Cap and Gown. . . It's Officially Senior Year. . .

It is official, I have a senior.  Cap and gown ordered and senior portraits taken and this mama is not ready.  I went with Sprat to order everything and to pay for senior pictures.  He, of course, did not want mama over there "helping" him.   Some of my friends that had been through this before told me about the horrible wait and how hot it was sitting all crowded in one little room.  I was ready to wait.  We were running late as par for the course and I just knew we were going to extend our waiting time that much more.  I was very pleasantly surprised, we were second in line behind a set of twins. While Sprat was getting his make shift tux on I went to place the order for cap and gown with nobody in line.  By the time I was done Sprat  was getting out of the make shift tux and getting ready to go outside for his next set of pictures.  I decided he did not require my services any longer and I went on my way.
All in all it was almost painless, except for the fact that my baby is a senior (have I said that before?). Considering Sprat's class is the largest of his high school ever, boasting 350+, they did a great job.  I just hope the pictures will be of good quality, sometimes those school pictures do not turn out well at all.

Then 

Then 

Now  

Photos from the Beach. . .

Beach Week. . .

Feeling blessed to be at the beach with my three fellas and the sweet B.  Yes, we brought the B along for the trip.   The boys are throwing lacrosse on the beach, and the B is chasing sand pipers and pelicans (flying, not on the ground). 
We have a simply stunning view this week and lots of beach to enjoy.   I brought Big T ' s camera along for our trip but have taken some really good pictures with my phone. 

One night Big T and I watched the turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean.  That was one of the coolest things I have ever seen, so glad Big T and I had such a wonderful opportunity.  We have also enjoyed some of the best seafood ever.  Love the beach.

Kitchen Gadgets, I'm a Sucker. . .

My boss was telling me about this pot that she has.  It is a pressure cooker, called the "Instant Pot."  I had heard of pressure cookers but not this one. 
This conversation began because she had brought in a cabbage soup for lunch that day and she was telling how she had made it.  She had put it in her Instant Pot and cooked it in 10 minutes.  What???  Yep that is what she said.  Later that week she brought in potato salad that she had made in 8 minutes, eggs included.  I was amazed. 
You can probably guess where this is going.  Yes, I bought one.  I made some chicken the other night in 14 minutes.  It was good, I used one of the recipes in the book that came with the pot.  I also used frozen chicken breast, the chicken was fork tender.
I am going to try the potato salad next, eggs and all.  I will let ya know how it goes.  The hubbs is all on board, the kids not so much. 
Stay tuned for more instant pot stories.

Observations on the Week. . . . and Laser Tag

I am not as young as I think I am.  I went to a team building event for work yesterday, laser tag.  Yes, you saw that correctly it is not a type O.  I played laser tag.  I think I held my own, considering we were playing kids fifteen and under.  LOL!!!!  Yes, it is ok to laugh, I did.  When we arrived there was a group of kids signing up and I had no idea we would be playing against kids.  They divided our group and their group up so that we were fairly even on numbers.  These kids were good too, they were great shots.
Once we are all geared up, they walked us to the playing area.   This was set up really cool, they had  all sorts of things for you to duck and hide behind:  wall barriers, the camouflage netting, and sand bag bunker areas.  Considering I have never played this before and I do not play these types of video games I feel like I did pretty good.  It was terribly hot but we had plenty of water and there was a little bit of a breeze yesterday.  
The age factor kicked in when they pitted the kids against the adults.  They beat us pretty quick.  I was completely exhausted but, it was a good exhausted.  This particular venue has other options for parties and groups.  They have haunted trails, escape rooms, and zip lines.  The boys have been to a birthday party here before and played laser tag and they had a blast.   This was a team building sponsored by my work and it was very cool.

Warrior Mama  LOL!!!

On my observations for the week, I must tell you how completely proud I am of my oldest son.  I am very proud of both of my boys but especially of Sprat this week.  My husband and I are quite conservative and I think both of our boys are the same.  I know that Sprat is for sure, he had arguments daily, with his history teacher this past year over different historical events.   While he has been in DC this week they have been to several different events and heard many speakers on varying subjects.  This particular speaker was talking to them on how all of the college mascots should be changed so that they are not offensive to others.  Did I also mention that Sprat is very vocal in his opinions?  When this speaker started in on how the Florida State Seminole mascot was offensive to the Seminole Indians, that flew all over my Sprat.  He did voice his knowledge of this particular mascot issue and according to my husband, he let this speaker have it.  Did you know that the powers that be of Florida State consulted with one of the leaders of the tribe and asked their permission to have a student ride out on the field dressed as Chief Osceola during games before this became a tradition?  The tribe was honored to have this done and the ladies of the tribe designed and created  the first regalia for the rider.  Chairman of the Tribal Council told CNN, nobody will tell us to change the name and they better go some place else with all of that.  I am not sure exactly what Sprat said but, I know that he knows this for a fact.  Proud my child stood for what he knows to be true.  

Stay tuned a lot more going on these next months. . .

The Weeks Ahead. . .

Crazy week with work and the boys, Sprat is spending the week in Washington DC with our Church for Youth Convo.  He has had his eyes opened on a few things.  They are going to be very busy these next few days seeing the sights and having Bible study.  They are staying at a local University, so he is getting a taste of dorm life.  Four or more boys sharing a bathroom and bad mattresses.  I do request prayers for their group while they are there.  All of the craziness going on in the world today and people trying to hurt or kill innocent people.
On a lighter note, Big T and the hubbs went fishing yesterday and had a good time.  They caught seven.  I was working.  Big T and the hubbs have a few other plans this week while Sprat is out of town.
We are also getting ready for a much needed trip to the beach in a few weeks.  I cannot wait and we are taking Basil with  us.  That should make for a very interesting trip, with the boys and the B.  Lots of things planned around that trip too.  I have found a few ghost tours and a light house or two to see.  We have not been to the beach in at least two years partly due to the hubbs getting laid off.
For all of my Dave Ramsey followers out there we are going fully paid in cash, no credit cards on this trip at all.  Loving being debt free, especially since we are going to be sending one to college next year.  Sprat will be applying to college and lots and lots of scholarships in these next few weeks too.
Sprat is finishing up his psychology class, his first college course.
Stay tuned lots of changes and adventures to come. . .