Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fall. So here I am at home when I should be at work...Cayden was sick last night and still not up to par this morning so, I asked him if he was comfortable staying at home alone while I went to work.  Well of course he's NOT... I don't like being alone when I am sick.  I like to rest and be taken care of.  So I am home and he is resting and I am cleaning the house.  Obviously not doing a whole lot of cleaning since I am distracted by the thought of the computer and the need to update.  I really don't have any desire to stay on FB anymore because it's really not a healthy outlet or inlet for me.  I sit and look at other people's lives and allow their success and failures to effect how I feel about me and myself.  No Bueno.  I am going to start trying to use the blog again and update it more frequently with my thoughts and what's going on in McPherson Land here in Idaho! I guess if you are interested in us and what's happening this will be a way to keep in touch.  The phenomena of social media is pretty interesting and how it changes our relationships with people that 20 years ago we would have said goodbye to and then never seen or heard from again...now we have an almost daily look at people and their lives.  It's also a great way for seeing and watching friends and family grow up and change and experience what is happening so far away.  There really does need to be some kind of a healthy balance though...it also allows us to participate in unnecessary drama and discussions that probably should be kept to a more personal setting.  Anyway, those are just my thoughts on why I should probably get off of FB.  I enjoy the good things but it's almost like an addictive drug.  I am just going to check one thing and then before you know it 30 minutes have passed and I have wasted that part of my life which I can never get back.  I do like the immediateness of being able to communicate prayer requests and things like that though.  Anyway, back to the Fall.  The fall is hard for me. I miss my dad. I'm counting down the days til Dec 21st when the days start to get longer again. It's football season and when you are an anxiety laden mom you worry about your kids getting hurt.  Then when they do it's almost a relief that they are done for the season so you don't have to worry about them anymore.  Hunting season is in full swing.  Before when the kids were little Charles was gone so much during the fall I was basically a single parent.  Between coaching and hunting it was just me.  Now we are all running around so much and I occasionally get to head out to hunt too.  Sunday we went out with Cayden and G and it was a beautiful afternoon.  Didn't get any birds but it was a nice walk.  But then yesterday Garrett wanted to go out and look for some quail with a friend.  Enter anxiety attack.  He ended up going by himself which makes me a little less anxious but still...the boy is almost 17 (next week) and I am JUST adjusting to him driving etc...I do apologize to him frequently about the fact that he gets to be the one that I learn how to parent a teen on.  So...a little expansion on how I am feeling at this exact moment.  Now to quit procrastinating and move on to some much needed house cleaning.  Talk to you again soon.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Lookin’ back on another great year….McPherson style…


 Hola. It is I, we, us or at least I think it is, come to disrupt your holiday boredom with word of our fantastic 2012. With 4 kids, there is always much wailing and gnashing of teeth in our house, but this time it is me, although I have agreed that I do need to get this taken care of. Of course I made the mistake of asking Melissa whether I should use Word or Publisher and she made the wrong choice and said Publisher, so as I type this in Word, we both wonder whether it will be compatible with whatever is on the new Mini Mac that we purchased for our computer useage. Yes, you heard me correctly, Melissa got tired of the full, life-sized Mac she has put up with for the past 20+ years and has downsized to a Mini. I, of course, refuse to use the little knockoff, so this will be typed on my laptop. Guess I showed her. With no further ado, the Mac 2012 edition kicks off. Age before beauty is the rule, so I am first. 

 I am in my second year as VP at a junior high with 900 students. Every once in a while I get an interesting challenge, but no more than any other normal prison guard. I discovered Yoga and wish I hadn’t of, but do feel much better and have lost 35 pounds. Still enjoy hunting birds and the dogs. I also got another Honda V-65 last summer. I had one 20 years ago that was really fast, but this one seems to slow down after 80mph. Either it is defective, or I have become a chicken. But I still love it. 

Melissa is in her second season of pre-school teaching at the YMCA. When I feel bad about my job, I listen to her stories and feel much better. At least none of my kids ask me what to do with a handful of pooh that they have removed from the swimming pool. Not sure how she didn’t quit at that point, but she hung tough. I guess the fact that she still likes kids after birthing 4 of them is testament to her strength of character. She has joined me in Yoga, and continues to do so many other things that I can’t name them all right now. Oh yeah, on January 10th she joins the rest of us ancients when she turns (gasp) 40. Send her wishes so she doesn’t think I forgot. Please. 

Garrett (G-ratticus)(16) is now a 210 pound sophomore in high school. He is built like a moose, and is stronger than an ox, and we are trying to get him to realize this. He is doing very well in school, driving (yikes) and playing golf when possible. This whole driving thing, has been interesting. Things you and I do naturally, like going over 35 when we get on the interstate, and looking before we do…not so much. I think he enjoys the (a)tension it causes us as geriatric parents. He had his first part time job this summer, and is really a very good worker. He also enjoys hunting and fishing (yuck) and is considering a career in marine biology. Wonder how many times that will change? He likes to remind his mother that she can’t whip him anymore, but I pity the day he finds out about the emotional wrath of Mel. Oh well, that is part of growing up I guess.

 Ethan (Emac) (14) is a scrawny little 8th grader. (just like yours truly) He played football, basketball and baseball this past year, and is currently playing on a travelling basketball club team. Last year we got to tour two of the nation’s finest medical facilities (Yakima-concussion and Reno-broken wrist) because his DNA won’t let him concede anything. (mom’s side) He is a very good student and I have never heard of anyone not liking him, anywhere. (no idea) Hopefully his body will catch up with his ambition so we can catch up with the medical bills.

 Cayden (CMac) (10) is a living, breathing, hormonal 5th grader. He is Garrett’s mini me. He played pulling guard in football this year, and was a one man wrecking crew. His coach raved about his ability to always pick up the right player to block and to just run into them at full speed. He asked us if Cayden was enjoying it because he never once smiled or said anything. This from the goofiest person I have ever met. Quiet in school, now in sports, what next, hunter’s ed and a gun? Pray for us. He played basketball for Melissa and grew so much as a player. He concentrates and works hard at everything he does. He also got as score in the super advanced range on the state math test. (to go with his C in the subject) Don’t think we have heard the end of that one yet. He is also an incredible button pusher who then plays the victim. Hollywood anyone? 

 Macy (9) and a fourth grader, is Ethan’s mini me. She is into soccer, and has been invited to play on many teams. (Great L) I guess she’s good, and that is a positive, but I have to go watch and it gives me hemorrhoids. Hope I can say that here. She is also very fast, which makes her a good basketball player, even though she hasn’t quite developed those skills as much. She loves to dance around the living room, and yell at her brothers. Of course they don’t do anything to deserve it. She, like her siblings, gets very good grades as well and is in advanced classes. I know I may regret saying this in the future, but we are so fortunate to have had a girl. (Don’t quote me on that) 

Last year we got to visit family in the Portland area, and friends in the Seattle area. What an awesome time we all had. Especially when my kids told me how great the view was from the space needle, as I hung on to the inner wall with all my might. I guess the wind was only blowing on me. I am sure the floor was slanting outward as well, but they all said it was just me. We visited the whole Seattle area, riding the ferries and just hanging out. Hopefully we will be able to take another trip this summer and visit some other poor unfortunate souls that happen to get in our flight path. If you ever get to Boise, please stop. We have two acres of parking, a porta pottie, and we even eat once in a while. We would love to see you. Have a spectacular 2013.

 Love the McPherson Clan

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Procrastination?

It has officially been SO long since I've updated this blog that I 1. Didn't remember the webpage name. 2. Have No idea what my password is. 3. Don't have a clue as to how I add pics, change backgrounds, or much of anything else about this page. However.... I am going to try and add an update once a week or once every other week or maybe once a month.... a goal anyway. Life here in the McPherson household is moving right along. With our family of 6 and only 2 drivers I spend an enormous amount of time as a taxi service. Back and forth to football practice times 2, work and home times 2, football games times 2/week, soccer practice and games... you get the picture. Basketball will be starting just as soon as football ends so that will add in a few more trips here and there and coaching duties as well. I really am NOT complaining... I love watching our kids participate in all of their activities and it brings much joy to our lives. Charles just asked me, "Who are you typing to?" I replied, "Our blog." "Our blog?" Yes the blog that I haven't updated in about 3 years... Who reads our blog? I have no idea but I enjoy reading other people's and it gives me an opportunity to (work on my spelling) outlet some of my thoughts and feelings... I am hoping to add some prayer request information on here...maybe some recipes or thoughts about healthy eating etc... and I don't know what else... but for today... a post...baby steps. Have a blessed week and hopefully I will be back on here again sometime sooner than 3 years from now.