Speech Tournament Weekend!

Wow! What a week last week!! I feel wiped out and run over.
We had school the beginning of the week, and on Tuesday I took Drum, Dime, and Deer to get their pictures taken at JCP. They turned out great!! Drum took his Civil Air Patrol BDU's and airplanes from his room, Dime took his new electric guitar, and Deer brought her flute for some extra shots. We were so pleased with the results. We can hardly wait to pick them up next Monday.

Wednesday we cleaned house, Dime had guitar lessons, we grocery shopped, practiced speeches, and got ready for a family from Nebraska who came to stay with us during the speech tournament. They arrived after 8 that evening. Dh, I, and Darling had a nice time getting to visit with them until the kids arrived home from Awana and youth group. Then we all hit the hay for the busy Tournament ahead! The girl stayed in Dot's room, and the Dad and three guys stayed up the hill with Gma & Gpa W. Very nice!!

We had to be up at 4:30 Thursday to leave in time for the Speech Tournament. I was on registration so we needed to be there early. We got home that night about 9:30. It was a full day! Deer did alot of timing, Dime did his duo interp. with his friend, Drum did his expository on dirt bike safety, and Dot did her persuasive on predestination.

The three younger kids stayed with Gma & Gpa W until the Papa K picked them up. Then Dad picked them up from there, and they came home. Darling had gotten up at 5:15 before I left that morning. I thought she'd nap well during the day - nope! She napped one hour. So I thought she'd go to bed easy - nope! She tossed and kicked. I finally got back up with her and we trucked around a bit. She finally hit the hay about 11:30. Ridiculous!!!!

Friday, I thought it started at 7 again, so I got up at 4:30 to be ready to go in time. Well, at 5:30, our guest mentioned she thought it started at 8. We got out the schedule and she was right!! We were an hour ahead of schedule. I couldn't believe it!! The kids visited with Gma & Gpa W who were down to watch the younger ones til they woke up. I putzed until we were ready to leave. Another busy day at the Tournament. I think we got home about 7:30 Friday night. We planned to visit with our company no matter how late, because we had hardly had a chance to see each other with how busy everyone was at the Tournament. We visited, listened to speeches, and laughed our way through the next couple of hours. They were so fun!!

Saturday I got to sleep until 5:30!! I arrived at the the site by 7:30 for judges training. I judged debate - hard! Then I got a break for an hour or so.
At home: Dh, Dime, and Drum left for the CAP volleyball tournament at 10, and the younger kids were picked up by Gpa K at 11. Dot and Deer were picked up by Gma & Gpa W at 11:45 to come join me at the Tournament in case Dot broke into finals in her persuasive. (She didn't.)

W's had a great time listening to speeches! They laughed and laughed!! They left about 4:30. Dot and Deer stayed for the first half of awards. Their good friend, Tori, finished 3rd in her OI!!! They cheered for her, and then left at 6 with a friend who took them to the CAP lock-in.
I stayed until the end, collected the kid's ballots, helped clean up a bit, and then left for home after 7. I picked up some supper and a much longed for coke. My Dad brought the younger three home (They had had a blast of a day with cousins!), and we headed up to bed to read until not even coke was going to keep me awake. You would think everyone would sleep like a log - but nope! Darling was up every two hours until 5 am. She finally slept sound until after 11 am. I heard the older four and Dh come home just before 7 am from the Lock-In. They just crashed.

We slept sound most of the morning, then slowly putzed our way throughout the day. I was just as happy for bed last night. (Darling finally slept well.) I lost my much favored charm that goes on the necklace I got fixed on Wednesday for $18, so I went through 6 bags of garbage last night trying to find it. Nope. It was in a kleenex, which I meant to put in a baggie, but forgot with everything else on the brain. I thought I might have tossed in the garbage inadvertantly, when I cleaned out my purse getting ready for the weekend. I didn't cry about it, since I'm not a crier, but wish I could. I would shed a bucket. It said Faith, Hope, Love on it, which is what my close friend in China has on her necklace in Chinese.

We decided to take off school today, so we get to catch up on sleep and laundry, etc. Well, Dime has school to finish from last week, then he's going to a friend's house. We have CAP tonight and Drum & Dime are promoting. I need to pay bills plus laundry. So I guess it is really not a day off in that sense, but at least I got to sleep in and had time to blog!! Right!! :-)