{Back to School 2011}

We survived the first week of school!!

I always look forward to this time of year...being able to get back to a more structured routine....new pencils...fresh notebooks.....ball season is just around the corner....I just love it! I'm pretty sure that Blake does not share my enthusiasm as noted by the lovely smile he sports for our traditional "back to school" photo. I keep trying to tell him, that someday, he'll thank me for the photo documentation :)

If ever there was a doubt regarding Blake's rapid growth....see above pictures! He has grown about 6 inches and is a towering 6'5" now. This is awesome for playing basketball and I'm sure the coaches would like to see him grow even more, but give a momma a break! It's hard to keep up with jeans, shoes, and the amount of food he puts away!!

Blake is all about punctuality. He had two different friends, Sydney & Michael, offer him rides for the first day....his dad and I both offered to take him....but none of us were leaving early enough for him. He leaves the house every morning around 7:25am to walk the two blocks to school, so he can be there early.

It's already been a challenging year. Blake isn't really used to having to do very much homework. Most of the time, he's able to finish it at school and he has an incredible memory....but this year he is finding homework a necessity. He's taking AP World History and spent 3 hours one night doing homework for that class. Hopefully, he'll find his rhythm soon and it won't be quite such a daunting task.

Check out other Back To School traditions over at Kelly's Blog...a fellow Arkansan :)

{Sweet 16}

Blake turned 16 on Monday and we (Blake, Quentin, Me, Matt, & Mallorye) went to TaMolly's for a little birthday celebration and some good food. It also happened to be the night that the "balloon man" was there and he made Blake this awesome birthday hat to wear! I don't know how many balloons he used, but this is just AWESOME! and was a great subsitute for a party until we could do that a few days later.....

Friday we finally were able to really celebrate at a small party held on the church grounds....

Boys are so much different than girls....all he wanted was a bunch of his guy friends to hang out and play laser tag and a cookie cake. No fuss. No decorations. I have to admit, it felt weird for me to give a party for one of my kids with so little preparation, but the clean up was much MUCH better! Quentin grilled burgers and dogs for the guys and I just set the food out :)

{Noah, Jake, Blake, Andy, Brady, Drake, & Chase}

It was also strange to have an all guy party. These guys are crazy, but really good kids. We couldn't ask for a better bunch for him to befriend.

{Josh, affectionately known as JJ by the youth and Blake}

Blake is very blessed to have a youth pastor that truly invests in the lives of his youth. He came by for a bit and had a burger and showed the boys he still has what it takes in a game of laser tag.

{Blake & Noah}
All geared up for a few games of laser tag. Which basically looked like the video game "Modern Warfare" in live action...without the blood of course (unless you count what they lost to the mosquitoes)

I think the guys had a great time....now the fun begins....Blake is an official driver...old enough to date...to get a job....

I wonder if he'll keep his room clean ;)

{All About Basketball}

I'm sitting here after midnight, wide awake, and thinking about all the projects that I have looming....but this is basketball season...and life is mainly consumed by practice schedules, traveling across NE Arkansas, ballgames, and more...but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blake has really shined this year and has been the leading scorer on many games. At 6'4" he's proving to be a force to be reckoned with. He's an incredible defensive player with arms that seem to reach for miles and pick off passes easily. It has just been amazing to watch him this year...and every game he gets a little bit better.

He's also had quite the fan base this year and most games he has at least 5 or 6 people that have come to watch him and at times as many as 15. I know that has to make him feel good to see all these people in the stands cheering him on.

The fan club.....mostly family...or those that might as well be :)

Blake getting the ball in bounds....

Blake (24), Chase (34), and Dylan (22)...going for the defensive trap. These boys do a phenomenal job of pressing the other team and trapping them.


Love his intensity.....


...it's about teamwork

Blake gets to go to the free throw line quite a bit...and has a decent percentage. I tell him all the time...these are the gimme shots...always the same distance...always undefended...and always should result in points on the board...{he laughs at me}

one of my favorite pictures.....

The season is quickly coming to an end....only 4 more games! I can't believe it's almost over. Right now the boys are sitting 1st in conference with an 8-1 conference record and an overall record of 17-4. Monday they face they're rival and toughest competition....and we're hoping for great things :) It will be an intense game...but I think we're ready.

So...for a few more weeks....it's all about basketball!

Smile Complete

Really, what is the point in having a blog if you can't use it to embarrass you children?

Wednesday was a banner day in the Bales' house...Blake got his braces off...after nearly 2 years! We have now successfully put 3 of our family of 4 through the brave world of orthodontic treatment...and beautiful smiles of course.

I was not able to go to this visit, but my best bud Misty, happens to work at the Furgus/Burris Orthodontic office and thought to snap these photos for me! That is a great friend!

The staff singing to Blake after he got his braces removed...I think this made him just a little "red-faced."

Receiving his water bottle (that I will use) filled with all the candy he wasn't supposed to eat during his orthodontic treatment (which I'm sure he ate most of what was in there while the braces were on).

And here we are...with our new smile!

Thank you Dr. Burris & Dr. Fergus! (check them out...they're the best...and coolest!)

Schools In Sessoin

Yes, that's right. School is back in full swing...and while I would love to share with you the fabulous first day pictures, I cannot. Why? Because my SD Card apparently is bad...according to my computer...and I have no idea how to get those pictures off of that SD Card. (if anyone knows I would be forever indebted)

Ok...so how'd the first day go?

Great. Well, for the most part. Everyone got up on time, out the door on time, to school on time...all major accomplishments.

Mallorye got to make a grand entrance with her class to the "classic" song "Ice Ice Baby"...these Seniors...I tell ya, they are crazy! I still can't believe this is her last year. I think she was feeling a little nostalgic...I know I was. I think the only "mishap" of the day was that somehow she was in Boys Choir and had to get that changed, which ended up knocking her out of College Algebra and into AP Calculus...she's none too happy about that.

Blake insisted on arriving at school at 7:20am and was really excited. As an 8th grader this year, he's top dog in his building...lol! His "mishap" was leaving his gym bag at school...somewhere...he couldn't remember where...ugh~boys!

It's been crazy busy...as always...and already my calendar is filling up with parties and ballgames and teacher conferences and..and...and...but I love it. I love being a mom and being busy with and for my kids. Too soon these days will be gone and I'll be staring at a blank calendar wishing for something to fill my days. But for now, I'll sleep little, drive much, laugh often, and love always.

Hopefully, one of you will send me a solution to my SD Card problem and I'll post pictures with the kids version of the first week....until then...

Wired Up

Meet "wired up" boy!...I really think he looks like a unibomber, but didn't know if that was appropriate?!

I know I've been MIA...computer at home is still not back online and it's driving me insane...something wrong with the wireless adaptor driver...or some mumbo-jumbo like that.

Anyway, thought I'd do a very quick update. Yesterday I spent the day at the hospital with Blake getting hooked up to a Holter Monitor. He's been having some episodes of rapid heart rate (150+BPM), shortness of breath, and chest pain. This started in 2006 while his dad was in Iraq, but recently have started up again. The doctors think he's suffering from panic disorder, but are checking his heart again to make sure. I don't think it's his heart, but I don't think it's panic either. I just want some clear answers and not just settling for a diagnosis. So, what to do? The doctor wants us to go in for a psych eval...I'm just not sure I'm cofortable with that...any suggestions.

Ok, I hope my internet gets worked out at home soon...I've got some awesome pix to share with you guys from our weekend...Blue Angels Air Show...we had a blast and you guys need in on the fun!

Something New To Perfect

Quentin's brother, Warren, just moved home after 20 years, from Pennsylvania. The kids have never really had an opportunity to get to know Uncle Warren...I think he's been home three times since Mallorye was born...so they're eating up their time with him.

Warren loves music. He had a band in PA and even has written some of his own songs. Well, it's no secret that we love music around our house too...and Warren has offered to teach the kids to play guitar. Blake had his first lesson yesterday and learned the "G" chord. He actually has picked up on it pretty quickly and is working on the "D" chord this week.

Here's some pix...doesn't he just look like a country singer??

Guest Blogger-Blake

I thought I'd let my kiddos tell you how their first week of school went instead of my trying to write their thoughts. WARNING! I did not change any grammatical or spelling errors...this is just the way he typed it! Welcome, Guest Blogger #1, Blake...a 7th grader at PJHS.

Well the week is almost over and its pretty much good. I have alot of classes with my friends. My favorite class is science with Mr. Dial and isshe. Isshe the class pet and its a 4' 4# ball python. Today i got to watch isshe eat a black and white mouse. I also got to put isshe on my shoulders the past couple of days after school....it's cool. My least favorite class is english. I don't like it because...umm
Inside a 7th grade backpack

The vast array of pens & pencils needed for a 7th grader

What Blake would rather be doing and does everyday after school before supper...his way of unwinding he tells us...lol.

My Little Man

Blake has always been my snuggler. When he was a baby he would nestle into the nook in my neck....now, as a 12 year old, he still crawls up in momma's lap and snuggles. We have unique bond. I'm not sure, but it may come from the early years being in and out of the doctor's and hospitals.

Blake is the nurturer in the family (even more than I am) and is extremely tenderhearted. He never wants to hurts someone's feelings, and is very compassionate. He's one of those that doesn't understand when you don't empty your wallet to help someone less fortunate...but don't let that tender exterior fool you.

He is all boy! He loves sports of every kind....baseball, basketball, football, soccer, even racquetball...and he's good at all of them. I've never seen Blake pick up a ball he didn't know what to do with. He's also an avid outdoorsman. Fishing and hunting. This year he killed his first deer and duck.

We're just entering our teen years with Blake and they are proving to be a bit challenging. Just this week we had an incident that landed him in "groundedville." but I seen the repentance in his eyes...that's what I love about him. He does everything wholeheartedly...if he's sorry...he's genuinely sorry. If he's playing basketball...he plays with all heart.

All heart, that's my Blake....and no doubt, he'll break many along the way and comfort twice that much.