Hardcore Jesus--All Day! And Strep Throat!

The Easter dress finally made it's debut...I know it's Labor Day.  Don't judge me.  We've only gotten the church groove down since early summer.  Since this was the last Sunday we could wear the white sandals (or face the wrath of no-white-shoes-after-Labor-Day-Molly), it was now or never.  SO stinkin' cute.  Molly bought the three grandgirls matching dresses/ensembles for Easter...maybe we'll try again next year.  Little Miss seems to dig Sunday School and has been petitioning to go to Children's Church...which is going to necessitate our going to some sort of grown-up Sunday School class...or sit through church services twice.  I can't very well tell her that she CAN'T go to church!  We'll see what we work out next Sunday. 

I owe Loverboy a grudging apology, whether he knows it or not. I thought he was pulling a crybaby sick show because he had single parent duty while I gallivanted all over town having fun yesterday.  He stayed home from church (I did NOT yell "faker!" when Little Miss and I went).  The hymns today were of the old school variety, which I like.  And, thankfully, the minister wrapped up his series on "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" series.  Serious downer.  I'm Job-ed out.  When we got home Loverboy said his throat was killing him.  I asked if he had a fever (anything over 98.7 for him would qualify, in his opinion) thinking maybe he had strep throat.  No fever.  Of course I said people don't always have a fever with strep, then Little Miss and I left for Molly and Papa's for spaghetti and meatball Sunday lunch.  I'll admit, I still thought he was just handily avoiding the high volume sports-arama that is my parents' house on a Sunday in the fall.   After a post-pasta nap, Little Miss and I returned home to change out of sauce-stained t-shirts and head down to the Christian Biker Bash on the Square.  Yes.  You read that right. 

I'll admit "Christian biker"--not exactly words I use to describe myself.  But I knew there'd be kettle corn.  And snowcones.  Maybe some skull and crossbone doodads/jewelry to add to my Pirates (school) collection.  Little Miss was determined to bring Emily.  It quickly became apparent Emily will need to be socialized before we enter the dog costume parade in October.  From chihuahua to mastiff, she was ready for a fight!  Well, a good barking and then hiding behind me, anyway.

If I'd had prized to hand out, they would have gotten 1st.

We didn't look very closely at any of the motorcycles, either.  A tad too loud for the furry one.  Last year, my favorite was the one with scenes from the Wizard of Oz airbrushed on it.  We missed the Amazing Feats of Strength Performed by Christian Body Builders, but did catch the Bikers Old Style Gospel singin'.  There was a good crowd...really, very nice people... not a lot of doodads that caught my interest BUT...

Oh, yeah.  Probably the last of the summer 2010 snowcones--Tigersblood, if you're wondering.

We girls always have a great time togther.  Can I get an "Amen"?

But wait...Loverboy decided to take himself off to the doc-in-a-box when we got home.  No offices are going to be open tomorrow, either, so why suffer?  Guess who has strep throat.  Go ahead, guess.  So, yes, Loverboy, you were as sick as you thought.  Ten minutes with the doc, two hours waiting for antibiotics at Walgreens, and now on the road back to health.  Who'll be the next Nockinbird to succumb...?  Pray for us.

Cheerleading debut

Little Miss attended the high school mini cheer camp a couple of weekends ago and they performed at the "pre-game" show last night.  So.Cute.  Little Miss is with her favorite cheerleader and coach from gym.

Stretching...so important.

I'm afraid she's inherited my coordination.  But she makes up for it in spirit.

Hang in there.  The unbearable cuteness continues. 

Hustling off the field.

Loverboy was in charge of videography.  While he has some developing skills in that arena, I can't get the clip to load on blogspot.  Don't despair.  I'll keep at it until you can enjoy the cheering in live-action time.  We've gotten our schedule for the competition cheer season, so you'll have at least six more cheer events to (hopefully) view in the coming months.

 

We HAD to sit on the front row--to be closer to the cheerleaders.

We had yummy burgers at the game.  I'm thinking frito pie at the next home game though.  Little Miss and I had nachos at the volleyball game Tuesday, so I'm working my way through concession stand food groups.  Mmmmm.

I think the littlest of Coach Wink's kids was miffed that he didn't get to shoot the t-shirt bazooka.

I've always thought our stadium was screwed up because the home side faces west, so we get the sun in our eyes for the first quarter...but it does make for nice sunsets.

We left after the half-time shows.  I think everyone in band has been or is in one of my classes.  As have a good number of cheerleaders and half the football team.  The score was tied 7-7 when we left...but reports are in that our team lost by one point.  Sigh.  I hope everyone can find a way to rally the pep this week...the mere fact that there's been some school spirit has been a refreshing change.

Shout out to Molly for the school colors bow.  Little Miss, never a bow-head before, insisted on wearing it to the Kid's Workshop at Home Depot this morning.  She and her father made a football shaped football display stand.  I didn't get to participate in that adventure.  "Uncle" Keviiiinnnn and I had hair appointments.  A kid-free lunch at Olive Garden AND a mini-shopping adventure.  Heaven.  But I missed her.  Everything I bought was for her.  And I felt guilty for eating at Olive Garden without my sweet baboo, Loverboy.  But still, I managed to have a pretty darn good time!

Life is so much more fun now.

The end of the first week...

Since this is the first week two Nockinbirds have had to go to school, I think it's gone pretty well.  We've certainly ended the week on a high note.  Molly and Papa went to the first high school football game with Little Miss and me last night.  The two of us had to sit down front--the better to see the cheerleaders, don't you know.

I have to comment on the new uniforms--really, just the helmets.  I don't get it.  We're the Pirates!  Why is there a "G" (well, I know why there's a "G"--our town starts with a "G") inside the state of Texas (and, yes, I know we live in Texas)?  Aside from having "pirates" in small white script across the front, there's not much pirateness.  I miss the Pirate.  Maybe it'll be back on next years' helmets.

The first game was a victory for our team, so maybe the change was good afterall.  It has been a good start to the new school year.

Is it only in Texas that no one's alarmed to see something like this on the field?  My two co-workers really seemed to get a lot of joy of firing this into the crowds.  Firing t-shirts into the crowd, that is.

It is a pretty impressive piece of machinery--a couple of shirts bounced off the top tier of the press box.

If our team continues the scoring streak and Little Miss keeps chatting up the cheerleaders, I think we're going to end up with a lot of little purple smooshy footballs by the end of the season.

We hit the Build and Grow at Lowe's this morning.  They were set up in the garden center for some reason, which did nothing good for anyone's allergies.

Today's project was a school bus with a chalkboard top that slides off and reveals a hidden spot for chalk storage.

Then it was down to the square for a day with "real" pirates.

The cork gun was a big hit with both Little Miss and Loverboy.

We walked to the Old Jail Museum so she could "shoot" the "ghost."

While we looking around outside the Old Jail, I found this stern admonition.  Glad I saw that before it was too late!

Next, we were off to the library.  We met SarahBeth there, and she and I took off on a mission:  a photo shoot of her for the various dating websites she's exploring.

This striking fellow is a step up from some of her dating adventures.

I just thought this little guy (?) was cute.  And very nervy for a squirrel.  He's (?) a park squirrel, so I guess he (?) would be accustomed to people. But seriously, I was maybe two feet away from him (?) taking this picture.   Of course, he (?) doesn't seem put off by the cigarette butt right next to him (?) either, so I guess all creatures can adapt to their environment.  In fact, does he (?) seem to be eyeing that butt?  Do fuzzy park creatures eat those, too?  Squirrels in the throes of a nicotine fit...there's a fun day at the park.  I wonder about the health of the birds that hang around Sonic, too.  They always looked bedraggled and a little...off.  Is it all the fat, salt and cholesterol?  Fries are certainly not part of a natural diet, especially for a grackle.  I've spent a lot of time on a very strange topic here, haven't I?

We all wanted Mexican food for lunch, so Mexican food we had.  And there was a new "ride" at the restaurant.  Her first bullride.  I'm so proud.

And what would a Saturday out and about be without a trip to Walmart?  I was so taken aback by the huge display of giant jars of pork rinds by the cart pick-up that I was compelled to photograph it.  I'm struck, just now, by the themes that have emerged--football, weapondry, pirates, wildlife eating habits, Mexican food, bull riding, Walmart, pork rinds--a Texas weekend, indeed.

Skate party!!

How lucky are we to live in a town that has BOTH a skating rink--a seriously old school skating rink--AND a drive-in movie?

Yes, pretty darn lucky. 

Little Miss's nerve was wavering once we got inside.  Her school was having a skate get-together, but not many of her classmates were there.  Lots of the older kids, though.

I think the skates freaked her out at first, too.  I'm pretty sure they were at least as old as I am.  I like to think I've held up a little better.  Humor me.

The first time hitting the rink.

She never got far from the rail.

But she had flashes of daring and would let go of the rail.

It's probably a good thing she had the sense to stick close to the safety net.

She really started getting nervy after the first ten minutes or so and is on the way to getting the hang of it.

We didn't check out the concession stand, but it was noted.  Some seriously vintage arcade games and an air hockey table, too.  Little Miss made mention of a skating rink birthday party.  Start practicing!  Of course, I happen to have a rather significant milestone birthday approaching disturbingly rapidly...this is of a similar vintage...hmmm.  Stay posted.  And start stretching.  Maybe start taking some calcium supplements, too.