Well, at least not at the one associated with this blog. I don't know how to fix it, but my email address is ampe2368@bellsouth.net. So email me there. Also, I am seriously time-deprived, so it will be nothing short of a miracle if I actually post anything here. I've had this blog for months now and never put anything on it. I'll try really hard.
This winter is one of change and sameness both. I find myself on lockdown more because Angela picks up colds like my furniture picks up lint, so she stays in a lot. Rita and Maria are out more, but mainly because Rita is in charge of the small barnyard critters, the chickens and rabbits. It's an extremely repetitive cycle of laundry, dishes, sweep and vacuum, laundry, dishes, sweep and vacuum, laundry...well, you get the picture. That said, I don't mind. I kind of like those things that are "normal." Those are the things that are constant and good and let me know that everything is running. Heaven help us if I get behind in the laundry. We usually make the children do everything, but the laundry is one of those things best left to moi. Seriously, our kids are quite self-sufficient.
Different this school year has been John being at St. X, which was one of those decisions wrought with worry and what-ifs but has been found to be a good thing. He made all A's this quarter in honors classes, and has been having a tremendous wrestling season. He seems to like school even though it's extremely challenging. He studies all the time. His teachers and coaches are all very happy with him and we are told all the time what a good boy he is, which is every parent's dream I think. He hurts himself a lot; we seem to have a handle on his bloody noses (his nemesis all last year) but he has split his chin twice, both requiring trips to the doctor for stitches and/or glue. He also had a terrible bout with bursitis in his knee over the summer which made his knee swell up like a balloon and had 60-70 cc's of fluid drained off with a VERY large needle. Ewwww. Besides that he's tweaking his normally 152 pound muscle-bound self into a very swelt 137 pounds and doing 2-3 hour wrestling practices every day. He's in his element. But I really don't want to hear him whine about food any more. He has that sunken-in, death warmed over look on his bony face most the time. Today he has a black eye to boot. Cute Cute Cute. He makes a mommy proud.
Justin just went out to Tulsa and wrestled in the Tulsa Nationals, the first one he's ever done. We're *told* by the experts that Tulsa is the most competitive youth tourney in the country. If that is true, Justin is better than we even thought. He didn't place, however, he went 3 wins-2 losses, beat the #3 seed, and every match was close. Nobody really dominated him. So we are excited for him. Dominic is wrestling really well right now too. He and Justin are the exact same weight. Within a few ounces of each other all the time. Tonight and tomorrow is their regional tournament which qualifies them for the state meet. Justin is the #1 seed and Dominic is the #3 seed! Crazy. It could be an all-Lampe final tomorrow night!! How cool is that?
Jeff and I just try to keep up with everything. It's impossible really. I only teach two classes a day, but Angela has therapy a few times a week, and of course, Jeff keeps the trees going and breaks his back for a living. Ugh. The hurricane back in September was the gift that keeps on giving; he had PLENTY of winter work due to it and he is STILL getting calls as a result of it. That was a crazy storm. The kids and their cousins all got me running this summer, and I've been doing that regularly ever since. I love it. I take either Dominic or Justin with me most the time and our goofy cane corse Duke with me all the time; he's a baby but he can clear a playground! Scares the bejeebies out of everyone. We Lampes like that.
Until next time...Deo gratias.
