more 9/11/11

It was a proud moment to see Darin standing amongst all the other captains and policemen as part of the memorial service.

 
 There were two lines that stretched equally down the street.  These were the firemen competing Sunday as teams.  There were teams from all across the US, but primarily the western states.  There was one female team competing that was from the Air Force Academy.  They hold the world record for fastest female team.  They came within two seconds of beating their record.

 Bridger and Gage got to complete a mini course that resembled what the actual firemen did.  They had fun doing it and for the most part crossed the finish line together.  Probably better that way.

 They first picked up a very small hose and carried it to the top of the bouncy structure, then slid down.

 They then had to hammer a metal sled and  run a hose at an obstacle. 

To finish you had to drag a dummy backwards to the finish line.  The real firemen had to carry a 175lb dummy about 75ft.  The best of the best would average around 1 minute 20seconds.  The real firemen that is.

It seemed like a real Monday.  Nobody had any real blunders today, though.  Bridger and I went to water aerobics class. He is so fun to have in the class.  He actually tries.  He has a harder time in the 4 1/2 foot water, so we move into the more shallow water.  They redid the pool and after a month we have been able to get going to class again.

Tomorrow he starts up tennis lessons and has football practice at 6pm. He did get on Gage's team and is very happy to play along with Gage and several other school friends.

09/11/11

We enjoyed the 9/11/11 ceremony in Casper at the Combat Challenge for the Firefighters.  Darin would have competed this year, but with the chest muscle injury he couldn't.  We left to come home and get tennis shoes for Bridger to compete in the fun obstacle course for kids that was similar to the adult course.  Gage ended up joining us.  He and Bridger both did the course when we got back.  We have lots of pictures, but I am running out of time this AM.  The pin is a new pin for Darin signifying 9/11/11.

And it is a blog post!!!!

first day of school.  B didn't go barefoot

1st day of school on "Wake-up Wed", yeah Taco John's!!!

last Wed we had a stiff breeze, perfect for kite flying

My labor day weekend projects (above three photos)

all the sports Bridger does. I forgot golf clubs-oops!

So, it hasn't been crazy busy around here, but we seem to be sort of getting into a groove with school having started.  I love that Bridger and I have breakfast together and then I drop him off at school.  Bridger told me within the first few days that he wasn't learning anything new.  I told him to hang in there-new would be coming.  He has had some days that he tells me he hates school and doesn't want to go.  I haven't heard that for awhile, so maybe whatever was going on pasted.  I think the 3 day weekend helped.

He enjoyed going with the Melines' to Denver.  He was bored with me the evening that he got home and said he would rather be with them.  WOW!!!  I got fed-up after awhile, but I could tell he was tired.  After dinner he came and told me sorry and that he could see that he was tired also.  We hugged and made up.

I was tired after my labor filled weekend.  I moved 28 52lb blocks 3 times between loading, unloading and placing them.  I also used the flagstone from the previous retaining wall in the backyard under the tree (photo above), which  I hauled to the backyard with my adorable little wagon that I got.  I kept telling Darin I wanted to ride in it, but since it had no brakes, I refrained.  Seemed like a Bobbsey Twin stunt-but Darin  and I wouldn't both fit in the wagon.  HA HA!!  I got around to painting the trim on the dining room window and around the door trim.

Hard to believe it is Friday already.  Darin had his freshman game today (Thursday) against Kelly Walsh (local school rival), which they beat 12-6.  It was a good close game.  I made it to the game about 4:30pm, game started at 4pm.  Bridger invited Gage to come and his mom picked them up after school and dropped them off.  They were hoping to be ball boys, but they didn't need any today since they only used one ball.  Darin goes to Glenrock tomorrow to coach a sophomore game, while the Varsity goes to Cheyenne.  I am glad he doesn't have to go to Cheyenne.  Bridger and I will probably go to the Glenrock game.  Can't be that hard to find the school and field can it?

Bridger found out tonight that he won't be on the same flag football team as Gage.  Gage's dad coaches.  It is frustrating to see all the other Verda kids on the team, but not Bridger.  I actually put on the form to be on Gage's team.  I was proud of Bridger for not saying he wasn't going to play.  I told him so, and then he said, " I don't want to play!"  I hope it goes better than he is feeling about it.  He shed some tears because he has been talking about it with Gage and looking forward to it.  Disappoint is part of life and makes us stronger individuals, but how do you get an 8 year old to understand all that.

Not thinking of anything else to share, so will call it a day!!

Sunday

 Ginni working on the new retaining wall.

 We have spent a lot of time this summer replacing sprinkler heads, but it is nice having an irrigation system.

I did not realize it at the time but I guess I bought the golf ball size watermelon.

Bridger is in Denver for the weekend with the neighbors.  We have not heard from them at all so he must be having fun.  We thought he would at least call to say good night.  They were suppose to go to the Denver Zoo today.  I am sure it was fun.

We (Ginni) have been busy with projects around the yard.  Most of the day today was spent moving stones from the front and replacing with blocks.  It looks very nice.  Ginni has done a wonderful job with it.  I am not going to tell her though, she might think she can do everything and does not need a man around. Ha.  I did try to help but ended up pulling my pec again, right when it was starting to feel good.

Not much else happening.  The house is a little empty with Bridger being gone.  I hope everyone is having a great labor day weekend.  Next Sunday is the 10 year.  We will have a ceremony with Casper Fire.  I need to get my dress uniform pressed and shoes polished.

Remember 343.



Something to blog about?

Bridger and I have had some sports nights the last couple of nights.  Friday night we went to the NC Varsity game and watched NC beat Sheridan 20-6.  It was a very good game.  The defense was awesome.  I was realizing that the offense was the one getting the penalties.  At the end of the first half NC held them off at the one yard line for 4 downs and Sheridan had to kick, which they made.  Bridger drifted back and forth playing with some boys he met last week.  It is easy to find him as he has been hanging out with a boy who wears boots and jeans with a cowboy hat.  It isn't something you see very much at a football game. 

Thursday night we went to the Ghosts game and watched them appear to have gotten beat.  After we got home and listened to the news we heard they won.  It was pretty chilly by the time the sun went down.  I didn't plan ahead all that well.  I didn't have a jacket for myself, but did have one for Bridger.  The breeze didn't help.  We kept texting Darin and sending him cell phone photos.  We finally heard from him that they had to take a player to the hospital during the game and then wait after the game still.  The player had a broken arm.  Bridger and I were able to pick him out tonight at the game-Freshman jersey on kid with cast on arm.  After the team got back to Casper the coaches had to wait for over an hour for a father come pick up his son.  When the father got there it was obvious that he had been drinking.  The coaches had gotten help from the police in the process of trying to get the father out of the bar and picking up the kid.  So the police were waiting when he got there.  Darin got home after midnight.  Such excitement.

It seems like it has been a fairly good first week of school for them.  Bridger claimed to not be learning anything new.  They were teaching him stuff he already knew and he was BORED.  HMMM-haven't heard that one in four years of school.  Good!  Glad he retained something over the summer.  He keeps telling me that bees keep visiting them out of the ceiling light fixture.  The teacher gets frustrated with the kids watching the bees instead of paying attention.  I would certainly want to keep an eye out for bees.  I threatened to send his epi-pen to school.  He tried to assure me that the janitor was to take care of the problem.  I still might drop it off with the nurse.

Darin says a parent was frustrated with his lack of homework for an honors student-in the first week.  Apparently these parents want enough math homework to keep their child busy for 1 1/2 hours in the evening.  Boy, not me!!!  Darin says he feels like the principals have the teachers' backs better than what he experienced at CY.  Finally!!!

Bridger is going to Denver tomorrow (Sat) with the Meline's.  They offered to take him, but also invited all three of us to go as well.  It was tempting, but we do have plenty to do around here.  I had hoped we could have driven over to SD and checked out the house that we now know we didn't get.  By the time I get done with Darin, he may wish he hadn't stayed at home.  I am sure I will get reminded how he is still in physical therapy.  Bridger is supposed to get to go to the Butterfly Pavilion that we went to this summer also.  They also plan to go to the Denver Zoo on Sunday.  I am sure he will have fun.  I gave him a little lecture about getting along with the girls, which he has generally done well. 

So I think that catches everyone up.  Most of it you know from my emails-just embellished a little more here.