Controversy! Bad food, bad ratings, bad blogs!

BAD!!! 

In South Padre, we eyewitnessed a bad food combo... demonstrated by Alan from McAllen... 

What is that? Pretty sure that's a hot dog with... macaroni salad... ketchup... refried beans... who knows what else???

Boyd could hardly believe his eyes!

***

BAD!!! 

Tonight at dinner we had an epic feast! Chicken quesadillas, refried beans and Spanish rice! It was great!

We even had a MENU.

But then dessert came, and Boyd got salty. He started to complain about the cook, the service... and he went from a 5-star review to a 1/2 star review!

Well, guess what, Bub? You bring the least to the table in terms of food prep, service, etc. So we'll see how your meal is tomorrow!!!

***

BAD!!! 

After 12-plus years and more than 1,700 posts.... Mom has a new favorite blog.

What is this blog? I'm not sure, exactly. We're told about it nightly, though, and it documents a friend of Evey's, and her and her mom's (and maybe some siblings?) trek across the U.S.

It sounds great, really. Apparently there was a snake(!) in a canoe in a recent installment. This may have been post No. 1,700, but it's more likely it was post No. 17.

It just goes to show... like Alan's hot dog or Bub's review... you gotta be careful, 'cause it can go from good to bad QUICK!

(Just kidding babe, I know you still think this blog is No. 1!)

From Clayton's, South Padre's biggest bar!

Here's a selfie I took of the family at South Padre. We walked down to Clayton's, and next door they were building what looked like a hotel or condos. I took a photo with that as the backdrop, so we can see the place again next year when it's finished, and compare.

And then thankfully I took this photo of us with the beach behind us... not sure why I didn't take more of these.

The food at Clayton's wasn't as good as Wanna-Wanna, but the pina colada was equal, at least. Wanna-Wanna on South Padre is awesome.

Looking forward to showing the fam Soles next, on a different beach...

***

Good weekend here. The big news for the Joneses was probably that Boyd had his first ever sleepover! He stayed the night at Beaux's house, following Beaux's 7th birthday party. It was extra convenient because Evey is friends with Ava, Beaux's big sister... so they both stayed the night.

The report was that Boyd was good, and even brushed his teeth for a long time! Evey did a great job helping out Bub and making him feel safe... but he did say he had no problems sleeping over, wasn't nervous at all. Boyd also reported that "I ate so much sugar!"

***

Aunt Jessica took the kids to see Lion King this weekend. The kids both gave it an 8... which means it wasn't great, because Boyd typically gives everything a 10, and for Evey, an 8 is also a lower score. But best of all, the kids had a great time with Sis.

***

We've been back at the Secret Lair (Quinton's) playing video games the past two Fridays... and Evey is 2-0 so far on Buck Hunter. She's got game! I'm not sure that I'll beat her...

What a weekend!

I'm too tired to even describe how awesome it wazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Ms. Pac-Man

We had a nice Friday this week...

The kids and I went to Lawrence to meet up with G'Ma and Adro at the Mexican restaurant at 9th and Iowa for lunch. It was OK. Some of it was great (the queso) some of it was meh (serving me lukewarm water.) We still enjoyed our lunch together, despite Boyd being a little weird at the time.

From there, the kids and I went to the library, where I worked for about 90 minutes. Evey and Boyd did great! Boyd got a little bored, then we all went to the games section, and he was interested again. I went and looked to see if there was anything I wanted... then we left.

Next stop — Quinton's, for our return to the secret lair! It was as good as we remembered. Lots of Buck Hunter and Ms. Pac-Man. Evey kicked butt at BOTH games! I'm looking forward to a rematch.

Evey was especially good at Ms. Pac-Man. She was making some MOVES! I was impressed.

Summertime, and the livin's easy

Sooo the kids are doing good hanging out this summer. Just chillin. Lots of "Vampire Diaries" and "The Office." An occasional game of Uno or 'Trains on Time.'

We had a Monopoly series going... need to get back to that.

***

It's been hot out, a heat wave... but we've still managed to get outside around dusk. Evey's hitting the volleyball around, Boyd's running around, Mom is watering the plants...

***

We took Koko out to explore today, and she started rolling around in the grass. Looked like she was enjoying herself...

Then we got going, put her in the car, and she STUNK! Evey gave her a bath as soon as we got home. Ugh! Thanks, Evey.

***

Pretty quiet night here, which was nice. Went and got a couple chocolate milkshakes from Sonic.

Look what we found!

The remote to the Roku!

Grandma had been accused (wrongly) of accidentally packing it in one of her bags... it's been missing for a month, at least.

It was just Bub and I the other day and I decided I wanted to watch Amazon Prime in the living room... and I gave my first attempt and finding it.

It took me about five seconds, very first place I looked!

Adro, Evey and Grandma were all texted this photo immediately. Grandma... wrongly accused! We're sorry!

The Alamo

Heading home from summer SPI trip

So tired from all the waves, the sun, the beach... it'll be nice to get home!

A nice trip to South Padre, though. Lots of Whataburger, too!

Ok, THIS is the welcome home Grandma pic!

The kids (read: Evey) made Judy a sign welcoming Grandma home.

We also celebrated her birthday pretty much as soon as she got home... with dinner at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. Virginia, Rick, Lupe, Rod, our family... it was a good crew! Also, Boyd was the only one who caught his shrimp in his mouth... pretty cool!

Welcome home Judy!!!

So glad Grandma is home!

This photo doesn't exactly jive with the headline, but... we're so happy G'ma is home!!!

We'll get better pics together soon... right now everyone is tired/asleep... but Judy is back in Kansas, where we like her!

Welcome home Grandma!!!

May 28, 2019 tornado

First day of summer vacation!

It's hard to believe, but today was the first day of the kids' summer vacation!

I now have a 7th grader and a 2nd grader... CRAZY!

It was a good day... Evey slept in. Boyd was up early, a little stir crazy all day. The kids did a good job entertaining themselves most of the day, but we enjoyed a lunch together, and a 5 p.m. game of Monopoly as well!

***

Picture on top is a science experiment for the kids... A golf turf fertilizer company sent me some product to check out... I put the kids in charge of this process... we'll see how it goes.

***

Summer Monopoly series. $50 to the winner (if it's Evey or Bub who wins.) If it's me, the kids have to help me sweep out/clean the garage.

Evey and Bub split a win (so that's .5 points each.) Dad took zero points in the inaugural game.

It's a marathon, not a sprint! I'm not worries.

Summer Monopoly series:

0.5 points — Bub
0.5 points — Evey
0 points — Dad

Cupcakes by Evey Jones!

We only have two (2!) more days of the school year left. Where... did... 6th/1st grade... go?!? This year flew by! (For Adro and I, not the kids.) 

I think this was a good year for both kids. I think next year will be better. 7th grade is an awkward age, but at least Evey won't be the youngest class in her school anymore, and she'll have a better handle on the school. And 2nd grade seems like a magical year, it was for Evey (Mr. Powers) and it was for me (coincidentally a Mrs. Powers, back in Mulvane.) Hopefully it is equally a good year for Bub.

***

Soccer season is OVER! We finished out the year on Saturday. And guess what? Boydee SCORED A GOAL! He came close twice last game, and this time he sealed the deal.

Funny thing, he told me he felt like he was going to score a goal before the game.

Now, to be fair, he also gave up the slowest penalty kick EVER in the previous quarter. I'm still trying to figure out what happened, and yes, I almost lost my mind when it happened. I ran out to the field to talk to him, and I just rubbed his chest in a circular motion rapidly and told him, "OK, buddy, let's GO!" because I really wanted to spank him at that moment. Then I walked by Dale, the head coach (I'm the assistant) and I seethed, "it's like his feet were in concrete!" and Dale gave me a, "I'm mad too... but at least it wasn't my son." look. 

Adro and Evey had the best perspective: they saw the girl line up for the penalty shot... then they saw her take it (they were on the opposite side of the field)... then Dale walked into their line of vision, so they couldn't see what happened... but they saw the ball was moving so slowly, they figured Boyd would have it... then they saw Boyd again... and realized the other team was going wild, and Boyd was pulling the ball out of the net.

It's a mystery. Even Boyd can't explain it. I don't know.

But the goal!

Cameron took a shot, and the goalie (our all-star from last year, Brandon) got hands on it but let it squeak by him. Boyd was in the right place at the right time... and he had an open net in front of him and about 2 seconds to react...

And he HAMMERED it home!

OK, in all honesty... he dang near missed the ball entirely, it took him three seconds to react, but somehow he put enough topspin on the ball that it squeaked across the goal line. I jumped in the air like an idiot. The kids all trotted back slowly. We were down 5-1 at this point, and I was THRILLED! What penalty kick?!? Boyd was our leading scorer for the game!

I later asked Boyd to recreate the play for me... in his mind, he blasted the ball top shelf, off a pass from Cameron. 

We'll go with that!

***

We're in Week 5 of the "Why did Grandma leave us?!?" experience. Only two more weeks to go.

We miss her so much! Mother's Day was yesterday... we texted, but it wasn't the same. Two more weeks to go! 

WE MISS YOU JUDY!!!

***

So the cupcakes you see with Evey, she made for a party... one of her teachers is "going away" (moving up to high school) so they're throwing a party for her on the next-to-last day of school. Evey worked hard on these cupcakes. She's so sweet! Yes, Boydee is a little (sun)burned but the cupcakes are PERFECT!

She's also made mini-posters for some of her teachers, as a going away present. I don't think all her teachers got one, but she has made several.

I bet she's the kind of student you wish you had more of in your class. 

Unless that class is P.E.

We tried!

Easter weekend 2019

Adro and I enjoying some drinks with Brent, Rosalina & Co.
before Brent's show.

Evey & I at the Alamo theater, where we saw Shazam. Cameo from the Iron Giant! Cool theater. Bad popcorn. 

The kids shortly after the Easter egg hunt!

The Easter weekend is behind us! After two weekends on the road (Joplin, Omaha) we're excited to be back home and we are a little road weary... especially Evey.

But it was a nice weekend. Evey did get sick on Friday but toughed it out and went to Omaha anyway... then I got a little sick to my stomach on Friday... but we both recovered for Saturday!

Bub and Mom went with Rosalina, Dexter and Sylvia to the zoo... then Evey and I went to see Shazam (it was just OK.) Then Adro and I went out to watch Brent's band play.

Easter breakfast at Rosalina & Brent's house, a quick Easter egg hunt... then back home.

We're exhausted, but it was fun!