Artist At Work

This week Mariah is going to our friend Beth's for high school students art camp. 4 hours a day of artistic endeavors.  Mariah decided to paint 3 of her Swept Away fashion design dresses. I thought she would make little 5"x5" vignettes, so I was super surprised and excited to see the work in progress.

 

 

Today, finishing touches on the Waterfall dress (photo taken by Beth)

Here's a sneak peak at the final piece she'll do tomorrow....

Killing time waiting for pick up, painting a little coin box leftover from the younger kids art class. You can see two of her paintings behind Mariah - the green one is the Forrest dress. It will have some mixed media applications put on tomorrow too.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, on the way to the ranch. The Scouts on the bus, perfecting another art form: Sleeping. When ya got it, ya got it!

They went to the Air Force Chapel and there is a great photo that I am having problems downloading. I may have to do a screen shot from my iphone....    They should be arriving at Philmont and enjoying an opening campfire tonight.

Philmont 1

Gib left this morning before the sun came up to catch a flight to Denver. From there, his Scout troop is taking a bus to Philmont, a Boy Scout ranch in the mountains of New Mexico. They had a day of sightseeing and a ropes course planned. Gib was slightly irritated that this meant he couldn't wear flip flops on the plane. It looks like he bounced back pretty quickly though.  I am so thankful for the inspiration we had to join this troop. As he finishes his Scouting career as an Eagle Scout I look back and see nothing but positive experiences and great friendships. It warms my heart and I know we've been truly blessed.

 

I am unable to save pictures from the guy who has texted these, so I had to do a screen shot. Better than nothing!  I can't see a couple guys I know are on the trip, so maybe this isn't everyone, but it's pretty close. For those who care, nearly 50 Scouts went on the 2013 Philmont trip. Gib is one of two kids, both pictured here, I think, who are on their 2nd Philmont adventure. He is hesitant to proclaim any one adventure as BEST or better than others, but if pressed, Gib says backing 75 miles when he turned 14 years old on the trail was pretty darn amazing. He and the dude pictured with him here lobbied for a super strenuous trek and they got it in #33 with 94 miles and the Triple Crown of Philmont, which I have mentioned previously. 

 

I am so excited for him that he gets a second chance to do something that meant so much to him, and this time he'll turn 18 right after he returns home.  First time in years we get to celebrate with him on his actual day.  Couldn't be happier for the dude!!

First Day of Summer

Today the kids went to Nashville Shores with a couple of friends. Mike bought them season passes which is something we've never done before. They should have a great time. It is hot & muggy but not very sunny so it should be a really nice day for it.

I'm in the middle of procrastinating a big clean-out of the office. I've completely booked our July while procrastinating! At least something got done! Romane shares all of Mariah's interests, so this should be easy: Shopping, Music, Clothes, Movies, Fashion, Photography, Shopping, Art, Cats, Swimming, Exploring (aka look for places to shop). Mariah has been babysitting and saving half her earnings to spend in July with Romane. And she'll be doing her back-to-school shopping then too. It'll be fun! 

Take a look at our itinerary, and note, last year Tebow went shopping ONE day...grudgingly.

Explore Downtown Nashville/Shopping
Free concert at Riverfront park/birthday dinner at Wildhorse Saloon or Hardrock Cafe
Shopping at the Factory
Third Coast Clay Pottery
Potluck party with Peyton's family and all their singer/songwriter friends
Hike to Fall Creek Falls with Peyton's family
Drive In Movies
Shopping at Green Hills Mall
Crockett Park Concert (I'm kinda meh on this)
Downtown Franklin Bike Tour & Shopping
Sky High (think trampoline park)
Church & Ice Cream Sundae Sunday (3 French girls & host teens will be the scoopers)
Country Music Hall of Fame/Opry Hotel & Shopping at Opry Mall
Nashville Shores
Youth Group House Party
Shopping at The Avenues while Mike & Gib move Indy home
A couple of Pool Days when there's not anything better going on
Creative Pursuits - photography, fashion designing, art day, etc. (rainy day plans)
Cheekwood Munro Light Sculptures/outdoor musical performances thru-out the park
Imagine Dragons Concert
Horseraces & Sushi (Mike, Taryn & Romane - maybe Indy - the rest of us will eat normal food)
Last Chance Shopping at our mall
Texas Hold 'Em Poker Night & Goodbye Party
Wait! There's time to shop before going to the airport at 3pm - so one more last, last, minute shopping :)

In a week....

Nearly 50 Scouts from Gib's troop are heading to Philmont next Wednesday. Gib's Venture Crew "Be Careful What You Wish For" got the trek that they refer to as The Philmont Triple Crown: Hiking to Mt. Phillips, Tooth of Time and Baldy Mountain in 94 miles of challenging terrain and long days of backpacking.  But what's THAT to an experienced Venture Crew of college bound boys?! 

Well FIRE might slow them down. Please keep the situation in your thoughts and prayers.
Of course we want them to be safe. But it would be sad to end up at arrow making camp in a northern valley when they were ready to take on the world!  I've been following the fire reports (link above) and am hopeful that by the week's end, the fire will be 100% contained and the boys, in their final adventure together, get all that they wished for!

BSC Summer Orientation Day

Yesterday was Gib's summer orientation at BSC. Indie joined us for the day despite our last minute decision not to exchange vehicles after all. We missed having all the family together with Taryn in Rolla for summer session.

The day was packed with informative sessions for us, Indie went with Mike to a couple, and visited with Mariah out by the fountain. Mariah got in some serious Snapchat time and played games on my iphone while enjoying a gorgeous day outside.  BSC puts together the best orientation program - chick fil-a and a bunch of other stuff for breakfast, and an open caf for lunch. Snacks, beverages, and chocolate liberally available everywhere you went. Lots of sessions to choose from for the parents from academic advising, to financial aid, to home away from home.... about 10 different sessions in all. We made it to 6 of them.

Your first test of Gib's college career is to determine what answer bests describes his favorite part of Summer Orientation:

A) getting a big hug from Indie who drove 4 hrs from Macon to be with us for the day
B) being whisked away from the parents to do his own thing with others in his group
C) sizing up future access to food - that golden ticket also known as an UNLIMITED MEAL PLAN
D) getting his schedule

If you said ALL OF THE ABOVE, you'd be right!  If you said "D" you wouldn't be wrong either. Gib had a big smile on his face when he passed by Indie at one point and gleefully shoved his schedule in her face - maybe I should rephrase that: he rubbed his schedule in her face!

Monday & Wednesday:

• Foundations of Business Thought at 9:30 a.m.
• Principles of Macroeconomics at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday & Thursday:

• The New South at 2:00 p.m.

Did you notice the FREE FRIDAY?!  Gib sure did!! Actually, in his current designated major of Economics, classes are not usually scheduled for Fridays at all.  Could there be a better motivating factor to not change your major?! 

We were told at the parent session that amongst the 300+ students in the freshman class, each schedule is determined by a group of real-life humans and professors (haha) sequestered away until they discuss each and every student - the high school transcript, interests, strengths, major designation, etc. - and come up with a rough draft schedule to hand out at summer orientation.  Well, I gotta say, they pegged Gib 100%. He is thrilled to have 2 business classes and a history class to start with.

It sounds easy, but the students work hard. And then they enjoy the weekend. And that's the way it should be! We are excited, and slightly jealous of Gib right now!

Pics from Ecudor

The kids just got home and are taking a much needed shower and rest.... in the priority in which they were needed. Smelly and tired kids!

Here are some photos I gleamed from facebook. I'm sure there will be more. And maybe later the kids can give me captions for them.

The group about to head home
 

 

 

 

About half way up the volcano
Only Mariah and JM went to the top

Gib did a lot of work - holding the ladder and joking in another language is work

facepainting fun

Gib still working hard

 

Gib said something about how you can say a lot with hand gestures. I think this was one of those times

Mariah, Sarah, and little Nicole

Teaching them to dance is much funnier caption

But she was really teaching them a tae kwon do kick

playing tag

All By Myself

I am basking in the glory of being all by myself. Well, almost. Grammy is here, and there are the cats with their breakfast demands and 2:30 a.m. friskies - turning on the answering machine and freaking me out since I was A) sleeping and B) haven't heard that thing in YEARS... nothing like a man voice when you are all by yourself...  almost.

I found this cute little South American purse. I didn't get it the first day I went to Plato's but it was still calling to me so I went back the next day. I LOVE it! It holds everything I need it to - I'm in a travelling light purse mode again.

I get to read a very brief facebook message, usually once a day from one of the kids, but not both! They must have little to no time with the spotty wifi and they are borrowing someone's iphone besides. Gib got to do some translating; I am guessing for the medical mission part. He didn't elaborate. Mariah is having fun. I can't wait for some pictures.

The Hotel Goleta where they are staying while in Manta
 

The group will have church tomorrow at San Jose Obrero where they have been working, and then fly back to Quito on Monday. There's a beach day on Monday. Tuesday they will fly home. I can't wait to hear all about it!

I was supposed to mop bathroom floors upstairs, and I did.... half a bathroom is done. Maybe tomorrow I will do another half, and then I can do Gib's on Monday. Sounds like a plan to me.  Meanwhile, instead of mopping, I rearranged Mariah's room!  She is getting a dress form (mannequin) and plans to start learning to design fashion show gowns on her own when she returns.  I figured the sewing machine would be better at a window, and until I get a sturdier helper, this is what Grammy and I accomplished.

Sewing table by window for good light and creative inspiration

I think I will take out one of these shelves and move the couch over a bit. It's crowded.

 \

this was as far as Grammy and I could move the bed. So we stopped. I kinda like it!

Something You Don't See Everyday

Every now and then, regardless of age, the inner child comes out.....

 

I was sitting here trying to decide how blog about this photo, when MY inner child-care worker came out! You know the song This is a Song About Colors?  Well, now it's stuck in my head - only it goes a little something like this:

 

This is a blog about

TARYN! TARYN! 

See her in the pic below?

She's in a box with another on top

Why.... I just don't know.

 

If you'd like the song to be stuck in your head for hours, check it out on youtube.... you'll totally thank me. It's almost as fun as sitting in a box fort!!

 

So I asked Taryn what else was new.....

 

 

Her co-ra is Austin and he's pretty legit.  They watch a lot of movies together.

Her residents are Brazilian - she is learning to enjoy being hugged and kissed

on the cheek every time they see her. 

And she has started running every morning.

She said that was about it......


Oh, yeah, AND STUDYING!!!! She forgot that, but I know she's working hard.
Good thing this resident assistant gig comes with a box and a meal plan.

We're Going On An Adventure!

The kids left today for their week long mission trip to Ecuador!
I'm heading to their bedrooms to do some deep cleaning. My eye has only twitched twice today and I'm hoping it doesn't start up again when go upstairs armed with trash bags and Lysol!

 

Gib, youth minister David, John Michael (JM) and Mariah
JM's mom took this one, so who knows what was being said, but it really captured the personalities!

JM, Mariah & Gib
Destination: Manta, Ecuador & the San Jose Obrero church. The adults will be helping with the 3 day medical mission, the teens will be keeping the children occupied and participate in a cross-cultural service project to repair and repaint the pews.

Coincidentally, another group of travelers from church at the airport at the same time! This photo has about half of each group in it... the other half of the Ecuador group is checking in and members of the Italy group can be seen in the background to the left by the BNA 75 sign.  Father Randy, center next to Mariah, offered a prayer for both groups and then everyone took off for the security check point. Their flights leave within an hour of each other, so I suppose they hung out some before heading to their gates.

Hasta Luego

My TO DO LIST to get Gib and Mariah ready for Ecuador has been checked, double checked, and it's probably not an exaggeration to say triple checked squared. We have been ahead of the game and ready for the most part since Saturday. We packed the bags last night, made one last Walmart run for last minute add-on/swaps, and we are good to go!!! While Mariah and I were at Walmart she found $40 cash on the ground. We waited for about 10 minutes and I asked people we saw near us if they had lost cash from their pocket. Mariah felt so bad for whoever lost their money, but we didn't want to just turn it in and have an employee pocket it; so we were relieved when we saw a nice guy with a neon yellow Walmart badge that said COACH. He was, as Mariah put it, "a good ol' Southern boy" so we asked him if we could turn it over to him to be handled appropriately. He thanked us very earnestly and said he would take it to guest services and it would be held if someone came to claim it. It would have been great if we had seen someone retracing their steps but that didn't happen so our prayer was answered another way. I mentioned to Mariah that perhaps at the end of the day it might be added to the fundraiser drive going on there for the Children's Miracle Network. That made us feel better but we were still sad for whoever lost their money. We consoled ourselves at Culvers (yum) because everyone knows an amazing journey starts with one last all out meal of hamburgers, fries/onion rings, and ice cream!

The kids started the anti-malarial Malarone last night. No problems were reported this morning, but after Ultimate today Gib was feeling gross. We grilled Indie about what she and others on her team experienced, and have all the unwanted side effects covered with ibuprofen, Dramamine and a slew of other anti-nausea meds, plus stuff for canker sores, and a homeopathic for anxiety/bad dreams. In addition, if they should happen to get Pink Eye, stung by a bee, blisters, a sunburn, I've got their backs. They are especially prepared for Montezuma's revenge.... The long suffering looks and blank stares were priceless when I went through everything with them, going in depth on what to do for really bad diarrhea. All I can say is that if someone develops a condition, and doesn't remember they have meds for that, I will be steamed.

Fearing the topic was too delicate and I was being tuned out, I told Mariah if they got sick to call on the pharmacist who is a repeat mission trip traveler and point him to their goodie bags of meds and let him administer what they need!  I feel certain that at least one person won't scoff at me.

Our dinner conversation last night:

GIB: I'm surprised you didn't pack us toilet paper.  (gotta love a Boy Scout)
ME: Actually, I've been seriously considering it.
MARIAH: Really Mom?!
GIB: It's not a bad idea Mariah... you never know..... 
ME: Yeah! I'm pretty sure you'll be thanking me if the worst happens and you have some decent TP.

The kids have been helping me with the upcoming transition to empty nest by being gone a lot this past weekend. Mariah had an overnight Lock In at church with about 25 other teenagers. Gib has been playing Ultimate and Xbox intermittently, and he went on an overnight lake trip. Mariah is currently at the mall scoring big at some clearance rack. I hear she found a pink striped referee style blazer, a shirt, a hi-low skirt, headbands and earrings. She came out to show me part of a new outfit and I noticed she matched my red, white & blue planter! 

 

 

Mike is doing another round of Go Live and I'm making a new list for myself to occupy my time next week. It's titled:  DEEP CLEANING!!!  I'm hoping that by the time I'm mid-way thru my list that the twitching in my right eye goes away. I can barely take another day of it.

Here's praying for safe travels for everyone and an awesome adventure!