here chickey

No picture today. Just what I think is a funny story.

Gage arrived last night for the sleepover shortly after I finished the blog. Bridger was patiently waiting at the dining room window. I got my list together for the grocery store and took off. Safeway didn't have chicken in the deli, per my plan. Then there was some trouble with the check-out girl. She was so obviously at the end of her shift. I was nice. The trouble wasn't with me, honestly.

So after groceries I zipped over to KFC and got chicken. I got an 8 pc bucket thinking it would be more than enough. I usually throw-out one to two pieces after a few days anyway, when I get an 8pc. We got everything unloaded and was putting away groceries when Bridger ran into the kitchen professing starvation-for both he AND Gage. I had asked specifically about whether Gage would have been fed by the time he got there and the answer was yes. I didn't ask when he got dropped off. Wish I had.

We sat the boys down with the chicken (note to self-don't do that!) and organized the rest. When Darin and I got to the dining room, Bridger had a thigh and Gage a leg. Those are MY two favorite pieces. Darin got a breast and I settled for starting with a wing. Gage, who was supposed to have been fed plowed through 2 legs and a thigh, Bridger did a thigh and a breast. Darin and I looked at each other and wondered how it was that the adults only got what they got. I had bought a fruit tart and gladly got that out for Darin and I. As I started savoring that first bite-I realized I was tasting chocolate-in a fruit tart. Darin was just about to put a piece in his mouth and I said, "don't!". He had been looking at the piece anyway and saw the chocolate layer at about the same time I was realizing as well. The boys, who mind you just devoured 3/4 chicken, came in and polished off the tart. It was just a 1/2 tart. Regardless, there were no leftovers for once. Lucky me.

Then around 10:30pm Gage started in with "being sick". He didn't feel good, his neck hurt and he didn't think he should stay and get Bridger sick. I finally realized it was his plea for going home. I called his Mom to find out if they had gotten home. Again, lucky me, they were on WY Blvd just going by the school. They stopped by and got him. Gage didn't even want to commit to skiing today. He told me MAYBE they could meet us up there. His Mom told me he had a similar episode a couple of weeks ago with another friend's sleepover. Bridger was hurt, but I am sure by today he will be fine.

So what an evening. Not enough food, poor dessert choice and sleepover gone awry. But, we are not our possessions, just ourselves. Obviously, we are not food-there wasn't enough. Does that reflect Judi's quote? We are blessed-we know that!

Sort of struggling here for news and pictures. Top picture is from basketball the other night. My mom was with me and Darin got there late. He had to stand that night. Doesn't he look handsome?

The bottom picture is from Feb 2008. Our little boy was just learning to skate. He looks so much smaller.

Bridger went to a bday party today for two sisters. I must say two presents gets expensive. We didn't have presents when Bridger got dropped off. We went to lunch and then bday shopping. We didn't make it in time for the opening of presents. They didn't really seem to care we were late with the whole present thing.

I got our taxes done this morning. Good news for us.

Bridger is having Gage for a sleep over and should be here soon. The plan is to take them up skiing tomorrow morning. I still have to get to the store and we haven't eaten dinner yet. See what I mean struggling for news.

basketball

Bridger's basketball team is the Spurs. These pics are from last week. I had the camera in my hand last night before we left and then when we got to game-no camera. We got to stand for the game, as there is limited seating. I am just not pushey enough to jump in front of people going up the bleachers and grab a seat.

Bridger decided in the parking lot going into the game last night he was ill. I told him he had to sit on the bench just in case he got to feeling better. He sat out for two quarters and then finally he agreed to go in and play. I caught him once on one of his trips to get a drink and told him if he didn't play then we were headed home and he was going to bed. It was pretty quick after that he decided to play. Darin tried to guilt me with, "what if he does throw-up?"

He played and did just fine. He is getting the process of the game down. He doesn't have the confidence yet. He does like dribbling. He tries to shoot from the top of key just because he doesn't like the crowd facing him past there. All the kids wave their arms around and holler, "ball, ball, ball". They are all little superstar wannabe's. It is entertaining.

Over the weekend Bridger repeatedly challenged us with the belief of the tooth fairy, which led to Santa and now leprechauns. He states none of them exist. He is quite proud of himself for his new found knowledge. I spoke with his teacher about his new knowledge and that he has promised to keep that information to himself. She seemed a little amazed that he had figured it out. Guess different parts of the country just have different thoughts on when to tell what.

Over Spring Break we are supposed to work on a Leprechaun trap. He promptly informed me there was no such thing. I told him we would look up the facts on the legend of leprechauns. I know what I believe to know about the legend, but figured I better get it right.

Darin has the go ahead to skate, but no skiing. He is supposed to return to the doc in another 3 months. He is done with physical therapy. He made it home in time to walk up to get Bridger with me this afternoon. After we got home we decided we should hot tub, which we did. Darin was encouraged from us to knock down an especially large icicle over the hot tub. It fell, but richoted off the wood slat. Shards hit Darin in the chest and one actually broke skin. Shortly after that we got out of the hot tub. It is nice and warm (40's), so by tomorrow the icicle should be big again.

snowy weekend

We have had light snow off and on for the last few days. Glad it came after everyone got away from here last weekend. It has been icy under all the snow. Bridger entertained himself with Shasta's help yesterday afternoon. He is balancing on the bird bath pedestal.

And he is down. I discovered that he had gotten outside without snow pants on. He was laying in the snow with Shasta when I discovered it. I was horrified. I envisioned days of illness due to his hypothermia. I will say this child is quite cold blooded, or is it hot blooded? He will complain of the heat, but he has never ever said he was cold. He runs back and forth to the hot tub without a problem. I, on the other hand, check the temp before I even think about going out there.

We got around and watched the hockey league one up from Bridger, which was having a tournament this weekend. We didn't know ahead of time, but our team was playing Pinedale. We schooled Pinedale pretty good, 8-3. We heard Pinedale did a number on Laramie. Good for them. We went to Kmart for a few things and then to On the Border for lunch. MMMM-good. Bridger got to visit with a girl across the aisle from us. He proudly displayed his missing tooth.

He asked me last night if the tooth fairy was real. I asked why he was asking. He told me that he thought Daddy had given him the money. I asked why did he think that. His response was that it looked like money we would have. He got an older appearing $1 bill. I guess he thinks it should be a vivid green, crisp bill. I lied. I just know that if there is no tooth fairy, then there will the question of Santa. As I type this I am getting a vision of how much easier these "fable" holidays would be. I might be spilling the beans. After all, he has 3 more loose teeth.

Yesterday as we were winding our way home from lunch, we were detoured from our usual route. We found out after turning on the fire radio that there was a fire about a block (not on Long Lane) from us. As it turned out a man threatened suicide, messed with the gas line, caused an explosion and the house burned. We truly missed out as the suicide issue started around 10:30am. We didn't notice any road blocks heading over to the hockey arena. The man was found in the house rubble-dead, of course. Just sad isn't it.

I had hoped Bridger and I could ski today, but I got the hockey practice time wrong in my head. We are headed over to the arena very shortly. Better get moving. It is still snowing-by the way.

hillbilly son

Sammy knocked Bridger's loosest tooth out tonight. They were messing around and she somehow head butted him. He bounced up and yelled out that his tooth was finally out. We were all taken back a little bit until he smiled. School pictures are next Friday. I kept teasing Sammy saying I had just one week to go to keep his tooth in his mouth. I have a feeling he could lose the other front tooth this next week. It is pretty loose.

Darin's first comment was-"now you look like a real hockey player". I noticed the change of his speech. He looks funny. Isn't it all just part of growing up?

Valentine's Day

This is a video of Bridger doing a drill at hockey practice. He is supposed to be gliding on one foot as he skates around a circle. He makes it look sort of hard.

Bridger went skiing today with Gage. He had lots of fun. He reports that he had a HUGE yard sale on the slope. He said he lost both skiis and his helmet and gloves even came off. He also reported that he and Gage rode up the chairlift half on/off with Bridger holding Gage onto his portion of the seat. Sounds scarey to me. I packed a lunch, which he ignored. He spent the snack money I sent. Just glad he had fun.

One set of grandparents left today-R/J. Grammy and Bridger didn't get much time together today. She went shopping as he got back. Darin and I went to Menards and got some roof panels for the patio. Darin spent time screwing them into the slats this afternoon. Darin loves watching the Winter Olympics.

Congrats to Rance for another sub 3 marathon. If I read that right.

We enjoyed our Valentine's Day. Darin got a movie-The Hangover. I got roses and a big balloon. Bridger got two movies. The grandparents got some stuff also. It has been a nice day.

Grandparents Galore

The Monopoly tradition gets passed on. My family side always loved a good game of Monopoly. I grew up knowing Boardwalk and Park Place meant MONEY!!!!

Bridger and Grammy played a game tonight. Bridger even stayed in instead of hot tubbing. Darin and I enjoyed our first soak with snow coming down.

Today Bridger and I went to a birthday party for a girlfriend's daughter's first bday. There were other children around his age. He didn't know anyone, but ended up playing games with the other kids. He said he had fun. We had Chinese out at our favorite Chinese place. The owner came out and hugged Bridger and fussed over him. I know it makes him feel special.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.

tubbing

Bridger and Barrett in the hot tub. Barrett plays hockey with Bridger. After practice Barrett came home with us. As we were driving home it came up that Barrett's Mom did not favor McD's. She said the only time she gets to go there is with her grandmother, but her sister is usually along also and she doesn't like McD's. So we offered to pick-up McD's for them. We got back to the house and discovered Barrett's fries were left out. So much for indulging. I cooked some tater tots for her and she seemed happy. I have no idea if Darin encouraged the arm around her. Sneaky little guy isn't he.


And kids will be kids. We asked what she likes to do at home. She didn't have much response. Darin asked if she played with dolls. She promptly replied NO! I think little Aubrey that used to have Bridger's heart may possibly be replaced. For the record, though, Bridger wanted to cancel on Barrett and go play with Gage. We said no.

Gnarly Dude!!!

Add one more sport skill for Bridger!!! He got his wish today and tried snowboarding. He got a private lesson since the ski school wouldn't let him in the lessons with the teenagers. The PE club activity that he does on Thursday before school has an event once a month outside of school. This time it was skiing. It was harder than Bridger thought it would be. He was in tears when I met them on the slope. He was trying so hard and just got frustrated. He couldn't make it up the Poma lift, which limited how much the instructor could do with him.

Getting ready to learn the "slide".


He's off and going!!! It snowed up on the hill all morning and the sun came out later in the afternoon. When we got down to Casper it was 40 degrees. Bridger only took one break.

Bridger and Gage met up after their lessons. Bridger put his skiis on after his lesson. They were skiing the Poma lift on the bunny hill. Next thing we knew they were gone, as in went over the hill down to the chair lift. They managed to ski up and down 3 times before we figured out what they had done. Gage's Mom was worried, but kept saying as long as he is with Bridger. She was impressed with how well Bridger could ski. He did do very well today. He had alot of fun.

Gage's Mom just picked him up to head to a bday swimming party. Can you imagine skiing all day and then swimming for 2 hours? He had a great time last night at the "pre-party" for the same kid. They had a bonfire outside, played outside, walked on a frozen pond and had a pizza eating contest. Bridger says he won that. He told me before going to sleep that he didn't appreciate Nate's parents smoking outside during the bonfire. Good for him, but I doubt he said anything to them. I hope.

friday

Tired of hockey pictures yet? The girl in the pink shin covers is in Bridger's class. She is the tallest in the class. Her name is Faye. Bridger is the kid in the black helmet that you can't see his number, sort of in front of Faye.

I am patiently waiting for the call to go pick up Bridger. He went a boy's house after school. The parents picked up all the invited boys. Some are sleeping over and ours is not. Bridger is going skiing tomorrow and then to the Aquatic Center for the same boy's bday party. Crud-I just remembered we don't have a present yet. Rollie might remember Nate who had heard of "8-up". It's Nate's party.

I had a couple of rotten days this week. Today I got to tell a 75 year old woman she has bladder cancer. I don't know if I shared back before Xmas I was invited to a patient's Xmas party. She is a lesbian, which the 75 year old patient. Darin agreed to watch all the kids and Linnea went with me to the party. We thought we would mess with them a little as it was basically all lesbians or parents of lesbians. The patient couldn't remember Linnea's name to save her soul. She was in the other day and I took her into the lab just to challenge her with Linnea's name. She still didn't remember it, but she remembered Linnea. It is a different name.

There wasn't any other cancers, but just some challenging patients with no money to pay for anything they needed. I bought insulin today for someone. That caused a fiasco, oh well.

Darin and I had a nice dinner out. He won a gift certificate at the meetings he had before school started again in January. Getting some off your bill is always nice.

Hopefully, I will remember the camera tomorrow for skiing pictures. Bridger is going to try out snowboarding.

swimming and more hockey

I might be a little biased, but I think this is the most handsome hockey coach.


Bridger is getting ready to start off after a break, again he is #8. The two kids in the far right look like they are gonna get after it.

Bridger getting ready to go off the lifeguard chair. It's a cell phone camera picture.

It's Monday and we are through it!!! Busy week ahead of us.