Green Thumb....NOT!

I got a topsy turvy for Mother's Day. I eagerly planted 2 tomato plants and watered them faithfully (well, Chelsea, Taggart, and Brice watered them faithfully). I waited and watched and anticipated....and waited some more. They drooped in the heat, they got bugs, they turned a little brown....and then ta-dah, one measley, small tomato. I don't think I have a green thumb. It did however, taste delicious.

What do you mean it's July? Where did May go?

Birthday, Brice Chandler, 29....I mean 39!

NJHS induction, Autumn Chandler, star student

Spring Baseball, Taggart Chandler, rookie pitcher

District Choir, Chelsea Chandler, singing star

a reminder

I decided I needed a little reminder of all the little things in my life that make me happy and grateful. For me, this summer has been a long one and it's only really half-way over. While I was at the grocery store today, I happened upon something I really love to eat and it got me thinking of all the smallest things that I am thankful for....so here goes a small sampling of things I was thinking of:

*Wilton Samper---I love this little yellow square box of 4 chocolates. It reminds me of Christmas stockings, winter, and 5 seconds of something that is all mine....
But how can I talk about wilton chocolate if I don't mention the KING of chocolates:

*SEE'S CHOCOLATES--nothing is better, oh, I can taste it in my memory while I type this. Unfortunately, the state of Texas does not have a See's chocolates, which makes me like it even more because I do not get it very often--unless I want to pay almost as much in shipping as in chocolate for the dry ice pack to keep it from melting.

*Paper Tongues and the song "Get Higher". I can't get enough of this song. It makes me happy. Some of my other favorite groups at this moment:
Safety Suit
One Republic
All American Rejects
Cary Brothers
Right The Stars

*The Mcallen Library Hold System: I find books I want to read from best seller lists, Target, Amazon, friend's suggestions, and then I go online to see if my library has them and then request them. They bring them all to the main library and call me and I go and pick them up. It's like magic to me---I get to read whatever I want without spending a fortune at B&N, all with just a few strokes of my keyboard.

*Brice getting the kids up: My lovely husband gets my children up for me almost every morning, so that I will get a precious 2-3 more minutes of time in bed.

*Windchimes--how I love the sound of windchimes, it's like ear poetry....

If you have a simple pleasure that you are thankful for, post it in the comments.

National Chess Tournament, Altanta GA

Who knew that Chess was so intense! Taggart and I traveled to Atlanta with the John H Shary Knights to compete in the National Chess Meet. These are all the teams who took 1st or 2nd place in the state competitions, so off we went for 3 days of chess matches. So , this whole chess thing is a new experience for me and I will try to explain in my limited chess "language" how everything works. Taggart and all his team mates are members of the national chess federation (membership card and all). As you play in federation recognized matches, you get a ranking number. This number is based on how many wins/losses you have and what your opponent is ranked. Taggart's team qualified for nat'l in the 800 or less catergory. That means every player was ranked under 800. But since Taggart did so well this year, his ranking was 913. At the national competition, he had to play up a division. So here's the reality check: the kids in this division are ranked like at 1800-2000 and Taggart had to compete with them. These are dead serious chess champs, who have strategies and play mind games with their opponents, like making them sit for an hour before they show up, by trying to smack talk with them, or distract them....who knew it was so brutal, I mean this is chess:) Needless to say, Taggart is more about the fun and excitement. His first match was just completely insane. Opponent shows up 1 hour late, won't sit down, tries to stare Tag down. He was ranked about 1900. Match was over in 20 minutes, Taggart really discouraged. 2nd match, guy shows up 40 minutes late, Taggart holds his own in a 2 HOUR MATCH and finally loses. He is heartbroken. Remember what I said about reality check? Taggart had a hard time, an early lesson in defeat. It was good and bad, it was fun and sad. He endured 7 matches over the 3 days, some wins, mostly losses. His little team from Mission TX ended up taking 18th in the entire nation. Not too shabby considering our players do not have their own personal coaches, chess practice and funding year round, and maniac parents with binoculars, watching their every move from the back of the designated competition rooms. Really, it was an experience for me and him. I learned some new lingo--still don't know how to play. He learned he needs "new Tricks" and how to relax a little more. We both had a great time visiting the aquarium, Coca-Cola museum, and lunch with the Pavia's.

District Champs

I decided to post a picture of Autumn doing the back stroke because this may be the only time I ever have a picture of her doing it. It is her least favorite stroke....this pic is of the 200 IM, for those nonswimmers out there, that means individual medley, 50m of each stroke. For school swim team, you don't get to choose your events, you just show up to your meet and see what events your coach decided to put you in that week. Sharyland North girls were district champs this year. Autumn excelled at 50 free and 50 breast. She took first in 50 free at all except 1 of her meets (of course the one my mom and dad were visiting for) and took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd each time she swam 50 breast. She also swims a 200 medley relay. It constantly amazes me how great these kids do. If any of you remember me from my swimming lesson days, you will know that Autumn does NOT take after me at all :)

birthdays, birthdays!

I am laughing while I blog this because the only thing Chelsea and Taggart like to share is a mean look, so the mere thought that I actually have them "share" a post of their birthdays is, I'm sure, absurd to them....But, nevertheless, I am behind as always and in my attempt to catch up, they will have to "suffer" through while I talk about both of them, together :)

I have taken to bribing my kids. I am tired of all the birthday party planning and hoopla, so because I am lazy, I offer my children cold, hard cash instead of a party. And, to my great surprise and happiness, they take it! We have a small celebration with cake and out to eat and then they get to go to the store and pick out their own gifts with their birthday cash. Happy Birthday to me! (side note: this year Taggart wanted a nintendo dsi, which is over the birthday cash limit, so that is the one and only gift he got and mother did go and pick it out.)

district choir

Wanted to put a little shout out to Chelsea on the blog...Chels made district choir! That means she had to try out all by herself and sing a solo. For those of you who know Chelsea, that was quite a brave thing she did. Her choir teacher told me she has the sweetest voice...we wouldn't know at home because we can never get her to sing for us. I tried to take a picture of her while she was in her room practicing, but uh, she was not having that. She is practicing every Mon and Wed after school for a big performance in May.