Bowling Boot Camp

I recently took a quiz from a financial advisor regarding how much I knew about future college costs. Did you know that, by the time my boys will be ready to start college in 2023, the average cost for 4 years at an in-state public college will be $192,000? And 4 years at a private college will average $392,000?

Yowzer.

So we sat the boys down and told them that we were going to start some intense physical training in order to score an athletic scholarship to help pay for college someday. We asked them what sport they wanted to focus on and, oddly enough, Caleb chose bowling. Must be something about getting to throw something and knock a bunch of stuff down over and over.

So we got his ball and pins out and started training.

I think we might have pushed it too hard for his first training session.

He tired way too easily.

We are never going to make it to the Olympics at this rate!

I don't think he is really taking his future seriously.

**Editor's Note - No 3 year olds were actually put through any rigorous training during the making of this blog post**

City House

We went to the North Texas Children's Expo this past weekend. The event benefitted City House, which is a local shelter in Plano for homeless, runaway or abandoned youth. It is the ONLY teen shelter in Collin County, which has a population of over 762,000 people! Here is how City House got started:

In the late 1980s, two Plano school teachers noticed some of their students arriving at school with all their belongings in trash bags. The students would store the trash bags in their lockers during the day and take the bags with them when they left school at the end of the day. Upon investigation, the teachers discovered these students were homeless.

The teachers’ reaction was ‘not in this community!’ The thought of homeless youth was intolerable to these teachers. They immediately began working on ways to provide a safe shelter for teens in crisis. The community rallied to the cause and the first facility was opened in 1989. It was a 6 bed shelter in a house owned by the First Baptist Church. That was the birth of CITY House. For 20 years, CITY House has been providing a safe environment for 10 to 17 year olds.

I honestly cannot read that description without feeling emotional...first, because of the actions of those two teachers. Second, because there are actually kids in this suburban community with so many resources and so much wealth that do not have a place to call home. What began as a 6 bed shelter is now a 15 bed shelter!

This Christmas, as you are preparing your gift lists for family and friends, consider buying a few things to donate to your local homeless shelter. Most of them have "wish lists" you can find either online or by giving them a call. Or, to make it really easy, buy a gift card to Target or WalMart and drop it off to them. If you live in Collin County, check out the City House website and view their Shelter Wish List for needed items! You'll be glad you did :-)

Some Big Shoes to Fill

We have some pretty cool friends named Mike and Janessa.

Mike and Janessa like to hang out with our boys, and our boys like to hang out with Mike and Janessa.

Mike is one of a small handful of people on the planet that Caleb really likes. Let's just say Caleb can be aloof. But when we leave and Mike is just sitting quietly on the couch (as Mike likes to do, usually while reading a book) Caleb will come and sit right next to him.

And Janessa brings Pringles, so her and the boys are best friends forever automatically.

Caleb loves to wear Mike's shoes.

Seth prefers Janessa's boots. He likes to be prepared in all types of weather.

We are glad to have the kind of friends that don't mind our kids tromping all around

the house in their shoes. Thanks guys.

Our little Picasso

Remember yesterday's sneak peek pic?

Gabriel was the closest. It is, in fact...

the TV in our bedroom. The weapon of choice was

and he made sure to smear some all over the top of the dresser for good measure.

The accused:

Innocent. Angelic. Sweet. How could he EVER do such a thing?

Hmm. On second thought...

30 Posts in 30 Days

My friend Amy had this posted on her blog today, and I thought it would be a fun challenge. I really do like blogging - it is very therapeutic and a great creative outlet. I just haven't seemed to have a lot of motivation or energy for it lately. So let's see if a good old fashioned challenge can give me a little kick start.

So I am going for 30 posts in 30 days for the month of November!

Here is a little preview for tomorrow's post...can you guess what this is a picture of?