Happy New Year Y'all!

Happy New Year!!

Sharing another of the wonderful photos Jennifer Schultz
took for us. Must say I loved every single photo of M!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have been able to enjoy some

lovely, lazy days between Christmas and New Years! 

 It's gotten frightfully cold here just like in 

other parts of the country, so we're bundled up under blankets reading,

 watching tv and thinking about taking down the tree - thinking is the  key word here! 

 It hasn't happened yet!

  I came down with the always fun (NOT) end-of-the-year cold, 

so Kleenex and Nyquil have become my very best friends!

Maddy got her wish and we had a white Christmas!  It was so pretty

and now with these ultra-cold temps, the snow is sticking

around for awhile!  

The great thing is . . . yay snow!  

The not-so-great thing is -3 highs with windchills way lower,

those temps don't make me want to go out and
not a lot of sledding or ice-skating is happening.

Looking forward to a warm-up into the teens and maybe even 20s by the end

 of the week!

So, anyone else have a weird superstition about odd-numbered years???
I do! 
Looking forward to an even-numbered year! 
Although many wonderful

things have happened in odd-numbered years, 

I just like even numbers better!

Guess I'm the odd one, eh!  :)

Happy New Year friends!
Best wishes for 2018!!

Happy Birthday to M!

Wow -- I guess I took a little break from bloggyland and

the internet for a couple weeks!

Sorry I haven't been reading or commenting -- will try to catch up! :)

So much has been going on this month with cheering constantly,
schoolwork, Mr. Tennis being ill, feeling a bit off myself, etc. etc. etc - 

you know the drill - life is busy and stressful!

Sweet 16!

Miss M turned 16 a few days ago!

Oh my word -- where have the years gone!

She's such a sweet and beautiful girl!

We love her so much!

Am sharing some photos taken by the wonderful Jennifer Schultz!

Her birthday landed on the last day of finals - 

but happily she only had one and

was finished by 9 am!  Plus - she thinks

she did very well on that last final!  

She and I spent the day eating out at all of her favorite

places!  Krispy Kreme for breakfast; Chick-fil-A for lunch and

our local Lazlo's for dinner!  

YUM!

Mr. Tennis and Madster!

And now, we have a little bit of frosty ice and a smidgen of

snow - just she always wants for her birthday!

Minding the Clutter

Recently Miss M and I started meditating in the evenings

before bed in order to relax and shoo the clutter in our heads away

(the clutter in the house is another story), and 

quiet the noise and worries of the day.

No getting around it -- life is stressful.

 I admit it, I was skeptical and pictured meditating as 

 sitting cross-legged and mumbling "OMMMMM".

It's not -- and, of course as you would expect, there's an

app for that!

  Actually, there are probably a LOT of  different apps

(whatever did we do before apps?)

We've both found the Headspace app to very helpful.

From their site, they report they have hundreds of themed sessions

on everything from stress to sleep with bite-sized meditations for busy schedules.

We're doing a 30-day (5-10 minute) per day program and

we both look forward to listening to Headspace every evening.

So, that's it for my PSA for today -- if you haven't tried a 

little meditating and feel increasingly behind and

stressed out -- give it a try and become at least 10% happier -

according to ABC reporter Dan Harris (I like that guy)!

Hello December!

Hello December!

It seriously barely feels like December around here!

Sooooo strange -- it's been springlike since Thanksgiving. 

We broke 3 or 4 record highs!  I'm not complaining as I

LOVE temps in the 60s and 70s at turkey time!

However, I am worried about my flowers -- they must think

spring has come early  esp. with all the watering

that Mr. Tennis is doing!

Levitating!

Anywho -- we'll take this nice weather while we can because am

fairly certain, cold temps, snow and ice are not too far off.

On a recent warm day, Miss M had the idea to go

out for photos!  That girls loves to ham it up 

and comes up with the best props!

We had so much with these photos and 

she made some Christmas cards and

already sent them out to the JV cheer squad!

She amazes me with all she does and I just love

that bright smile of hers!

Cheering is super busy again with boys and girl JV and Reserve

basketball and wrestling too!  

It's a workout -- for her -- not me -- I sit in the stands

and watch the cheerleaders more than the other athletes!

Go BOLTS!

Have a super weekend friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
 

Getting ready!

 This year we had our feast a few days early!
It was so fun and mostly yummy -- the turkey turned
out very, very dry!  Yikes!
Oh well -- the sides were delish - so who cares
about turkey anyway!

Maddy, Grace and Grace's roomie - Nevaeh!

Bonus -- this year, my sweet and adorable

niece, Grace, is at the University here.

Grace and one of her roommates also joined us and

it was great to have them with us!

I mentioned a couple of family favorite foods. . . 

strawberry jello with strawberries and cool whip marshmallow fruit salad

(both very healthy options) that we always had as kids.

Shock -- my sister has not kept up that tradition at 

her house, but she will now that Grace has 

tasted those wonderful traditional

Thanksgiving foods.

Baby Dorothy - 1-1/2 years old!

The big kids (Philip & Catherine and Connor) also joined us
with the littles!  So much fun with those 4! 
Somehow, we missed getting the oldest Jane in a photo -- sorry sweetheart!

3 of 4 of the grandkids!  Such cuties!

Maddy and I are now devising our shopping plans!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

xoxo

The Business - Happy Hound Collection

Some of you may remember that Maddy

has a little doggie bandana business.  

Since it's been about a year since she first started it,

I thought I'd do a quick update!

Muffy - modeling one of the flannel tie-on bandanas!

Last year around this time, Maddy and I attended and sold

at our first and only craft fair.

While it was a fun and learning experience, we learned

that most of the people visiting our church-sponsored

craft fair were little old ladies whose dogs had just died.

Soooo, they were not at all interested in our adorable doggie bandanas.  

Nothing against lol [little old ladies], of course,

as I am getting to be one of them, but we quickly figured out they

were not our target audience.

Maddy researched a plan and decided an etsy (homemade items) store

was the way to go!  She made a logo and set up the Etsy

site, listing products and doing all kinds of social media

posts on Instagram.

She's had over 572 sales since her business

started in February, 2017!  That does not include

direct sales to friends and neighbors.

Isn't that amazing!

So proud of her and all her hard work!

She really connects with her customers and has developed

so many Happy Hound friendships!

We love visiting the fabric stores and choosing fabrics and 

sewing, sewing, sewing!

Plus, our Scottie Muffy, has thoroughly enjoyed

modeling and receiving loads of treats for her hard work!

If you'd like to see any bandanas currently available,

check it out at   Happy Hound Collection

Yawning or just waiting for another treat?  Modeling is a tough gig!

We Love Fall!

 Finally -- it seems that fall temps are here to 

stay!  Leaves are falling almost as fast as the temperatures!

Yippee -- we love fall -- it's just that winter is up next 

that worries me a bit!

Recently, Miss M and I went out for a little photo shoot!

That girl loves to be silly sometimes and she's already

planning a Christmas-theme photo shoot!

She took her favorite pineapple-shaped uke as a prop!
She loved uke lessons and just gave them up recently
as there were too many other commitments going on.
No worries - she can still strum a good tune!

We are so thankful to have this ray of sunshine 

in our lives - every single day!

She's amazing!

Halloween Update

Just a tad bit late on the Halloween update, but here goes!

Maddy had planned to be a unicorn for Halloween,

but her costume was not quite warm enough as we got hit

with a bit of a cold spell.

Plan B -- wear a Cheer Bear onesie!  

It was perfect and she said she 

was warm and toasty!

We went to Boo at the Zoo - a 

tradition we just can't give up yet!

  

Oh my word -- we had a million trick-or-treaters

on our block.  My neighbor counted (who does that?)

and said she stopped counting after 600!!!!

Seriously, the sidewalks were full of kids and parents!

The need for candy is great!! 

The need for cute decorated cookies is also great!

This was the first year ever that I bought candy that I do not 

like for trick or treaters so I wouldn't eat it.

Nerds -- who eats those things??? Ugh.

Of course, I am wishing that I had some good 

chocolate

candy bars!  

Have a great weekend friends!

Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Jumping Around at the Pumpkin Patch

This has been a crazy, long, stressful week, so
let's look at some fun photos, shall we!

One of our so-called yearly traditions is a 

visit to the near-by pumpkin patch!

Maddy's favorite thing to do is not the hayrack ride or

the pumpkins!  Rather, it is jumping on

these crazy jumping pillows!

She loves those things -- I know we should

have had a trampoline for her, but I have always worried

about injuries.

Yes, my name is Jboo and I worry . . . constantly . . .
it's what I do best!
 

Anyhooo, she had an afternoon off recently

so we headed to the patch for some fallish fun!

She had loads of fun and really 

who can't help but have a good time

jumping and going down ridiculously long slides.

Happy Fall!
Winter temps around the corner for us --
how about you?
 

Making Strides

Yesterday was the American Cancer Society

Breast Cancer "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" Walk 

in our city!

Every year the Pius cheerleaders attend the event

and cheer on the walkers as they start and as they finish!

So proud of these girls to give up part of their weekend

to think about and support others.

Yesterday was a beautiful day for the event and

over 2,500 people attended and walked!

I was one of the walkers!

I figured I would do a quick speed-walk 

through the 5k route.

However, an older gentleman befriended me

and so I walked with him -- we did the 5k route.

 I learned all about his family, kids and grandkids!

What a beautiful day and event!

The Unsung Heroes of High School

There are really so many unsung athletes and heroes in

high school, don't you agree?

The coaches, the trainers, the school  managers

and the ones closest to my heart -- 

the cheerleaders!

Last Friday night, the Pius cheerleaders

traveled 2-1/2 hours away each way to cheer on the

football team!

These sweet girls were totally soaked to the skin, 

but cheered through torrential downpours and dropping temps!
Soaking Wet + Cold = Misery

Still smiling - but soaking wet!

Luckily, they all had packed an extra change of 

clothes so they could get out of the wet uniforms

for the 2-1/2 hour bus ride home!

So, home around midnight then quickly launder the cheer uniforms 

before bed, hang to dry and be up, in uniform and

back at the gym at 8:15 AM to cheer at 

volleyball until noon!

Oh my word!  Bless those girls hearts!

Cheerleaders don't get much credit for all they do.

They're not considered athletes by schoolmates [but they are]

as they put in long hours of training and practice just like the other

athletes and teams.
Yes, they have 6 AM practices at least once a week before classes!
So, I say . . . 

Great job Pius Cheerleaders!
You are all amazing!

While we're chatting about unsung heroes,

let's not the forget the parents who support and pay for 

everything, drive  their student athletes everywhere and often sit on freezing

bleachers to support the cheerleaders and the teams!

Thank you Parents! :)
You're pretty amazing too!

.

Well, Hello October!

So hard to believe it is October already!

Miss M has the countdown to

Thanksgiving and Christmas on

her iPhone and advises me daily 

on "how many days until . . ."

Yikes!  I already feel unprepared!
But, I'm reading about getting ready early
this year, so there's hope I will actually
be ready!

It's been forever since I posted anything about "The Littles."
So, it's about time, isn't it!

Catherine's brother got married in July and almost everyone was in the wedding!!

Oh my word, they are growing like weeds and
Jane and Walt are not so little!
Jane is in 2nd grade this year,
Walter in first grade,
Harry in preschool
and little Dorothy - 18 months old already!

They are such a joy and so hilarious!
Kids do say the darndest things -
Art Linkletter was right!

Such a fun swing!
Jane really works hard pushing
that swing for her brothers and sometimes
squeezing their adorable little heads together!

Saying Goodbye to Summer and Hello to Fall!

Is it just me or does it seem really impossible that

Summer is over and Fall starts today???

Wasn't it just last week that Mads and I were

out taking these 4th of July photos???

We did have a fun summer even though I

didn't really blog much or get any of those

organizational/clean-out-the-closet chores accomplished.

There's always winter for those tasks, am I right???

I suppose if we were enjoying cooler temps,

it would seem time for Fall.

However, humid 90s does not feel like the start

of Fall!

Pumpkin fever

No worries though, a cold front 

(those words almost make me shiver!)

 is headed our way on Sunday!

Yummy S'mores!

We're looking forward to pumpkins and s'mores and sweaters

and ponchos!

Ahhhh Fall -- we love ya - 

welcome back!

Mads with Plaid

A Cheer Report

My apologies - I have been derelict in my duties!

I have not been updating/overwhelming you all

with photos of my JV cheerleader!

BAAAAD Cheer Mom!

It's time to remedy that and post a bit about JV cheer!

This year is way busier than last and I thought last year was hectic!

The JV squad cheers at JV and Reserve games

 (football, volleyball, etc., whatever sport is going on)

and some Varsity games too! 

The JV squad also makes posters "GO TEAM WIN,"

hosts fundraisers and has a 6 AM practice weekly.

I kind of hate that 6 AM practice!

Aren't they so adorable!

Volleyball is my and Maddy's favorite sport!

It's so much fun to watch the girls (both the volleyball and the cheerleaders) -

 they are all so awesome.

And volleyball only takes about an hour -- very important

when there is homework to be done, and . . . 

there is always homework.

The JV squad is really the cutest and best of all 3 squads.

I am not kidding and am not in the least bit biased!

These girls and their adorable smiles and ponytails

get me every time I see them together! 

GOOOO BOLTS!

Have You Met the MathElf?

Quick post before the weekend hits - and

we are definitely ready for a couple days off of 

school and work!

But, before we get started on all things fun . . . 

Have you met the MathElf?

I heard about it from a neighbor whose daughter in 

Houston is one of the Elves!

MathElf is an app where students can talk with real-life math tutors

to help them understand and solve difficult math problems.

Miss M was skeptical about an on-line tutor on the iPad --

in fact, she thought I was a little crazy when I told her about it.

But, we tried it and we liked it . . . a lot!

In fact, we love it!

Find it on the iTunes store to set it up and get going.

We have already used it numerous times.

People -- it has saved my sanity!

I don't know about you, but it's been a really long

time since I've done high school sophomore level geometry.

I've tried assisting in math issues previously and it hasn't been pretty.

In fact, it's been a real struggle for me.

So, imagine my delight when I listened to Maddy speaking over the

iPad with a math tutor who used a white board to totally and

fully explain how to do the math problems she was couldn't quite figure out.

It's such a great system and app!

I highly recommend it if you or your student have any

questions about math.  

Topics covered are Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus,

 Statistics, SAT/ACT/ASVAB, as well as earlier stage math levels 

that are not among the ones that are listed.

They can work on elementary, high school and beyond math

and they are available 24/7!

Since I am such a fan of MathElf, they

provided me with a special discount code for any 

readers who may wish to try them out.

Enter this referral code when you sign up and you will

 receive 45 minutes of free tutoring!

Use the code  AQ5OVD

  If you have any questions about our experience, leave me

a comment or shoot me an email!  

We Love the MathElf!

P.S.  MathElf did not ask me to post about their service. 
I reached out to them for permission -- I love it that much! :)

Chicken Taco Salad!

I rarely post about our meals and my cooking because . . . 

I'm awful at meal planning, prep and meals in general.

Not kidding - I'd rather drive-thru or bake than cook a real meal.

But, Maddy and I are attempting to 

plan a few meals here and there.

We've found our favorite!

Chicken Taco Salad

It's the Pioneer Woman's Chicken Taco Salad!

It is so delish and so easy -- I really

have to have easy and fast and

this dish meets both of those requirements!

We make a few adjustments to the 

recipe as we don't always like

tomatoes and don't have avocados on 

hand.  We do use fresh corn on the cob!
 I don't think I could figure out avocados anyway!  
Isn't there a secret key or way to open avocados?
And then what do you do???

Chicken Taco Nachos

We even went a little further and

made Chicken Taco Nachos!

Wooo hoo - call us crazy!

 This is on the menu every single week!
And every time we prepare it,
Mr. Tennis says
BEST MEAL EVER!  
Go me!  :)

And Now She's a Sophomore!

So, now she's a sophomore!

Maddy's first day of school was last month -- 

of course, I'm still trying to catch up!

Rainy on the first day of school this year

so couldn't get our typical outdoor photo!

She was excited to get back to school --

not really!

Truth be told, we both felt like it was way too 

early for school to start on August 16!

But, no one from school asked for my opinion!  :)

The start of sophomore year seemed a bit easier 

in some ways.  At least, she didn't have to struggle with that

locker combination lock this year - it was a breeze!

And just after school started was the solar eclipse!

Here in Lincoln, we were in the totality area so 

it was a huge, huge thing.  We'd been

hearing about it for months!

I bought my special glasses ages ago.

School planned a special outing for 

some students and others had hotdogs and chips

on the football field! 

 How fun was that!
Bill  Nye, the Science Guy, was in Beatrice --
very close to Lincoln!  If only I didn't have
to work, I would have been there!

Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy that day, but

still very cool how it got all dark and nightime-ish and

then it was like morning again!

The next day was totally clear and 

would have been a better day;

but like the start of school, we can't

pick and choose the date when a total solar eclipse 

will happen!

No matter, it was seriously cool and 

as they said on the Pius t-shirts . . .

Totality Awesome!

The Summer of the Pool Floaty - Size XL Please!

We are so sad to be saying "so long"

to our Floaty friends with the end of summer pool time!

Maddy had a blast at the pool

with the XL floaties that seemed

to be almost everywhere!

We started out with a Pineapple one -- loved it!

It was nearly as big as she was!

I had to put the back seats down in the jeep 

for the floaties to fit!

Loved the pineapple, but lo and behold -- 

she found a Unicorn  - 
MAGICAL!

Oh my word -- that one is crazy big!

I guess it's a good thing that the pool we visited was

not too crowded since the floaties took

up so much space!

Truth be told - there were lots of other floaties 

of similar sizes this summer!

The last big floaty of the summer

was the crabby duck!

We hate to put these things away for the winter,

but they don't really go with 

our house decor very well!  

The unicorn is currently lingering in the dining room

waiting for one last pool visit!

The pool and the floaties were Maddy's happy place

this summer especially during the trying times

of driver's ed classes!

Everybody needs an escape, am I right??

It's been a fun summer at the pool

with our pool friends! 

Fingers crossed for nice hot weather on the

weekend before we put the pool and floaties to bed

for this year.

Ahhhhh summer - we'll miss ya!