Victoriously Frazzled

Yes, that is the name of a Bible study, but totally how I feel at this present moment in my life.  We are in the heat of things with basketball, the girls have done great this year.  We are fighting for 3rd place, a playoff spot.  Three years of perseverance has paid off...hopefully....if Union Grove will stop beating people they aren't supposed to:)  Leaving Bowie was tough, really tough, but now its coming full circle again.  These girls have gone from 3 and 22 seasons to fighting for a playoff spot!  amazing!  So frazzled a little right now about bball, victoriously though!  i know that God has it in his hands, he knows the outcome already! 

Frazzled - we had meetings last week with our principals and basically, we have no money and more than likely they are going to have to let people go and make cuts in departments (i'm sure athletics will be the first one) we have so much at our school that needs fixing, updating, tearing down and building new.  No money kind of hurts all of those needs.  I have suggested a 4 day school week and was asked to put together some info for the administrators on that.  So research on my part, phone calls and putting together a power point of some sort.  sometimes i think its a curse to let people know that you have a functioning brain...they always ask you to do things :) 

Frazzled - my oldest turned 10 yesterday....10 people!!! Am i old enough to have  a child that is in the double digits????  Totally kidding, but it is un-nerving to know that in less than 8 years, he will be heading off to college, making decisions that feel like they weren't that long ago for me!  He is an amazing kiddo with a huge heart!

Both the boys are playing little dribblers and PARD bball right now, it is totally fun!  We are good spectator parents, we totally get out of coach mode and just let them play (at the games anyway; there is of course some coaching that goes on at home!)  Rielyn has said she wants to play softball....i say softball bc when i told her it would actually be tball, she said, i don't want them to put it on the stick, i want someone to throw it to me!  and she was serious!  this should be interesting!

Lots of sickness going around, i stayed home last wednesday with a headache, sore throat and swollen eyes!  keep us in your prayers that we don't get sick (flu, stomach bug, phenomonia, etc) 

COLGAT group is going amazingly well!  Even if it changes just one girls life, it is totally worth it....still uncomfotable for me bc it requires me to OPEN up to people and put myself out there; getting better but awkward at times....totally God's working not mine! He opened this door and its amazing!

Hope things are going well, will try to update more often once bball is over....which i hope is a long ways off....playoffs baby, playoffs! love to you all!

Back to School

Our tree this year

Thanks to Aunt Meredith & Uncle Keith for the tutu, she LOVES these things - sometimes i don't know where she came from!:)

Annual Christmas pic

Making candy cane and bell crispy treats

she did her own hair & was SO proud

at my mom and dads waiting for their gifts

a snowman shaped pancake we made when Peyton spent the night

off to do a little marsh mellow blasting!

We had a great break.  We got so much work done at our house.  I am so blessed to have a husband who knows how to do handy work and a Pappy who is willing to help when needed.  In the first week we were off we, installed a new water heater (one of the new ones that runs the water through coils and only heats up when needed), we ran gas lines for a heater on our side of the house, David and Pappy trimmed out our bathroom tile job that David had completed this past summer, we put down wood floor in our dining room and we helped Pappy & Lala clear brush behind their house.  We had Christmas with my family on the 21st and it was loaded with kids.  It was a good time.  Peyton came to spend the night with us (Sarah's oldest) and he LOVED wearing Rielyn's dress up stuff.  He came up stairs saying "look aunt Casey, I look like Rielyn"  his mom and dad DID NOT think it was funny.  My parents bought all the grand kids marsh mellow blaster guns!  They have enjoyed them!  They only had to be reminded a few times to NOT eat the ones off the ground.  We had a great Christmas morning.  We were by ourselves and though it sounds sad, it was kind of nice.  We got to focus on our kiddos and see their reaction to each gift they received.  They are truly loved by their aunts & uncles & grandparents & cousins!  We had a bball tournament on the 27-29 and we had Christmas with the Schubert's on the 27th, and then when we had finished opening gifts went to see Tangled for Kaylee's birthday (Stephanie's #2 kid).  In the meantime, Meredith and Keith have a new baby girl - Landry Grace and she looks very sweet and cute...can't wait to meet her!  We have had a few bball games and are back in school.  The kids still say they don't need to go, they know everything already! :)  Go figure!  We are all well, healthy and doing great!  Hope your new year is a blessed one. 

Not really sure what to title this one....we (the Schubert family) are all ready for Christmas break.  Even though we will spend some time filled with basketball, we are looking forward to resting.  David has planned a "boy" sleepout on the deck during the break on a night its "chilly"  we are definitely not the same on that.  For example, this week he has worn shorts and a long sleeve shirt to school.  I however, have had on multiple layers! So i Will not be joining them on their sleep-out!  i think the plan is to pull a mattress off one of the beds and throw in multiple blankets!  We have plans with both sets of families....mine on the 21st and then the Schubert's on the 24th or so.

I have had a stressful week at school...if you aren't a teacher....find one and Thank them.  This week has opened my eyes as to how much of a difference a teacher can make!  When they have no where to turn and feel lost or scared or like they have no one to talk to, they somehow know they can go to a teacher! It is stressful and weighs heavy on your heart sometimes but when it all comes down to it, this is why i do what i do.  And even though i jokingly say i don't like people, i worry about what some of these kids go through and carry around with them and my heart really goes out to them! 

We have a big game this Friday....WHITE OAK....they are always good, say a prayer for us...and the officials!

I hope that you all have a happy and safe Holiday, that your families are blessed beyond imagination!  Merry Christmas!

wow!

I didn't realize it had been so long since I last blogged.  Time sure does fly!  We had a good Thanksgiving break.  The week prior, Bryson got sent home sick from school.  Started running fever that night as did Rileyn.  All 3 stayed home until Friday, in which the boys went back, they had been fever free for 24 hours.  However, we could not seem to get Rielyn's to break, so off to the doctor we went.  She had strep.  Antibiotics for 10 days which I hate, if I had my way, they'd get the shot everytime!  So she missed the whole week of school before Thanksgiving break AND missed her Thanksgiving day feast and program at school. She does however have an amazing teacher.  She sent home all of her crafty things they were working on AND had the kids perform the program, recorded it and sent it home to Rielyn on an MP3 player so she got to listen to the program even though she wasn't in it.  We spent Monday and Tuesday of the break at bball games. Wednesday we helped a  fellow teacher put metal on his roof, Thursday was at my parents with all the sisters and their kiddos and spouses and Friday was at the Schubert's with most of the family (Keith and Mer couldn't make it and James had to work.)Saturday was spent bball again and sunday was church and then back to school we came.  I have pictures but have not had time to upload them.  Two of my bball girls are injured....one suffered a concussion after playing Gilmer and has not been released to play for the last two weeks and still not cleared for contact sports.  The other got her nose broken this past Thursday in a game against Harleton.  So please pray we stay healthy and injury free!  We are off tomorrow so that will be nice. We actually skipped church last night bc we hadn't had an evening at home in i don't know how long...it was well worth it and i'm sure God understood!  I have all 5 of our trees up, some presents are wrapped and i've started making some as well.  The lights are hung outside and we can't seem to get enough Christmas carols/movies!  My main tree is not fancy or elegant but it is by far my favorite.  It is fake, but David and i bought it our first or second Christmas so it holds sentimental value.  It is decorated with a host of different ornaments (no theme or anything) but i love it.  it makes me peaceful and happy to see it all lit up in the living room.  Love it!!!!  Busy weekend ahead, David and i are both in the Waskom tournment and we have our first district game next Friday! will try to post pics this week.  hope all is well....Remember the reason for the season!

Sick Babies

Just when you think you've got things figured out, a new plan comes along.  God always seems to put me back in check when i've got life PLANNED.  He sometimes steps in and reminds me who's really in charge.  Monday afternoon, Bryson's school called becasue he started throwing up.  When i got him, he was running fever.  Monday night, Rielyn had fever.  Long story short, they stayed with Pappy for two days (Tuesday David and I both had bball games so we couldn't miss school).  Bryson's fever went away but we just couldn't shake Rileyn's.  Hers was high too, in the 103 - 104 range.  So yesterday I took her to the doctor and she has strep.  Amoxicillian for 10 days should do the trick.  Again, thanks to Pappy she stayed home today as well.  The bad part is that she had her Thanksgiving program and feast today at school.  She was very upset about not being able to say her part.  She does however, have the BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD.  She put together all the little arts and crafts the kids did this week and sent it home for Rielyn to complete as well....AND she had the kids sing the program into an MP3 player and recorded it and then sent the MP3 player home to us as well, so that Rielyn could at least hear the program.  Rileyn was so excited listening to all of her classmates singing, she sang along of course!  it was super cute and sweet!  She seemed to be feeling much better this morning, so we are excited about that. 
The kids got their report cards yesterday, all good grades.  Keldyn brought ALL of his grades up at least 4 points and the overall lowest grade was a 94!  on Rielyn's her teacher comment was: "she loves sharing and joining in on discussion"  is this a nice way of her telling me that she talks too much????? i believe so!  Have a great weekend....i'm sleeping in tomorrow!!!! (then going to watch one of my former players play some college hoops!)

busy weekend

We have had a super busy weekend!  Surprise! Surprise!  Friday, we were supposed to play basketball in Queen City BUT our volleyball team advanced to the regional tournament for the first time in history, so we cancelled that so we could go watch (all the bball girls went together).  They won, advancing them to the regional finals (winner goes to state) for Saturday.  We got home around 9:30.  David had left earlier that day for Round Rock with his Cross country team (boys team and one girl).  So, Saturday morning we loaded up with Coach Newsom and Coach Sobey and headed for Round Rock.  We went to and back from Round rock in one day.  I drove the bus back for David and Coach Newsom and Coach Sobey drove my 3 kids back so that they could watch movies (the movie player ended up not working, so that didn't work out)  Yesterday we had church, then had to move our roof metal inside the garage so that it didn't rust; then I went with Marla to Tiff's church for a ladies dinner and devo and David and the kids went to our church for church and then a thanksgiving feast!  Tired yet???  it is a crazy life but it's our life!  This week is jsut as crazy; monday practice and middle school games, tuesday our own games (David in McLeod and me in Sabine) wednesday church, thursday practice afterschool, friday games (david at home, me at Gilmer) Saturday david's game in avinger and one of my former Bowie girls who is playing college ball is playing in Longview so we are going to that!  Bryson is sick still, he started throwing up today.  To say that I am ready for Thanksgiving break would be an understatement.  So blessed to have a husband and family that helps out and helps us keep our sanity!  have a great week

The Things Kids Say

He was a dead baseball player

Toilet paper mummy (lasted 5 mins)

A kitty cat (the cutest one in the world!)

At home ready to go again, Bryson had to change into an NBA bball player

LOVE the fall colors showing through from across the lake!  This was early Saturday morning!  LOVE THIS!

Before trunk or treat

I wish I had a recorder around me (most of the time) becasue my kiddos say some of the funniest stuff. A few weeks ago, I was singing to my kids songs that i used to sing to them when they were little.  On a side note, i am NOT a good singer, can't carry a tune.  So about half-way through Bryson says "Did you sound good then?"  to which i replied No, but you liked it bc i was your mom!  Rielyn asked me what i was going to be for Halloween and i said a nerd, and she said "You mean like you already are?"  OkOk i get it, i can't sing and i'm a nerd.  No arguments from me!!!  Halloween was good, we went to trunk or treating at the church and the total cost of costumes was $4....$3 on face paint and $1 on toilet paper (for the toilet paper mummy)  pretty neat that my kids are so creative with their costumes.  School is going good, just can't seem to get caught up.  Basketball has our first official game tomorrow and David's boy's XC team is going to state and 1 girl.  Bryson and Keldyn are under the weather right now (Bryson has had one of his seasonal asthma attacks and Keldyn ran a slight fever)  Rielyn is as sassy as ever.  I had something really good to post, but its been too long and i forgot :)  here are a few pics of what we've been up to.