We got the Spirit, Yes we do!

This week Peyton has spent at Cheer Camp with the Permian & OHS Cheerleaders and all of the girls in Odessa that are Peppettes and Cheerleaders for 5th & 6th grade in Odessa.  Each day had a theme, day 1 - Team Shirts, day 2 - crazy hair (in the Odessa American newspaper), day 3 - crazy socks, day 4 - camp shirts, day 5 - uniforms.

Each day Peyton got in the car she would let me know, "We didn't win the Spirit Stick today."  The ever elusive Spirit Stick.  Just to hold it can unlock secrets of the Universe!  The power that this stick wields for a cheerleader is more than any thing that Indiana Jones ever got his hands on in one of his adventures.  Each team that won it each day got to keep it over night until it was given to the new Spirited team.  The last day, the stick is awarded to the team with the most Spirit for the week and it is theirs to keep.   Such an award!

She was puzzled by this.  The feed back from the PHS/OHS cheerleaders was good.  They were yelling as loud as they possibly could.  Their hair was indeed crazy as was their socks.  What could be the problem?  

It all came down to the final day and the show off!  This is the day that all the Odessa Elementary schools got to show their cheering and dancing that they had been learning all week.  After all the performances were over and the big announcement was made .....(is the anticipation getting you or do you see where I am going with this?)   The Reagan Texans Won!  (Let the frenzied, girl squealing begin.)   You have never seen such excited girls.  The stick was held high and every one worked to get a hand on it.  The Super Bowl award ceremony is awesome, but they got nothing on our girls.  They jump and squeal and carry pom poms all at the same time, let me see a 250 lb linebacker do that!

The coveted stick has neon curly ribbon, the handle is zebra and it has some glitter too, of course.  It is enough to make you do Spirit Fingers and Leg kicks all at once!  Congratulations Reagan Texans!  Cheer on! 

Reluctant Pilgrim

This week Kevin has had my laptop in North Carolina, so I haven't been able to write a blog.  He got back last night around 10:15 and we ended up talking about his journey until about 1 am. (Yawn* so tired today at work)  I came to the conclusion that it was the perfect time for a guest blogger.  Kevin has seen so many interesting things this week, heard so many interesting things & done so many interesting things that it only made sense to let him write the blog this week.  Besides, he actually took a writing class!  Without further adue...

Tap, tap,tap... is this thing on???

This past week I spent four days at Soulfeast in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.(about 30 miles outside of Asheville)  I went with five others from the leadership team from my church.  It was almost like a church camp for adults filled with workshops and classes set up to give you something to take home with you and implement in your church.  There was to be a morning class that I went to all three mornings and the afternoon class would be a different one each day.  So,needless to say, the morning class was what I needed to really be sure on.  The night before, as we sat and discussed the options we had, I came across a class that caught my attention. Reluctant Pilgrim. Wow!  What a name for a class! What did it mean?  What would it offer?  These two words just grabbed me. Plus, it was taught by a person named Enuma Okoro.  This name too peaked my interest.  The only drawback, that was all of the information I had to go on.  No description of the class or what it would offer.  I couldn't pass on it. I didn't want to be a "Reluctant Pilgrim."

Monday morning.  Time for class.  I have to be honest, it was the first day of school all over again.  I knew no one. Was I in the right class?  Was I even in the right building?
As I made my way to an empty seat I noticed at this point and time I was the only guy.  Now, in high school, I would have liked that percentage, at Soulfeast I was a little nervous.

Finally, the teacher enters the room.
A tall, slender African-American woman.
I don't know why, but for some reason, I was expecting a man.
As we got started and she began to talk about what we'd be doing, she asked everyone what book we had read that had an impact on our life.
Uhhh... what?
I'm really not a big reader.  Never have been.
All these women were naming book after book of which I'd never heard and how they opened their eyes and changed their life.
As it got closer to me to share, the only thing I could think of was Sports Illustrated.
Finally, Max Lucado came to mind. I had read a couple of his books and even used some of his study guides in Sunday school.
And I did like him!
Cool! I got my author, and just in time.
As I shared with the class, I heard alot of "oh yeah.  I like him too."
WHEW!  That was a close one.

Next Enuma shared that she had written a book called, "Reluctant Pilgrim".
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Ok.  She's the "Reluctant Pilgrim."  Still a cool couple of words.  I wanted to hear her story.
Then she said she was glad that we'd all signed up for her writing class.
HOLY CRAP!  Did she just say writing class?
This was not good, and I was gonna have three days of it.
I guess I could have got out of the class, but I'd just be a day behind with anything I changed to.
I thought,"Oh well, it's not like I'll be graded."

First assignment: Write about your name.

She gave us ten prompts to follow.
1. In English my name means_________.
2. It is like the number___________.
3. It is like the color__________.
4. It makes the sound of __________.
5. I was named after__________.
6. The person who named me was_________.
7. My name comes from__________.
8. Some people call me__________.
9. The name of my secret self is _________.
10. One thing I'd never do is_________.

What the *&^%$ had I gotten my self into?!?!

I'M NOT A WRITER, NOR EVER WANTED TO BE!

I decided I'd just do my best to answer the questions and try to some how make it sound like a story.  I wasn't looking forward to it, or the next day when we got to READ IT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!

Tuesday morning: Class started with Enuma reading what she had written about her name.
Poetry.
As a few others read theirs, some were very good. Some ok, and some, didn't understand the assignment and lacked.
I thought, "Well, mines not great, but at least I got the assignment right."
That was a comfort.
So when it came to be my turn, I took a deep breath, and officially started my writing career.


I am Kevin. I don't know why I am, but I am.
Kevin means: handsome, gentle, attractive, lovable and beautiful.(not my words...Google's)
I can't imagine being any other name.
I didn't choose my name, but I wouldn't change it.
It's who I am.
Kevin reminds me of the number seven. I suppose it's because it rhymes. Seven is suppose to be lucky  so, I'll take it.
My name is like the color maroon.  It's not uncommon, but you come across it every once in awhile.
My mother gave me the name "Kevin".  I suppose I am named after another "Kevin" she came across somewhere along her life.  I don't know.
Some people call me Kevin, Kkidd, Kman... my kids call me dad. I won't tell you what my wife calls me.
One thing I would never do is change my name.  It's perfect for me.  Although it was given to me by my parents, it was given to them by God.  It's said, "God knew your name before anyone."
And I TRY not to ever question God.

I did it!  I was proud of myself.  It certainly isn't gonna get me a book deal, but it was well received by the class and one line even got a big laugh. (I owe you Lainie!)

I was the Reluctant Pilgrim.

Busy Bee

I have been a busy, busy bee since the last time I wrote a blog.  My kids went a way for a week to church camp. This is the lecture I gave when we were getting them ready to go:

Even though your parents aren't there, we expect you to handle yourselves like you would if we were there.  Remember, you represent your family...(does this sound familiar, I'm pretty sure I heard that lecture from my mom.  It's standard camp rhetoric.  Now onto the part of the hygiene portion of our show)  You  must take a shower, wash your hair, brush your teeth, wear deodorant, brush your hair, change your socks, wear clean underwear EVERYDAY.  (You gotta cover all your bases on this one, one thing left out and you have a kid who wore the same socks everyday & reeks of walking death!  "What's that smell?  Do you smell curdled cheese and Frito's?") 

So, I pick them up Friday and Peyton is wearing the same shirt she left for camp in and has a wicked case of van head.  Hayden is wearing his swim trunks that he slept in the night before!  Thanks for representing kids!

Back to busy bee.  Since the last time I wrote we have baked 4 cakes & 3 pans of brownies for church.  Peyton got a wicked sun burn on the 4th of July just on her back because she sun screened her front very well.  There is literally a line down the middle of her arm like we cooked her to long on one side and left her raw on the the other.  Ouch! Not good for sleeping. 

We spent the 4th at my sister-in-laws & brother-in-laws swimming and grilling out.  I am so thankful to have family that I actually enjoy doing things with and look forward to spending time with them, I know that is not always the case for every one.

My kids have had rehearsal each night and last night they were there from 6:30 to 10:00, tonight it is after 11 and they are still not home.  The show opens Friday and they are working out the kinks.  These guys are working so hard, come and see the show.  They will be performing through the month of July every weekend at 8 on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 Sundays.

Today Peyton got her molds taken for braces and we found what kind of price tag we were talking.  Ouch!  I could buy a really, really nice piece of jewelry for that!  I had to be on my best mom behavior not to take a photo of her when she had the lip holder on.  It cracked me up.  She told me I was not allowed to post any embarrassing photos of her.  Darn!

Last but not least, after the play begins this weekend, Kevin will be leaving for a week on Saturday to go to North Carolina.  Busy time ahead!  Breath in, breath out.  I think this is one of the busiest summers I have ever had.  Serenity Now!  This to shall pass!  Insert helpful saying here! 

Last but not least, since the theme of this blog is "Busy Bee", I am including a picture of a dude wearing a bee hoody and leg warmers because it cracks me up!  It puts questions out there for me like, " Why don't the bees want to make this a full on bee jogging suit?" & " Why wear a bee suit?" also " What do you have under your bee suit sir?"   ENJOY!

Rules of the Road

This week for Peyton's 11th birthday, we took her for a trip to Six Flags and a Ranger's game.  As I was being herded around at Six Flags and herded around at the Ranger's game, I looked around and saw other families in similar circumstances being herded as well through gates.  This made me come to realize several universal truths when it comes to travel.  These are my observations:

1)  If you offer a free firework show and a Continental breakfast, you could pretty much herd humans any where you want them to go.  After seeing such movies as Super 8 and Transformers this summer, aliens might take note.  I think Continental breakfasts and free fireworks are the key to world domination.

2)  If you have children, you will never ever set by the window again during a flight.

3)  If you fly, your children are guaranteed to win the hugest stuffed animal offered at the amusement games.  Thus leaving you to figure out how to get a Giant Angry Bird and Bugs Bunny through Security at the airport.  

4)  Giant stuffed animals can be stuffed in suitcases.  (Be thankful they did not win the Giant Chiquita Banana with dread locks or the electric guitar!)  

5)  If you are hot enough to ride the water ride first at the amusement park, you will suffer the consequences of looking like a drowned rat for the rest of the day with your hair stuck to your head and mascara running down your face.  (You will notice there are no pics of me at Six Flags for that very reason.)

6)  You know you are hot when you are willing to buy the giant memorabilia cup that costs $12, no matter how dorky you might look drinking  out of a big red sippy cup for adults or giant boot.

7)  Normal sized foods do not exist at amusement parks and baseball games.  Everything is TEXAS sized with giant prices to match.  (Hayden is that a good $10 hamburger)

8)  Inevitably, your friend will text you that they just saw you on national TV at the baseball game when you have just began consuming a giant footlong hotdog covered in cheese and drinking out of a giant boot cup.

9)  If you are asked if you would like guacamole added to that, say no.  No guacamole is worth $1.75 for a small scoop.  (Thanks Chili's Too)

10)  Nigerian cab drivers will rip you off to go a block and 1/2 back to your hotel rather than waiting 2 hours to ride a trolley with the rest of the herd.  (Be leery when he never turns on the meter)

11)  Your kids will want to talk about how such products that are being shown on poster as "not allowed items" at airport security could be used to build a bomb while going through airport security.  (Mom, how do you use hand sanitizer as an explosive?  SHHHH!)

12)  It is the luck of the draw as to what funky smell your rental car will have--this time we got a combination of old greasy french fries and feet.



I also came to the conclusion that you can tell if a trip was fun by the following:

1) Out of 46,000 people at the baseball game, your kiddos got picked out of the crowd on camera.  (Pretty awesome birthday story.)

2)  You got to hang out with awesome friends who had a 
flashpass at the Amusement Park so you didn't have to wait in lines.  (Thanks Haynes family, we had a blast with yall.)

3)  You are willing to come home, even though your flight was delayed, and stay up baking items for bake sale and packing and doing laundry for your kids to go to camp until midnight.

4)  Your son has an awesome collection of giant souvenir cups that you know you will never drink out of again.

4)  Your daughter is coming home with a really dorky hat from six flags that you will see every time they have hat day at school.  (she gets the dorkiest one every time we go)

5)   Your kids can't wait to do it again.


There you go, those are some little nuggets of travel wisdom you can use or not.

What's the point?

Psss!  Hey you, look over there.  Yeah, where the arrow is pointing -- notice anything different? 

Now look down there.  What's the point you ask?  Ok, I'll admit it, I am a sell out.  I now have ads on my blog.  I have decided to combine two things I enjoy doing ....blogging and shopping.  So if you will be so kind and each time you read my blog click on one of my ads.  You don't have to buy anything, just click and look around.  Every time you click I get paid a few cents. (I made .04 yesterday)  I have to make at least $10 to receive a check and no, I can not click on my own ads or they will kick me out!  I can't decide what to do with all of my big earnings -- maybe I will use it for shopping, maybe for vacation spending money or maybe I will tithe it.  I haven't decided yet.

Now for a totally random transition.  Every summer I look for camps and things for my kids to do so that they won't lay around all summer like a bump on a log watching television.  At the beginning of this summer I thought, "This is going to be a relatively slow summer, slow with not much to do."  It is turning out to be just the opposite.
My kids have been given an opportunity at Permian Playhouse to participate in their next production.  Any guesses as to which play it is?  (HINT:  It's a musical)

We've got trouble, right here in Odessa city, with a capital.....you get the idea.  We are coming in late on rehearsals so my kids are having to play catch up.  They will be performing in several song & dance numbers and Peyton will be truly stretching herself as she plays a boy.  (There is more to it than scratching & spitting)  Many of the other children have already had a few weeks of rehearsing, Hayden is having a bit of a challenge with the stage direction.  (Left, right, dyslexics get those a little mixed up)  Rehearsals are every night from 6:30-9:30 and they are getting use to this schedule.  (When do ac-TORS eat and bath?)  They are use to having day camps & going to bed at 9:30, so this is a change for this summer.  The cast has been very helpful & offer them pointers, cross your fingers because D-day will be 6/23.  They will cut those who do not know their dances and songs on that day.  We are so thankful to our friend Chalace for this opportunity.  They are working very hard & hoping to make the cut.  Hayden told me tonight he gets a tight feeling in his chest when he goes on stage & that it is the same feeling he has when he is playing soccer or taking a test.   I explained that it was anxiety & told him to take a deep breath and just relax and slow down his heart rate. 

He really wants to participate in this and I am hopeful he can conquer this challenge with his normal moxy.  What ever happens, we are so proud of them for taking a chance.

Body Language

Tuesday night we were lucky enough to have a power outage in 101 degree weather.  I decided to run some errands and get out of my house before it got hot.  I got all of my errands ran and had about 30 minutes until I had to pick up my kids and did not want to come home to my hot house.  I decided to grab a burrito and park my car in my office parking lot & stay cool under my car air conditioner. 

When I got there, there was a truck pulled right in the middle of the lot with a girl in the passenger seat and a guy standing outside with the door open and a major make out session going on.  They did not even notice when I pulled in.  I took a bite of burrito and that's when the show began.  I could not hear anything being said between the two, but their body language said it all.

The girl stormed out of the truck reading a text on the phone (the other woman?) with the guy chasing after her doing his best "Baby, Baby Please!"  She was so mad, she threw the phone down in the parking lot, at this point I imagine he was saying, "Hey! Don't break my phone, she's just a friend."   He tried to stop her by getting in front of her, she hit him in the chest a couple of times and headed down the street.  They were in the middle of the street arguing, he definitely knew I was there at that point.  I tried to give him my best "I'm just eating my burrito" face.    She took off down the street with him following. 

A while later they came walking back and got in the truck.  So much emotion in such a short amount of time.  They stayed in the truck for a little while talking and then all of a sudden she bolted out the truck and started running down a side street.  Of course, he followed.  By this time I was done with my burrito and needed to head downtown to get my kids. 

I started thinking on the way about the whole dramatic episode I had just witnessed.  Did she really want to get away?  If she really wanted to get away, she saw me there in my vehicle, she could have walked over and asked for a ride.  Was the whole display just a ruffling of feathers just to show, "This is how mad I will get the next time you do this to me."  In coming back, was that a statement of acceptance that she would allow him to treat her badly in their relationship?

This was like watching a novella, with all the drama of The Real Housewives.  Stand your ground girl, don't accept anything less because it will be something you will regret in the future.

School Daze





Today was the last day of school.  Most kids would be jumping for joy, but I have the saddest 8 yr old boy you have ever seen.  There were tears even!  Both his classroom teacher and his dyslexia teacher are retiring. (It is merely a coincidence that both of his teachers are retiring after having Hayden in their class, he's not the student that made them run for the hills!  Thank goodness.)  He is heart broken, he just knows he is never going to see them again. 

Both of my kiddos have grown so much this year, physically, spiritually and intellectually.  What a time of transition--Peyton will be a 6th grader next year and a cheerleader!  (Look out 6th grade teachers)  Hayden will be my big 3rd grade boy! (If his 3rd grade teacher retires after he is in their class next year I will have questions!)
This means Peyton will have her last year in elementary school.  She gets to be the big fish in the little pond.



1st Day



I have posted a picture of the 1st day of school and today, do you see any difference?  To think that before this year started we were so unsure of Hayden starting a new school and finding out he had dyslexia.  I am so relieved that he has thrived this year, he actually seems to enjoy reading.  So perhaps it is a true testament of his teachers making his transition go so easy that he is so upset they will not be there next year. 



Last Day

 Such a difference from 1st day to last, you have your new back pack and all your new school supplies with your new school clothes.  You are combed and tidy, ready to see which friends will be in your class, a little nervous but excited too.  The last day, you put on what ever you can find that's clean, your backpack has been dragged, stepped on, torn and probably has some kinda smell going on.  Your hair is a little disheveled and you don't want to see any homework for a while.

Sooo, goodbye 2nd and 5th grade, hello summer time.
  It is only a matter of time until I hear, "I am bored!"