Patio Progress

The begining:

Done with the digging. Next comes the gravel. Ugh!

A Boy's Best Friend

Big dog and Big Dawg. What a pair.

Magic

Chalupa (top row, second from left) celebrates a medal-winning performance with her team. They are large enough to warrent two teams for a 6 on 6 competition. The Blue Team finished undefeated (third by points), and the white jersey half of Magic finished first (also undefeated). Chalupa spent good time in the net with only one goal scored against, and a few spectacular saves. She also contributed two offensive goals to help her team along.

Peanut also competed in this tournament and the Blizzard did not do as well. In fact they lost all their games but it was not for lack of effort as much as it appeared to be lack of on-field organization. They'll come around.

Croak

While Peanut played soccer, Big Dawg played with a couple of these. Ribbit!

Out of Control

Postings are fewer and farther between mostly because the fevered pitch in which our lives are clipping along (some might say careening out of control), prevents me from updating the Blog with meaningful content.

School has started and tomorrow marks the end of the first week. All kids like their new schools and are amassing new friends daily. Tomorrow will mark the first sleep over for Ellie.

Soccer is in full swing with four practices a week and game/tournaments almost every weekend. This is only for two of the girls (Peanut and Chalupa). Big Dawg starts next week. We've found the skills are a bit more crisp down here than in Monkey Doo because many of these delinquents play year-round. They're good.

Buzz is a volunteer coach for Northworst JH Cross Country Team. Thankfully he has two regular coaches that prevent him from introducing these delinquents to the world of Ultra marathon (cross country) trail training and philosophy... not sure the parents would approve either. Something about running 50 miles in the woods might not be good for 7th and 8th grade harriers. They don't know what they're missing.

We're slowly getting caught up with old friends who still remain in the area which makes our reintroduction to Iowa a little less anxious.

And that's the news for now.

Didn't Take Long

From left: Chalupa, Peanut, Molly, Hanna, Jessica, Beaner, Kathlene and Tootsie (upfront). I really don't think there will be a problem acclimating to the new 'hood.

Holy Alligator Batman!

So they found this guy in Webster City when cleaning up after the flood. It's a 2-3 year old alligator. No kidding! They brought this bad boy into "City Hall" (our temporary home), and it's name... "Webster" of course!

Pic Tells 1000 Words

Look who's back from Camp. Look what she made, and look what was made for her.

Welcome home Chalupa. We are offiicially and completely Iowans.... except for our one little detail... someone want to buy a house in Monkey Doo?

For Those Who Can't Read "Sunburn"

No relation to me... but feel free to ask CrAZY PeTe. Translated: "Will U Go Out W/ ME" Interpretation... What an idiot!

If she says yes, she may end up with four kids (3 girls and a boy), living in Iowa with two nutty dogs .... whoa... wait just one second... Scratch that. Sarah... get this boy some help. :)

Those "Creative Types:

Peanut can't simply have a fan. She must decorate it like a circus show.

The problem with this design ... when you turn the fan on, it sounds like a pack of ten-year-olds (at least 10), on bikes, with baseball cards in their spokes.

Peanut, I love you dear, but I think the design needs some adjustments. But don't sweat it, Di Vinci had to start somewhere too.

Being the Bridesmaid Is Not So Bad

It's difficult to read, but the sign below says "MYSA 2008, State Tournament, Runners-up, U12 C3 Girls, MNK". Translated, Peanut's team is the second best team in the State of Minnesota in the under twelve age group of the Class Three Division. Not bad when a person considers there are more than 200 teams in this grouping. (Peanut is 2nd from the right in the front row).

The "Mean Green Fighting Machine" (MGFM) lost in the finals to a very balanced Bloomington team (The Tango), 1 - 2. It was a well played game by both teams, and too bad one team had to lose. A solid finish to a solid year... these young ladies can be proud of all they accomplished; I know all of the parents are proud. Congrats MGFM on a great season!

The entire tribe made the trip. Afterwards, Sidetrack returned to Monkey Doo with all three girls (Chalupa starts camp on Monday so she needed to be dropped off). Meanwhile Big Dawg and Buzz Daddy returned to Iowa City. It may very well be the last time they are in Minnesota until Oct. when BD is scheduled to trot for 26.2 miles.

Once Chalupa returns from camp next weekend... the Taylor's will officially begin life anew in their new digs as Iowans. We still own a home in Monkey Doo... just in case (or if someone might be interested?).