Lately

We are well into October....but it still feels like August as I wipe the sweat from places I don't think should be sweating. I really, really , really can't wait for some jeans, sweater and boots weather. I need it! 
Ok...that was my daily dose of whining. Time to move on.
Baseball season i over...at least for us Padres fans....and we aren't too happy about it. Thankfully the Dodgers are out of it, because misery likes company. Unfortunately the Giants, who I really dislike, are still in the playoffs. We stopped watching after they beat the Nationals. Booooo.
We started growing our own wheat grass....or I should say Luke started growing wheat grass for us. He has done an excellent job so far and my beverages in the morning are extra delicious because I can taste the love in the wheat grass. :)

First up....this girl. She spends a lot of time coloring, singing, and dancing. It's all she wants to do.

A few nights ago she started putting on "performances" in the back yard. Luke and I try really hard not to laugh too hard, but she seems to like the laughter ok. I managed to get one show on video, but it was getting dark outside.

 
This girl got her ears pierced two months ago and she finally was able to take them out and wear earrings she received for her birthday from Grandma and Grandpa Hogue, because they matched her outfit. She was very happy to put in new earrings.

 I am able to help in Wiggy's classroom on Fridays. Today I helped the kids make pumpkins with paint. She was very happy to have her mommy in class with her. All the kids had to wear the big black t-shirt to keep the paint off of them.

The last Friday of every month is spirit day at school. She had some ribbons on her sleeves and she was ready to go. The first of my kids who really cared about dressing up for something at school.

 She is still playing soccer on Friday evenings. This was little biscuit as we pulled up to the soccer park. As you can tell she was filled with anticipation for the game! I almost turned around and took her home, but she woke up easily enough. She scored five goals that night!

This kid...is keeping me on my toes. 
He had been limping around during soccer practices and games for two weeks, so I finally got him into see the orthopedist. I thought for sure she was going to look at the x-rays and tell us it's growing pains. Unfortunately he fractured the growth plate of his knee cap. She also saw something interesting in the x-ray so he received an MRI a few days later. We find out the results of that tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. He really dislikes the brace. Could be because it's still hot and sweaty here...on top of the obvious reasons. He tried walking on it with the brace, but after a few hours, we broke down and borrowed some crutches from friends at church. The first thing he does when he gets home from school is take off his brace and sigh with relief. 
We are hoping it feels quick enough so he can play some soccer before the end of the season. He also has a 5K at Disneyland in five weeks. I am probably being overly optimistic....

The Primary Program in Sacrament was a few weeks ago. Bubba was very happy he is now 12 and no longer in primary....for this reason. He liked sitting with Luke and I and watching his siblings sing on the stand. 

Not too much going on with Bubba. He had a Boy Scout camp out a few weeks ago and he has another one coming up this weekend at Red Rock Canyon. This boy LOVES camping and being outdoors. 
He also loves doing this.....lying around with his headphones in, watching Netflix or playing Minecraft or Clan Wars. The kids are able to play on their devices for an hour a day after they have homework and reading done....and they usually use up all their time. Thankfully I have good boys who do a good job of managing their time allotment.
Bubba has had his braces on for 26 months now. I am REALLY hoping at his appointment later this week I hear some good news on when those bad boys can be taken off.
Reports cards come home end of this week so we are looking forward to that. Bubba has brought home good progress reports so far, so we are proud of him.

Luke and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on October 9th. It was the usual kind of busy day....Taking kids to school and heading to work. Thankfully we were able to get a babysitter after work so Luke and I could go to dinner. We ended up going to La Mina Cantina for Mexican food, because they have good bean dip. Haha. I think I fill up on the chips and dip, more than I do the main course.

I have had my fill of procedures. I am like a walking radiation canister.  On September 26th I had ultrasonic lithotripsy to break up a cluster of stones in my lower left kidney. That was an interesting experience. I was put under anesthesia for it and it took a few hours. Luckily I had it done on a Friday because I really needed the weekend and Luke's help. I ended up being off work the entire next week. 
I like to send Luke photos of me in my sexy hospital caps whenever I go in for something...which is way too often. 

 The bruise on my left side from the procedure. I know, I have a lot of freckles/moles so it kind of blends in. It looks more like just blood coming to the surface in blotches. Thank goodness for pain meds.

The week I was off recovering I received a follow-up MRI of my lower spine. I have two protruding discs and an annular tear, in the lower portion of my spine.  Now I am just trying to figure out what to do about it. I am trying to get some running in for my half marathon that's in November, but the pain is making it difficult. I did start seeing a new chiropractor who is giving me ultrasound, electric stimulation therapy and adjustments. Today the orthopedist did a steroid injection, so maybe in a few days I will feel like a while new runner. Haha.

This was at 7:30am....after waiting for an hour. 

Looking bright eyed and bushy tailed.

I drove myself to the surgery center and I was waiting to be taken back. The doctor was later because he was driving from the Pasadena area, left his wallet at home and about to run out of gas. #DoctorProbs  It's a good thing he is such a nice guy...and that he had $6 in his wallet.
Luke took the kids to school and had some important meetings, so Luke's sister picked me up a few hours later from the surgery center. Thankfully they knocked me out with some light sedation, so when I woke up I was able to dress myself with no help. I think this will be last medical procedure for a while. At least that's my goal.

Big daddy has the ice bucket challenge on this coming Friday. Their school raised money for a former student who has leukemia, so they are presenting the money after the event. I will be sure to post pictures or video. Luke never tells me these events, so thankfully his staff leaves me messages so I sneak in and capture memories. :)
Luke is running the Disney 5K with both the boys in November, so he is going to start walking/running with the boys. He purchased new tennis shoes this week, so that's a good start. They have to maintain a 16 min/mile pace or the Disney "sweeper" will pick them up. If the sweeper picks him up...I have to get that on video, because he says he isn't going without a fight. I can see America's Funniest Home Videos in our future. :)
  

Last Baseball Outing of the Summer

It was our last Padres trip of the summer and we were playing the Giants. Saturday morning we were up early to watch Tubbs play an 8am AYSO soccer game. They won!! We raced home for Tubbs to get showered and then waited for Bubba to get home from his overnight Boy Scout camping trip. (He was not disappointed about missing the 10 mile hike that was scheduled for after breakfast!) 

We were on the road by 10:30 and I was feeling good because I wanted to get to the park EARLY this time around instead of in the 5th inning. We ended up getting to SD around 2:30 so we checked in to the hotel and then ate at Subway. We drove to Petco Park and we were in the gate 90 minutes before the same was set to start. We sat in our seats about 30 minutes before the game was set to start and we noticed two dozen or so people down by the field, waiting for autographs. Soon enough, a few players came over during warm-ups and signed stuff. Mental note...go buy some Sharpie markers before the game in the morning. 

Depending on who you ask, we had "good seats." We were lower field level (first base side) row 24, with aisle seats. The issue, we quickly realized, was we were unable to see home plate when people were coming and going up the aisle.....and there were A LOT of intoxicated people coming and going. We agreed that these field level seats were really crappy.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early for breakfast and to head back to the park. We found a Jamba Juice with a nice bagel shop next door. There was also a Sprouts market next door, so I picked up some nectarines for the game. 
We got the park 2 hours before the game for KidFest and hopefully MANY autographs. :) 

The little ones made their way to the "Box Trolls" movie table to make boxes for a contest.

We were field level again, but row 43 so we were in the shade for the 1pm game. THANK GOODNESS! We sat down on row 3 about an hour before the game started and the boys and I stood at the fence to get autographs. We were not disappointed. It was so much fun. We ended up getting 14 autographs. The boys got a few more from different pitchers in the bullpen, while Wiggy and I were getting food. We were all very excited. I was checking off the names of who we got autograpghs from and we got most of the infielders, half the pitchers, and a few outfielders. Bubba was able to get Alexi Amarista's autograph but then the game was getting ready to start so he had to leave. Tubbs was so bummed!

 An older gentleman standing next to us said he knew Will Venable and waved for him to come over.  Will came over a few minutes later and the gentleman was so nice, he asked him to sign our stuff first.

Jake Goebbert...a pitcher. The boys got his autograph on a baseball last game.

 

Cory Spangenberg....

Tommy Medica liked Tubbs' bright hat....

Alexi Amarista.....shortstop.

Bubba is down in that crowd somewhere getting his hat signed. Impatience paid off for him. :)

Jr. Padres autograph signing today were Joe Wieland and Robby Erlin...both pitchers.

Snacking on Cracker Jacks and potato wedges in the first inning....

The kids each were given "rally rags" before the game started. They looked like something else by the end of the game.

Her face paint by halfway through the game...what a sad sight. Thank goodness it was free. 

Padres won...again. yay!! 
After the game was over, members of the Jr. Padres club were able to run the bases. Lots of fun! 

After leaving the park we hit the road. We stopped at the Irvine Spectrum and ate dinner at "The Melt." It's a grilled cheese sandwich shop and it was very interesting. I ordered mine with bacon and mac-n-cheese. Bubba and Wiggy were jealous.

Labor Day Baseball Fun

We had tickets to the Saturday and Sunday Padres games, as part of the deposit we put down for 2015 season tickets. We are loving the SD Padres games and it's so fun to do this together as a family.
Saturday morning we left a little later than expected but we were on the road between 10 and 11am. We thought we would have PLENTY of time before the game started at 5:40pm.
We were sorely mistaken. 
Oh naive Katie. It's Labor Day weekend. 
EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE was headed somewhere south of LA. It was VERY slow going between LA and Carlsbad. We didn't get into San Diego until 6:30pm and by the time we found a parking space and found our seats at the park, we were in the 5th inning. 
Heaven help me.

The Padres were playing the Dodgers and the silver lining was we WON! It was awesome. It was tied up until the 10th inning.

After the game we headed to the Cheesecake Factory for a late dinner and then made the long drive to Oceanside. Yes...it was the only place we could find a hotel room...unless we wanted to sleep in Tiajuana. Everything was either sold out or $300 a night. Madness!!

Sunday morning we were up early to make the drive back to San Diego. We stopped for Jamba Juice on the way. Sundays are KidsFest at the park, so you can get there early for lots of activities and kids who are part of the Jr. Padres Club can get autographs from two Padres. It was so much fun and the weather was phenomenal. I LOVE Petco park....

 The family in Padres blue.....and pink. :)

Odrisamer Despaigne - (pitcher) and  Jake Goebbert (outfielder) signing autographs before the game. They can only sign one item each, so the kids brought a ball for them to sign, along with their hats.

This girl was so sweaty from running around before the game, her face paint was half gone.

Sadly, the Padres lost. I thought I was a their lucky charm since this the 4th game we've attended and this was their first loss. Oh well. We cruised over to Luche Libre's and I had my beloved chicken queso tacoes before we hit the road.

While we were in SD my brother Bobby and my Pops were down south with my nephew, watching him play baseball with an MVP club. On Saturday while stuck in traffic, my dad sends me a picture of him and STEVE GARVEY. Apparently his youngest son was playing with Cooper's team that day. So crazy! I guess Bob and my dad shared their tent with Steve and his wife. Sounds like a good time to me.

These boys stayed the night with us Sunday night and left Monday morning to head back to northern California. I love these guys!