Summer Before and After

She doesn’t really sit in the car like that. The boys just propped her up for a picture.
But, wow! That girl has so much fur! Not anymore though. We feel like she’s a new dog.











Here’s the text exchange between me and the groomer this morning:

Menace to the Husker Game

Years ago while living in Guam, I got a speeding ticket on base that resulted in me losing my driving privileges for a month on the base.  When 9/11 happened right after, Mario petitioned to have my driving privileges restored because he had to work around the clock and couldn't take Eric to preschool.  The officers wrote that I should not get my license back early because I was a "Menace to the base."  Holy cow!  I was going like 5 miles over the speed limit but it was in the housing so they take that very seriously.   Fortunately, someone overruled the police and gave me my license back but it is still fun to laugh about it all these years later.

Well fast forward now 16 years later, and I almost did become a menace to society.  Mario was able to get Eric, Nicole, and I all access passes to the Husker's Football game.  That means we could go up on the roof or all the way down on the field with him.  He has those passes due to the flight crew that comes and does the flyovers for the games.  He escorts the crew onto the field during the third quarter to be introduced to the crowd.

Eric and Nicole were running late to the game and had to find parking.  So I waited for them outside while Mario ran up to the roof for the flyover.  He had taken me to the roof earlier to show me where to go once Eric and Nicole arrived.  He told me to watch out for something and not touch it but I thought he was talking about the fire extinguisher which I guess in hindsight I should have asked questions because of course I wouldn't run into an extinguisher.

When they finally arrived, we got up the elevator as fast as we could and then had to run up some flights of stairs that say no entry.  But Mario told me to ignore the signs and just come up.  Eric and Nicole were freaking out all the way up because of me ignoring the signs which was really funny.  We finally get to the roof and there are reporters up there but standing behind the closed gate.  Mario motioned for me to open the gate and come thru.  I was hesitant because it felt wrong.  But I did it and starting darting towards Mario on the other side of the roof.  All of a sudden the staff starts yelling at me and telling me that "We are live!"  I think they mean live on TV and I have just been captured running across the roof for the whole crowd and TV audience to see. 

Nope,  worse than that!  I had almost tripped on a huge firework display that had been strung across the roof to go off any second.  In my embarrassment to get to Mario, I didn't even see the string connecting all these fireworks.

I was mortified to say the least.  I'm too scared to even think about what would have happened if I did trip.  I never want an all access pass again and I am sure Mario isn't anxious to get me one.  I almost caused a major firework accident at a stadium filled with tens of thousands of people.  Then I surely would have been a REAL menace to society.

Husker Football Game With Grandma

The boys had their first official job this fall.  They sold hot dogs at the Husker football games.  I was so proud of them.  They had to carry heavy bags full of these hot dogs up and down the stands with loud, screaming fans everywhere.  They each made between $40 to $100 a game.  They received 30 cents for every hotdog they sold plus tips.

Mario attended most of the games for his work.  His cadets provide security at the games, plus he is in charge of the flyovers that happen just after the national anthem.  The crowd goes crazy when those military planes fly over.  It’s nice to live in a patriotic state.

I got to attend three games this year.  A friend sold me her extra ticket for the first game, Mario got me a pass for the second one, and a friend from church gave us his tickets for the last game.  So I took my mom with me to the last one and boy does she get into sports.  She seemed to really enjoy it plus as a bonus, she got to see her grandsons sell hotdogs and the military flyover.

Happy 14th Birthday Nathan and Zachary!

This year we opted for a family birthday party for the boys. They wanted a party with friends, but their mouths got them in a bit of trouble so we canceled. We still had a great time and went to the archery range with Eric and Nicole. Then we ordered Chinese and enjoyed some ice cream cake and some Algebra help. The boys were a little confused on slopes and I was going to help them but then I had the brilliant idea to ask the experts (Eric and Nicole) and they were awesome.

For his birthday, Zach got a new helmet and $100 towards a new GoPro from us, fishing lures from Grandma and Papa, new bike light from Eric and Nicole, and new handlebar grips from Nate.

Nathan got money, helmet, and bike light from us, Rubik’s cubes from Eric and Nicole and one from Zach. They look impossible to solve! He got a new water bottle he wanted and some cash from Grandma and Papa.

I can’t believe my boys are 14. Time sure flies. They will be ordained Teachers this next Sunday and will now be able to go home-teaching with Mario.

Nate wanted me to let you all know that Summer is doing well in case you were wondering. Ha!

Thanksgiving

It's probably been close to 20 years since we have had Thanksgiving with my side of the family.  Maybe I'm forgetting one in there somewhere but I honestly can't remember one.  Mario's father, Michael, has spent three Thanksgivings with us over the last six years so that's been fun for the kids to get to know him better.  Otherwise, we spend it alone or with friends.

This year Melissa said that her family could join us since Josh has been working weekends and he'd be home in time for work. (I give her a hard time about spending every holiday with Josh's family.) We invited Mom and Dad up too which turned out to be convenient since they decided to serve a mission and they had to report to the MTC the following week.  So basically, we were on the way.

We decided to do something "crazy" and not have turkey or ham for Thanksgiving dinner.  Instead we opted for some steaks with some traditional Thanksgiving sides.  Josh did an amazing job with the grilling and Eric and Nicole took care of the rest of the cooking.  Nicole's dad, Steve, joined us too since his wife was in Germany visiting family.

Steve was kind enough to take some family pictures. I think this is my all time favorite picture of Mom and Dad together.  Steve captured them so naturally.  I also love the one with them and the grandkids.  Very sweet!

As far as Black Friday shopping this year, we didn't do much.  We decided to go to Walmart just to say we went.  Fortunately, there have been fewer and fewer crowds each year.  When I would go to Walmart in Tucson several years ago, we couldn't even walk it was so crowded.  Now, we can easily push a cart around.  I think many have opted for online shopping.  I don't think I even bought one thing at Walmart.

I still need to send out Christmas cards. I never got to it last year, and honestly, I am not excited about doing it this year.  It's a tradition that I may put to an end soon.  It is exhausting trying to keep up with all our military friends' new addresses since we all move so often.   But I guess that means I won't be getting cards either because no one will have my new address. And I do like having updates on their families since I'm still not on Facebook (and have no plans to ever join if I can help it.)