now we wait....

So took Lucas up to OHSU this afternoon for his MRI. It took 3 hours... Went by actually pretty fast because I had a book and my iPod. I discovered that I have solitaire on my iPod so that took up lots of time, mostly trying to figure out how to play... Hopefully we will hear something soon and not have to wait til our appt on the 11th. At least if I can tell football an answer...

Tom and Jake made it home. So everything is back to normal already with the boys. I swear - 5 minutes and they are at it... Can I send them back to school now???

Well, hope you all are having a nice long weekend and finding something fun to do. Stay safe if you are traveling.
Til next time...
Laura

just hanging with "Dozer"...

Here are a couple pictures from when I dropped the boys off at camp - I look forward to this now all summer, but really when I drive off, I am surprised how hard it is to actually leave them... Notice Lucas - typical pose anymore...
This is actually a good one of the two of them. Jake had a good week again at camp this year. There are adults there, but just makes me think of the "Lost Boys" running amuck at these things... Especially when I hear the stories afterwards... I wish Lucas could of made it longer than one night though. But it was just too hard to get around on the crutches...
Jake is prepared with his pack. Hmmm... This is pretty light. Did you pack anything to get you through the week? Turns out he didn't. He suffered through the hike because he didn't take his hiking boots. He was kicked out of his cabin because he was too stinky. This kid stays in the same clothes all week. They finally made him shower on Wednesday... He got there on SUNDAY!!!! But he ended up in Lucas' patrol cabin. They apparently all stunk too so he spent the rest of the week there...
This is the view from our little hotel room in Hoodsport where we stayed on our return trip. It was just so relaxing and quiet! I want to go back and just stay there....
It is very hard to get any good pictures of Lucas anymore. I was surprised he actually stood still for this one and didn't put his hand up or make some funny face... I can't believe how fast the time is going by - not a little boy anymore...

Well, "Dozer" (nickname he picked up from Football last year.) and I are just hanging out again this weekend. Tom and Jake are off on their last backpacking trip for the summer. Yesterday before they left, Jake and I went and did a little back to school shopping. Something I started doing last year, just taking one kid at a time and doing their shopping. It takes a little longer but I like the one-on-one with them. So they headed out about 3:30 and it was then just Dozer and I.

Lucas has really gotten into football. He is turning 13 next month (actually been in training for those teen years for some time now....) and I have been checking into tickets to a Seahawks game. Oh but not sure I can pull it off. They are pretty spendy. But the last pre-season game was on tv last night against Oakland Raiders so we ordered a pizza and watched the game. Ok, he watched the game. I have been so tired lately. I laid down on the couch and lasted for about the first quarter. Then woke up a few times to check the score... Then before I knew it, it was last few seconds of the game... Then we called it a night.


Today we are just taking it easy. Catching up on some household chores and just hanging out. I think we will finish up the school supply shopping this afternoon. But need to do an inventory of leftovers from last year. See what can be recycled. I can't believe the supply lists each year. Really do they need all of that??? I know there are so many kids that can't provide their own supplies, but things are tough all around. I can't really afford to supply for the class. I think this year, I am only sending basics and they can keep a back stock of supplies here at home. When they need something, it will be here. I just can't justify sending them two dozens pencils on the first day. Seriously??? Anyway, seems like every year, the folders, binders, etc come home not even used. And where are all those CD's, VHS tapes and cassette tapes that have been sent over the years? I have never seen those come home with anything. If it turns out that they need something specific, then we will get it. Comes to be a time when a line needs to be drawn. Anyway, enough on that tangent...

Tomorrow afternoon, we will head to OHSU for Lucas' MRI. We finally got it scheduled. He won't see the Orthopedist til the 11th now, but hopefully the MRI will at least give us an answer to whether he will play football at all this season or if we need to focus on physical therapy or something to get him ready for next year. They said to plan for at least 3 hours or more for the MRI. They are doing from his hips down to both knees. Guess just being thorough or something. So will take my book and iPod to help pass that time... So hopefully this will get figured out and the kid can get on with better things.

So hope you all have a good weekend. Last before the new school year starts. I am hoping this will be a clean slate. Boys are starting at a new middle school. We went to pick up their schedules earlier this week and took a little tour of the school. They both saw lots of kids from either last year, lacrosse, football or scouts, so they will not be going not knowing anyone. I got a good feel from the school. So hoping this will be a good change for the boys. Will be a big change for me as I will be driving them to and from school now. Since they are part of an Open Enrollment program, they are out of the busing system. So it will be me...

Anyway, enjoy the rest of your long weekend!
Til next time...
Laura

I finished a book....

Well, not sure when I started this one but actually finished it in less than 4 years like the last one.... I just finished reading At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks. I just really like his books. It had me frustrated for awhile - was she trapping the guy to get married??? Was it someone else's baby??? Is she lying??? Will he ever write again??? What is that ex-boyfriend really out for??? But then towards the end it turned into a can't put down. Will the baby be ok??? I was waiting at football practice the other night when I was finishing the book - oh man, it ended said... I wasn't expecting that. I am sure people were wondering why was I crying in my truck??? I won't tell you how it ends in case you want to read the book. But it did turn out to be a very good book.

So now I have started Marley and Me. I picked this one up awhile ago when Shauna and I were hanging out at the bookstore. I just can't seem to be reading more than one at a time.. Takes me too long to get into the story to be keeping them straight. But heard this one was a good one and will make me laugh. I can use that....

Well, not sure if Lucas is going to make it to football practice tonight or not. Having some issues. Must of been what he ate for lunch.

Tom and Jake need to do a little shopping tonight for their campout this weekend. Tomorrow it will be a mad dash through school supply shopping for us. So better get off this computer and figure out our evening....

Have a good one.
Til next time.
Laura

Nicholas Family news...

So been another busy week. Work, work, and more work. Kids, kids and more kids...

I took Lucas to football practice this week. Poor kid is still not able to play. He has been hobbling around on crutches and just watching from the side lines. I finally got ahold of an orthopedist that can see him on the 4th - instead of the 29th of Sept. And they want an MRI before the appointment. So hoping we can get that this week. At least if we could find out if this is something serious or if it will work it's way out and possibly he can play this season. Or if we need to pull him out and get him healed up for next year. Yesterday, we went to the jamboree. The team did pretty well. It was exciting to be in the stands again. But a bummer to see Lucas on the sidelines on his crutches. He gets pretty down in the dumps because he can't play so it was cool at the end of the jamboree, one of the coaches said - hey Lucas, when are you going to be back in the house? We need you man. That was great for him to hear and he walked a little taller.

Wednesday was Bob (Loritta's husband) service. It was very nice. I went over to her house for a bit after with a couple gals from the bunco group. She is holding up pretty good. Breaks my heart she has to go through so much. It is wonderful that she has so many people around to support her.

Friday was my buddy Sadie's last day at work. I have known Sadie for close to 10 years now. She took classes of mine when I taught at a store in Vancouver. So the boys and I went down and met her for lunch along with a big group of others from work. Then the little stinker snuck off and paid for everyone's lunch... We were supposed to be taking her for lunch... But I have so enjoyed having her there. We would go out to lunch and just have some good laughs. I will miss her. Now we will just have to have dinners together...

Jake, Lucas and I did some closet cleaning yesterday. Did our inventory of what they need to start school. I am hoping over this next week to get my house "clean swept" so we can start off the new school year somewhat organized... If I can figure out what that is...

Tom and Jake are planning a hike/camping trip next weekend. Think they are going somewhere around Mt Hood. So will finish up house stuff and getting ready for school.

Today it is raining - I am kind of glad to see it. We have had some really weird weather here but something about the rain just makes things fresh again.

My parents came by for a visit today. Mom's garden is in full swing so she brought me corn on the cob, green beans, zucchini, fresh cut flowers and even some canteloupe. Think the canteloupe were from the store though... So tonight with the goulash, we will have fresh corn and melon. May make some zucchini bread tomorrow after football. Mom also brought me a bunch of pictures that her mom had. Grandma passed away earlier this summer and I made a small photo board for the service. Mom didn't know what to do with the board and the remaining photos, so looks like a memory book I will be making... Just need to make the time to do it. She had a bunch of pics of me growing up. I don't have any but one of me at age 2. So even though they are not flattering pictures, it is nice to have them. I may brave it one day and share them...

Sorry our movie escape didn't work out today, Shauna.... We will have to try again soon.

So - better finish up dinner. Load some more laundry. Get some stinky boys to take their showers. Finish up some more projects for work and call it a night before Army Wives...

Enjoy the rest of your evening.
Til next time.
Laura

busy morning ramblings....

Well, another Saturday morning around here. Just the usual. Get the laundry going. Load and start the dishwasher. It is going to be another scorcher of a day here today, so thought I would put a pot of beef stew going in the crock pot for dinner. Because come dinner time, the last thing I am going to want to do is cook something for dinner.

Last night, Tom took Lucas and I out to dinner at Newport Bay. Think everyone else had the same idea because it was crowded. We received a gift card of $$ off and it expired on the 21st.. Heard a few other people saying that they needed to get in and use it before it expired - again - reason for the restaurant to be so busy. That marketing mailing was working for them... Anyway, was a good salmon dinner.

After dinner, I made peanut butter bars. A recipe I found on Mary Ruth's blog - girl - you post some yummy treats!!!! Tom and Lucas really liked those treats and since I didn't have to turn on the oven - even better.

Jake comes home from summer camp this afternoon. I hope he had a good time. I am sure he did - bunch of boys with adult supervision at a minimum.... oh yeah! I saw him for a bit on Monday when I went back to pick up Lucas and just trying to get a goodbye out of him was like - oh yeah - see ya mom. Got things to do... Oh well, I am glad he was having a good time.

I have a baby shower to go to this afternoon. Finished making a card this morning so better make a run to the store and pick up a gift. The mom is having a little girl so I get to shop in the pink section! Only bummer about going shopping now is the crazy back to school shoppers. Gees - what is with that? Do they not see that when they try on 15 pairs of shoes and leave them in the aisle that this could cause a problem for other people who are trying to go down the aisle with a cart!!! Please.... Anyway, better get to it, my morning is getting away from me.

Have a good day. If it is a hot where you are as it is here - stay cool! Hoping this is the last of our heat wave...

Til next time.
Laura

with saddened heart....

I have sad news. My friend Loritta from my bunco group - just called a little while ago to let me know that her husband, Bob, passed away a couple of hours ago. He has been suffering from cancer for so long that this is a blessing that he is no longer in pain. But it doesn't hurt any less. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. She is a very strong woman but has been going through so much for so long. She still has so much ahead of her.

My deepest sympathies to you, Loritta, and your family.

who let the squirrels out???

Or IN???? That is right - right into my living room. I was sitting here in the living room on my laptop and the front door was open to help cool off the house. And in walks a squirrel! Startled the $#$** out of me.

May be time to price screen doors!