Big T First Week of School. .

Wow! First week of school under our belt.  Big T has had a wonderful first week of school and I am so happy.  This could have gone so many different bad ways.  Lol!!  We were all a little nervous about how this would go and I still have some reservations but, so far I am very pleased.  

He is taking a career management class and his instructor brought out Dave Ramsey and shared parts of his DVD's.  I was thrilled and of  course Big T knew exactly who he was.  He was probably the only kid that knew who he was.  They have been talking about credit cards and mortgages, raise your hand if you were ever taught about credit cards or mortgages in high school.  Ha Ha Ha Ha  me either.  My kids have been taught about the whole credit cards are bad since I am an ardent Dave Ramsey fan/follower.  

In may they have been adding Star Wars quotes in with their math learning.  According to Big T she is not teaching math they are learning to solve problems.  Big T seems to be learning though and he is very excited to go to school each morning.  His first day he was very excited to show me his new computer they have issued them.  He was also excited about his google calendar and how his teachers add his assignments and how he knows that in November he has a big paper due for English composition. This is similar to what he will have once he goes to college like the Blackboard sites most colleges have so that the students can interact with the teachers.  He also has a sort of study hall but they call it Seminar.  They can work on homework or if there is a particular class they are struggling in they can go to that teacher and get extra help. This is the last 30 minutes or so of school.  The picture below is him after getting off the bus the first day.  

New Schedules to Adjust. . .

Took a remake of their picture from Sprat ' s first day of kindergarten.  You have seen these folks that go back and take the same picture after so many years well, this is my attempt at that.  I am not sure how good I did but here ya go.  Took this last night before we went out to eat to celebrate the last day of Summer since the Big T starts back to school today and Sprat will start next week at the community college.  This is going to be one crazy year with so may different schedules to coordinate.  Sprat working a high school and college schedule and Big T working his modified high school schedule.  Throw in mine and the hubbs schedules and this year can only be more interesting.  Ha ha ha ha!!  

Looking at these pictures together you can really see how much these two have grown up and yet how absolutely silly they still are.   They drive me crazy and many days I question whether I am a good mother or not and there are some people that question whether I am a good mother at all.  Looking at these pictures tells me I am a good mom and that my boys are happy, healthy, and grounded in who they are.  I love em to the moon and back, the loves of my life.  

Then August 2005

Kindergarten Sprat (5)/pre school Big T (2)

Now August 2017

Senior Sprat (17)/Freshman Big T (14)

First Day of School and other stuff. . .

Big T went to his freshman boot camp yesterday.  It is very hard to believe that my little baby is starting High School and my first baby is starting his last year of High School.  This is going to be a huge year for our clan.  Stay tuned for lots of news of all the happenings. 
I am excited for Big T starting his new adventure  and Sprat starting his college classes.  Yep, Sprat will be starting college classes while he finishes his Senior year. 
We will be following all kinds of different schedules this year.  It is going to be crazy. 

First day of Kindergarten for Sprat, First day of pre-school for Big T

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.