If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.  ~Author Unknown

Each and every child of the tribe is so unique. I sit for hours and ponder what they will be when they “grow up”.

I was not the least bit surprised when Nick, the level headed and patient, oldest child announced that he was majoring in education. His dream…to become a high school coach. Nick has always been my old soul. Mature beyond his years. A voice of reason in my sometimes chaotic world. Dependable, honest…often referred to as Mr. Black and white. Nothing is grey in his world, there is right and wrong…and for Nick doing the right thing is the only choice. He is every mothers dream … I often wondered if the responsibility to pave the way for the other 5 was too heavy a burden. Nick has proved year after year to be up to the challenge. As the oldest child and oldest boy he has not expected the other children to walk in his shoes as they grow up, but instead he has chosen to create a path for them to follow. One that is paved with wisdom and good advice…I often tell people that Nick turned out so good in spite of me. The reality is we grew up together and I have to say we both came out mighty darn good.

Nick is now in the final years of college.  Observing and helping out the Middle School football team thanks to a friends kind recommendation. I feel mighty old watching him on the field…it was not to long ago that I remember watching him, pads bigger than he was, running out for the opening kickoff.

I can not wait to see where this journey will take him.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

This one time at band camp…

Yup I got a band geek…okay with me cause I was a band geek too. I did not play an instrument but I was in the color guard (flag, rifle and even a majorette).

Cassie plays sweet music to my ears on her clarinet…she even impressed Hondo as they played the Michigan Fight Song with each touchdown.

I have always said that Sassie-Cassie marches to the beat of her own drummer…maybe it was the beat of middle school band…who knows.

What I do know is I am very proud of the “baby” as she makes her own mark on the tribe.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

WOOHOO we won !

 

Way to go Mason Creek Wolves, we won our second game against Chesnut Log Middle School.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

He who can be a good son will be a good father.

There are times when I look at Nick and am amazed at how much he looks like his father. This is one of those pictures.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Here kitty kitty kitty

I am seriously thinking about shaving Ms. LulaBelle.  I adore this cat, she cracks me up, but she is shedding all over my house.  I have to keep my couch covered in a sheet, there is white hair on EVERYTHING.  You can tell she is quite worried about it huh?

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Dallas and Deacon

You know that feeling you get when you hold a baby…you grind your teeth so hard that your jaw hurts, to keep from squeezing that bundle of joy too tight….that is the closest description I can give you as to how I feel when my guys look at me and smile.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

The spirit of the tribe

In true tribe fashion, we all turned out to support Allie at her first game. As a family we have filled a row of bleachers at baseball games, football games, basketball games, soccer games, dance recitals, wrestling matches, awards ceremonies, band concerts…well you get the picture.

Depending on the mood of the tribe we have brought air horns, posters and signs, milk jugs filled with pennies to rattle…heck anything to show our support for whatever member of the tribe we needed to embarrass….I mean cheer on.

We are masters of the wave, there are families in the county that actually move when we sit down…but by golly we have fun, and there is never a member of our family that does not “feel the love”.

Knowing this Allie begged and pleaded with us to behave…we were told not to howl like a wolf (the mascot), instructed not to dance(really? but we all are so good)…not to, well, be ourselves.

Knowing how important this day was we decided to cut her some slack…I mean there are 10 games this season right? I have all the time in the world to embarrass her.

Guess Nick and Noah did not get the memo…you can imagine my surprise as the girls headed out to perform at half time …and I look up and see my boys ripping off their shirts, slogans proclaiming their love of Allie written on the front and back…

No sense to put a good shirt to waste , of course I said yes, when they asked if they could run up and down the fence.

AND THIS PEOPLE IS WHAT MAKES A LARGE FAMILY THE MOSTEST FUN IN THE WHOLE WIDE WONDERFUL WORLD.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Give me an M!

Allie’s first game…yes we lost but we won in spirit.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

No really Mom, I am not tired at all….

Take a weeks worth of cheer practice, first pep rally, first game, spend the nights, school and all the other stuff that fills a teenagers day and what do you get?

A kid sleeping with the lights on…TV going…fully dressed…sitting up right…sound asleep.

Priceless.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Yet another do

 

 

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like.  ~Author Unknown

When you have thick and curly hair not just any hairstylist will do.

I used the same woman to cut my hair for almost 10 years…and then we moved and life as I knew it ceased to exist. I turned to trying to color my own hair and I even let Noel trim the back once or twice. I mean I have been to bad stylist and I was just not willing to take a chance. About 2 years ago I attempted a color change only to end up looking like a Strawberry Shortcake doll.  I knew at that moment it was time to try to find someone…well that and I could not go out of the house with my current hair color without scaring dogs and small children.

Enter the “hair angel” Lori…Lori has successfully taken me from very long hair to an ultra modern and hip, short, mature look.  We have modified it over the last 2 years, let it grow a bit for the summer, played with the color…but the results are always the same.  I leave her salon a little poorer, but always feeling my inner diva has been released and is about to take Atlanta by storm.

Last week was no different. I went in with picture in hand and the belief that I could still have fun with my hair at 40+, even if I could not have electric blue hair. The result was exactly what I was looking for, a little flirty, asymmetrical and not a cut I had seen on anyone else. Love love love it.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Seriously?

 

 

I am on a blog roll…its raining…the Cowboys are playing…I mean come on! I have a million pictures saved up…and I am feeling quite witty…always a GREAT combination.

Hondo just yelled up the stairs…I need help we have a leak! Seriously?

Yup our new basements is leaking from all this dang rain…not sure where it is coming from…really don’t care…I am BLOGGING!

I am off to help figure out where it is coming from (but not before I blog about it :)

Guess I better get downstairs he is using words that are making the dogs ears bleed…

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Happy Birthday Noel

Noel 3 months old

 Noel 2 years old

  Noel 10 years old

Noel 15 years old (worst Birthday ever)

15 years ago on September 12th I gave birth to the oldest girl of the tribe. There is definitely a story behind why I prayed so hard and was so specific during my pregnancy regarding the sex of my unborn child….but I am going to save that story until Noah’s birthday next month.

The specifics? I asked for a dark haired, dark eyed girl with sunshine in her soul.  People laugh when I tell them that…but I prayed the same thing every waking moment and I am sure sometimes in my sleep. I had thought so much about what she was going to look like, sound like, smell like…I almost felt as if I already knew her when she came.

Noel is exactly what I prayed for…and then some. Funny, witty (she gets that from me), her happiness is contagious, she is driven and has the ability to make friends in seconds and light up a room on entry. She is a joy in every sense. A true animal lover….her compassion and love reminds me of my youth, bringing home every stray I found (my mother was much more tolerant than I am). She wears her heart on her sleeve…dances with a grace I can only dream of (Aunt Erin has officially cried at EVERY dance recital)…and I know that the world is hers for the taking.

This year Noel had big plans for the big “one five”. Party, cake, the works. Unfortunately the world of Influenza put a stop to any plans…you know your child is sick when she says I called everyone and told them to stay home :(

So we did the best we could…ice cream for a sore throat…gifts on the couch…and we did not sing because her head hurt to bad.

My dear daughter, you beam bright joy on everyone you meet, I treasure your uniqueness,  I feel blessed to be your mom and I wish you a better birthday next year!

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Can you rise to the challenge?

 

Coming from a military family…my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin, my father and my sister just to name a few…something happens when I see someone in uniform. Whether it is in the airport, the grocery store, the mall…you name it…..it makes me stand a little bit taller, smile a little wider…and if its a flight suit…it has the ability to take my breath away.

I chose a different path than many of my friends and family.  I specifically chose a life as far away from the military as possible.  I wanted to raise my children in a small town…give them roots.  This in NO way takes away from the beautiful memories I have of my fathers years of service to my country. I just knew that this was not for me.

Ben has decided that this is SO for him. He has joined JROTC…he has embraced the military WHOHA attitude and he now leaves the house in the morning dressed to a tee, with his shoes shined, his clothes pressed and a sense of pride in his step.

I know that somewhere up in heaven my grandfather is saluting him, smiling that he got at least one to march in his combat boots and laughing as he goes nose to nose with his 1st SGT.

This picture was taken at 7 in the morning while he was trying to get breakfast…hence the frown lol.

Very proud indeed.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Allie’s First Pep Rally

It was with much pleasure and pride that Hondo and I went to the very first ever Mason Creek Middle School pep rally. This is the first year for the school…and Allie’s first year as a cheerleader. By all accounts it was one of the best one’s I have ever been to (I may be a little prejudiced since this is one of my schools AND my daughter cheers for them). Go Wolves!

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Hey Mom look at me!

 

I just want to scream that from the roof tops when I have made it through a tough week!

Hondo is finally home from his two week trip. We typically only have one or two of these a year. Most trips are a week at most, and happen about every other week.  HOWEVER every couple of months we get the travel trip on steroids…2 weeks straight…Mom on her own with the tribe…and it never fails that “SOMETHING” crazy happens…we have had broken bones, a case of pink eye that lasted 10 days, the dogs ate half the house…..you get the idea!

This trip was no different…chaos and madness.  The day he left I did not feel so great, with in 24 hours I had a wonderful case of Influenza A…with in days 3 of the 6 kids had tested positive…and for two weeks I passed out Tylenol, Motrin, Dimetap, Benedryl and Tamiflu. Lots of Kleenex, lots of Chicken Noodle Soup and lots of tears (mine not theirs). Kids still had to get to Cheerleading practice, laundry, grocery shopping, dogs and cat to take care of, kids driven back and forth to school, birthday parties and I actually had to work. Today is the 20th of September and Noel has not been in school since the 12th. Of all of us she got hit the hardest.

All whining aside, and believe me I did PLENTY, we have successfully made it through the storm.  The worst part of getting sick might have been having to cancel my beer and movie spend the night I had planned with my BFF Pammy….we don’t get to spend any quality time together and I was soooooo looking forward to chilling and gossiping.

BUT here we are, a little stronger for having made it…a little more immune and not afraid on the Flu this year….and a lot more thankful every time Hondo’s plane lands.

As a side note… while talking to Hondo on the phone, the day before he came home, he was asking if it was safe to come home.  “Safe” I ask…”yes safe” he says. “What alternative is there? Of course it is safe…plus I kinda could use the help” I say. “Well I was wondering if maybe I should get a hotel room until this passes through the house” he says. Due to the fact that I do not write curse words on my blog I can not write what I  said next…”Of course I will be coming home sweetie” he says…..right answer.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Another great dog moment!

For those dog lovers out there I feel as if I need to write a disclaimer...no dogs were hurt in the making of this movie lol I know it sounds like it at one point (Deacon got a little fiesty with Dallas)...but they are big dogs and they play hard...maybe even a little harder when a ball is involved!



It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.

Babs

Don't wait for your ship to come in - swim out to it.

We are lucky to live in a lake community. We are even luckier to have "2" dogs that now love to swim.

Over the last few months Dallas has sat on the bank while Deacon enjoyed a dip in the lake. Being the ball hog she is, Dallas was not happy to sit on the sidelines while Deacon retrieved everything from a ball to a pine cone.

I think Hondo was even more unhappy then Dallas... as my dog swam and his sat whining like a baby on the shore. More than one weekend was spent with him trying to think of ways to entice her into the water. She would tiptoe out until it got about to her knees and then run like she had been shot to shake and roll in the grass. Since our family turns EVERYTHING into a competition..it became my dog against his...of course mine was "swimming" away with the best dog title.

A couple of weekends ago we headed down to the lake and Hondo said " I feel it...this is going to be the day!". Imagine our surprise when Dallas jumped in, as if she had been doing it everyday and took the ball right out of Deacons mouth. I have to wonder how many private conversations Hondo and Dallas had...I can just hear him now telling her " You are a swimmer...I just know you are".

We now have 2 dogs to bathe after a lake afternoon...and we have now begun convestations with "My dog swims faster than yours". I take great comfort in the fact that my dog did it first!


It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

Bacon Explosion

I bought Hondo a smoker for his birthday. We have smoked chickens, fajitas, brisket and pork chops. Looking for a recipe to test our skills we turned to an online search. While piddling around the house I could hear Hondo talking to himself...ribs, yea maybe....hate to do pork again...guess we could do a beer can chicken....then I hear "oh yea baby"...in this house I know what is coming next...and I know that it's easier to get a hard hat and jump in then it is to argue. So I turned the corner into the office knowing that we were about to embark on another tribe adventure.

You can imagine my surprise when I am told we are going to make a "Bacon Explosion" for dinner. I read the recipe and instantly my arteries harden. I asked him "are you sure?" His response "It's not like we eat this everyday...how bad can it be?" I will tell you how bad...upon further investigation I discover that one 1/2 slice contains 1000 calories...yes 1000 freakin calories!!! Now I LOVE LOVE LOVE bacon. My kids will tell you that they get embarrassed at all you can eat breakfast bars by the amount of bacon I can eat...but even this seemed over the top for this bacon lover.

So off to the store to get the supplies...4 pounds of bacon, 4 pounds of Italian sausage, 2 bottles of BBQ sauce and dry rub. As with every recipe we had to double it to feed this crew on a Sunday (no telling who will drop by).

I figured if I am going to blow my diet... I am going to blow my diet!!!!! I added some homemade Mac and Cheese, corn on the cob with real butter and a couple of loaves of french bread...some chocolate cake to top it off and I have officially gained 10 pounds.

The link to make the Bacon Explosion http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/

I made it exactly like the site said and I am proud to admit that it looked just like the pictures. It was amazing, I will have to give Hondo that, but I am dieing if I am lying...you could feel your body shut down bite by bite. Nick actually said that his chest hurt after he ate it. Not to mention that you have to fry bacon to place in the middle of the roll...luckily I bought an extra pound because I ate two pieces for every piece I put inside.

My advice? Try it...just make sure you call and get a prescription for some Lipitor. Did not have high cholesterol before? You do now.

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

Is nothing sacred?

No, to answer that question, nothing is in this house. We were out by the lake the other day and I sat in a bunch of cement dust. I had it all over my hands and when Hondo walked by I patted him on the bootie and let him pass on by. I know he had to think something was up when Ben and I kept giggleing....in true Hondo form he ignored us and went about playing with the dogs and talking to the family that was feeding the fish. Yes, Yes, Yes I know this is childish...yes I know this is where the children get it...but sometimes nothing feels better than a good giggle with the kids....plus he had a PERFECT impression of my hand on his fannie...I am giggleing as I write this....sorry baby!

We finally let him in on the "secret" before he sat in the car.


It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

I am 48 years old. That is 9 degrees Celsius.

Middle age is the time when a man is always thinking that in a week or two he will feel as good as ever. ~Don Marquis



The 3 amigos waiting for birthday cake.





We celebrated a birthday with the tribe this month. Hondo turned 48....and looks pretty darn good for his age if I so say myself.

Presents, family, a cake (yes that is homeade carrot cake with homemade frosting) and chicken smoked over mesquite....I think he would tell you that in his eyes it was as close to perfection as you can get.

Maam called to wish him a Happy Birthday...but unfortunately she called on the wrong date...apparently she wrote it in the calendar wrong. This caused more than a little laugh...we actually rolled, hooted and fell out of our chair. In the first part of May I too made the same mistake. In writing down dates from one calendar to another I placed a birthday on the wrong day. Unfortunately that birthday was my mothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was in the middle of my May meltdown...what ever ...you don't get your own mothers birthday wrong!!!!!!!!! Sigh...I did...and I could not apologize enough...I was horrified. Hondo now thinks there is an insanity gene running through the Farmer/Foley women.....I have told him it sure does and I am proud of it.


It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

Happy Anniversary!

My wake up call the morning of my anniversary.......why should this morning be any different? I can not imagine my life any other way !






It is hard to believe that I have only been married a year...it is hard to believe that I have BEEN married a whole year. I began to talk to Tom in December 2001...we went on out first date early 2002...and the rest is Caplinger history. Never one to follow the rules we did things our way...making them work for our family...and making memories as we went along.

So here we are one year later...celebrating the words that united this family. Yes I insisted that we write our own vows...not knowing how difficult they would be and that I would not finish mine until an hour before the wedding. I think Erin and Taylor were the only ones I told...until today :)..I still remember Erin sitting with me the morning of the wedding as we got our nails done...I had just come clean about not having vows because I had SOOOOO much I wanted to say...she just looked at me and said "are you SH**ING me? write the words off a cereal box but just write something, no way I am telling Tom or Mom that you don't have them!" She also kept everyone entertained as I snuck downstairs and put to paper what had been thinking about all month.

Tom:
Shannon, today I take you to be my wife. I promise to you, to work together to create a good marriage, one in which the little things are the big things. I promise to never be to old to hold your hand, to remember to say I love you at least once a day and to never go to sleep angry. I promise not to look for perfection but to cultivate flexibility, patience and understanding and a sense of humor. I promise to love you without reservation. Because of you I laugh, I smile and I dare to dream again. I look forward with great joy to spend the rest of my life with you, caring for you, nurturing you, being there for you in all life has for us, and I vow to grow old by your side as your love and best friend as long as we both shall live.
EIA IHO NO KA MALUHIA O NA LANI ME OUKOU A PAU (The peace and serenity of the heavens be with you all) And so it is....AMEN and ALOHA!


Shannon:
I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you to love me. I give myself to you and I promise to treasure for all of my days the love we celebrate today. I take you as my friend, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us. From this day forward you shall not walk alone....my heart will be your shelter.


It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

Give me an M...Give me an C

Allie front and center

Allie attended her first cheer leading camp this summer. From the time she started Kindergarten all we have heard about is how she was going to be a cheerleader in middle school.

This summer all her little girl dreams came true as she was picked for the middle school cheer team and attended her first camp....no smile was bigger...no voice louder...as she showed us, during parent day, what she had learned....and no parent smiled bigger or was prouder than the two of us sitting up in the bleachers.

It is hard to believe what this family has been through over the last 7 years...and how happy these kids are...

Of course it would not be a Caplinger event if we did not embarrass the kids in some way right? During the entire performance Hondo danced to the music...made wolf noises for the mascot...and gave them the "M" when they yelled give me an "M". Not sure who is going to sit with him during the games but it won't be me!

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs

I hate budget cuts!

I am alive...barely...have not read email or Facebook since Friday....will get caught up this weekend....work is the pits with all the budget cuts but just proud to have a job!

It may never be easy but it will always be worth it.
Babs