Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July from our house to yours.  Jen had to work today, Dylan is at a friends, Bryce is gone- so it was a bland day.  We went to the parade in the morning, where Taya was on the dance float and Toby was on the wrestling float, so good thing I had Trey to sit with or I would have been a big loaner.  

There are no fireworks statewide this year, not even sparklers or snakes because it is so dry and all of the wildfires.  I miss them, but would rather not have any then take a chance of someone being hurt or losing their home.

Hope everyone had a great day!

My parents dog Ilio

The wrestling float- Toby is the tall one

Taya said she had an awesome time- although you could not tell by her face- she did say she had to ride on the float with the little kids and that annoyed her

Toby was on the wrong side of the float- so I just got his back

The end of boyhood....

Tuesday we said goodbye to Bryce.  he was sworn into the US Navy.  I am so proud of him, but it hurts my heart to say goodbye to my baby, my firstborn.  I have never done this before so I am not sure if this is what all parents go through when a child leaves home or if it is because he is going into an unknown for me.

I do not come from a military family.  My blogger friends Nick and Michelle have taught me a lot about military life and I have such a he respect for them to be able to sacrifice and say goodbye to your spouse for months on end.  I have watched what they have gone through.  My Dad was a draft dodger, so military has always been a bad word in our home- so when Bryce decided he wanted to do this my heart swelled.

He will do great- this is an adventure for him.  He loves the physical aspect- I wish I was there the first time he tells his Chief that he does not feel like doing something- lol

I feel like I belong to a whole new family now and it is very emotional- I think he will graduate August 24th- can't wait to see the man he has become.

Bryce swearing in

The Captain, or as Taya says- the bossy lady in the pretty dress

Us before the good byes

The family- Toby is missing because he was at football camp

This little girl is sure gonna miss her big hero brother

Bryce MCC Graduation

So proud of this guy.  He graduated from the community college with his 2 year welding degree.  He really wants to be an underwater welder in the Navy.  The Senior project that he made me is amazing- It is being powder coated right now- but once it is finished I will post the pictures.  There were certainly days that I counted until he turned 18 and now he is a wonderful young man and I am going to miss him terribly.  He ships out July 26th- it is approaching so fast!  I love you Bryce and I am so excited to see where your life takes you!

Taya's third Dance Recital

 Taya has made remarkable strides since she started dance 3 years ago.  She is not the best in her class, but also no longer the worse- she will get it- it will all click soon.  This was Hip Hop and she enjoyed it- next year she wants to take tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and a solo- we will see what really happends!

Wow- that is my son!

I have to brag on Toby a little more.  So, remember when I said he was chosen to wrestle for a Colorado Elite teaming Iowa?  Well, he and 47 other kids went to this National tournament.  800 kids and 38 states.  Toby kicked butt!   He came home with the title of All American!  He went 6-2 and the second day beat one of the kids he lost to on the first day.  He is on a role- such a good wrestler, and straight A student and so humble.  So proud of him.  I had a coach contact me and ask if he could go to New Mexico next weekend- so off he goes.  Out of the 47 kids only 3 came home with the title of All American!  This is just the beginning for him, excited to see what his future holds.  Remember folks, you knew him when....

 Toby in blue

 and he wins another....

 and he pins another

 This was team "red" like the varsity team that went to Iowa

This is one of the other kids from our town that also went to Iowa- he was 4-4

New Babies!

OK, so we are suckers.  After losing Pretzel last week, my heart was heavy- I mean I knew I would get another kitty- because when you have love to gee it is inevitable.  S, I was responding to a post on Facebook and the lady that we got Pretzel from said the same Mom had 6 kittens- well hell ya, Pretzels Mom has new babies- the same genes or at least half- I told her we would go that afternoon- well we came home with two!

This cutie is Waffels- love her mask face

and this cutie is Candy Corn- you can't tell but she has one orange leg and orange on one cheek so she looks like she has a dirty face- I need to get a better picture of her- but she is always sleeping.

Waffels will just lay on her tummy in your hand for hours- she is so sweet- and Candy Corn was the brut of the litter- but the first night she just shook because she was so scared.  She is adjusted now.

I am like a Mama with a newborn- not getting any sleep because I need to make sure the babies are ok and that Jen does not smash them- you can't really tell from the pictures- but they are tiny- I know they are not 8 weeks old.  I put them on my mail scale and Waffels is only 10 oz and Candy Corn is 1 pound- that is crazy small.  Waffels does not eat as well as Candy Corn- we went and bought her some special food and she is learning- she probably still needs her Mama- but the people were ready to get rid of them and who better to take care of them than me?  I am glad they have each other and I have new kitties to love.

Why the food names you are wondering?  I have no clue- we just started it- the Goldens get Hawaiian names and the inside animals get food names.

Prom Update

So, after prom- the heartless B*tch sent Bryce a text the next morning and said, "things are just not working out, I have been feeling this for awhile now- but I wanted to go to prom. So I am moving on."

My poor son, nothing like looking into your son's red eyes and know she broke his heart. I know it is for the best, he is better than her and he will be leaving soon and focus on his future- but none of that helps when your son has a broken heart.

However, he posted this picture on Facebook the next day and wrote:

I love this girl so much just seeing her face makes me happy

I love you son, and your are a great guy who has a great future ahead of you. Never let a girl change who you are- and this Mom and this little sister think you are the best and to us you are perfect!

Prom 2012

WOW! Not sure when it happened but my little baby Bryce is going to be 18 on Thursday and tonight he went to his Senior prom with his girlfriend Kallie. They looked great. He wanted a white tux and I was unsure- but turns out about 1/2 the class also had white tux's so it all worked out.

Kallie is a tiny thing and her mom is also a lesbian, so they have a lot in common.

They looked great, I hope they have a fun time and come home safe.

Taya was not sure about sending Bryce out with Kallie, it is amazing how much she loves her brother.

I got sunburned today at baseball- but I sure love this boy!

F*ck Friday the 13th!

I am so pissed, hurt, sad, upset, mad...the neighbor's dog comes to "visit" all the time- and today it killed our cat Pretzel. She was just a baby- and trusted dogs and would never fight back- she had internal damage. I am so sick of death and loss that I just want to puke!

Goodbye my sweet Pretzel, I am so sorry. I will always love you!

The Easter Bunny came to CO

Usually, we are up until midnight putting Easter Baskets together- this year we were done by 10:30- proud of us!

The baskets, waiting for morning. Not sure when Easter became like Christmas with the kids getting iPods, Nike shocks, Navy Clothes, videos etc. but they enjoyed it.

Toby and Taya dying eggs- I am sure he will appreciate me posting his shirtless body- lol

Taya, Trey, and Jen planning the Easter egg hunting strategy

Dylan collecting eggs

Trey posing for a picture for Mom!

My beautiful princess on Easter

We have a friend who puts together a Easter egg hunt with over 10,000 eggs and prizes- the kids get way to many eggs- but have fun. The day was the perfect temperature and it was nice to have Jen not at work. Bryce had to work- it is weird- he is with us less endless and he goes up.

After the hunt we had some folks over from church that have no electricity and could not cook for themselves- I made a 20 pound turkey and we had a nice quiet meal at home.

I am very thankful for my family and the life we have. Happy Easter!

Not Finished Bragging

So, after the last state wrestling tournament that I wrote about- we went on to the huge Middle School state- were 1000 wrestlers competed for two days. Toby freaking won! It was so exciting. The guy he beat in the Championship round was undefeated, as was Toby. His brother is on the Olympic wrestling team and even the director of the entire program congratulated Toby and said, "Do you know who you just beat?" He told Toby he was a great athlete and to keep with it. It was amazing. His season ended 25-0.

This is the newspaper article written about him- I thought it was amazing.

This is a proud Mama right here. He was chosen to be on an Elite team and will go to Iowa next week then Nationals in PA!

Trey and Dylan wrestled their hearts out at this tournament as well- but did not place. I have high hopes for them next year!

Wrestling

Well, these are my three wrestlers. Toby ended his school career 18-0 and then the coach ditches them for baseball- so the private wrestling picks them up. Trey and Dylan joined in to wrestle for Middle School because 6-8 grade is Middle School. Dylan has already been wrestling all year so he was in shape- Trey had not wrestled since he was like 8 and decided to debut at State!

Toby took first, Trey took second, and Dylan took 8th. I was amazed at Trey- 5 weeks of practice and the kid took second at state. Toby is just a beast! Dylan has lots of kids in his weight bracket- so he has a tough year and he just does not have the drive- I hope he gets it back.

So proud of my kids!

Dylan, Toby, and Trey

Toby took First

Trey took second!

Ugh

Seems my password protected post may not have worked for many. If you would like me to e-mail it to you I can. mcbkate@gmail.com.

It is cold and rainy here today and I hate that! I like to be warm and toasty. :)

Been trying to figure out summer kids schedules, camps, and swimming lessons, and graduation, and Bryce leaving, and camping- oh how I love summer.

I am trying to finish up Bryce's scrapbooks- I think I have 6 for him, but I still have about 200 photos to scrapbook in the next 2 months, so I need to get busy!

Password Protected

I have a new post but it is password protected. Here is the address

email me at mcbkate@gmail.com to get the password!!!

New Babies

I know it seems like we have puppies a lot, but we actually have not had a littler since November 5th of last year. This week we had 2 deliver. They are beautiful. All are doing well except for a runt, who is just so tiny I doubt he will make it through the night- that always makes me sad.

OK, let get an opinion....

So Bryce is graduation from High School in May and I guess we are supposed to have a party. I tried to book to pool- but they are closed that weekend- WTF?

So, I guess we have to have a bunch of folks at our house- I was going to rent a bounce house for the little kids and the Sumo wrestling thing for the big kids- have a BBQ and all that jazz- so here is my question that I need an opinion on- Invitations/announcements.

Most folks send formal announcements with a picture- I always lose the announcement and forget when the party is- I was thinking about doing those picture cards that you order from like Wal-Mart and people send out for Christmas- it usually has a picture and your greeting- is it tacky to do this for graduation? I just thought- it was a picture and I could include all the information on it- but I was not make sure it is Kosher. This will be a graduation/going away to the Navy BBQ.

Ok, let me know....

Wow what a slacker!

I have been such a slacker- slap my butt! I guess I will just do an update post to catch up everyone. Taya is going to be 6 soon- not sure how that happened. She is so funny and so full of piss and vinegar but I would not trade it for anything! Here she is cheerleading at a halftime show. She likes to be on the big stage but is not a big fan of practicing.

My Bryce has grown into such a great young man. He volunteers with the Special Olympics every weekend. Here he is helping a kid play basketball. He just amazes me. He will be 18 next month and I don't know where the time went- I know that is so cliche but seriously- I was just trying to get pregnant with him. He will graduate on May 26th and go to Navy boot camp on June 26th. I am going to just lose it when he leaves.

Dylan is wrestling- he has not done as well this year and we are not really sure why- he just does not seem to have the focus. We have decided to put him back on his ADHD meds and see if that helps- he has gotten into some really minor trouble in school and we just want to curb all this before it gets out of hand. Rooting for him to do better. He took 8th place at this state tournament- now onto Middle School state. Go Dylan!

Trey, is amazing- he has not wrestled since he was 9 and he decided he wanted to start again and go to state once basketball was over- I am not gonna lie- I made fun of him and told him he would get his rear end handed to him- he decided to prove me wrong. He has been working his tail off for three weeks in practice- went to state- his first tournament in 3 years and took second place! I was in awe. I then was not a good Mom and I had to tell the kid who won- that Trey had only wrestled 3 matches that day in three years so don't pat himself on the back too hard- I know, I know not very sportsmanlike. :) He is now going to wrestle in Middle school state and then on to baseball.

I am in awe of my Toby. He made National Jr. Honor Society for the second year in a row. He went undefeated 18-0 for middl school wrestling and took first in State. He did not even break a sweat- he just plays with the poor kids and then when he is like 14 points ahead he pins the guy. He is such a good kid and people tell me all the time what a joy he is.

Ok, done bragging- just love my kids and who they are becoming. I guess all the fights, and tears are worth it? Maybe?

Things for us are going well. Jen is working nights and I hate that. We have a few dogs that are due with puppies this month, so that will keep us busy. We just sent a beautiful girl off for a month of training, so hoping that goes well but I sure miss her.

I promise to be better about blogging. :)