This was the view from my seat. This guy had to be at least 6 ft 8, but I can't confirm because he never stood up. Mac asked me if it was Gregg Allman and for the rest of the game I was singing, "Midnight Rider" in my head.

"not going to let them catch me, no, not going let them catch the midnight rideeeeerrrrrrrr"

Holland saves money by making her own Go Astros sign.

"Wait for it...wait for it"

Anticipating the green go light to race the mechanical runner

The balloon people always manage to find us, no matter how I tried to hide from them.

And fireworks topped off the evening.

Good times, people, good times.

Vacation Bible School: Boomerang Express

Last week we had our vacation bible school at church, and I think I have finally recovered. I worked with Grey's age group again. This is actually the last year for VBS for his age. Next year he moves up to VBX which is designed more for the older kids.
I have to say it was more challenging this year than past years. Individually, these are some sweet, smart, and fun kids. As a group, they are a pack of wild animals. I think raw meat would have been an appropriate snack food. By Wednesday, I was asking the children's director for permission to use Body Combat moves on some of the children. By Thursday, I was wishing I had a net and a cattle prod. By Friday, I was writing my local congressman to see if a bill could be passed to legalize tasering children. I see now why some animals eat their young.
My fellow 3rd grader wrangler. We've been working together as guides the last 4 years.

Holland LOVED VBS. She was excited every morning, rushing me to get ready so we wouldn't be late.

Music + Hand Motions = Happy Holland

Grey for the most part, had to control his inner animal, because I was there, but he enjoyed VBS, all except the music.
Music + Hand Motions = Tortured Grey


I have to say I was glad when it was all over. Will I do it all again next year?


Of course.

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day!

"How can we thank God enough for you and for the joy you have given us....."

1 Thessalonians 3:9 TLB

Astros 9 Pirates 1

Well, we had ourselves a family night with the Astros. It was a promo night, and we were able to get good tickets at half price, and my motto is, "If it's cheaper to take the kids to the game than hire a babysitter, then to the game they go." Heartwarming, isn't it? But ,we really had a great time. Of course, as long as the popcorn, peanuts, and ice cream kept flowing, Holland was one happy Astros fan. They also got some time before the game to play in the Squeezebox indoor playground which started the night off right.

This is the only smile I can get from him these days when I take a picture. He's really a happy kid when he's not being photographed....really, he is.

Showin' Roy O. some love

Racing the mechanical runner.

It was a bit sunny for the first 30 minutes of the game down the 1st baseline.

It was also Friday Night Fireworks after the game. It was sponsored by Marathon Oil. Let me just say thanks for paying a couple of extra cents at the pump to pay for this fireworks display. Your money was well spent, because the fireworks were spectacular.

OOOooooohhhh, AAAAaaaaahhhhh

A small taste of the fireworks.

Roller Skating

Holland, learning to roller skate is easy. It's just like trying to ride a bike.

Never mind.

What A Long Strange School Year It Has Been....

The last day of school began as any other school day. Grey has always been really good at getting up and getting ready. He can be dressed, scoop the litter box, eat breakfast, and be outside in 15 minutes. And he does it without complaining. ( I love that!)

Holland, not so much. She doesn't mind getting up. She just doesn't want to go to school or anywhere for that matter. She always says "I wish it was stay-at-home day." Big sigh.
If I can get her mobile, there's some improvement in her disposition. But, woe unto the soul who wakes her up on a morning after a night she stayed up past her bedtime.

First day of Kindergarten (August 2008)

Last day of Kindergarten. (June 2009)

First day of 3rd grade (Aug 2008)

Last day of 3rd grade and about 6 more inches of hair (June 2009)

"FREE AT LAST..FREE AT LAST..."

They both did very well and were promoted to the next grade.

This has been such a strange and expensive school year, so I'm kind of glad it's over. Let's take a gander back at the last 8.5 months, shall we?

*Hurricane Ike--they were out of school 11 days

*Fire (arson) in the Kindergarten area that had the K class roaming the school for weeks.

*Back Surgery for Moi

*Audited for 2006 tax year by the IRS

*Bought a new car

*New car hits deer less than 6 weeks after we buy it

*Fire (Arson) burns down warehouse and damages showroom of one of Mac's major accts. right before Memorial Day weekend

*Just yesterday the a/c went out upstairs (about stair 8 you hit a 91 degree wall of heat); had to replace a part on that unit.

So, I told Mac I am taking the next 82 days of summer off from major decisions and purchases.

( At least, I hope so.)

Today Is The Official Start Of Hurricane Season

In years past, that was a piece of information I never took notice of. But now, I take a lot of notice. Day 9 without power fashion.

Being out of school 11 days drove the kids straight to the bottle.

(Applebee's hurricane beverage menu consisted of tea and bottled root beer.)

Our hurricane battery-operated big screen tv.

Looking back, I think I should totally get camping credit for those 10 days. That earns some sort of badge, right?

Good Luck With That

If there is one thing I have learned about Holland it is that if she is not self-motivated to learn something new, it is not going to happen. No amount of bribery, threats, banging your head on the concrete, crying (on my part) is going to get her to do it. It is what it is, and I have come to terms with it. 4 years of attempted swim lessons have made me wise, a little bitter, but mostly wise.
So when Mac said he wanted to teach Holland how to ride her bike sans training wheels when she has expressed virtually no interest in that milestone, I said, "you are on your own, cowboy."
And then I hid in the house to protect my ears from the wails of frustration. Then I decided I would take some pictures for you folks, because well, it didn't involve me behind a princess bike chanting, "you CAN do it" in between trying to breathe and running until my legs are numb. Besides that's what daddies are for.

Let's try a smile that doesn't look as though you have been waterboarded at Guatanomo Bay.

I guess that will have to do.

We are having fun, now. And Nick, the neighbor is being real helpful by telling her how easy it is.
(If it had been Grey, she would have hauled off that bike and knocked him out.)

She pleads to her mom, who wisely does not get involved.

There was LOTS of this.

And this. Mac may have a permanent slouch.

Finally, the voice of sanity rang out, and they quit and decided to play a little catch, and everybody was relatively happy again. Holland still can't ride a bike, but she's okay with that. And there is peace and calm again. And you can't put a price on that.

Sock Monkey's Adventure

Grey: "I don't know how it happened."

Me: "Could it have happened when you were repeatedly throwing Sock Monkey up in the air?"

Grey: "Yeah...that may have been it...."

We really need to invest in a tall ladder.

Mac vs Nature, Part 4

Maybe Mac should take up hunting, you know, with a gun instead of his vehicle. He's killed/wounded more deer in the time I've known him than most hunters ever do.

With today's hit, the total stands at 3 deer and 1 tree.

I think Nature may have a beef with Mac.

The Outsiders (the movie)

Pony Boy Curtis or Two Bit Matthews

Tough call.

The Grande Finale

Well, Holland had her spring and final recital of the 2008-2009 Dance Season. She has really enjoyed the recitals and competitions and for once I felt like I got my money's worth out of a costume. Yay, for both of us. Anyway, for her recital, they learned....tried to learn a new dance. With the end of the season, a couple of girls dropping out, absences, last minute choreography changes, it was well.......I wouldn't call it a train wreck, maybe just shy of a hot mess. But Holland was unfazed and enjoyed herself anyway.
However, she will be hanging up her competitive jazz shoes for the summer and next year. She wants to give noncompetitive cheerleading and tumbling a try, so we are. She's naturally loud so we already have that working in our favor.

She really has grown up during this year, and I don't think it's just the blue eyeshadow.

Holland and Tori

The Juicy Fruit Experiment

We have had ourselves a guest that just will not go away. No, it's not family. It's actually a mole that has been reeking havoc on our yard. He pops up all along the beds and you can see his path through the yard. My neighbor/friend has the same problem in her yard, too. So she moseyed on down to our local Ace "is the place" hardware store to find something to get him out of her yard. I'm not saying either one of us would want to send it to our next door neighbor, but the house next to us is empty and wouldn't that be convenient. Terribly wrong, but awfully convenient.
Anyway, the people at Ace gave her a couple of options. The first was a trap that would spear the mole, but the carnage, folks....not for me. The second was to put a half of a stick of Juicy Fruit, in one of the many many holes he has made and let him eat it. Apparently, it eats the gum which "gums" it up, and it dies. (Surely, you weren't expecting a happy ending for the mole.)When she told me this, I said, "that is just ridiculous enough to work." Anyway, we are giving it a try and so far we haven't seen any more paths or holes so maybe it's smacking on a piece of Juicy Fruit in mole heaven.

Hmmmm I wonder how this would work with houseguests. When they have stayed too long, I'll slip a piece of Juicy Fruit under their pillow. Something to think about.....