If You Can't Beat 'Em...

Join Them! 

That's right folks.  It's college football eve kickoff!  (Did I even get that right?!?!?!?)

I have given in.  I dread the fall every year for more reasons than you want to know, but this year and probably for the next 15+ years, I've decided I might as well give in, especially living in Texas, in one of the biggest football towns, it's is all around me.  High school, College, Pro--it's everywhere and everyone lives and breathes it.  It's good and fun, and a diversion from reality, however I still believe it is not the end all and be all of life.

I'm giving myself a reason to cheer and make it through the fall season with more smiles.  I've picked my teams and have read up on some facts (like I even know that A & M is looking at joining the SEC and Oklahoma might follow because the SEC needs an even number and that the SEC hasn't won back to back championships in 13 years).  I may even watch a game or two and cheer.  (I know you are thinking, "Say what?!?!?")

So, here are my picks--
Allen High School
Auburn University
New Orleans Saints

You can probably guess that Allen is due to location and I really enjoyed going to the season opener at SMU, if for nothing else but the marching band.  They are also ranked #1 in the state right now for 5A.  Auburn is for my family for which 2 sisters went to school there, and Saints are for my home state and I have the matching jewelry.  It also helped that both Auburn and Saints are in the top 10 in their rankings. 

You may even find that I show up for a game viewing (if invited) with these in hand and root for OSU....@Armstrongs....

And, as for my husband's comment, I am secretly rooting for A & M as well, if I have to pick a Texas team.  So, the Gibbs can invite us over too.  :)


So, let's go Eagles, Tigers, and Saints!

Four Years

 Today's Stats at the Doctor's office:

Weight: 38.8 lbs.

Height: 40.5"

He's grown quite a bit since this picture.

Yesterday marked Kendrick's official 4th birthday.  He's a "big boy" now doing all the big boy things like pooping on the potty, playing T-ball, and being totally into superheros.  He is the joker of the family and makes us all laugh.  He seems to be fairly indestructible and is always up for a challenge.  He's  a bit stubborn and prefers to eat the same food for every meal.  For the past 4 years, I have truly enjoyed figuring out his little personality with all his foibles and his quirks.  The years have flown by and I look forward to more of what God has in store for him and where it will lead him.

Happy Birthday, Kendrick!  We love you! 

Sports

I live with boys.  Sports and movement are a part of daily life, right?  In fact, it will be my life for the next 15+ years.  This really sunk in on Friday night.  Yes, Friday night is Kendrick's baseball practice.  My life is definitely no longer my own.  I'm also the team mom.  So, I'm going to embrace it and if you can't beat them, join them.  (Look for a blog coming on the football season...)

Kendrick had a short practice, but it was so cute.  His coach is actually Cavett's past soccer coach and he's so good with the kids. 

This was heading to first base.  Some of them got it right!

They ran the bases yelling out what base it was and practiced throwing a ball. 

Kendrick is furthest away from the camera.

He seems to already have a really good grasp on everything and was at the head of the pack, since he has a big brother and has been watching him for years now.  The first games will be on the 10th and both Cavett and Kendrick's games happen simultaneously for the first two weeks. 

Tonight we got tickets to the Tom Landry Classic at SMU. 

The Allen Eagles played the Cedar Hill Longhorns.  It was extremely impressive the number of Allen folks who showed up.  Cavett sat with Dad the majority of the time so that he could learn the game and how it all works.  We stayed for the first half until after the half time show.   At that point, we were winning 21-7. 

The band was incredible of course.    Just to compare:

Here are the Longhorns.

Here are the Allen Eagles.

Oh, and here's the other half.

And, about 600 on the field!

I sure hope between the karate, the swimming, the baseball, the golf and whatever else they find fun, they will pick an instrument and play in the band as well.  But, if they don't I'll support them and cheer them on, no matter.

Birthday Festivus

We have decided to celebrate the entire weekend of Kendrick's birthday, starting Thursday morning.  The night before he chose blue blueberry pancakes for his first birthday breakfast.  the birthday plate was pulled out and a candle found. 

All day long he asked "how much longer till my party?" 

At 4:45 we headed to Splitsville for a very small party of three families, the kids he hangs out with most.  It was a perfect size group.  Who cares if someone bowled at the wrong time on someone elses frame or if a ball accidentally went the wrong way.  The kids had a lot of fun and Kendrick loved "helping" his littlest friend, Lauren, pick up her ball and roll it down the lane. 

Today's special outing, after checking out all the new birthday toys, is one-on-one Mommy/Daddy time at Top Golf in the morning and Kendrick has his first baseball practice this afternoon with his new team, the Yankees.

The First Tears of First Grade

Today was traumatic-for Cavett and for me.  It was the first day of first grade tears. 

When I picked Cavett up from school today, I was on the phone with my sister (who I haven't talked to in a while) and wasn't able to talk immediately, but he was very quiet and respectful.  As soon as we got home, he burst into tears saying that several kids were making fun of his shirt, saying that he had "dirt on his shirt."  It broke my heart to see him cry and talk about how hurt he was.  Why do kids have to be mean and where do they learn it?

We made these family shirts during our last week of summer as a fun family activity.  We took black (or hot pink in my case) T-shirts, and ironed on an "h" for Hill with freezer paper.  Then we took them outside and used a spray bottle of bleach to make a negative print and some pretty cool designs.  The kids shirts turned out really awesome as did mine.  Stephen's "h" bled a little and there is only a hint of and "h" but it's still cool. 

So, the boys wore the shirts today and Cavett was very proud of his.  Too bad he "will never wear it to school again."

We spoke through the tears and I consoled as best as I could telling him that he didn't ever have to wear it to school again and that this was called being "bullied."  We talked about different ways to address the situation-telling the teacher, saying "so." and leaving it at that, and also turning it back on the kid and showering him with kindness saying things like, "your shirt is really cool, I like it!"

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."  Luke 6:37

After Karate when we had more time to discuss we pulled out the Bible.  It was important that he knew God's take on the matter of forgiveness even if the other person doesn't know they did wrong or hurt someone.  God is pretty clear on the matter.  I have been in too many friendships where I have been hurt for me to not hammer this one home. 

"Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."  Colossions 3:13

"But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."  Matthew 6:15

"Instead be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32

"But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too."  Mark 11:25

We talked out the big words and he understood that he makes mistakes too and that God forgives him, and in return he must forgive others.  It's a hard thing to do, forgiveness.  It's a humbling thing, but a character trait absolutely worth working toward. 

Tomorrow is a new day with a forgiving heart, loving others.  Hopefully, no tears. 

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."  I Peter 4:8
 

Putting It All Together

Can you guess what we will be doing to celebrate Kendrick's birthday? 

The birthday weekend kicks off tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

First Day of First Grade

Today marks a new school year.  Cavett began first grade this morning.  He woke up extremely excited and just a bit nervous.  Had two blueberry muffins, wrote a sweet note to his teacher, snapped a couple of pics and out the door we went. 

After prayer in the car, he scooted out of the car and didn't look back.  Kinda sad, but it is to be expected.  I have raised a very independent man on purpose. 

I am proud of you Cavett and can't wait to hear about your first day of first grade!

The Last Day of the 2011 Summer

To quote the TV show "Big Brother,"  today was a day to "expect the unexpected."  It was full of wacky, crazy, out of the ordinary things.  This was the face that we saw a lot of today. 

The kids were awoken to breakfast in a rather large bowl--their sink had cheerios in it and I had spoons and milk ready to go.  Kendrick was a little resistant to eat from the sink, but Cavett gobbled it up. 

We took a rather windy trip through the neighborhood to get to church instead of our regular route.  After church we went to a new eatery, Rudy's Country Store, which we ended up loving and Kendrick ate sausage!  Yea!  A new food!  Once we were safely in our neighborhood, we introduced the kids to the Chinese Firedrill.

The afternoon entailed a water balloon fight.  Hearing Kendrick's giggles were enough to make me want to do this every day!

Dinner was fixed and served....under the table.  It was there that we talked about our day and how unexpected it was and how it made them feel.  We tied it all up with the fact that Cavett has already stated that he is nervous about tomorrow and that tomorrow may be filled with unexpected things.  However, there is no need to be concerned or worried, because God is there with him all the time.  We used the Bible verses of Isaiah 41:10 and 43:5--"Do not be afraid, for I am with you."

After dinner, the kids found balloons filling the shower and actually ended up showering with them in the tub.  More giggles. 

It was a great way to end the summer and I think many memories were made this week, but I am now ready for school to start.

This week was made possible by:

Thriving Family

Pinterest

Many blogs of many home schooling moms

Allen High School Marching Band

Hobby Lobby

Family Fun Magazine

Disney

Top Golf

and

my wonderful husband, Stephen

2 Days Left

This morning was full of monsters in the bed, opera singing, puppy dogs and owners, cowboys and horses, farmers and NASCAR drivers. 

Today's theme was make-believe.  I don't think we do this enough and kids aren't encouraged to do it longer in their lives.  Creativity is stifled, but not today for us.  In ever situation, ok, almost every situation we were to pretend.  Although, there was one member of our family who wasn't as into it. 

Our favorite idea of the day was to find the aliens marching through our town today.  There were so many of them and these aliens had things attached to their body and made weird noises.  Their spaceship was long and yellow and there were probably 10 of them.  People all around tried to kill them by spraying water on them, but to no avail. 

This afternoon we added a princess locked up in her town guarded by floating dragons and three knights saved the princess. 

One more day left of summer!