The Volume War Has Begun

This morning Paul and I enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed coffee while we managed the tasks of packing lunches and fixing breakfast.

We were enjoying pleasant conversation when Paul interrupted the train of thought with, "the volume wars have begun."

I was a bit perplexed.

He followed the comment with, "Do you hear that?" I have to admit that I am able to tune out almost anything. My mom called it selective hearing when I was growing up. I like to think of it as an incredible ability to concentrate.

I paused, listened and realized that "WE WILL ROCK YOU!" was blaring out of a room in the distance.

I then focused further and realized that the Jonas Brothers were blaring at a similar level very nearby the before mentioned rock n' roll.

Paul laughing said, "You know who always wins the volume wars?"

I responded very hopefully yet in question form, "The Parents?!"

He proceeded upstairs to find Hunter in the bathroom with a very logical explanation to the volume. "Well dad, if I'm not in my room I can't hear it."

Maddy's response was similar in logic. "Well dad, Hunter's music was so loud, I had to turn mine up and shut the door so I could hear it."

Rest assured, Paul descended the stairs having won the battle. I wouldn't go as far as to say he won the war. Something tells me that remains to be seen.

Tag

OK, so I am like WAY behind on my blog reading. Tonight in an effort to catch up, I realized my dear friend from Texas TAGGED me.

Sorry for taking so long Valinda but (as if you don't know-hee hee) here are the 6 quirkiest things about me...

At least the way I see it.

1. I straighten the carpet runners in the living room to exactly 1/2 an inch from the right angle at the door. This allows for the runners to be centered to the walkway. I do this at every morning, when I get home from work and double check it before bed.

2. I strip the sheets off the bed 4 times a week when I make the bed so that the sheets have an equal length across the top of the bed and the hospital corners have an equal amount of material at each end of the bed. (I so wish I was kidding.)

3. I can't leave work with anything on my desk, any items on my to do list, or emails unanswered. I have returned to work on numerous occasions so that I can sleep at night.

4. I balance the checkbook to the penny EVERY SINGLE TIME, 3 times a month. NO EXCEPTION.

5. I organize my closet first by color shade, then by pattern. I know exactly what shirt/blouse should be where. If the order gets rearranged, I remove every shirt from the bar and start over.

6. When I make a list in pen, if I make a mistake or hate my printing I start a new list. I also add items to the list if I complete them so that I can cross them off.

I now tag...
Stephanie
Holly
Tricia
Robin
Bobbi
Amy

OK-Exactly when did we get a teenager?

Something tells me that Hunter is going to take a back seat in the blog this year.

Maddy has taken over the spotlight.

It started at the ice cream social last weekend.

Paul and I were looking for Maddy in the gym because she hadn't "checked in for awhile." We both searched, I would say half heartedly. I mean really where could she really go. We kind of gave up and figured she would find us sooner or later.

Paul then uttered the phrase that shocked us into reality.

"Well it's not like she's outside with all the older 5th and 6th graders."

H-E-L-L-O

Fifth grader...

Duh...

We looked at each other and proceeded outside where we found her in a huddle of girls, giggling and pointing.

Pointing where you ask...in the general direction of the boys.

And she wants to know why she can't have a cell phone.

REALLY?!?

Paul's Strategy for Dealing with Boys.

Maddy recently asked me to upload a Rodney Atkins song to her Ipod. It was the song, "Cleaning This Gun."

For those of you unfamiliar with the song, it is one that addresses a father's communication to a young suitor who is picking his daughter up for a date.

He wants the boy to know that he'll "probably be up all night just cleaning this gun."

Maddy thinks it's really funny.

Poor child, she has no idea what her father has planned when boys start coming around our house.

Why Didn't I Think of That?

The first day of school was a success!

Maddy made a new friend and...

Drum roll please...

Hunter got a quarter. Not a real quarter but a classroom quarter. And I quote, "Mom, great news. Mrs. Mueller hardly had to talk to me at all today so I got a coin with George Washington on it." He proceeded to tell me that if he gets $10 by the end of the year, he can buy a goldfish.

So the kid can be bought. Huh.

Maybe coming home with a yellow isn't so bad?!

Back to School Basics

It's

that

time of year...

Oh, wait not that time of year. Not Christmas.

It's that back to school time of year. Excitement fills the air. New backpacks and binders. New notebooks and pencils. Crayons are nice and sharp. Markers filled to the brim with bright Crayola, nontoxic, ink.

New teachers, a new start...

5 bucks says Hunter comes home with a yellow for...what else...chatting.

Bless his heart!

And the Winner is...

Maddy was voted by her swim team coaches as the most dedicated female swimmer on the team!

Are we proud?...You better believe it!!!

It is a huge honor and a great encouragement to Paul and me that just when we think she is going to go through life OK with average...

She knocks it out of the park.

I haven't seen that girl smile that big in a LONG time!!

I'm Back, Baby, I'm Back

I actually got a little humorous today while catching up on some blog reading.

I visited several blogs when I finally found myself at my friend Tricia's blog. She had several new posts to enjoy. Well...new to me...anyway... I came upon one...and...well...I love ya Tricia but I couldn't resist.

No, darling, I don't actually own that espresso maker, but I had you guessing didn't I?

For full understanding of this little tease please visit teaching Tuck and Ty. The link is listed in my side bar under can't miss blogs.

BEST DAY EVER

Jen's funeral was yesterday.

It was hard.

However, it offered a much needed outlet of tears for all of us.

I started in the minute we walked into the church.

Ray put together a slide show of her life to two Mercy Me songs. It opened the flood gates for all of us. Hunter cried so hard and so long that he drank a large icee and a large bottled water and didn't go potty for 3 hours.

It was healing.

God is so good.

After the service, I had tickets for Maddy and me to see Martina McBride-something I have wanted to do for years. She is my all time favorite. I love her music and the messages she delivers in it.

And to get to see her with Maddy. Icing on the cake. We had seats 14 rows from the stage at Fielders Green. It was outside under a beautiful Colorado sky. The weather couldn't have been better.

We danced, we laughed, and we cried (a little). But we made a memory that will last forever. Now every time we hear, "This ones for the Girls" we will have this memory.

We went to bed closer as mommy and daughter. She was as sweet as she could be and might I say as beautiful as she could be. Poor Paul.

We got girl time that will last forever.

It was the best day ever!

P.S. Hunter wanted me to tell you he had amazing time with his daddy. They went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D.

It must have been great because this morning at 6:15, he was a mile a minute talking nonstop. I no longer have to see the movie, I've heard the whole thing. It's good to be on our way back to normal.