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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Power Out-Mommy Out

 We lost power here last week. I was a baby. A BIG baby. I grew up in a house without air conditioning. Iowa summers are hot.. I can't face being in a hot house, in the dark- HOT!  While the power was out, I lost my ability to mother properly. I was hot. We lost almost everything in our fridge and freezers. Kevin still had to leave for a business trip. Bruiser had to stay. His boarding place also had no power. We had to stay at home. My friends don't like dogs. I don't blame them. He was hot. He was stinky.  It was hot. I was stinky. I spent 60.00 on ice and batteries. I was sad. I know others had it worse, some still without power even days later. I tried to focus on the positive. I had a battery powered fan. I would not share it. It was mine. I bought it with my own money. After the 12th hour I wondered if I could cut through the foundation of my house and make a window in the basement with that fan. It just wasn't cut out to do that type of job. But- The basement was cool. It was tempting. The basement was dark with spiders and legos all over the floor. Legos hurt when you step on them. It was dark.

 After seeing that there was no hope. 40,000 people lost power. All of our life saving devices, i pods, computers, phones were almost out of power. I loaded up the kids and drove to the land of electricity. The Granger McDonalds.

 Our family and the rest of the Granger families without electricity sat at McDonalds. Did you know our McDonalds only has one outlet in the restaurant? I do. We were sitting there. Every device took its turn charging. People did not like me. My kids were happy. Their kids were not.  I overheard, (actually she was pretty loud,) another mother hoping, that the family hogging the electricity was almost done. I went and got shakes. I smiled. When we left,  I offered our table to a NICE family. I was a brat. My brain was still hot. I'm sorry Mommy with 2 kids who talks in a very loud voice. I hope you got some electricity. If I ever see you again, I will buy you a shake.
We arrived home. It was hot. All devices on full charge. Kids settled in. I opened up my devotional for the day and read:
- No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived- Exodus 10:23  I knew God was speaking directly to me. God did not want me to focus on the darkness but the light. God wants me to live in the light everyday regardless of my circumstances. Even if I am hot. The darkness can immobilize you only if you let it. Darkness can mean no electricity but it can also mean bad choices and negative thoughts. I have to remember to live my life in the light every day and to push out the darkness that sometimes creeps in. God saved the day! We survived. I changed my attitude. I looked for light. I found it.

Basketball Camp

 Gabe went to basketball camp all last week.  Sadly, this is the only picture I have because unlike all the other loving mothers and fathers who stayed every day. I dropped him at the door and ran like the wind. He had a great time- his team won 1st place in 3 on 3 and he placed 2nd in the free throw competition!

Who Needs Glue when You Have Staples?

 Poor Gabe. He had three staples in his head.  I left the house and all was well. Kevin, Ben and Gabe were all swimming and having a wonderful time. 15 minutes later, with milk in hand, I returned to a completely different scene.. Gabe had propelled him self out of the pool in the shooting rocket position just as Ben was swimming over the top of him at the exact moment. At first we thought Ben's teeth went in, but now are pretty sure it was his chin. We thought he was OK and even had our neighborhood nurse and take a look. It wasn't until we were enjoying a wonderful Father's Day dinner that Gabe started to resemble the movie character Carrie. I assured him on the way out the door they would probably just glue it back together. Gabe's first words to me when he got home. "You lied!"

 Gabe's friend Luke brought his i Pad over and they watched basketball movies and relaxed.

 Gabe didn't let a few staples ruin his summer fun. We just put on a swim cap and he kept going.

 No more staples.  I am not sure who was more traumatized, me or Gabe!

Robotics Camp

 Ben went to robotics camp a couple of weeks ago.  He had a great time.  He built a great plane with his friend Evan.

 A lot of hard work went in to this plane!

 Ben is so serious.  He walked into that lab and gasped!

 Waiting for a test run!

 Getting ready to fly the planes!!! Overall, this camp was a great experience and run very well.  My favorite Part? The drive. We had so many great conversations in the morning. I can see the value in driving your kids to school every day.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Silver Mile Mover

Gabe did it. He finished his first 5K. That is Colin right behind him. Colin was Gabe's running buddy who deserves a completely separate medal for running with Gabe. Colin could have sped up at the end and flown right by Gabe (that actually would have been pretty hilarious!) but he stayed behind, letting Gabe finish first!

 Pre- Race



 Stretching


 Post Race-tired but happy!


 Gabe and Ms. Bogart. She organized and lined up trainers, volunteers and trained the kids herself  to get the kids from our school, well over 100 of them,  ready to run in this district wide race-no small task that is for sure!

Well done boys!!!

Basketball Anyone???

 Gabe loves basketball- LOVES basketball. We love GABE so we SURPRISED him for his birthday and put in a basketball "court" in the backyard. It was not easy but somehow, everything worked out. I stole, I mean borrowed, the concrete guys from my next door neighbor mid way through their patio project. The concrete guy just happened to work for the Great Escape installing, none other than, Gorilla Basketball systems!!!! So less than a week later we were playing basketball! We still have to stencil the lines and landscape around, but Gabe and Ben do not seem to mind! I think Gabe's next love should be hot tubs don't you???







Last Day Of School 2013

Last day as a 2nd grader and a fifth grader!

 The last time Ben and Gabe will be on the same bus. Next year their pick up times are an hour apart-


Yippeeeeeeee!

Welcome to SummerI

Celebrating our 5th grade promotion




Upward Flag football 2013











Baseball Summer 2013

 Our regular season of baseball is winding down here.Gabe's team played their first tournament game tonight and won. They  will play a second game late this week.  After the regular season wraps up, Gabe will be continuing baseball throughout July on one of the  All Star Teams.We are so proud of Gabe. He will be traveling to several tournaments in Indiana and Michigan.