There is Good in CrAZiNEsS!

As the Fall Sports Season begins to wrap up I have been thinking back at how simple life used to be before having two kids involved in sports. During this Fall Season we have been attending Taylor's Volleyball games on Mondays and Wednesdays and she has practice every other night of the work week. Ryan has soccer practice on Tuesdays and games on Thursdays.

I know you are thinking how busy that might sound...well, this past week we added two nights of basketball practice to that schedule! Needless to say when I finally got home from work yesterday I got a chance to step back and look at the damage our busy week had done to our house. It was NOT pretty to say the least!


But then when I really think about all the wonderful things my children have learned this sports season I know that the mess in the house is all worth it! Taylor is playing Volleyball for the first time in her life and LOVING IT! She had kind of a goofy start to her volleyball career when she thought she had been cut from the team to later find out the coach mistakenly didn't read her name off of the list of kids who did make it! That was a once in a lifetime event that NONE of us (probably the coach included) will never forget! She has gone to practice each day so excited to play and learn. She is already looking into a couple different volleyball camps for next summer which tells me she just might have found her sport!


Then, there is Mr. Ryan. As much as I dislike soccer, he loves it. Which I am happy because he has so much extra energy that running at soccer helps to tire him out at night. I am not sure where he gets his soccer abilities but he seems to just "get it." The look on his face when he scores is priceless and you'd think he'd just won the Olympics!

We must remember that without coaches our children would not get these opportunities to learn to play as a team member and to look inside themselves to improve day to day. Thank you to Alisa for guiding Ryan this soccer season and Mr. Heitschmidt for being so patient with those crazy 7th grade girls!!!

I hope all the wonderful things my children have learned about themselves and teamwork this sports season carries with them as we enter into the next season... AAU Fall Basketball League here we come...

I'M BAAAACK!!!!

It is time that I get back to sharing the crazy daily ordeals of the Beightol Family! I knew it had been a VERY long time since I had been on my blog but I did not realize it had been over a year! WOW! I know life had gotten EXTREMELY busy but I guess I didn't think it had been that INSANE!

The Family at Housel Middle School's Awards Assembly.  Taylor was one of only 6 6th graders who had received a 4.0 GPA for the first 3 QTRS.

So, where to start...Well, Taylor had an AMAZING year at Housel Middle School! She TOTALLY fell right into step as a middle schooler.  We are very proud to say she kept a 4.0 GPA for the ENTIRE year...yeah, we all know she did NOT get that ability from me!! She was voted ASB Vice President for next school year and is very excited to be a 7th grader next fall.

Ryan helping his teacher Mrs. Wyatt lead a song for Tea For Two.

 Ryan Jackson entered Kindergarten this year and he too had a great year.  We weren't so sure he was going to make it the entire year the way the year started. He was refusing to walk into the building without me, he was refusing to finish his Handwriting work each day and anytime there was a Fire Drill he began crying and freaking out!  Needless to say as a teacher I was thinking to myself  "God Help Mrs. Wyatt!"  But after Mrs. Hatch (the principal) bribed him with Starbucks he entered the building by himself without ever crying again! He realized that doing his Handwriting work at school was much better than bringing it home for mom to find not finished and having to sit down at the counter with ME watching his EVERY stroke...And well for the Fire Drills...I'm not sure we ever had a drill at school WITHOUT tears...But hey, we don't want to reach ALL of our goals in ONE YEAR!!! LOL  Ryan's teacher was always saying what a wonderful boy he was in class...we kept trying to figure out where "our little devil" disappeared to as he walked through those school doors.  ")

Ryan singing "You Are My Sunshine" during the Tea For Two the Friday before Mother's Day.

Will had a good year in the vineyard.  He didn't travel as much this year as he has in the past.  One thing he did do was take on another AAU Basketball team.  He decided to coach Ryan's team which meant taking on a group of Kindergarten boys.  Yes answers your question...HE IS CRAZY!! The boys were all Kindergartners expect one boy who was a 1st grader.  And thank goodness for that first grader! He was MUCH taller than the Kinders and he was able to make baskets unlike most of our other guys.  We did win one game...and the boys were so excited because we were playing in the 1st Grade Division.  Next year should be even more fun to watch as they will be playing boys their own age and hopefully size!

Will talking with his infamous boys basketball team!

For me...well the year brought me going back to work.  I sent Taylor off to the middle school and I decided to take on the little ones...PRESCHOOLERS!  After a full year of teaching them I can honestly say that some days they are A LOT more mature than middle schoolers!  It was a great year that flew by.

This summer finds us hanging out at home getting things done around here.  There is the never ending landscaping projects that just seem to get bigger and bigger.  Which sooo thrills me and Will soooo much! Yes, that is sarcasm you hear in my voice.

It also brings extra time for me to read, relax and hopefully keep up on blogging again.  I can honestly say I have missed this time to journal the daily events in our lives.  So...keep checkin back cause I am sure one of us...most likely Ryan will be doing something WACKY within the next 24 hours.

Gettin Fit

So, I started working out at the Prosser Family Fitness Zone at the beginning of the month. I started out going one time the first week and have added a day each week. This last week my goal was to work out 5 TIMES! Yep, FIVE. I made it too. I doubled up on Thursday. I have just been doing step class but decided to try Body Pump on Thursday morning. It is going to kick my REAR END...which TOTALLY needs it!!!

I was able to function much better today than I thought after realizing last night how much I really worked my body. But, it just means that tomorrow morning could be EXTREMELY difficult to get my REAR END out of bed.

Monday evening I will be right back at it though...this summer, this body is gonna look GREAT in a bathing suit!!!!!!

I'll keep ya updated! Oh yeah, any of ya in the Prosser area come join us...I know once ya get there you'll like it!!!!! :)

Sheepy Farm

At the beginning of April Ryan's preschool class got the opportunity to visit a local family who has a sheepy farm. The kids were so darn excited that morning. We loaded the mini-bus and off we went on a trek out into the country. When we arrived the kids lined up and we walked into the barn where the sheep were being kept. The owner had asked the kids to make sure to use very soft voices so not to scare the babies and the protective mom's. The preschoolers filed into the barn to find baby sheep waiting to see them. We (kids and adults) learned many new things about sheep. Such as, did you know that sheep only have teeth on the bottom. And their upper lip is split down the middle to help them grab a hold of grass.

The preschoolers were able to touch the sheep wool after it had been sheered. The kids thought it was "strange" feeling.After the tour of the barn we were taken on a tractor ride through the field where we were able to see the sheep running and playing with one another. The kids found it funny that they were chasing each other just like real kids.

For Mr Ryan it had been a LONG day. Because the field trip was on a Monday (the days I work at the preschool) he had taken the field trip twice. Remember how you felt after a field trip...well think about doing it TWICE in one DAY! Sounds like fun until the end of the day and you realize you are ready for a nap.

Haven't Given Up!

I really haven't forgotten about all of my wonderful friends in Blogger World! Life has been soooo very busy the past month that I haven't had time to even CHECK my blog! When I logged on tonight I was surprised to see which background template I had on here because I had forgotten what it looked like.

In the past few weeks I have started back to work at Ryan's preschool 3 days a week. I LOVE it but it is taking some getting used to being back at work! Being back in the classroom has brought along "Little Kid Germs" which I had forgotten about. I have had a cold now for about 3 weeks.

Taylor got her cast off but isn't suppose to play for about 3 more weeks. Her final game is this weekend and we now have two other injured players...Tay just might find some playing time this weekend.

Ryan is struggling with Mom going back to work. He has become a MAJOR Mamma's Boy! Last Wednesday when I dropped him off at school he chased me out the door! He didn't even do that on his very first day of school as a 3 year old!! So, I am trying to give him extra attention when we are home together.


Will's brother Brandon, his wife Kim and their daughter Mia were just here from Florida for 10 days. We had a GREAT time with them and hope that their "talk" about moving here becomes reality sooner than later!

So, now that you know I'm not dead and haven't given up blogging completely I need to get back to giving Ryan his needed attention for the evening. I will TRY VERY, VERY HARD to be better at updating!

Taylor's Life Lesson...Learn To Catch A Football!

So, last Monday Will came home early and the weather was so nice that he and the kids went outside to play. Taylor was shooting hoops and Will and Ryan were playing football.

At some point Will thought it would be a good idea to pitch the ball in Taylor's direction. She was kinda looking but like typical Taylor was spacing out a bit. When she finally focused to see the ball coming her way she stuck her left hand up enough that the ball hit the end of her pinkie.
She came in whining that she needed ice for her finger. I kinda ignored her telling her she needed to toughen up!

As the week went on her finger got worse. It went from light blue all the way to a deep purple!! Thursday I finally called the doctor. The doctor sent us to the hospital for x-rays and then we went BACK to the doctor's office to hear the verdict...BROKEN!!! Great...I had been making my daughter live with a broken finger for days! Hmmm...for some of you this may sound familiar...my parents made me live with a broken finger for a week. I was made to move it and told to bite the bullet for a whole week before anyone even started contemplating to take me to the Dr!
So on Friday Will took Taylor to see an orthopedic surgeon to make sure she hadn't done damage to her growth plate. He put her in a cast that goes all the way up to her elbow. We have been laughing wondering what the cast would look like if she had broken a major bone in her hand!

She is going to be in the cast for at least 4 weeks. It hasn't seemed to bother her yet. She is able to shower with it which is MUCH nicer than back in the day when we had to try to get a bag over it and shower that way.

I wondered why she had chosen green instead of pink or red...her reply to me was "Mom, green is my favorite color...where have you been?" Well, obviously not keeping up with the favorite color changes!!! So, it is a good thing I didn't pick for her cause ya all know what color I would have chosen...PINK!!!

I love you my dear Taylor! Here's to hoping that finger heals quickly!!!

"Yookin" For A New Bike

Ryan has grown soooooo much in the past few months. One of the MANY things he has outgrown is his bike. He LOVES his bike (remember he wore holes in his tires). Saturday before Taylor's basketball game we went past the bike shop to "test" ride a few. Tay and I stayed in the car cause it was only suppose to "take a minute." I know better than that!!! Will in a bike shop could take HOURS.

We had been waiting about 15 minutes when I noticed movement out my window...it was Ryan riding a bike. It made me laugh so hard because he looked like a little munchkin on a oversized bike. He didn't have his helmet so he was being overly cautious especially for him. He was so excited with himself for riding such a big bike.

We did not purchase the bike that day but my guess is he will find himself a new love for Valentine's Day!!!

Wordless Wednesday In 3-D

It was so funny to see everyone looking at the tv with their glasses on during halftime of the Super Bowl!

Wordless Wednesday~The Future

I walked into the room to find Ryan watching President Obama and The First Lady yesterday. I found it extremely heartwarming!

Check out other Wordless Wednesday photos at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Bad Mom...BEEElated Birthday!

Ryan thinkin' he is pretty darn cool with the ladies!

I am such a HORRIBLE mother!!! This last year I let BOTH of my children's birthdays pass without given them a friend party! I can come up with as many excuses as you want...Taylor because: her birthday falls on Wine and Food Fair Weekend and my family is always in town, it is hard to track everyone down cause it is in the summer, I hate doing parties alone (WAY TOO MUCH STRESS!!!) so I won't do them during the day while Will is at work, school started, etc.... Ryan because: his birthday is the day after Halloween (which, have I ever mentioned I HATE Halloween!), Thanksgiving arrived so quickly, we celebrated at preschool with everyone anyways...I know, NONE of those excuses are any good. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

Ya forget what it is like waiting on a bunch of girls to get ready to go into public!

This past weekend we let Taylor have two of her best girlfriends come stay the night on Friday. Will took them to the basketball game...they sat right behind the boys bench and even better Kellen Moore sat right behind them!!! Will and Kellen talked throughout the game and the girls just whispered amongst each other and giggled (silly girls)! Then, on Saturday we took the girls to the new released movie Hotel For Dogs. They got to sit a few rows in front of us (so they thought they were REALLY COOL)!

Sittin' away from the adults!

Before going to the theater we went past the Dollar Store to get candy. I learned this trick from Lolli, I wasn't smart enough to think of it on my own. They each got to pick out two boxes of candy. Once we got to the theater my extra large purse couldn't hold ALL the candy we bought so we just took in one box per person and they each took home a box.

It was a GREAT movie and we all had a great time. Nothing like having an August birthday in January! Happy Birthday Miss Tay!

Ryan is next...he will also get to take two friends with him to a new movie. He is still trying to decide which new movie coming out he wants to choose.

Monday Meal Ideas~Tuna Noddle Casserole

I know, I know, I know... I have, yet again, missed a couple Monday Meal Ideas! It isn't that I am not cooking for the fam, it is that I am not remembering to take pics when I do...and I am such a visual person that I feel like I can put a new recipe on unless I have a pic! So, here is one I did remember to take a pic of. It is one of my FAVORITES as a child!

Tuna Noodle Casserole

1/2 onion chopped

5 pieces of Celery chopped

Minced Garlic

2 cans of Tuna

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Broth

Noodles

Grated Cheese

Crackers

First, I started by sauteing the onion, celery and a garlic together. Next, I start cooking the noodles (follow the directions on package). While that is sauteing and noodles are cooking, in a bowl I mix the drained Tuna, mushroom soup and about a half can of Chicken Broth together(You want the mixture to be a bit runny). I salt and pepper both the sauteing items and the mixture in the bowl.

Turn the oven to 350 and then spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Once the sauteing items are to your liking (I usually like to get the onions brown and the celery less crunchy) I then add it to the mixture.

When the noodles are finished I drain the water pouring them into the 9x13 pan and then add the mixture stirring it all together. Finally, I add grated cheese to the top, crumble crackers over cheese and place into the oven for 20-30 minutes just to heat up the entire casserole.

***At times I have also added sour cream and Worcestershire Sauce to mixture.

A Thousand Words Thursday~Relaxin' in Chelan

This is a picture taken in 2006 at our FAVORITE vacation spot Campbell's Resort in Chelan, Washington. Ryan was taking a break from swimming and had gotten himself a whole apple to snack on. I love looking at this picture close up because his eyes are looking out into the lake and I just imagine him thinking..."I need to eat this apple quickly so I can get back into that water."

Fun memories. I think I went to the Chelan pictures cause I am sooo ready for the sun to shine around here!!!

Check out other A Thousand Words Thursday at Cheaper Than Therapy.