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

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.

McPherson Family Christmas Letter 2010

So, here we go again. Look up procrastination in the dictionary to see what I look like at age 45. I just keep getting later and later with these letters, but I guess I can be optimistic and say it is because I have a full, busy life. So, all of you know the routine by now. I sit and brag about our family so you will send us a letter bragging about yours. If I was better at twittering face book through wikileaks, this letter would become obsolete. But, I am not a user, so please keep the letters coming. It is the one time of the year I don’t get all of my information from Melissa the instant anything happens. So off we go on our merry journey.
Melissa (age undetermined) is number one of course. Anything good that happens in this household is a direct result of her patience, kindness and understanding. (Please let go of my ear now) She is still gainfully employed at the YMCA, volunteers at the school, keeps a mean schedule for all of us and manages to remain partially sane while doing it. She is entertaining thoughts of getting her teaching credentials (see above) in her spare time. Kids at the Y still think she could play in the WNBA, and I really think that is the only reason she still works there.
Garrett is now 14, and the big P has kicked in. He will soon be taller than Mel, and is growing into a fine young man. He is in 8th grade and is involved in choir, football, basketball, baseball and wrestled this year. He is also a fantastic hunting partner, when it’s not too cold or too far to walk. We harass him (that’s what parents do) about his chores etc, but is a great worker when it comes down to it. He is also a philosopher in his spare time. His great quote, “ I saw this last night, and the blue team wins, or was it the yellow team, one or the other, (while watching a high school all-star basketball game on TV) will live in infamy. One warning, if he visits, offer foot powder early and often.
Ethan is a 12 year old 6th grader (who will soon be taller than Mel) enjoying middle school life. He is involved in killing cats, I mean playing sax, football, baseball, academic bowl and is currently playing on a competitive club basketball team. One can tell that he is approaching teen hood as his ability to argue is improving. One of his highlights this year was a 98 yard touchdown reception to seal a big win for his team. His pursuit of perfection in all things must have come from me because Melissa still has hers. At FCA camp he tried lacrosse, and loved it. Ethan is everyone’s friend and stands up against all of the unfairness in the world, and I do mean all of it.
Cayden “The Crazy” is now an 8 year old 3rd grader.(Fast approaching Mel’s height) His teacher asked Melissa, with genuine concern, if he was ever going to come out of his shell. If there is a student who has ADHD, ADD or any of those other afflictions hyper kids have, Cayden gets to sit by them. They dance on the desk and he sits there and ignores them. This comes in handy when ma and pa try to distract him with ridiculous requests like “go to bed” or clean your room.” I can see his little devious grin come out, but nothing more. He is involved with football and basketball and is really quite smart. Though he does his best to hide it, not much gets past him.
Macy is now 7 and in 2nd grade. (It may be the final straw when she passes Mel) She continues to wrap every teacher she has around her finger by studying and getting good grades and helping in class and all those other overrated things that people in charge tend to appreciate. She played baseball. And took dance, and gymnastics and Brownies and will start basketball soon. Her grades are great, her smile deadly, and her tantrums monumental. Brothers all pick on her, as they should, but they watch their backs while doing it. She has her mothers tremendous sense of style, and has learned that if she sleeps in her clothes, then it takes less time for her to get dressed the next morning. Pretty smart.
I continue to apply corrective adjustments to 1700 kids at Vallivue HS in Caldwell. I love it, but it has been a crazy year. I hunt as often as possible, coached Gman in baseball and cheer like a corpse at our kids games. I have to because it is true that the only thing worse than coaching your own kids is having someone else coach your kids. I’m on therapy for this right now.
In June we took my ma and pa to the Oregon coast for their 50th anniversary. Side note, sea lion poop stinks. We had a condo right on the cliffs above the ocean. Was cool. We picked up a couple of horses after mine died. Free horses are expensive these days. Still have the two labs, and pickles the cat. Had a couple other cats that left and replaced them with two more that we haven’t named yet. Well, gotta run. Hope everyone listening to this had a great year. Hope to see more (or less if you are on a diet) of all of you this year. Never seems to happen, but Dave Ramsey is helping us get to the point where we can relax a little more. I thought if he would just pay off our debt with his millions, financial peace could happen faster, but I guess the joy is in the chase. Have a blessed Christmas, and come visit. Please call ahead for reservations though as at this time we only have 52 weeks open for visitors next year.