Calling all Dukes and Duchesses- I hurl my catapult in your general direction

Calling all Dukes and Duchesses- I hurl my catapult in your general direction.

Tyler was brave and auditioned for a part in the 7^th grade Middle Ages festival. He came home with good news and bad news. Good News: He got the part of the Duke! (Only 6 parts were available). Bad News: The girl he really likes got the part of the Queen and his friend got the King. Tyler was not amused. I went to peek in on it yesterday several times and he was sitting at the head table with a golden crown, a purple tunic, and a green velvet cape! And guess who he got to sit by and who talked to him the whole time? He was beaming.

He was in a parody play and had special lines as the Duke. His catapult didn’t win, but I can testify that it works. He chose to demonstrate it to Alayna when we got home, and his deadly aim hit me smack in the head. He said it was an eraser, but I guarantee it was a ball of metal with spikes that almost ripped my head open. He almost died that day…

I will get pics of the festival at some point. As usual, when I went to take pics the batteries were dead (shocker!) I really need a better camera. However, a sweet mom took pics for me and I’’ post them as soon as they get here.

NEISTA

Marisa was accepted into the NEISTA honors orchestra this month. It was in Dubque, so she was there all day for rehearsals. Bob and I went up a little early to have a dinner date, go to the concert, and then take Marisa out afterwards for ice cream. She did a great job and Bob posted one of her pieces on the blog.

I can be domestic?

Maybe I really am going through a midlife crisis? Today, much to the shock of my family, I decided to make homemade wheat bread from scratch (which I have never attempted in my life), homemade apple crisp (made from apples from our trees this summer) and crockpot chicken enchiladas (from scratch, except I didn’t kill the chicken). My kids are very confused!

Lifelong healthy living

We have continued our goals for healthy life long living (except today cause it’s a weekend). But we discovered this super yummy blackberry shake. My kids LOVE it instead of a dessert. I also make a pretty cool blueberry banana one (recipe thanks to Grace). This week we will try another one. Alayna has become the expert jello maker and loves to add grapes to the mix. Our very favorite new show is Biggest Loser. This is the 2^nd season we have watched it and we find it very inspiring.

Other stuff that you may or may not find interesting:

▪Tyler missed 2 days of school due to a severe head cold. I wonder how many sick days for him that makes so far this year? We call him Tyler “the-germ-spreader” Hart.

▪Alayna thinks she has turned into SpongeBob. She could be right.

I came in the kitchen and found the kids doing some very weird turning dance they made up. My kids are weird.

▪ “Winter Wipeout” totally rocks. I wish I had that course in my backyard for a daily workout. Maybe I will add that show to my bucket list? The other show I like is “Off the Map”- those of you who know me know I REALLY want to serve a humanitarian mission and this is totally up my alley.

▪Bob, Ty and I finally got to see “The A-Team” movie. I remember watching the series when I would do homework in high school. I love having 2 boys that love action flicks as much as I do!

▪Our blog book for 2010 is almost done. Our 2010 slideshow is also done and posted on the blog.

▪Kayla had her 1^st pep band experience this week and another bowling meet. She has been very busy.

▪Marisa had her 1^st formal party for Hyvee last night. After a few panicked hours of not finding anything to wear, we had success. She said it was tons of fun. Kayla went with her friends to go see “Tron” and said it was great.

Unasked for reading reviews (cause that’s what I do)

As most of you know, (or maybe you don’t), I’ve become a reading machine! Here are a few books I recommend just in case. I have included the actual written descriptions because my descriptions lack luster.

*These 1^st 2 are different perspectives of the same event. They come together in the 3^rd book called This World we Live In. Here is a book trailer

Book Trailer

Life as we Knew it

“Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.”

The dead and the gone

“After a meteor hits the moon and sets off a series of horrific climate changes, seventeen-year-old Alex Morales must take care of his sisters alone in the chaos of New York City. “

I am Number 4

*This is one I am VERY excited about! Its also being made into a movie. Bob got me the book and its on the way. I hope its as good as I am hoping. Here is the movie trailer….

I am Number 4

Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2010: John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy? I Am Number Four is a breathless page-turner of a sci-fi novel that will have readers rooting for the teen alien who must unleash his fire power to save himself, his human friends, and the planet. This is the first of a slated multi-book series that, judging by this first book, will help reinvigorate a traditional YA genre that's grown a bit light on strong character development. So, gear-up sci-fi fans, the battle for Earth is on and there's a new kid in town! --Lauren Nemroff