Happy Homeowners

Every year come March or April, Wayland and I hash it out over how we will spend (or save) our tax refund check.  This year, we decided it would be most prudent to begin some rather substantial home repairs that were (quite literally) hanging over our heads.  We started out by replacing all the gutters and fitting them with covers to reduce the amount of leaves that will surely overwhelm them come October.  We replaced a set of french doors and the floor and tiles in our sun-room that had suffered some water damage due to our ineffective gutters.  Next, we took on the plumbing.  Three years ago, when we moved into this house, we had all the plumbing replaced under the house.  It didn’t take long before we had water dripping from our living room ceiling and we knew the upstairs plumbing was next.  Having just moved into a new home and found out we were expecting another little Thompson, we decided to patch it, cross our fingers, and hope that it would last until we could build up a big enough reserve to tackle the project when it raised its ugly head again.  One month ago today, we opened up the ceiling and began that “little project.”  What should have been a three or four day job, turned out to be a thirty day job…thus leaving my house in complete disarray for the past month.  Wayland and I finished up this repair job by putting the room back together at 2:00am this morning, leaving both ourselves and our savings account wiped out.  I am now considering selling a kidney on the black market to cover all the costs.  (Just kidding)  I wish we could say we were all done with our repairs, but unfortunately, we are eventually going to have to replace the shower in our upstairs bathroom due to the cracked pan (after I sell the kidney, of course).  Oh joy!!!  We’re ready for company again, just give me a couple more days to clean up all the mess…oh, and make sure you check back for updates on a kitchen cabinet makeover - looks like that’s what we’ll try to tackle next.

Bubbly

It starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose… (the boys absolutely hate that song) BUT, it’s exactly how I feel about football season.  Call me a native West Texan, I don’t care.  Football season is officially upon us in the Thompson household.  Wayland is feverishly pouring over his playbook.  Even set up his own mini-training camp for the boys.  Nathanael has already begun practicing with his team (they actually started in June).  Philip’s last baseball game was Sunday afternoon, but bright and early Monday morning both he and Nathanael were headed to the Carmel High School football camp.  Next week the boys will begin practicing each weeknight until school starts.  I cannot tell you how excited this makes me.  I enjoy watching my children play each and every sport they participate in, but there is definitely something about the gridiron, something about seeing them hold that pigskin ball and run, or charismatically clobber the opposing runner coming their way.  I know, it sounds slightly violent… I simply cannot help myself. 

I’ve come a long way, my friends.  I vividly remember cheering for our Bowie Horned Frogs as a 9th grader.  One of our favorite cheers was the “D – D- Defense. Hold ‘Em Horned Frogs, Hold ‘Em” cheer.  We did it all the time.  I mean all  the time.  Fortunately, some kind and concerned parents finally made their way out of the stands to inform us that we were not to do that cheer when our team had the ball.  Who knew?!? 

I have become an expert at installing pads into football pants.  I do random “cup checks” to make sure I will possibly become a grandmother one day.  Need help untangling the straps on the shoulder pads?  Look no further.  I can prepare a mouthpiece in three minutes flat – I even keep an extra one in my purse.  With all that knowledge as a simple mother, I was surprised when another mother told me the most hilarious football story ever.  Please allow me to share.  Her son (one of Nathanael’s teammates from last year) came home after practice one night and told her he ”couldn’t believe it, but Nate wears a G-string!”  He had no clue it was a jock strap.  (We go “old school” in this house) Didn’t even know what one was.  I tell you, I laughed ’till I cried.  Aah, football season.  Really, is it not the second most wonderful time of the year?

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Our firstborn Nathanael is turning into a youg man.  As I looked at him tonight, I could not help wondering what the poor players that will have to face him ever did to him.  We start football next week with the Carmel High School camp and then it is on to training camp.  We cannot wait.  

Grass Glorious Grass

When Granny was in town several weeks ago, she saw first-hand how the kids love to play in the backyard.  Unfortunately, for the past three years, they have been playing in the mud or the mulch and consequently getting absolutely filthy in the process.  Last spring, Wayland tackled the front yard and planted some grass seed.  It has done really well (many people who have lived around here for years have told us they have never seen the yard with grass in it – it’s just so very shady).  It has been so nice to open the front door and look out and see those little green blades continuing to grow and spread this year.   With all the rain we’ve had this spring and summer, our backyard has been a virtual mud-pit (and our children the little piggies who love to roll around in it).  After seeing our frustration (and their grand-babies looking like mud monsters), Tina and Lawrence decided they would surprise Wayland and get him three pallets of sod for Father’s Day.  After some crazy delays in the ordering/delivery, it was finally unloaded in our driveway this afternoon.  As we begin to lay it, Wayland said “this may be the very best gift I’ve ever received.”  Anna E. said she wanted to sleep on it tonight because it was the best carpet ever.  The rest of us just kept oohing and ahhing over it all day long.  Wayland worked tirelessly getting the pieces put together “just so” and he put the rest of us to work in helping place the pieces around the yard where he needed them.  Our absolutely wonderful neighbor (FYI- both he and his wife are wonderful) came over and worked with us all day long (you would never guess he is in his seventies…he worked harder than the boys and I all put together).  Wayland took before and after pics…absolutely amazing!!!  At 12:30 this afternoon we had mud…by 7:00 we had a lush backyard.  Thanks Granny and Grandad – you outdid yourselves!!!