Lovin' the Air

We are all having fun with my new MacBook Air.

This picture just warms my heart.  He thought we were gonna photo booth a canned picture.  He chose the hearts.  I used some quick thinking and smacked one right on his cheek!

First Home Game

On the way to pick up a friend before the football game.

Last night was the first football game for the high school.  It was a blow out.  It was pretty warm during the day and I was not sure I wanted to go.  But, I ended up going.  Peanut met up with friends.  They surprised us as they actually sat down and watched some of the game.  Pumpkin went to the game too.  He drove himself and we saw him in the student section cheering the Dragons on.  I ended up watching the kids, the social scene, the band, and not too much of the game.

They have a tradition here that the seniors caravan to the football games.  Bunches of kids climb in the back of pick up trucks.  They carry big 'ol flags and make a grand entrance into the field.  It is sort of scary and not too safe.  I am not a big fan.  I was so relieved to see that some of Pumpkin's friends did not participate in the festivities.  He is talking about caravaning next week to the away game.  It is close by.  I haven't given my consent, yet.  He assures me it is just a group of smart/geek guys that will ride in a car behind the "real" caravan.  I'll be saying lots of prayers this week...

Knitting Mojo

Shawlette

I am hopeful some knitting mojo returns.  I bought new yarn and signed up for this KAL.  Crossing my fingers!

Tax Free Weekend

Last weekend was tax free weekend here in TN.  We have a high sales tax and welcome the weekend to buy clothes, school supplies, and computers stuff w/o tax.  It was time for me to upgrade to a new laptop.  The Big Guy suggested we head to the Apple store.  I am so glad it was his idea:)

The temperature was about 100F.  Who knows what the feels like temp was.  It was hot.  For crowd control, I guess, we were not permitted to go directly into the store.  We had to grin and bear the heat.  (I am not going to mention that most of the wall we were lined up against was black). We timed it right and were sort of close to the front of the line.

We waited and the sweat slowly started to drip down our backs.  It was miserable.  Again, I was glad this was the Big Guy's idea:)  What we did not know was that there was another line inside the store.

Needless to say, we bailed.  We came home, went online and ordered a MacBook Air!  It was easy peasy in the comfort of our air conditioning.

I spent this weekend cleaning up my MacBook, deleting files and backing it up.  I'm so close to making the transition to my new toy.  Too bad this week of activities just might get in the way!

School Year 2012-2013

 When Pumpkin was born, the year 2013 seemed extremely far away.  Amazing!  He started his senior year today.

I was up at the crack of dawn getting my walk in with Buddy.  When I got home, I made the lunches.

Pumpkin was up very early too as they start school at 7am.  I was glad to see a smile on his face.

Hard to believe this is his last first day.

 I hope he has the best year.  Look at Buddy peering through the side light.

 I even remembered to update the needlework.

 Peanut was up earlier than he needed to be.  He has to work his way into a routine.  Glad to see a smile on his face too.

He was giving me a hard time for wanting to take his picture.  He is going into the 8th grade.  You'd think he'd know the first day of school routine - by now!

 Off he goes to catch the bus...

He left early for the bus.  I came back in.  I wonder how long he waited and how hot he was by the time he got to school.

 SomeBuddy is going to be quite lonely today.

Long Course Southeasterns 2012

There he is warming up swimming in the same pool all the US Olympic swimmers swam in just a week before.  The mom who takes pictures asked him to smile.  I am so grateful.  This pic just warms my heart.

The Southeastern Long Course Championships were a few weekends ago in Knoxville, TN.  This was only swim meet that we got to see him swim in this summer.  He broke his finger trying to catch a football going off a diving board.  It was a fluke.  Who knew that little finger would really hurt when he tried to swim.  Fortunately, it healed in time for the championships.  Pumpkin had a great meet.  It is hard to believe this might be his last long course meet (he might already be at school, this time next summer).  I thought I'd be a bit more emotional, but I held it in check.  I was just happy to see him improve his times.  He, of course, just wanted a few more seconds...

Here he is waiting to swim.  If I had to guess, I'd say he is exhaling from a deep breath getting his mind in the game.

Here he is swimming the breaststroke of the Medley relay.  I love the expressions on his face.

We had a nice family trip to Knoxville.  We drove two cars as the boys went white water rafting on the Ocoee River, the day after the meet.  They had a good time.  The only thing - about 100 miles from home, the a/c went out in the car.  It was very hot!  Needles to say, all of them were grumpy by the time they got home.  We got it fixed and I am appealing the charges with Honda America.  It seems like the car is too young to have some weird repairs.  I am not sure I'll get anything, but figured it was worth a shot.

Pumpkin is on a two week break and then short course starts up.  He's got some goals set for this season.  Is a couple seconds too much to ask?  It sounds like he is ready to put in the hard work required to make a few more qualifying times.  We will see.  School starts tomorrow!  There will be lots of balls to juggle.  I want to savor this senior year and enjoy the time we'll have together.  But, something tells me we'll all be holding on for this "rollercoaster" ride!!

Pinned

1...2...3!  Buddy won!

ARTjamN

What a fun evening!

Friends and I took advantage of a groupon at ARTjamN and tried our hand at painting on canvas.

It was a wonderful setting.  We all had our own canvas and were given instructions and guidance along the way.

Here is the start of my "Summer Fun"

 Here it is - just about complete.  I understand how painting can be therapeutic.  I also have a new appreciation for how hard it is.  I love muted colors and am so happy that I stuck with them.  I think it is my inner desire for fall weather to be here.

Here we are with our finished works of art.  So fun to see how they all turned out.

Side note - gotta get the hair cut.  I was thinking about growing it out.  But, it just takes too much time.  And, on hot/humid days, it ends up very blah.

When I walked in the door with my canvas, Pumpkin could not believe I painted it.  It looks better from far away.  I am trying to figure out a place to hang it.  For now, it is resting on the mantle against picture frames.

I had not been out with friends in a long time.  It was so nice catching up and painting!