It's been a while!!

OK, so I feel I should start off with another confession -  it's been since OCTOBER THIRD that I blogged and that was about Willie's turning 10, it's been since SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH since I blogged about the Bruce Fam - WHOOPS!  I'll try to catch you up on what's been going on in our crazy, hectic life!

Since the 30th, our Fall sports have finished - TWO FIRST PLACE SOCCER STARS in this house!  I'm not sure where Boston's Flag Football team finished, but he LOVED playing and can't wait to play again!  O, and kickball is finished too - I managed to get through the season with nothing broken - woo hoo!  We placed 2nd!!  I won't tell you that there were only 4 teams and 1 didn't bother to show up after we beat them their first game... We got SECOND - what an accomplishment! HA!

yes, the three amigo's got 1st place - AGAIN... Chris Taylor - coach of the year - yet again ;)

3rd season - 1st medal - he was SO PROUD!! (& I was SOOOOO happy for him!!)

this MIGHT be why we got 2nd & not 1st . . . jus sayin'

(actually, this is the ONLY game we drank before & it was the championship game... oops?!)

Madi was a supa-star as a bird in Theatre Atchison's production of Snow White!  She wasn't quite feeling herself the weekend of her performance, but hey, the show must go on. She missed her Saturday AM soccer game but made it to her Saturday PM performance.  She wasn't really feeling it, but went out there anyway.  She was pretty pumped after the show when she found out she WON free ice cream for a year from Snowball!  She sold the most amount of tickets for her cast!  Guess it pays to have a big family that loves ya ;)  She can go to Snowball once a week for the next year and get a free cone!  What more could a girl ask for...  The show was a big success with everyone!  Boston, Carter, Tessa, Molly - L.O.V.E.D. it!!  and the adults, it was about 25 minutes MAX - they loved it too!!

look at em - they LOVED it!!

birds in action

aren't they the cutest birds you've ever seen?!

One lucky grandkid got the opportunity to go to a clinic for 100 kids... problem there, only one grandkid got to be lucky, who do you choose?  Well, in this case, we chose Madi.  Boston got to go with Grandma on a "date night" to the K so now it's her turn to do something cool that Sprint was nice enough to offer to their employees.  Madi, got to go to Livestrong Arena for a soccer clinic.  Five Sporting KC players were there, she got to play with them, learn from them, check out their locker room & get autographs from them.  She LOVED it!  I was a little worried because Madi isn't the outgoing person that Boston is and thought she would kind of sit back and watch, but she got right in there with all the other kids.  She got a high five from one player & a "pound" from another.

after a HIGH 5 from Matt Besler

"pound" from Chance Myers for taking one in the chest to save the goal

OK, so in the middle of ALL this post (believe you me, I'm kicking myself for waiting SO long to blog) is one of my all-time favorite pictures!  I'm not sure exactly how I chose KSU OVER of KU, when my dad & brother are such big KU fans (ok, so I know, it was 2 hours from home & my best friend was there and KU was half an hour from home) but let's just say, I'm proud to be a WILDCAT...

October 24-28th was Red Ribbon Week at AES, I wanted to take a picture everyday, but as usual, I didn't :(  There was Hat Day, Red Day, PJ Day, Favorite Character Day (Costume Party Day) and Crazy Hair Day - I didn't pass this opportunity up though!  Madi has been waiting since LAST year to add to her Crazy Hair!  I can NOT take credit for her hair style.  WAY BACK in my day, when I was at dance camp (not band camp) we had crazy hair day and one of our girls did their hair like this, since then, that was how we did our hair on "crazy" day!  Boston was mad that we couldn't do anything with his hair, but hey, when you don't have hair, there's not a lot that can be done. BTW the score to that game was 59-21.

she thought it was AWESOME!!

For "Favorite Character Day" the kids wore their Halloween costumes to school - which were... (sad face from Mom because this is the first year in a WHILE that "they" decided they didn't want to match) TMNT Raphael and a Devil.  They were pretty damn cute, if I do say myself, just wish they were cuter "together". Madi told me "I think I just want to do something on my own".  I knew this day was coming, but I was hoping she'd be like 12, 13... is that too much to ask?!

Dorothy & LolliPop Kid

2007

Sharpay (HSM) and Golfer

2008

Roaring 20's

2009

SKO CATS!!

2010

Raphael "Boston" 2011

Devil "Madilynne" 2011

Satuday was the Halloween Parade & I had to work [poo!] I didn't WANT to work, BUT my morning duties consisted of handing out candy to all the kids that were trick or treaking down "the mall".  THAT was worth working!!  There were SO many cute kids.  Only a couple had original costumes (and who am I to judge with a TMNT & a devil) but they were ALL so darn stinkin' cute!!  I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but I.LOVE.HALLOWEEN.  love it!!  Anyway...

I had a GREAT idea for a costume for myself (& Steph), so OF COURSE, that MUST be what I am.

my "idea" - easy enough - right?!  ... that's what I thought!!!!

After two days and a bunch of "this is how it should go, why can't we do it?!" we called in help!!  Sheila, ummmmmmmmmm, how do YOU think we can make this work?!  Finally, we got all the kinks worked out & voila . . . . . a product was produced . . .

front & back

damn straight, we worked LONG & HARD to make these things!!

(my favorite part is still the pop top head bands that took all of 5 minutes!!)

As everyone around here knows, the 29th is when the Bartlett Grain explosion happened...same night we were all dressed up.  I had no idea until the next day.  I had no idea it was such a BIG deal until later the next day.  Call me crazy, but I now live in an "agriculture" community, so I didn't know this wasn't "normal" until I saw the last grain explosion was in Hays ......10+years ago.  I didn't know.  Ignorant.  What I wasn't ignorant to was the WBC.  They decided they were coming to Atchsion to protest the funerals of those killed in the explosion because we are "a stronghold for the raping-priest-Catholic-pedophile-whorehouse".  WOW!! I'm not confused as to how the WBC work, but what I was (still am) confused with is, they say God struck those boys down because Atchison follows & protects the "raping-priest-Catholic-pedophile-whorehouse" community, ...my problem is this, I wasn't aware of such a following....  the WBC has no idea what God has in mind or else they wouldn't be protesting funerals...PERIOD.

As a spirit lifter ............. WE SOLD BLACK BEAUTY!!  I know there are those of you out there that are jealous of the new owner, but you just sit back & watch, one day, she could still be yours . . .BAHAHAHA!

More news to come . . . . .. hopefully much sooner than later!!!! (which there will be because I want to participate in "The things I'm thankful for"

Happy Fall Ya'LL

les

10 years & growing!

Ten years ago I walked into Willie's in Manhattan, I was not scheduled to work, but it was the opening night and I wanted to see what this place looked like.  I walked in two days prior and thought there was NO WAY we were going to be open on Wednesday.  To my amazement, it was open and looked completely different than the two days before.  I didn't walk in again until Saturday, my first shift was after the KSU football game against Colorado.  I WAS NOT PREPARED!  I worked as a bartender at the Eagles Lodge before this, I was not prepared to crawl through people to get to the bar, I was not prepared to make margarita's without a mix, I actually thought you had to have margarita mix to make a margarita, proof right there, I was not prepared.  There was little training on the cash registers, the soda gun, where the beer was, etc, BUT I did know the menu.  We were told there was going to be a quiz on the menu, there wasn't. 

Anyway, My life changed the moment I applied and accepted a job as a bartender at Willie's Sports Bar & Grill ten years ago and I hadn't even known it at the time.  I started dating my boss (gasp), fell in love, got married, had babies and opened 3 more places!  -not all in that order of course!  I am happy to say that ten years later, I am so proud of what DJ (he will insist that I include myself) and I have accomplished.  I love that we have something our families are proud of, and it's all because he trusted himself to make it in a business where 90%+ fail within the first year.  We have had partners come and go, but none that we love as much as Josh & Amy and Hooptie Ron.  There is no way we could have made it as far as we have without all of them.  Josh is just devoted and as much of a hard ass as DJ, there is no one DJ would rather have as a partner (life or business -haha, just had to throw that in there)  and Ron is my second husband (funny little joke has run on forever now)

Our employees became friends and then family...and they included us in their families as well.  There will always be a special place in my heart for the Long family.  They took us in and treated us as one of them.  We were invited to Long Family Dinner every Sunday night.  They were at the hospital when both of our kids were born, they helped raise our kids the entire time we lived in Manhattan and are still in our lives today as much as possible.  They have been a part of most every memory I have that includes Willie's.

Willie's introduced me to my husband and others to their future spouses as well.  We have watched people date, break up, get married, have babies, we watched two customers get engaged (Beth & Brian Smoller), we watched a couple tell their parents they were going to be grandparents (Ryan & Ashley Kenney), we watched people celebrate countless birthdays.  Thank you everyone (employees & customers) for allowing us to be a part of your lives and you to be a part of ours!  I can't imagine my life without the friends I've made from one little place in this world, 307 S. Seth Child Rd.  I love you all!  Here's some pictures I could find from the past ten years....
 

10 years old - create a slideshow with music


Here's to 10 more years of Food*Sports*Family at Willie's!  Cheers!

Brag Time...

We had Parent/Teacher conferences this week and while I was not concerned with what Madi's teacher was going to say, I was a little concerned with what Boston's teacher would say.  I wasn't expecting a very bad review, he never had any problems at Pre-School or at Elaina's, but still, I was a little concerned.

Madi's P/T conference was first.  She has a sub while her teacher is on maternity leave (2mo early!), her sub just happens to be the mother of one of DJs friends.  We see her in Willie's quite a bit and she had already told DJ what a joy it is to have Madi in her class.  She said she is a leader, gets along with everyone in class and is a wonderful student.  She said the only problem she ever sees her having in school is not accepting anything but perfect!  She is not going to be happy if she ever gets less than an A.  I don't see that as being a HUGE problem ;)

On to Boston.  We went in and she said Boston is a good student, tries very hard & does what he is supposed to (without whining - WHA?!  who is this child she speaks of?!?).  She said the only problem he has is that he maybe needs to keep his hands to himself at times, BUT she has 16 boys (SIXTEEN!!) in her class (poor lady) and that it's to be expected with boys.  At the beginning of the year he could only write his numbers 1-7, but this past week he wrote from 1-100!!  She said while all his friends gave up around 7 he kept plugging away until he got to 100!  When I asked him about it, he said, "I could have wrote to 200, but I ran out of boxes!" LOL.

All in all, I'd say they're doing great & I couldn't be more proud!!

This week we added a new man to the family!  Meet Fred the 4-Runner, my new ride:

 it's official - I'm a soccer mom

DJ told me I had homework to do for Willie's.  This is usually nothing I really want anything to do with so I cautiously asked him "what kind of homework" ... this is what he pulls out from behind his back:

now, there's some homework I can handle!

4 bottles of Kansas made wine (Stone Pillar Winery) that need to be tasted & reported back on.

Prairie Fire Red * Kansas Table Wine * Hofftoberfest * & * Prairie Star Blush

I haven't been very good about the Bruce-ism's lately, but here's a small one for ya...

Boston is talking on the phone to Papa
B: I have your fun-ways stuff that you ordered
(I can hear Rick on the other end of the phone)
R: My what buddy
B: Your FUN WAYS stuff that you ordered
R: What?  Tell Mammo to talk louder so I can hear her
(she was trying to tell him FUNDRAISER)
B: YOUR FUN WAYS STUFF PAPA (talking a lot louder now)
R: Ok buddy

Rick had no clue what Fun Ways was but he decided he wasn't going to get anymore out of him than Fun Ways so he left it at that and said ok.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!  We're gearing up for another busy one!  Super jealous of all you that are headed to Manhattan for the weekend, hope you get to celebrate a CATS victory!! 

What a Weekend!!

WOW!  I'm not sure we could have squeezed anything else into our weekend!! 

We went to St. Joe for some shopping & dinner on Friday (pretty laid back compared to the rest of the weekend!)

Saturday we woke up bright & early - "we were up before the sun" as Madi would say.  We had 3 soccer games, the first being at 8am, the kids were not happy about having to be on the soccer field before they would normally leave for school, but somehow (sarcasm) they managed to make it through ;)  Boston's games were 12-2 & 15-5, they kicked butt  - WAY TO GO GALAXY!  Madi's game was 3-2 with a win as well!  NICE JOB WILDCATS!  After that we went to Willie's to have lunch and see daddy for a little bit.  Then it was grocery shopping to get everything for Madi's fiesta the next day.  Home, cook, clean, shower, get ready, more cooking, out the door for KC.  We were off to Legends so Madi could do some shopping with her Justice card and then it was off to Arrowhead for TAYLOR SWIFT.  Madi & my niece Hayley got tickets for their birthdays from DJ & I and they were PUMPED for the concert!  We got to share a ride with Madi's friends so we didn't have to fork over the TWENTY-SEVEN dollars for parking alone!  THANK YOU LIZ FOR THAT IDEA!  The girls had a great time, but were a little cold, hey, if that's the only complaint, I'm a happy lady!!  We didn't get home until a bit after midnight, but the girls slept on the way back while I was trying to keep myself awake the whole drive home!!

waiting for Taylor

Sunday, another fun packed day!  Short trip to the grocery store for forgotten things & the cake, then it's time to make lunch for the party.  We had Madi's birthday party with the fam.  She got some great gifts and lots of cash!  She is loving money because then if she sees something she wants, she can buy it herself!  In the middle of the party I had to leave for kickball.  The team we played won the game before 13-0 so we were a little scared before the game even started!  We didn't win, but we stayed with em!  Only lost 4-1.  Not terrible, but not so good.  Came home, hung out with the fam some more and then headed to Maur Hill for Boston's first flag football game!  He was SO excited!  The kids really didn't know a whole lot about what was going on, but by the end of the game I think they were getting the hang of it.  Boston's stand in coach didn't know what was going on either, so that didn't help a whole lot.  We think they won, but were never given the score so aren't real sure, but the kids had a great time, so that's all that matters.

Boston played Quarterback the entire game (he didn't really love that, he wanted to RUN)

One would think that was enough for one day, but not us, it was our anniversary, so DJ & I packed up & headed to KC for the night.  We had a really nice meal at Capital Grille on the Plaza.

We slept in, ate lunch at one of our favorite BBQ places, Jack Stack, and then walked around the Plaza - what a BEAUTIFUL day!!  Madi dropped her iPod a few months ago, so I decided to see what they could do about fixing it at the Apple store.  To my amazement, they replaced the iPod at NO COST to us!  I could not believe that!  Not only that, when I asked for a new protective case for it so this wouldn't happen again, the Apple employee told me I should try an Otter Box and they didn't sell them.  I've forgotten what this kind of customer service is like!  No where do they do that for you anymore, it's how long have you had it, how did it break, is it under warranty, no sorry, we can't help you, etc etc.  They were so nice & weren't trying to push anything I didn't need on me!

Now, I'm ready for a laid back Tuesday... O wait, not gonna happen!  O well, such is life. Happy to be happy with our crazy busy life!

Madilynne Grace

Happy birthday Madilynne Grace... Maddog, MadGrace, MadiGrace, Madi da Geek, Madi Moo, Big Booty Judy, etc etc ;)



I can't explain to you how much I love you.  You were quite the unexpected surprise that I can't imagine my life without!  I am so thankful that God gave you to ME!  8 years ago I was headed to the hospital SCARED out of my mind!  I was not prepared and had no idea what I was in store for!  I came home with a beautiful, easy going, baby girl - YOU!  You were PERFECT!  I was still scared, but knew we were gonna be just fine.  Since the day you were born you have been such an easy going little girl.  I have loved every minute of watching you grow and can't wait to see what the future has in store for you... BIG things, I'm sure!  You are such a smart & talented girl, you could do anything you set your mind to!  You remind me of myself with your sensitivity, I remember my parents scolding me & bursting into tears - geesh, I wish you didn't get that from me!!  Time to toughen up girl ;)  You are an amazing big sister - a little too much sometimes as you seem to think you are Boston's mother at times.  You have always been a little mommy since the day he was born and I am so proud of the way you have always taken care of him!  He is lucky to have you & he is so proud to call you his big sister, just ask him (when he's not whining, hehe)  You are beautiful inside & out.  I love you Madilynne Grace and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the wonderful gift he gave me in you!  I hope you had a wonderful birthday and I can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend at TAYLOR SWIFT and at your party on Sunday!  Love, Mom

Lunch Date...

The weekend was set to be a busy, but fun weekend.  Boston went again with Kilee to watch Jared play football in St. Joe, he had been looking forward to it since the week before when he went with her ... and is looking forward to going again this Friday.  Madi & I dropped him off and he rode to St. Joe with "the boys", Big George & George and then we headed home for some girl time.  We did mani/pedi's, went out for dinner, and then came home to watch a movie together in bed.  While we were watching a movie DJ called to ask me if I had heard anything about Jerry, a regular of ours that came in almost every M-F to have lunch around 1-1:30.  I think Jerry liked coming in at that time because all of us girls would be slowing down and at least one of us could eat with him while the rest of us rolled silverware or just chit chatted with him.  I hadn't heard anything about Jerry and I thought for sure someone had gotten their story wrong.  NO way had Jerry passed away, we JUST saw him at lunch 7 hours earlier!  Bye Jer, have a good weekend!  Not a minute later did I get a call and my screen said Jodi Therer, I knew right then, it was true, we'd lost our lunch date.  Lunches will not be the same without Jerry, we look forward to seeing him everyday and when he's not there we always give him trouble & ask if he's been cheating on us.  I remember a week went by with no Jerry & we were all ready to call and see if he was sick or something and he came in the next day, he had been working on the farm instead of in town that week.  Whew!!  I still sort of expect to see him walk through the door today like any other day, but I know that's not going to happen.  We're gonna miss you Jerry!!

The rest of our weekend:
On Saturday we chilled around the house for a while, then headed over to Mammo & Papa's to help get ready for Shelly's big SURPRISE 50th birthday party.  Kelsey & Shawna came over to decorate so I got to have some time with baby Charley (so cute!)  She loved watching mommy & aunt Kels put up all the decorations.  We all hid in the garage until Shelly showed up for "Madi's birthday party", opened the garage and out ran Kale, LOL, I think she knew something was up then!  She said she was mad, but she had a good time anyway!  Happy 50th Aunt Sheddy!!

I left the party to come back around and see Captain America (HA!)  We met Tim & Wendy in Manhattan while Tim was stationed at Ft. Riley.  They came in to watch the Red Sox play and the rest is pretty much history!  We became friends with them and then they left us, they moved to Georgia and now Rhode Island.  Tim is at Ft. Leavenworth this week for some training and since that is only 20 minutes from us, he graced us with a visit!  YAY!  Sure wish Wendy & Bronwyn could have come but getting to see Tim was nice.  DJ may have been talked into a trip for us to go see them this Fall.

The kids came home on Sunday and we all watched Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, it's become one of their favorites lately.  After that, I went to work and they got to have some daddy time.

The kids start soccer this week, so add that to the play rehersals and maybe football for the little guy and we're one busy family.  Oh yea, and Madi is now on Student Council at school, but that is only a twice a month meeting before school, so that shouldn't be a big add-on.

Cheers to you, Jerry!  I think I'll have the special today ;)

Radio Silence...

So, it's been brought to my attention that I've been a little quiet on the blog front... unfortunately, I knew this was true.  It's been two weeks since my last confession, er, I mean blog.  We have been CRAZY busy since school started.  I thought school starting would get us back into a routine and things would run smooth.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?  Things were never routine last year or smooth, so WHY would I think this year would be any different?  So.........  We have been up to the following.  SCHOOL.  School has started and the kids are enjoying it, but it's making one little fella EXHAUSTED.  He is a cranky mess most afternoons.  I feel bad for losing my patience with him at times because I know he's just tired... BUT, I still can't stand the constant whining!  He has gotten better this week, which I am (and I'm sure he is) extremely happy about!!  AND the night terrors have gotten few and very far between (insert choir of angels singing HALLELUJAH here!) 

Some days I get to school at the perfect time, I get to sit and watch Boston at recess without him knowing!  So far, he's always been well behaved (why can I not get this behavior at home?)

We took the kids to their very first Red Sox game two weekends ago... would have been much better at Fenway, but we'll settle for what's close!  Madi wasn't feeling so great, but she did NOT want to miss the game.  Amazingly enough, she felt better after a sno-cone.  In her defense, she did have a sore throat, so I bet it felt much better after that.  On Friday, DJ & I got to go to the game with our realtor (and friend) who got us amazing seats, two rows back behind the camera pit, just to the side of the Red Sox dugout.  The next night DJ had to work, but I didn't (I still worked the day shift) so Steph and I used the AMAZING seats my parents gave us.  Diamond Club, behind homeplate.

Besides school, mama has been working her butt off (ok, not really, but much more than just the lunch shifts I was getting used to).  We've got some girls hired, so hopefully within the next couple weeks, we'll go back to my easy goin' work.  The kids haven't seemed to mind my working because they have been able to go to Grandma's, Mammo's, Uncle Geek (Cody), and/or Uncle Brian's house.  Last weekend alone they started the weekend off with Grandma & Grandpa (after a trip to Legends for Madi to do some more school shopping), spent the night there, went to Uncle Brian's for little Miss Molly Jane's birthday party (so sad I missed that!!) then went to Rushville to celebrate Uncle Geek's birthday (also sad I missed this) then Boston stayed with Carter and Madi stayed at Gracie's house (Aunt Jennie's cousin).  When I went to pick them up Sunday they were NOT ready to come home... of course.

Boston & Tessa in the trees, like the monkey's they are!

Last week Madi auditioned for Snow White at Theatre Atchison.  She said she was nervous, but that she was going to get up there and read loud.... well, that wasn't exactly what happened.  She did get up there, and she did read, but it wasn't very loud.  We sat there for quite a while and she was never called to read for a different part.  We talked about how she would feel if she didn't get a dwarf part (which is what she wanted) and she told me she would be upset, but ok.  We found out on Friday that she didn't receive a dwarf part, but the part of a bird.  Her friend Katy also got the part of a bird, so she was happy about that.  They have no lines, but I'm sure this will not be the end of either of their dramatic careers ;)

Madi has lost TWO teeth since my last blog, so here she is in all her glory...

Soccer begins in the next couple weeks, so let's add that to the list of things to do during the week/end!  Madi already has play practice T/Th, so hopefully soccer is on M and/or W for both kids!!

I almost forgot... I decided on an e-reader.  I have only downloaded one book for myself, it's called "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Professional Waiter".  I have however downloaded two games and seven kid books!  Madi has been doing her SFA homework from the Nook.  The new LOVE in my life:

Something else starts this week too......... K...S...U...WILDCATS!  ........ FOOTBALL!  It will not be the same here, but I'm going to do my best to bring game day to Atchison!  I worked this past Saturday for the first BC home game and I was amazed at how few of our staff showed up in Red & Black to support their school (quite a few of our staff are STUDENTS).  I'm used to showing up to work with everything purple I own on my body!  Purple Headband, Purple Eyeshadow, Powercat Tattoo, KSU Shirt, Purple Shoes, Purple Fingernail Polish, Purple Earrings, Purple Ring, Purple Necklace ...you get the point, if it's purple, it's ON!  I'm not alone in this fashion statement on game days, most every employee at the Manhattan Willie's will be wearing just as much, if not more (if possible) purple on game days.  WE LOVE OUR CATS!  You will definitely be seeing me in purple this weekend as well!  This is the time of the year I will miss Manhattan the most.  I love the college town atmosphere on game days, you just can't duplicate it.  ...and in case you were wondering, my children will also grow up wearing as much purple on Saturday's as possible... and they will also LOVE IT ;)

I'm sure I'm missing something, but this will do for now.  Good night & SKO CATS!!  (insert Lindsey Wilson screaming at the top of her lungs here!!)