Track!!

Track starts soon!! YAY!! I'm actually happy for this sport to start :) I've heard pretty good things about it, and since I've been running all winter in preperation for this (and cross country season), I'm a little ahead of the other distance runners who were out for other winter sports such as basketball/weightlifting. So, today and part of last week, we (we being the distance runners) ran for about 4-5 miles each day, and I can definately tell that I've got a huge advantage for the first week of 'conditioning'.

Lehman (the XC and track coach) and I have been talkin (he's pretty young, so he gets along easily with the students... and he's overly cynical and sarcastic. But of course I like this :) and we were talking about what I would run. I am MOST DEFINATELY not a sprinter... I learned that in middle school track... but anyway, I am now assigned the freshman 2 mile runner... hopefully that's not too bad... who knows...

10 Things I've Noticed of Charity

1) She doesn't post

2) She does not post at ALL

3) She decides to comment maybe once a month

4-10) SHE ABSOLUTELY FORBIDS HERSELF TO POST!!

... you should post now Charity... no comments... just un poco post... por favor?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hope you guys have a good one :)

WHITE OUT!!

Okay, so we've had A TON of snow in the past 2 days, and it's getting on my nerves. I've been assigned to clean the areas where the tractor needs to go, and it could be an easy job if it weren't for the wind bringing in more and MORE snow ALWAYS!! I scoop a place, dump the snow in a pile, and turn around to find that I can't even see my own tire tracks!

Dad's feeding tractor just barely fits under the long building (you know, the building that's really long)'s roof. Now, with the snow, he rubs against the top. It's my job with the skidloader to clean away this area. But, the problem is that every time I scoop it away and let him through, then by the next time he needs to get through, there's the snow AGAIN!!! ARG!!!!!!

Whatever could calm my nerves!!
The thought of no school tomorrow if the weather remains the same. That would be very nice:) Tuesdays supposed to be a 'screw around' day and so that sounds like fun, but it's still school and precious time I could be wasting away sleeping:)

Have a fabulous christmas!
From,
The Hooyers (few of the many)

Pre-Thanksgiving Joy

Some of you may not be happy with my title. You may ask yourself, "This is the little red-headed kid we strive to make uncomfortable and to pick on, right?" Well, you cannot stop my cannonading of joyous yells becuase... EVERYTHING IS DONE!!! By this, I mean that all my extremely time consuming extra curricular activies are OVER, DONE, ENDED, FINITE!!!!!

The musical was a success, and very fun for both the crowd and the crew. As I promised to my mom, I found something else to occupy my time. As I said, after all that business, I needed something to slow me down, but not bring me to a complete stop. I found myself... speech team. This is also extremely enjoyable, and somewhere where I can be my sarcastic and entertaining self. I like the acting part of it, and also to be with people who enjoy being sarcastic also.

As strange, odd, and unseemly as this may sound, I am trying to stay in shape by running regular miles after school and during the weekends. Now, I've taken it upon myself to assign me a nice long break... now that that weeks over, I'll have to get back into shape ;( Poor me ;( O well, I still enjoy the running, and it feels great to still be in shape. Thanksgiving is a-coming, and I just can't wait to see all of you! EVEN CHARITY!!! I haven't seen any family since the 4th of July except for Becka... and we all can guess what that'll do to a person!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

2nd Quarter!

October 23rd signified the end of the 1st quarter of my HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. It went well. I am not a 4.0 student, but that's because of my ONE A- in one class. Care to guess what class? It is a very unlikely class, so if you don't guess it... but feel free to comment!

As Becka repeatedly points out to me at EVERY SINGLE LUNCH... I missed the last Hooyer 'gathering', and of course I feel horrible about that. But! I have a chance to redeem my dignity through the infamous Hooyer Thanksgiving congregation. I plan to attend and hope that this proposition is enough to reinstate my pride... or at least I hope that there's good food:)

Oklahoma practice is becoming very tedious and late (in the night). I think the director sometimes forgets that we actually do have homework, and she lets us out at 10:00. I haven't been getting near enough sleep... but as my mom says, '2 more weeks!' After that, I am done with the musical and cross country. I still have other things, but they aren't as 'special'.

Hallow's... een?

This Friday is Halloween. Not much to say about it... except that I will be in Algona for state cross country. The girls made it to state (not the guys), but I am going up there to cheer them on... and for the experience of trick-or-treating in a hotel:) I can't decide what I should be (that has to be something that can rightfully represent Sioux Center), that is fun, not too hot, and fun-ee. Ideas? Mom was a gypsy and dad was a 'farmer' for one costume party already... it was pretty funny. Dad was meant to be a hillbilly farmer, and not his usual self... so he didn't change much:) Just kidding! Mom was a beautiful gypsy, and I had fun just looking at her. By the way, dad was born on Hallow's Eve (Oct. 30), so wish him a HAPPY 54TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I am starting to wonder if you are all not blogging to teach me a lesson... or if, because I stopped, blogging just wasn't cool anymore:)

Hello:)

Not much is happening... besides the fact that I'm in computer applications right now. We're done with the projects right now, and it's basically a study hall. I babysat Jolee, Casey, and Erika on Friday night. It didn't last too long, and it went better than I had expected. After Sarah told me that they were really hyper when she dropped them off, I expected the worst, but they weren't that bad:)

I better go... cya!

Quick! Post!

Ok, look. I know that I'm not the best blogger of all (please no comments, I'm already confessing), but I do have a plausible excuse for the last about 3 months and they are:

1. Cross Country
2. High School
3. The Musical

Cross Country is so much fun! Even though, when I thought of cross country, it usually brought bad thoughts of the pain that comes with running. My friend, Austin Renes, talked me into running a couple races around the area in the beginning of the summer. I later went to the meeting think, 'Hey, what can it hurt? I can just be a wuss and just back out if I don't like it'. Of course, with the weightlifting and the summer running that all came and went BEFORE 8 IN THE MORNING, I started to doubt my abilities is cross country. But... I absolutely LOVED the people who were in it and Mr. Lehman is probably the best (inspirational) speaker I've ever heard in my life. He just knows so much about running and about life that I'd be willing to run 7 or 8 miles after one of his speaches. He reminds me a lot of Charity in the way that, he is very sarcastical, and when he thinks of a sarcastical comment to say to some one shorter than him (being 6' somethin", he's usually the taller one) he doesn't hold back in saying it. I love him though, and (unbelievably) am not looking forward to the end of Cross Country. Districts @ Spirit Lake -- Oct. 23. State @ Des Moines -- Nov. 1. I have been with this team through hundreds of miles (literally, hundreds and hundreds of miles), I am going to miss this. On the upside, I have improved about FIVE whole minutes on my first race... that's really good improvement:)

High School is proving itself to be very fun. I'm one of the fortunate few to have such a wonderful older cousing watching my back:) But really, the seniors this year are wonderful, and are unbelievably nice, so that's always a plus. Being in band (in the pit), we have up till this week had to come to early band at 7:30 in the freezing fall morning weather to stand outside and march. I was fortunate enough that I didn't have to march, but this just made standing outside seem even more pointless. Thank goodness that's over now! I'm still in band, but we are winding down on our marching season. What gets me the most about high school is the homework. Now, being the second youngest (James, that's you behind me and forever will be), I probably shouldn't complain too much about this, but I feel I must. I don't really have that tough of a time in most my classes, but that doesn't mean I'm prone from homework. I realize I could have much more, but with so many extra curricular activities taking up my valuable time, I hardly have time for homework... or sleep! Between cross country practices meets and pasta nights, the musical, band competitions, piano lessons, church nights, Key Club, JETS team, being one of 2 class representatives, and having to learn piano music for church, my sleeping time is cut short often. I try to get as much sleep as I can... but it's hard.

The Musical this year is Oklahoma. I have the lead role of Fred.... ok, so maybe he isn't what you call the lead role... but he's fairly important... kinda.... sorta... well, the grand total of his 3 lines is pretty influential on the play:) At first I was kinda upset, but then I looked at my schedule and knew that I wouldn't have been able to memorize all my lines had I gotten a bigger role. The very suprising thing is the fact that Jackie (my long time friend and neighbor) got the LEAD LADY ROLE! She is a very good singer and actor, so I knew she could do it... I just thought some other upperclassmen could do it better! We're all proud of her as a freshman to get the lead role, and she's doin pretty good so far. The guy lead role is played by Jon Hauswald, who is only a sophmore. But again, he is a very good actor and singer and comes from a family of good actors and singers. The Musical is Nov. 14 and 15. If you are bored that night and don't have anything better to do, then you are invited to come.

So, these are my excuses. Please comment to let me know if you, too, are alive and blogging:)

Now I must leave, for Musical Practice till 10!

The Evolution of Dance

I hope you Enjoy this. Maybe it'll make up for my non-blogging era?

Various Pictures

I've noticed that I like the way Charity (the mean and tormenting one) does her posts with pictures with short 'wrap-ups' if you will. I think I'll try it... if my computers fast enough... and if the world doesn't end... it could happen

This was on our fishing trip to Mobridge, SD. That's Dillon catching a 'whopper'.

Mom pretending to fish. I don't think she caught anything that day, but she's pretty good about not getting depressed over that kind of stuff.

This is when Mom, Heather, Sydney, Dillon, and I went to Okoboji. This is Sydney and I (and Dillon hiding behind us) on the rollercoaster at Arnold's Park. Click on it and you get a big picture. Look closely and I love our faces.

Me 'pretending' to kiss a fish.

Sydney and I (Dillon was trying to fish with a net) made a sand castle with 3 towers. Then we made a moat. We were eventually tempted after taking pictures to smash it to the ground. Mom didn't want us to, but we convinced her. There's something fulfilling about pretending your a giant monster and smashing stuff to pieces. It was enjoyable.

Speak For Yourself, Mitch!

I have, in earlier times, told others to post because they had not posted in a week or more.
I, the devoted poster, have regrettedly not posted for a week. I have a good excuse though.

You see, our computer has been shutting itself down alot because of 'antivirus' stuff that we apparently installed. Now we have to bring our computer tower to a computer-man to get all of the stuff fixed.

It's not all bad news though. I'm now at an AMAZING hotel in Okoboji, IA. Okoboji is known for it's lakes (one of the few touristy ones in Iowa). We (we being mom, Heather, Sydney, Dillon, and me) are staying at Bridges Bay Resort which is an AMAZING resort that includes a 1. Beatiful view of the lake 2. HUGE indoor waterpark that includes a bodyslide, tubeslide, lazy river, and pirate ship 3. Bracco, which is a bar/resturaunt thing 4. Outdoor pool that has a swim up bar.
This place is wonderful. We're only staying here Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but if I could, I would stay here a lot longer (and I'm not just saying that because it's almost 100 miles away from being tortured... cough cough *charity and becka!* cough cough).

So, I'm terribly sorry I haven't posted... well, technically, I will have posted by the time you've read this, but I'm sorry for not posting for a week... or more.

High School Hits

This year I'm a FRESHMAN! High School sports apparently have to begin in the early summer, and practices apparently must take place extremely early in the morning.
As of this year, I'm joining the high school golf and cross country teams. Running, swinging, and walking sports... BUT, I'm trying to go to weightlifting this summer. That schedule gives you a choice of either A) 5:30a.m. - 6:30a.m. B) 6:40a.m. - 7:30a.m. C) 7:30a.m. - 8:30a.m.
So far I've been going to block 'B' because I have cross country running (2 miles a day so far) at 7:30a.m. Weightlifting is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and cross country is Monday - Friday. I get no sleep on the weekdays, as you might be able to guess. Yes, this is the time you have pity on me and give me fistfuls of money because you feel sorry for my sleepless nights. Weekends aren't all that great either. Sunday I have to be to church early (usually 8:30a.m.) to practice piano, because I am now a regular pianist at our church. I'm slowly learning the mass pieces and getting in practice. Saturdays I have bass guitar lessons which usually start around 10:00a.m. Those are nice because he comes to my house and is pretty flexible with his hours.
I am quite obviously complaining about getting up too early too many times for the summer, but there is ONE good thing to come from this... when (and if) I get my school permit, my parents will hopefully be tired of getting up early to take me places that they'll give me a car/pick-up. I hope so:)

DON'T YOU DARE SNEEZE ON YOUR LEFT SIDE!

Puzzling title? Yes, well, it's Friday the 13th and as every one knows, it is horrible luck to spill your salt on this superstitious day! It's also bad luck to be caught doing some of these:

1) Cut off both ends of a loaf of bread.

2) Put new shoes on the table.

3) Leave your hat on the bed.

4) Walk under a ladder.
5) Lean a broom on a bed.

6) Open an umbrella indoors.

7) Sneeze to your left side.

8) Have a black cat cross your path.

Good luck?:

1) Cut your finger nails on a Friday to avoid a toothache during the month.

2) When you set the table, place the salt down first.

3) If you drop a spoon, expect friends to drop by soon.

4) If your left hand itches, money will come to you.
5) When you move to a new house, take a broom and a loaf of bread with you.

6) Put a red bow on a newborn baby.

7) Don't sweep dust out the front door or you'll sweep away good luck.

My New (Mandatory) Chore

Lately (meaning since summer vacation began), I've been working cattle for money. There are basically 3 jobs 1) Chase the cattle into the chute 2) 'Poke'/shock the cattle along the chute & 3) Give the cattle shote and other 'needs'
I can do 1 and 2. I personally think 1 is more fun because you do more. 2, you just stand there and take your anger out through the shockers onto the cows... unless you're feeling humane at that particular moment. 3, I have no desire to do.
So that's it. Mainly why I posted is so that some one else would follow my lead and post for themselves.
So go...
Off into the world!
On your own (sniffle sniffle)...

Captain Obvious

Although probably everybody who reads my blog knows (hence the title), I'd still like to say that Bible School is upon us. I'm in 8th grade, and this is my last year (next year, I'll be considered a 'grown up'). My teachers are Steve Rozeboom/Dave Dibbet and they are very fun because us 'older' folk like to talk, and Dave is easy to get off subject, so that made bible study fun. I haven't been bringing our family camera to VBS, but maybe I could tommorrow and blog tommorrow night on how things went tommorrow (that sounds weird). Till then, Good BYE!!!

Happy June!

Well, I don't have much to say other than it is the first day of June today and I like the weather outlook of the month if today is a sign of what's to come. Sydney is still here and she is alive, but we're still waiting for her parting day. She's fun, but... well, I hope you understand.

We also had an accident last night, but no injuries. Dillon was driving the big green 4-wheeler and Sydney was driving the little red 4-wheeler and Sydney was pulling ahead when Dillon pulled in front of her and she fell off. Now, two things you should know before I finish;
1. The green 4-wheeler is hard to handle and hard to turn especially for some one as small as Dillon
2. Sydney overreacts to ANY pain
Anyway, Sydney fell off and thought she broke her arm. We all knew she was going to be okay, but we pretended to pay attention anyway. After a while she still 'couldn't' move her arm or her thumb, but she had stopped crying after the action scene in Pirates of the Carribean 2, so we knew she was okay. No worries, but it's a story to tell. If ANY of you have any 'special' stories you have of the old building we burnt, please, post them or comment. It's always fun to here them:)
Something else, here is a kid that has a very funny evil eye!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ALIL7T764, and a funny POTC (Pirates of the Carribbean) spoof with finding Nemo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ALIL7T764


Our new beautiful scene we see when we look out our windows. Mom is wondering if we have to build a new building because she loves the view so much.

Well, a Couple Things Have Happened Recently

Don't freak out. We raided this building before we burnt it this time...

Just kidding:) The actual story is that we are planning on building a new workshop for my dad this summer where two of our 'older' buildings are. This is one of them burning. We're still cleaning out the other. It was fun watching dad pick up the building with the pay loader and starting it on fire.

Also, school is out, and since that wonderful day (last Wednesday), I've been so busy that I haven't been able to even notice any summer. Sydney has been over since Tuesday and she constantly needs attention. I haven't been able to sleep in past 8 because dad supposedly need 'help' loading cattle around the world... or at least 1/2 and hour away. I worked for 5 hours today and I'm expecting more tommorow. Then tommorrow after helping dad, I have Grandma H's piano recital which I haven't practiced with the people I'm playing duets with much (if you'd like to see the recital, it's on Saturday at about 6 at Royal Meadows... I think), Then, Sunday I'm helping dad again for about 6 hours. Then next week is VBS. I plan on either running or biking there and back (2 miles) each day to stay in shape for the 5 kilometer run I'm doing in the Summer Celebration thing in Sioux Center which I think is next week or the one after that. Summer, I thought it was going to be fun and easy... oooooh the irony:(

IT...... IS...... (almost)........ HERE!

Gee, I wonder what the summer crazed school kid is talking about? Well, for those unfamiliar to irony (known as 'people not aquinted with the Hooyers'), I am talking (of course) about

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER!!

We ('we' being the senior school participants of the most esteemed [and in debt] Sioux Center Middle School) are done with our middle school career (YAY!!!) next Wednesday, 5/28. We have a half day that day and we have next Monday off because of Labor Day..... so that leaves us with, let's see here....

2 1/2 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!

TRACK IS DONE!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!! TRACK IS DONE!!!!! I LOVE CAPITALIZED WORDS!!!!!

Anyway, track is done and I am VERY happy about it. It's been going on for about a month or so, and I was getting very sick of it. Now, I am completely done with everything with school... track, exit exams, band/choir, any after school things. Actually, as I'm writing this, I'm wondering why we even have school for another whole week! Everything worth doing is done, so why not just end it?

As I said in passing up in that paragraph up there, band is over with. How I have come to gather this precious information is that I happened to be in the 'Tulip Festival', which is... well... it's a big NW Iowa Dutch gathering I guess. I played in our Sioux Center Middle School Band, playing the snare drum;

snare drum (sner drum) n. A very heavy metalic object that juts into the drummer's thighs, resulting in gigantic welts, and causes extreme back and shoulder pains.

I was very sore after marching, but I got to go on a couple of the convenient carnival rides there.

We have also been done with choir for a while now, and have been watching 'The Phantom of the Opera'. I haven't seen the movie before this, but I read the book and it was very good. I must say though, the movie adds sooo much more with the amazing music and the realistic sets. I found a punk version of the song 'Phantom of the Opera' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnP3BE7MC4s&feature=related by Blink-182, and I think it's fairly good.

OK, maybe I'm not actually running in this one... but it looks cool!