The Girl's See Their School

It seemed just like home to my girls. They walked right in and "took over."

Niah starts for real tomorrow...all day....and lunch too.

Naricyn is jealous; she wants her school too. So she and I will do something "school-ish" tomorrow.

Football Success

The first Varsity game was Friday night. After the varsity win, I thought Noland would be thrilled. It's not like his former teams shut out opponents!! But was I WRONG!!! He didn't play and it didn't matter to him that they won.

So as we watched the JV game, I prayed that he would play. If he didn't, things would be VERY unpleasant at home. As the first half waned away, Noland still stood on the sidelines. I was starting to sweat. Then with only 10 seconds to go in the half, he got in. THANK GOD....at least that was something. Then he played most of the second half, had at least one good tackle and was great at center. WHEW!!!

He was a charmer after the game. So the rest of the night was nice. We came home and started homework, which didn't get completed until after 11pm. A great night......Aunt Lisa/Uncle Dodge and Aunt Jenni/Uncle Adam called to see how he did.

Tomorrow the girls go to their school for an OPEN HOUSE. They're ready to go!!! News on that later.

Almost there...

We're almost there.....Jen is moving this weekend. So that lets us into the house. The house will be full of boxes and stacked furniture, but who cares? I'm praying that we can all find some peace with our lives and get settled again. If you haven't lost your parents, then you have such a blessing. It doesn't matter what your relationship is with them.....it's a different world when they're gone.

My sis and I are still finding our way. Personally, I may never feel completely at ease again. My goal is just to give the kids a home that they'll want to come back to, the way I did.

Greg has been trying to transfer positions to Indiana, but so far nothing. So we're still only seeing him on the weekends. Sometimes, when he works on Saturday, we only see him Saturday night and part of Sunday. It's a lot of driving for less than 24 hours together. The kids miss him; I miss him. Even when we get the house all situated...it won't be home until he's there.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a brighter day.

School Starts

Finally the summer ends and the boys head off to their new schools. Neal seemed nervous, but managed to find a couple of friends the first day. Noland is still mostly a loner....but says that he's talking with football guys more. I know that they both miss their friends in Berea, and are already planning their return to Pirate Country for Spring Break. Pray for the boys. There are so many vital choices to be made at this point.

Niah's Birthday

While I wish that we could have had the entire family....and that we could have been at our house....it was still a good day for Niah Joy. It seems impossible to believe that she's 5.

Neal's First Look at Central Middle School

Neal finally got a chance to see HIS school. Central Middle School is a brand new building this year. Hopefully it will make it easier for him, since he's not the only one who is new to the school. At this point, EVERYONE is new to this school.

Monday he takes an academic test. We're hoping that he can be placed in the challenge track. He can do it, but there are many kids on the waiting list ahead of him.

Go Central Chargers!!

Home at Heritage Lane

So I'm finally getting some pictures of the house. It's really crazy now, Jen and Company are packing, garage sale-ing, moving, shifting....etc. There are boxes all over and couches, tables, chairs in corners.

Here are the details. My parents built the home in 1994 on the original foundation of the home I grew up in. My grandfather built the original home in the 50s. The land is 6+ acres of the family's original 100+ acres. The home that my grandfather was born in, is across the street and is the white two story. Hopefully someone in my family will want to and be able to buy back some of the property that has been sold off over the years.

The brick ranch was built for my grandparents in the 70s. They lived there until they passed. The home was rented and now my cousins have come north from Florida to join the family.

The fireplace is my favorite place in the ENTIRE world. This is the original fireplace that my grandfather built and is now functional. I feel a peace like none other when I'm sitting in front of it as it roars.

Crazy Kids

More on Young Master Smith

There's nothing else to say.....Dylan is adorable....Doug looks thrilled to be a Daddy. Nana and Pappy are smiling.

Football Camp and More News

So Noland moved into camp last night. I've never seen anything else like it, except maybe after the announcer says, "COME ON DOWN!!" on the Price Is Right!!! Over 90 teenage boys running into the weight room at full speed, carrying mattresses, TVs, lawn furniture, coolers, video systems, FOOD....Holy Cannoli!! SO MUCH FOOD!!! All of them were trying to get THE BEST spot for the week. Who knows what that spot is?!!! Hilarious.

Today I cooked for the team and served them dinner. Tomorrow I make 2 cakes, deliver them and serve lunch. Aunt Jenni make cookies and I've already taken them in. So we're good for the rest of the week.

Naricyn seems to be over her fever and vomiting session, but now has a right cheek that his hot, and swollen. Neal too is down, with a sore throat, and low grade fever. He went into Jen's house announcing that he had STREP, so Uncle Adam was uncomfortable. We promptly left.

On a personal level, the football stuff and providing for the kids is the best thing right now. The moving situation is so confusing for me. I just want to crawl in a hole and die. I wish that I could just have it over with. We're moving out of the apartment and into the house in a couple of weeks.....BUT...and its a BIG BUT.......my sister's stuff will still be there because they are moving into an apartment in Indy until their house is finished. So I'm concerned about using her things (and with kids you never know when something will get broken or ruined) and getting internet connected so that I can work. I'm going to have to get Greg to bring the family computer so that I can have that set up for the wireless for me. AHHHAHHHAHHH. I hate all of this. If my stupid parents had just stayed alive, then I wouldn't have to be doing all of this. GGGGRRRRR....did I just say that?!!

Official Start of Football Season

The moon was full and a mist hung low on the ground. The mist glistened on the sculptured field and time passed. Soon the lights grew bright and the field shown in preparation for the team's arrival. They arrived, as the time until midnight approached. Each suited in black, blue and white, helmuts gleaming in the stadium lights. 10--9--8--7--6--5--4--3--2--practice time.

Seventy-two young men took the field to begin the 2007-08 season. Coaches were ready and the practice ran like water, smooth and flowing. Spirits were high and voices sounded of encouragement and team support. As the night practice concluded, the team stood in a circle, joined hands and prayed. They prayed for strength and guidance from their Father in Heaven. I cried.

Sick Baby

So Naricyn is running a fever and was up every 30 minutes or so last night. I did the alternating tylenol/motrin every 2 hours. She finally settled about 3:30am and then Niah was up at 5 screaming 'MOMMY!!!' I just about jumped out of my skin.

Therefore we're taking a lazy day. We slept until almost 11. The race is about to start, so I got to go RACIN'!!!

Crazy Night with the Andises

So Daddy came for the weekend and we visited a local Mexican restraunt. We had TONS of food and played around like a bunch of high schoolers trying to get thrown out.


Then we came home. Naricyn puked and we're all green. That's enough for one day.

Fire Engine PUSH

Here is a CNHS football Tradition....the team breaks into teams of 4 and then each team pushes a firetruck the length of the parking lot. The team with the best time gets to eat first at live-in camp. Noland looked like a beet. He said it was torture!!! Afterward the football boosters have a meal for the team and parents buy theirs to support the team

What have I created?

I've created monsters. Look at these girls!!! Bags on their shoulders and Starbucks in their hands. Crazy, but...but...I love it. I just LOVE IT!! I love the pretty clothes, and hair bows and lip gloss and shoes....Oh MY!! Yes, the shoes.

This being said...obviously, Naricyn is still in tune with her Bubby. She does and SAYS everything that Noland does. It's been a little eye opening since we've been in such close quarters. These are the times that I'll miss....at some point.

Things are moving along here. Jen is packing up things in the house and soon I'll be able to get somethings updated. I need to replace the fixtures in the upstairs bathroom, replace the mirror, replace a closet door, replace doorknobs, get new shutters. Then there are a couple rooms that need to be painted. That way Noland is not in a pink and purple room and Greg and I are not in a Spiderman room.

Happy Birthday Neal!!

My baby is 12!!! Unbelievable.....7:31am 12 years ago....Neal Yeryar was born....kicking and hollering. He hasn't stopped moving since. We're going out to dinner tonight in his honor. Of course the boy picks RED LOBSTER!! But I have to say that he eats it...ALL of it, and he gets the ultimate feast!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Nealy. We were in Williamsburg and he was doing a reenactment. What a sweet boy...with all those freckles. The freckles didn't show up until we were in Florida when he was 4. After being on the beach, he started growing freckles. I like to call them Angel Kisses. He HATES that now.

So he started his day with a package from Uncle Dodge, Aunt Lisa, Drew and Daly. It was followed by a call from his father. Then we went to Target with Aunt Jenni and Adler, and picked out a Harry Potter video game. For lunch he was given his choice,and it was SUBWAY for all.

As I type he is playing his new game in the tiny bedroom of the apartment that he shares with Noland. Life is good at 12.

Dinner was wonderful. Neal's new friend, Rory, went with us. Poor thing dealt with the Andis Clan for over 3 hours. He'll probably need counseling. We then visited Mussalami's for ice cream. THE BEST SOFT SERVE ANYWHERE!!!

Again he's now playing another new game that he bought with his birthday money. So here's to a dozen years. Amazing....at least for his Momma.

High School Visit

Noland and I went to visit the high school the other day. Here are some pics to show a little of the front of his new school.

In the picture with the corded off area, Noland is standing beside the senior circle. It's a mosaic on the floor, showing all the academic areas of study. IE science, math, art, music, etc.....This area is reserved for the senior class to hang out.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

This past week, Neal was in DRAMA camp. The kids went to camp Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. At 5:30 on Friday evening, they did HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL for the parents and friends. It was GREAT. I'll get a video on here as soon as I figure out how to do that.

Bulldog Phone Day

Today we got our new cell phones. Neal was thrilled to get his very first. I'm not sure what he's going to do with it until school starts, but whatever. Call our old numbers to get the new ones. Noland is pretty sure that no one really cares in Berea that he's gone. Only a couple people have called him. It's got to be so hard. I can't imagine.

Noland and I also did some picture work at North. I think he's excited in some ways.

Finally, we spent most of the day hangin' at Heritage Lane. That's what we're calling the house. My mother called her art studio Heritage Lane Studio, so we're keeping the name for the lane. And if any of you have seen the lane...it deserves a name. I should post pictures of it and the house. Noland and I also got our hair cut. Big difference in prices here from the ones in Berea. The two of us could get it done for 30 in KY and it's 40 here!!!

Then there's Adler. He had had a cookie and didn't want me to wipe his face. Can you tell?

Mr.(Smith) Dylan has a Day out

Doug sent me pics of Dylan's first trip to the doctor. He's so cute. Jen and I sent them a basket of stuff yesterday. We wish that we could be there, but don't know how that's going to happen. Isn't he a doll??