One's On The Way: October 2010

Friday, October 8, 2010

The Battle of Perryville and Hayride/Bonfire

(October 2, 2010)

This Saturday was particularly busy! Football games that morning, then on to a family activity more than an hour's drive away, then back home to a hayride and bonfire get together at the home of some church friends! Busy, but FUN!

Last year was our first year attending the Battle of Perryville in Perryville, KY. It was apparently a major Civil War battle and the town hosts this reenactment every year. I have to say that I enjoyed it just as much or more than the kids last year so I insisted that we go again this year. Unfortunately, since we could not get there early, we did not get good seats so the view was not as good as last year, but we still enjoyed the battle and the vendors set up with merchandise from that era.

Once we returned home from the battle, Andy and Clayton had their first Cub Scout campout while me and the other 3 attended a hayride and bonfire. Roasted hot dogs and s'mores - doesn't get much better than that! What a great way to end a fun day!

Youth Football Night

(October 1, 2010)

It was youth football night at our local highschool (the same one Andy and I graduated from) and all of the kids from the local youth football league were invited to come out onto the field before the highschool game to be recognized by division and team. Of course, if there is a football game going on, Grant is going to INSIST that we stay and watch, so we came prepared to stay. We hadn't really considered that the two little ones might not like this idea, but we were able to call Grandma who happened to be on her way home and she came and got the two little ones so Andy and the two older boys and I could enjoy the game. That we did - we won!

10 Year Class Reunion

(September 25, 2010)

Andy and I both graduated in 2000 so this year marked 10 years since that milestone! It's hard to believe! Luckily, we didn't have to travel far to attend our reunion and I looked forward to the excuse to get all dressed up and out for a night! We enjoyed our evening and look forward to more reunions to come! :-)

The Dress

The Couple, 10 years younger

The Couple, 10 years older, lol

Story Hour

(September 24, 2010)

Now this is how I LIKE finding them!

More Football

(September 11, 2010)

Here are the little flag players in action. But I must pause and say a few words about Grant and football: The two seem to be inseparable. I have never seen Grant have a passion like this before. He eats, sleeps, and breathes football and is constantly counting down the days until his next game or practice. There are only four teams in the flag division and the kid even has the rotation of which team he plays next memorized in his head! For a kid who appears to struggle with other things that seem of utter simplicity, that's impressive! We are dumbfounded, yet enamored at his new-found love. It's so much fun to watch and hear him talk with excitement about every play of the game. He gets out there and gives it his all and we couldn't be prouder. Way to go Grant!!

Evan is enjoying the sport, too, although he is more of the mindset that as long as his is running around and there is a ball involved, he is having a good time, lol. You can't beat that attitude! :-)

Evan

Grant

Huber's Orchard & Winery 2010

(September 6, 2010)

On Labor Day we visited Huber's Orchard & Winery with some good friends of ours. We loaded up 7 kids and headed up to Indiana for a day of fun. We ate at the restaurant there for the first time ever and that is something we will DEFINITELY have to do again - YUM-EE! Here is our day in pictures:

1st Trip to the Dentist - Evan

(September 1, 2010)

When it comes to anything medical, I have never met a braver kid. Even as a tiny newborn when he was poked and poked at when we were trying to figure out his heart issues, it never seemed to phase him much. Evan was proud to jump up in that dental chair for his first cleaning. He kept his trademark smile the whole time while the hygenist was quite impressed. What a big boy! :-)

First Games

(August 28, 2010)

Here the boys are the morning of one of their first games. Evan and Grant, who are both playing flag this year, are not in uniform yet but I was able to get them in on the photo op, too. :-)

Our lean, mean, defensive machine ;-)

Best Buds

(August 25, 2010)

With the older two boys in school, Evan and Blake have become quite the pair. They have grown very close and enjoy each other's company with surprisingly very little fighting! Here they are just hanging out:

Kentucky State Fair 2010

(August 24, 2010)

We visited the state fair this year and the kids enjoyed seeing all of the livestock and other displays. Mom and Jerry took the kids back home so Andy and I could go to the Charlie Daniels concert. It was a good day! Here it is in pictures:

Thursday, October 7, 2010

My Little Chef

(August 24-25, 2010)

Over the summer, Clayton became fascinated with the concept of sales and opened his own "Toy Store" in the playroom which we (mostly I) had to frequent. Well, it wasn't too much time later that he decided to sell food, and he and Grant (whose attention was captured when he heard there was "cooking" going on) began taking our orders and serving us quite an array of choices. Naturally, Evan caught on, and once the older brothers were in school he took to the role and even put to use the children's play apron I had bought some time back at the Dollar Tree. And that's all it took for Blake. He immediately followed suit and as soon as Evan dropped that apron and hat, there he was taking my order...incessantly, lol. This was too good to pass up so I got my little chef in action. Hope you enjoy! :-)

It's Football Season, Baby!

(August 20, 2010)

Clayton is playing his first year of tackle! We are excited!

In his practice gear

His Dad wasn't posing him or anything! LOL

Goofy Grant

(August 19, 2010)

LOL!

Homework Time

(August 17, 2010)

I didn't even know Andy had taken this, lol. This one's worth at least a few hundred words, lol...

Evan and Blake's Double Birthday Bash 2010

(August 14, 2010)

We decided to do the slip n slide again this year for their party, and although a little rain threatened our parade, it actually was only short-lived and coooled things down just enough for everyone to be very comfortable! So the kids spent a cloudy afternoon lathering up with baby shampoo and hurling themselves down a huge wet tarp, lol. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for our feast and enjoyed the company of all our friends and family, as usual. I've put together a slideshow of pictures to share of their fun day. :-)

1st Day of School - 2010

(August 4, 2010)

Well, another one off! Grant got to experience his first day of Kindergarten alongside big brother on his first day of 1st grade! Grant was super pumped about being back in school and had been asking since the last day of preschool, "When do I go to Kindergarten?" Clayton was excited, too, and was all set to fulfill his big brotherly role in his instruction about "what to do at school." And for those of you who know Clayton, you know that going over instructions and procedures is his element! LOL!! I shed a tear for my little Grant as he climbed aboard that bus. Milestones...

My camera was in the shop so I had to take these with my cell phone, but not bad for a cell phone!

My two Big Kids

Clayton

Grant

End of Season Tball

(August 1, 2010)

Evan finsihed up his 2nd year of tball this past spring and recently received his trophy! He enjoyed a great season and I can't wait to see him grow (even physically, lol) in one of my favorite sports!

Happy 4th Birthday Evan!

(July 27th, 2010)

Boy, are the years going by! My angel of all babies who didn't have any terrible two's... let's just say 3 made up for all of it! I can literally wipe the sweat from my brow and say "Phew, I'm glad you're 4 now!" You proved over the last year what a SNEAKY little fella you can be and you constantly kept me on my toes (and blood pressure medication!). You are certainly full of life and ENERGY, but it is such a happy and positive force in our lives. Your smile still melts me to the ground and it's no wonder you get away with what you do (with everyone!). One of our favorite traits about you at this time is that all of your "r's" are "l's" so you say things like looster (rooster), and load (road), and probably an all-time favorite "pepperloni" (pepperoni). You bring so much laughter and joy into our lives and I can't wait to see what the next year brings out in YOU!

Our FAVORITE, a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake! (White Cake/Cookies n Cream Ice Cream)

The Birthday Boy

With Big Brother

Interesting Find

(July 26, 2010)

I was picking up in the kids' bathroom one day when I happened upon this sight. Their toothbrushes have suction cup bottoms so they can stick upright to the vanity if that's how you choose to store them. I always have them put their toothbrushes away in a cup in the nearby closet. I guess one of the little guys decided to get a little creative and I couldn't help but laugh out loud and grab the camera:

We survived!

(July 23, 2010)

A week of mommy working summer camp!

For the second year now, I have been involved in the All Girls Camp (ironic, huh?) week at our local Christian Camp. The boys were shuffled a little between Daddy and Grandma, but also spent a lot of time at camp with Mommy. We found a gracious teen girl to help out with childcare in the mornings and then they just spent the rest of the day with me! Any week of camp is exhausting, and we were all feeling it by the end of the week, but it's all worth it to be involved in such a unique ministry!