Activities

Fall is officially in full swing! Rilee began nature preschool today. Wow, how I wish I attended a preschool like this one! It is at the nature park where Hunter has attended nature camp for a couple of summers. There are only ten kids in the class, 2 days a week. They go on a hike every day, and today they also read a story, sang, and played. She loved it and had no problems being left there.
Then, Hunter had his first cross country practice today after school. He enjoyed running with the other kids. Made me tired just watching it. They have 4 meets and the first one is next week. Hunter also has his first Cub Scouts (Tiger Cubs) meeting tonight. Kevin did it when he was little and loved it. I still have mixed feelings because of the way the Boy Scouts exclude homosexuals from leadership positions, but as long as Kevin is okay with it I will let him do it. I think he will have fun, especially with the outdoor opportunities here in Oregon.

10,000 Words

Today I will hit the 10,000 word mark in my manuscript. I have spent the last few days trying to write whenever possible. It's hard with 3 kids and 2 dogs in the house... I only could imagine what I could accomplish if it was possible to write in silence, even if only for an hour. This is the way it must be done, so be it!

Drama

I hate being involved in drama, but once again it is following me. For most of high school, I had a great group of friends. I had a couple of best friends, one who I had a falling out with the summer before our senior year of high school. I never really knew what she was upset with, but I have two possible ideas. I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years, who she was also friends with. I hurt him a great deal and yes, I was sorry about it, but I was 17 years old and wanted to date other people. I had had a boyfriend for almost all of high school and I was young and didn't want to be tied down. I didn't date anyone until a month before I graduated from high school. This was the second reason that she could possibly be upset- it was her ex-boyfriend. The thing is, though, it she had been with someone else for 2 years by this time, so it would make no sense why she would be upset. She broke up with this guy, not the other way around.
Well, for whatever reason it is, she is still angry with me to this day and it is almost 17 years later! I have been trying to reconnect with her, have apologized for whatever I did, and all of this is to no avail. It's sad that she has to be like this. She was a great person- something must have changed her to become like this. At least I am the bigger person for trying.

Dream Project

I wrote more in high school than I do now (although that is rapidly changing). In the summer of 1993 when I had just finished my junior year of high school, I selected 8 of my good friends to help me with what I call my "Dream Project." I had them each write about their dreams, their idea of a perfect world, what their friends mean to them, how they think of their self as a person, and what they value in life. What I received in return were 8 wonderfully written pieces. Now, over 16 years later, I have asked them to write the same piece for me, seeing how their views have changed over the years. I have kept in contact with 7 of the 8 people, some more than others. The eighth person and I had a falling out in 1994, but I still sent her the letter asking her to participate. It will be interesting to see who will participate- I have had one acceptance so far. The finished product will be given to all, copied and bound.

Bikes

Today I biked with Hunter for the first time to his school. It is so nice being so close to his school... it is about an 8-10 minute walk or a 2-minute normal-paced bike ride away. I always dreamed of being able to walk to school when I was a kid. At least now I can live that through him! He is doing well on the bike so far. He only recently learned to pedal. The bike he had was one with 12-inch wheels so it was too small to pedal correctly. On Sunday we got both Hunter and Rilee new bikes- Rilee's first. They are a pair of Diamond Back's, just like Kevin and I had when we were young except that these are green and pink. Really nice bikes. I've been trying to get a ride in on my bike daily (doctor's orders). The first day I overdid it- I went a little too far in our neighborhood (which is huge), ended up by the golf course, and then got stuck with hills that kicked my ass. I think it was about 3 miles in all. My knees were jello after that one, but it was a gorgeous day and I love riding. My brother and I lived on our bikes when we were kids. I still have the Trek I bought in Iowa City and those are good bikes. I have taken great care of it and it looks almost brand new for being about 10 years old.

Summer Recap

This summer went by so fast because, here in Oregon, the weather wreaked havoc and we had no summer weather until July. I have been so busy with the kids as well, with little time to write. That's why my blog is so far behind.

We began July with our trip to Iowa and Nebraska. It was somewhat of a challenge for me; I was traveling with 3 kids for the first time- ages 6, 3, and 2.5 months. My older kids are seasoned travelers by now... they have traveled by plane many times. It was bringing the baby that was the kicker. Infants require more time and more stuff. We had a fantastic time visiting some of my best friends and spending a day with relatives in Bloomfield. It was also tough because for the first time we were there without Grandma. I think about her every day still. She and I grew close over the last couple of years, and I never had a grandmother. She was a wonderful woman that will never be forgotten.

Getting back from Iowa, our son started his nature and martial arts camps along with continuing his mixed martial arts training. Before we new it, August was already here. I began dealing with my knee, and to update that, I am currently in physical therapy after receiving both cortisone and lubrication injections. A total knee replacement in imminent in the next couple of years. I just want to be able to be more active again for my kids.

Nutrisystem sucks, but at least I gave it a try. For $299 a month, the food sucks. I am just going to do my own thing coupled with the P90, biking, and weights.

At the end of August we rented an RV and went camping for a week in 4 different Oregon state parks. It was absolutely beautiful and so much fun! Oregon has it all: desert, forest, mountains, ocean, and cities. What more could one ask for? Driving up the coast there was a state park every 10 miles! We want to save up for a pull-RV so we can spend more time camping.

That was basically our summer: trips, county fair, day trips, oh, and concerts for me! I saw Warrant, Lady Gaga, and then Queensryche! All were awesome in their own ways. Queensryche is my favorite band as always, and I finally got to meet them this time!

Our son started first grade this week and that is surreal. How did we get a first grader already? So far, so good. He loves it! Our 3 year-old will start nature preschool in 2 weeks and the baby is now 4.5 months old!

I am still busy with 3 kids but will try and make more time for writing. The book is coming along fine and I have another manuscript I want to begin. I am taking a history course for fun this fall as well. Our son still has mixed martial arts and our daughter wants to take ballet. It will be a fun ride!

Football Season

It's my favorite time of year... college football season with my beloved Hawkeyes! The best thing that my Dad ever did for me was suggest that I go to the University of Iowa... it was one of the best periods of my life, and a big part of that was Hawkeye football! There is nothing on earth like sitting in the front row in the student section on game day, feeling the energy of 70,000 fans, and surrounding yourself with nothing but fun and madness! I miss it so much... each Saturday of a home game I get to spend in front of the TV for 3 hours and bring myself back to Kinnick is priceless! One win down... keep it up, Hawkeyes!