Friday, August 21, 2015

Races, Baseball, skateboards, forts...this is summer folks and it is good.

Monthly update per usual.  Not sure why I have gotten away from posting on this blog more regularly, and for that matter, why I continue to keep going on this blog, but I guess it is kind of out of habit at this time.  I have been posting and updating this blog for about 8 or so years and it is kind of nice to take a look back and see what has happened.  It also serves as a reminder to me of what I have done.  I have such a poor memory that this is the best way I have found to track what was going on when. 
 
Two weeks ago I took the family to Wednesday night havoc at the raceway.  What a great way tobreak up a long week and the kids sure did like to see the races (and watch the rednecks).  James and I went one time and there were 8-14 year old racing in mini cars that would do about 60.  He must have asked about 20 times when those kids were going to come back out.  I had to explain to him how lucky he was to be out on a school night and how good he has it since he does not have to go to school or have a job.  I don't think he got it though.
These kids love to wear earmuffs.  They wanted them on as soon as we got out of the car in the parking lot.
Last week we headed out for a Sunday night Spokane Indians game.  The seats were cheap and the fun was fun.  Summertime is the best.
 
I picked up an old folding kitchen stool/chair at a flea market a while ago and finally got around to refinishing it.  Matthew really likes it, but since I had already made two other stools for the kitchen, so mom has put this on the front porch as more of a decoration.
This this was a real pain in the but to take apart and get back together, but with James's close oversight and direction, I was able to figure it out.
 
The garden is in full swing and the two sunflower plants I have this year are really getting big.  The tall one is about 11-12' and is just now getting a head on it.  I cant wait to see the size of the flower on this one and hope it is bigger than last years.
My giant pumpkin is also growing more and more each day.  I bought seeds this year from a guy in Canada and have high hopes for this giant.  The summer here has been perfect weather for them so there is no excuse not to have a huge one.
 
When I was at the flea market a while ago I bought a box of skateboard parts and wheels.  I got them for another project and had some parts left over so James had big ideas for building a skateboard.  Mom pulled out a piece of wood and James spent all day drawing it out on the wood and then when I got home, I got a 45 minute download on how the skateboard was going to be built and how it needs to be put together.  James is very mechanically minded and has a great imagination.  He plans out everything in his mind in detail...even if the details wont work with the laws of physics.
Matthew also had an idea for the skateboard and his was a bit more realistic. 
I finally put the trucks on apiece of wood though and this was as good as it was going to get with my limited tools and skills(and time).  Nothing like putting your fingers right next to the wheels and pushing yourself around.  Oh, and throwing in a pair of scissors on the front of the board for an added amount of risk and danger.
 
Matthew loves to play catch.  he is pretty brave, but starts to cry pretty easily as well....not a good combination, but a lot of it is drama.  I don't do drama.
 
Mom picked up a book from the library the other day and in the back it had a craft idea for building a house out of an old box..
Once again, I got home and had a lecture on how it was supposed to be done.  I think James and Matthew have taken the tiny house movement a little to far here though.  I have a sneaking suspicion the tiny house movement is really a government conspiracy, but cant prove it yet.
 
For Brenda and Izumi's birthday last year they got a caller and we had a square dance at the house.  This year it did not work out to have the party on or near there birthdays, but they still wanted a party so who am I to say no.
Once again we got a caller and had a dance.  I think there was about 40 people there including kids and we had a blast.
It was a perfect night with the weather and the smoke clearing.  It is really great to sit out on the back porch and hang out on evenings like this.
 
Just so no one gets the wrong impression, it is not always unicorns and rainbows.  Below is a common sight at the De Jong house.  Typically it plays out that one kid gets in trouble and then the other kid pesters the one on timeout....then the other kid also gets timeout and all of the tears and whining come out in full force.
I am absent of any feelings or caring so it is easy for me to laugh it off and not worry about it, but sometimes I slip and do care a little bit.  If you are taking my comments seriously or think I really am devoid of emotions, you probably should stop reading my blog because you obviously don't get sarcasm.
 
This past weekend I got a Sunday afternoon to go out and play on the bike a bit.
mmmmmmm...BMW....m...mmmmm
The scenery is also not so bad.  The area I drove in just got shut down to all recreational use this week due to fires and fire danger.  I was lucky to get out there and enjoy some dirt roads through the Coeur d'Alene NF.