Misc

Baby Bauer is 22 weeks old!! He and Mama Hallie are doing great!

So Hallie had been tossing a boy name around in her head for a while and finally told Josh one day.  She had already pretty much decided on it.  What she wasn't prepared for was the reaction from him and everyone else.  Well, she couldn't have been, because she is not a child of the 80s.  You see, she fell in love with the name Maverick.  Which is Tom Cruise's nickname in Top Gun.  Where he plays a pilot.  Josh is a pilot.  So yes, everyone thought she was trying to be cheesy, but she just honestly loved the name.  I was shocked  that she had never seen the movie, and ashamed that I had never made her watch it (because I did my share of forcing her and Abby to watch the "classics" ).  So one night she spent the night with us and we got it on Netflix.  Finally, the mysterious namesake was revealed.  But it did not deter her in anyway.  

 Presenting:  Maverick Jackson Bauer!!

Jacob came downstairs one morning with something wrong with his attire....  (giggle giggle)

BBall!!

Jacob on the right

Jacob guarding right in the middle (oh the boy can guard)

Playing with friends before the game started (my fave part)

Jacob's bed(s) are actually a bunk bed that can be taken apart and made into two twin beds.  This bunk bed has been around since Jon first divorced and bought furniture for Hallie and Abby.  So it definitely hold sentimental value.  We've been married 14 years, dated 2 (?), so it is at least that old. Well, leave it to the boy to break it.  

 It happened one night, late, so Jon's quick fix was, well, books.

 But upon further inspection the next day, we realized it was broken way worse than we thought, and Jon would basically have to rebuild it to make it safe.  So, off to the garbage it went.  Jon was actually sad about it.  RIP ol' bunk bed half.

There is a lady here in Collierville who takes old books and cuts letters out of them.  Kinda weird, kinda cool.  Mom got me one, in the shape of an S of course, and made sure to ask the lady for a 1973 book (the year I was born) and gave it to me for my birthday.  I love it.  

Hallie and Zo.

Jacob with his new headphones he got for Valentine's day:  an awesome Amazon deal-normally $200, on sale for $35. Who the heck pays $200 for headphones??!!

 He loves them.  I have to say, they really are very good headphones.

Hallie and Jaybob making ice cream.

I can't even remember why all these blankets and pillows were downstairs on the couch, but they were and when I walked into the living room, Maggie had buried herself in them.

She just does this sometimes.  She is the quirkiest dog.

First of all, every day in my phone calendar has at LEAST 3 reminders.  And seriously, if there are only 3, it is a slow day.  But the reason I wanted to save this one is because somehow I have become a sort of mama to some of the employees at work.  I am really loving it actually.  I think it is tapping into the part of teaching that I liked the most.  The middle reminder says, "remind Mischler to bring her outline."  Mischler is an employee, whose first name is Jennifer but we have more than one Jennifer working for us so we call them both by their last names.  Anyway, Mischler has started going back to school and is totally stressed out about the English class so I told her I would help.  She told me one day, "oh, I have my first paper due next week.  Do you still feel like looking at it for me?" Sure, I say.  Then she says, "Ok, remind me to bring it Monday."  What? ME remind YOU to bring something YOU want MY help with?? I made fun of her, scolded her, and then put the reminder in my phone.  Just as I would do for my own child.

I was filling out paperwork for Jacob's school and put down Hallie's name, as I always do, for an emergency contact, but accidentally wrote her old last name  :(

Abby at Cheer Leading Nationals.  What? you ask.  I thought she wasn't cheering, you say.  Well, she wasn't. But the cheer team decided they needed one more person to make their routine better, got together and voted on past members, and picked Abby.  Then they put together a dance that raised money to pay for Abby's uniform and way to Nationals. Okaaaaay.  Not a bad way to spend Senior Year I'd say...

That is Abby's reddish pony tail on the right.

 

Hallie wrote into a bride magazine and her engagement was featured in it.  This happened back when they got engaged, I think I just forgot to post about it in here.

 Praying before the basketball game.  See how serious all the kids are??

Here the ref is going over rules.  Rules that the kids are about to ignore, and he is about to not enforce.  This league was perfect for what I wanted-cheap and low competitiveness to give Jacob the chance to see if he really likes basketball (he does)- but good grief it is difficult to watch from the stands. I would actually be worried about whether it was doing permanent damage to his understanding of how the game is supposed to be played, except we only PLAYED 6 GAMES AND ONLY PRACTICED 3 TIMES.  Low key? Well, I got it.

The class picture.  Thank goodness for a scanner.  Because I hated to not preserve the memory, but I really did not want to pay $10 for this mess. 

 Watching the super bowl, wearing a Bronco's jersey and a Raven's hat.

 At halftime I sent him to take a shower.  Not only did he come down in pajama pants representing last year's winner, but he completely lost interest in watching the game.  #littleboytoes

 Jacob's Valentine Card bag for school.  Yep. Lots of boy effort there.

 Our nephew Ben, the one on the far left, got married.  This is the family from Jon's side who made it to the wedding (in Atlanta). 

Hallie and her cousin Jennifer have always been close. 

Last fall we found out that one of Abby's friends had cancer.  They have been friends for a while, have gone to a couple dances together.  She has been a great friend to him-gone with him to his chemo appointments and other things.  This was the dance that the cheer team set up to raise money for her to go to Nationals, and she asked him to go with her.  Awesome girl, that Abby.

These are pics from "show nights" where some local teams go to each others schools and practice their routines for friends and family.

I somehow was elected to figure out everything "college" for Abby.  It. Was. Daunting.  But then one night I got this text.  So, of course that made everything worth it.

Another one of the door hangers that Jacob's art teacher made that I gave Hallie for Christmas.

Shae's 3rd Annual Rendention of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"-Sonic Style

This is left over from Christmas.  For the last 3 years I have taken the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and changed the words/inserted Sonic related names and things.  This is this past year's. 

And because I don't think I will be able to read it once this is published in a book, and also because I will forget the references, here it is typed out with notes:

Twas the night before Chrismas

When all through the state

Not a customer was stirring

Not even a cheapskate.

The fountain was all clean

By Chanel with care

In hopes that the list                                          *we have a daily cleaning list & Chanel loves a

Would be finished with flair.                                 checkoff list

Katie and Conrad were nestled                         *they are actually dating

All snug in their skates

Ready to make those tips

And do whatever it takes.

And Grandma Ikeria                                         *she is not old at all, but acts like a Grandma-Jon 

Had just got done                                             actually came up with the nickname

With taking a smoke break                               *she likes taking smoke breaks when we are slow

And making a donut run.                                   *and is forever going to get donuts

When out on the lot

There arose such a clatter                                 *'Beats' are an expensive type of head phones, 

Deandre took off his beats                                Deandre is an assistant.  I caught him wearing 

To see what was the matter.                             them one night when I showed up unannounced. 

Away to the broom                                          *Raven gets teased about being a butt kisser bc she

Raven flew like a flash,                                      calls us Mr. & Mrs. Phillips instead of just Jon &

Shouting, "here comes Mr. Phillips!                    Shae.

Tyler take out the trash!"

The reflection of his glasses 

And the white of his truck 

Gave a feeling of dread

To those making a buck.

With a handsome old driver

Feeling grumpy and sick                                   *At this point in time Jon was really sick, which

They kew in a moment                                     made him grumpy (er)

Their hustle must be quick.

When what to Big Roman's                              *Roman is an assistant, and a really BIG guy

Eyes should appear                                          Other assistants complain about him sitting at the 

But in walks his boss                                        desk a lot when Jon is not there.

So his chance to sit is unclear.

More rapid than eagles                                    *Corey is one of the sweetest people you will 

Corey's angry words came,                             ever meet.  But apparently in the afternoon after

And she shouted and hollered                          I have left and the school kids start coming in, she

And called them by name:                                she turns into a yelling/screaming beast.  Which I 

"Now Taysha! Now Ayriel!                             totally support, of course.

Now Owen and Cathy!

On Bertram! On James!                                  *Bertam really goes by Bert, only I call him Bertram

On Dawson and Sandy!"                                 *Dawson is 1 of 3 Briannas so we use last names

"You better watch your numbers!                     *The drinks get put on numbers on the counter

You're taking the wrong drinks!                       that correspond to the ticket number.  The school

If you will listen to my warning,                        kids are forever NOT paying attention to the

Our curb time will shrink!"                               numbers & taking the wrong drink. Which slows
As juicy burgers that before                             everything down.

Daniel Gonzalez will fry,                                  *Daniel is some kind of wizard in the kitchen who 

When he calls out "good job"                           makes even the most hectic, busy, crazy rush 

Your last nerve he will try.                               look easy.

So up to the speakers                                      *But he loves to get on people's nerves by

Through orders they flew                                  randomly clapping & saying "good job."

With Red Bulls, coffee, and Monsters,            *Jenn Mischler is always hyped up on caffeine.

And Jennifer Mischler too.                              And she is a total airhead.  The combination is

And then in a twinkling                                     hilarious.

They heard the door scrape                            *One of the doors the carhops go in & out of

As Shae herself entered                                  constantly makes a horrible scraping noise, even

And a sign she did tape.                                  though our maintenance guys "fix" it often.      

"New combos! New discounts!                     *I am constantly making signs to post to inform

Be nice! Be swell!                                         everyone about changes.  Everyone makes fun of me.

Tell them your name!                                     *The carhops just started having to introduce

And suggestive sell!"                                       themselves.

She came bearing cupcakes                           *I bring cupcakes for each person's bday

Because she loves a celebration.  

But stay away from her trays                          *I am a control freak on tray setting.

Or you'll receive an amputation.

Jon was dressed all in black

From his shirt to his shoes.

Taysha and James talked in the back,             *They are friends who are constantly getting in 

He did not look amused.                                 trouble for talking & a couple days before they

His frown, how depressing!                             were written up for literally just sitting at the  

His eyes, how they glared!                               break table, ON THE CLOCK, just chillin'

His ears, red from anger!

His nostrils, so flared!

He hated the late tickets, 

He loathed the Mystery Shop.

He growled at the labor, 

He yelled, "this shift is a flop!"

So Dawson spoke not a word, 

But went straight to her work,

And Tasha told them all,                                *Tasha has worked for us for about 17 years. She

"You better wipe off your smirk!"                  makes a lot of enemies bc she bosses people

Bertram got nervous,                                     around.  Again, I totally support her bossiness.

He didn't like trouble.                                   *I just LOVE Bertram & tell him all the time I am

Maybe he wouldn't let Shae adopt him,          going to adopt him, even though he is by no

He would have to burst her bubble.                means parent-less.

Tyler was in the kitchen,                               *Tyler seriously walks like an old man.

Walking like an old man,

But he just calmly made burgers,                  *And he is so calm ALL THE TIME.  Someone could

Keep Jon happy is his plan.                         be threatening to kill him & I think he would just

The handle of the candy scoop                     calmly tell them, "now let's just think about this..."

Juwan held tight in his hands,                       *Juwan once called in a complaint, just like a

While visions of skate tricks                         customer bc the candy in his blast was 'stale.' 

Danced in his plans.                                      He seriously wanted me to treat it like a real

Jamal, so tall and playful,                              complaint & replace it.  I told him that if the 

A right jolly old guy.                                      candy was stale it was bc employees like him

He wears a purple coat,                               were not flipping it correctly when

And has a twinkle in his eye.                         they added more to it when it was low & that

So Shae sings him a song                              if he wanted fresh candy he could come up 

To help the day go along.                            there, dump it out, wash the dishes, & refix

It amuses the crew,                                      it himself.  I can be sweet, but I have my limit.

And starts with, "I love you."                       *Jamal is the big guy who wears his purple school

Shakorra filled the cups                                jacket ALL THE TIME so I sing the Barney song.

And Kelley ran labor like a beast.               *I call Kelley the labor beast...bc she is...

Nelly shouted, "Order out!"                        *Nelly is an assistant who everyone complains yells  

And the playing all ceased.                          everything she says. 

So laying his hand on the side of his phone,

He saw their hard work and let out a groan .

He told them, "Hey everyone!

Listen up here.

I know I fuss a lot,

But in my heart you are dear.

I appreciate your work

And your effort day by day.

You guys are all awesome.  

That's what I want to say."

So he sprang to his truck

And as the key gave a turn,

He thought, "this crew is all right,

I'm no longer concerned."

And they heard him exclaim

As he drove out of sight, 

"You all get a raise!

No, I'm kidding. Good night!"




*Note to future self.  Not all employees are represented here.  I only included the people who signed up to bring something to the party.   Again with that sweetness limit....
*I use the word 'constantly' a lot...