First Football Games

First football games for all three boys.
Good times.
They played at the same time so Jas and I kept switching back and forth.
I hated to miss either game.
I have so much to learn. . . . I don't know the game at all.
I do know who to cheer for though.
And I know how to have water and Gatorade available.
And I do know how to buy donuts after the game.
Yeah I'm a great sports mom. (ha.)
All three boys had a great time.
Be a good sport, play hard (hustle/ do your best) , and have fun.
That's the message I'm sending to my little athletes.

Ian's game . . .
He's the center. (That's what Jason just told me anyways.)

My nephew Josh.

These next two pics are thanks to my friend.
I was watching the twins play so I missed him punt.
I'm so glad she got a picture.
Thanks Michelle.

This picture crack me up. It's right before the game.
The team is in a huddle and the two cousins (Josh and Ian) are off practicing together.
One kid in the huddle is calling them over.
Love it; they are in their own world.

Twins game . . .

Carter in front, Coleson running in back.

Coleson

This picture cracks me up.
Maybe they are all doing something but it looks like tug a war  - just a mess of boys grabbing each other. Love it.

This is my favorite pic of them.
It's beforehand while they were practicing.
Wonder if they'll play the same sports and be on the same team when they are in high school?
This is just the beginning.

A very good day; all the way around!

School Boys

The first day of school went off with a great start last week. 

Where is time going?

I have a fourth grader and two first graders.

I dropped them off at school and bawled the whole way home - for lots of reasons.

I asked God to give us a good school year and with that the year began.

The girl had reign again and seemed to like it. 

After a day of it though she was asking when they'd get home.

We made them a fun first after school snack and home made pizza for lunch.

The first day was just a half day.

Then for my sanity I organized something.

The majority of my house looked like the summer bomb went off in it and I knew it would be days before I could start attacking it so I picked one little spot and made it look good.

I stole the shoe rack from my closet and put it in the laundry room.

You should see the mess in my closet now. 

I found an extra container for all the papers they bring home.

No more putting papers on the counter.

I stood back and liked my little corner.

By then the bus was bringing them back.

It was that quick.

All had great reports.

One kid even said, "This was the best day EVER."

(Really? All those days I plan . . . and this was your best day ever? Ha. I'm kidding - I'm so glad 

they love school.)

I have one more school pic but I'll share it on another post.

It's my favorite pic of the day.

We're off to another school year!

This and That

These three cousins had their first "day camp" experience today and all I heard this evening was . . . 

This was awesome and that was awesome.

I'm thinking it was all awesome.

They got to see Ian and they said he was having fun.

If you look close in the pic it looks like we caught some wrestlers in action in the background.

Coleson told me he made a new friend named Michelob at camp.

I laughed so hard.

I'm thinking he didn't hear it right but what would it be?

Maybe it really is Michelob and maybe he has a brother named Bud.

Tonight I was so tired I really wanted to just be done and be a bum.

Instead the boys convinced me to go outside and play "Toilet Tag".

Yep you heard me right.

They learned it at camp but apparently just as they were about to play it, their hay rack ride came so they didn't get a chance.

I know you are all dying to know how to play so here are the rules.

If you get tagged you have to squat like you are on the toilet and stick your arm out for the handle. 

To become unfrozen like that someone else has to come and sit on your lap (aka the pot) and push your arm down to "flush the toilet". 

Seriously who thought of that?

Genius game for boys.

I did not want to run - but I did.

I did not want to squat - but I did.

I was tired - but I pretended I wasn't.

It did feel good to have my bare feet run through the grass.

That just makes you feel like a kid and reminds you it's summer.

Those boys are fast though.

I was it for a long time.

On another note . . . 

 While driving home the other night a storm was rolling in and the sky and sunset was amazing.

Carter said, "You should take a picture mom."

They were all telling me where I should stop the car to take the picture.

I'm glad they have a love for capturing beauty.

Amazing sky.

And are these two not the cutest?

They are cousins but man they could pass for twins.

I love chatting with them both.

They are FULL of life and best friends.

Field Day

The boys couldn't wait for field day.
It was fun.
Everyone picked different events which kept us hopping but we didn't miss any.
Whew.
Carter long jumped and got first.

Everyone ran some sort of race.
Twins got 2nd and 4th in the 50 meter dash.

Ian got third in high jump out of 3rd and 4th grade boys.
This was such a fun competition to watch.
The kid has to really get it all just right to get those feet over.
He was such a good sport about it.

Coleson got second in softball throw.

He also did the football kick.

Oh yeah and Carter got third in bean bag relay. (I think there were three boys out for this event.:)) )

It's fun to see them compete.
Better then competing, it's fun to see them have fun and to see them happy for others that do well.
That's really what it's all about right?
I really don't know anything about track, what a good distance for a jump is etc. so I might have been cheering at the wrong times.
It's field day . . . . everybody needs cheering right?
I totally would have been the kid saying I was sick on that day. Ha.

Here's How it Went

House is QUIET.
Three boys just left on the bus for Day 2 of school.
The girl is asleep.
This is STRANGE.

Here's how the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL MORNING went down at our place.
6:38
Coleson: Hey Carter you want to just lay in our beds and talk?
Carter: Yeah
Me: (from my bed) No guys you need to try to keep sleeping.
Silence
6:55
Carter:  Mommy can we get up?
Me:  Yeah you can get up now. (Alarm was going off at 7:00)
7:01
All three boys were dressed, had socks and shoes on.
Comments while dressing.
Coleson: I just can't wait to be at school.
Carter: I am so excited.
Ian: You guys are going to love it. It is so much fun.
I was in the bathroom getting ready just smiling away as I heard their comments.
7:10
Breakfast
Coleson ate with his backpack on.
Ian informed them that no school anywhere has show and tell on the first day.
Carter and Coleson knew what they'd take though IF it would have been a show and tell day.
7:20
Now what? We didn't need to leave until 10 till.
School pics!

All three boys picked graphic tees for first day of school shirts - can you say "They are just like their daddy."?

We had to get pics of the super cool backpacks.

Carter's is on back order and he was such a good sport using one of Ian's older ones.
He's being patient because the backpack coming his way is SO HIM!
Had to get some in front of their sunflowers.

Their teacher gave them sunflower seeds to plant and told them when they were taller then them it was time for kindergarten.
Such a great idea.

Basketball. Why not?

Finally time to go.
I said what I have said to everyone of them since going to preschool or any type of school.
"Do three things.  Listen to your teacher. Be kind to your friends. And have fun!"
Ian was off as soon as we got there.
First time in three years to not have a knot in my stomach for him.
He finally wasn't a new kid.
Twins were quick to take a picture with their teacher, throw their backpacks on their name, and then were off to play outside till the bell rang.
That was it.
That was it?
Where were the lingering hugs and the tears?
How can seasons change so fast?
I had a knot in my throat and fought a few tears but it was so comforting that they had friends and were thrilled to be there.
If I would have sat down by myself for just a moment to reflect on what was happening and how life was about to change I would have lost it.
I've already done that a few times in the last weeks so I think I'm good.
They all came home with smiles and good stories.

They were exhausted by night.
I was too.

Now for a quiet morning.
I think I'll watch the Today show for a minute - haven't done that in months - and then go exercise - haven't done that all month either - man I'm gonna feel that.