Football Championships

 Today we had a long and exhausting day of flag football.  The day started at 7:30 with Ledger's game. This little team is so fun and cute.  Many of them are just learning the game so they haven't won a ton of games this season.  Ledger could have cared less though.  He loves the game and loves to play, whether his team wins or looses.  

 Ledger isn't a very aggressive flag football player.  He is still learning and is just kinda in his own little world, which is pretty funny.

 Ledger's team lost their first game (phew) which meant they were out of the tournament (hooray).

 We have loved loved loved coach B.J and Candi.  They are so patient and enthusiastic with these boys.  Ledger was lucky to be on this team.

 I love that Ledger is happy even when his team looses.  The boy loves his new flag football trophy.

 Next up was Cases first tournament game.  These boys are good and went into the tournament undefeated.  Case was on fire today!

 There were interceptions, touchdowns, and flags being pulled left and right by this boy.

 Case played every game today both offense and defense.  This boy is good at the game. He is quick on  his feet and can read the play before it happens. When I say that in the first two games today, Case grabbed EVERY flag, I am not kidding.  He was on fire.  AND THEN.... the ref of the game

gave him a flag pulling warning.  Apparently the ref didn't like the way Case was yanking the flags and throwing them to the ground. He asked Case to pick up the flag after he yanked it and hand it to the kid.  WELL....that made Case feel bad cause really, he wasn't doing it on purpose, he was just reading the play, quickly grabbing the flag and then ready for the next big play. 

 AND THEN....it happened again.  The ref picked on Case because Case kinda tackled the boy who was running with the ball.  HOWEVER....the boy who kept getting the ball was wearing red shorts, the EXACT color of his flags.  He was the ONLY boy on his team wearing red shorts and the shorts and flags were the EXACT same length and color.  You couldn't see the boys flags, which we all felt was intentional.  When Case tried to grab the boys flags, it was kinda a tackle dive.  Again, not on purpose of course.  The ref warned Case again and thats when the tears started flowing.  Case was so upset that he had been playing so well and yet was getting warnings. He cried and refused to go back out on defense.  He was worried about not yanking the flags the way the ref liked.  I think it really played on him and the rest of the tournament went down hill, for Case and the other boys.  It was a sad and unfortunate event and Case was crushed.  

 Case and the Saints won their first 2 games and lost their 3rd which put them in second place for the tournament.  These boys were undefeated going into it so it was hard.  Case is so good at not letting things like this upset him.  I think he knows he played his best and thats just the way it goes.  He has a great attitude on and off the field.

 Coach BJ and Coach Jared are the best.  We have been on their teams in years past and love their personalities and attitudes.

 Jefferson and Case.  Best Buds on and off the field.

 Coach BJ is so positive and great.  Case really does well with him.

We got home from the tournament just before 3:00.  We were hot and exhausted.  The boys took showers and played while Jeremy took Brody to robotics club and I worked on sharing time.  Around 7:00 it started to get quiet around the house as the kids were wiped out.  Ledger fell sound asleep on the couch with his favorite Cardinals football (BOO CARDINALS).  It was a fun but exhausting day.

Battle Of The Books

Today Brody participated in the Battle Of The Books competition at his school.  He had to choose his team and read 4 books in order to compete.  Brody chose his friend Trevor to be his partner even though he could have chose 2 friends to be on his team.  He and Trevor decided they would split up the books so that they only each had to read 2.  However, being that Brody is an over achiever, (is that a nice way to say it?) he read all 4 books.  The books for this first battle were Danger In The Desert, Fablehaven, The Borrowers and Bridge To Terabithia.  Brody and Trevor did super today.  I am always so proud of Brody.  Things like this don't bother him at all.  He just gets up on the stage and says his answers like its no big deal. This boy is great and oh so smart.  Great job today Brody.  You are awesome bud!

Engineering

Yesterday, I got a phone call from our Webelos leader saying they were unable to have the weekly den meeting because of a family situation.  I offered to take the boys that night so she wouldn't have to cancel.  I text all the Webelos parents and asked if I could have their Webelos for an hour and a half and if we could meet at Jeremy's office.  

Each parent happily agreed since we were going to be working on the Engineering activity badge.  Being that Jeremy is an architect, we were able to pass of requirement #1, "Talk with an engineer, surveyor, or architect in your area about the different occupations in engineering.  Create a list that tells what they do."

We were also able to complete requirement #4, "Learn how to measure the length of a property line. Explain how property lines are determined."

Along with learning about property lines, we did an electricity experiment, and constructed a simple working electrical circuit using a flashlight battery, switch and light.  The highlight of the night  was making catapults with Popsicle sticks, rubber bands and a spoon. Flinging marshmallows around Jeremy's office after we made the catapults proved to be the best part of the night.

Requirement #2, "Draw a floor plan of your home, Include doors, window, and stairways," was fun.  Some of the boys got totally into their floor plan, others just kinda scribbled theirs.  It was nice to have Jeremy's tables to draw on.  It was so fun being able to complete the ENTIRE engineering badge tonight.  It was the VERY last badge Brody needed to complete his Webelos, Arrow Of Light and Compass Points.  Hooray for us!

November 1st

Phewwwwww.....it's November 1st.  Halloween is over and it's time to pack up all the costumes and decorations right?  WRONG!  Today my kids had their Halloween parties at school and I was in charge of Ledger's party.  

I pulled out all my Halloween awesomeness and had a super fun 1 hour party for Ledger and his 1st grade friends.  We did the pumpkin bean bag toss, pin the teeth on Dracula, Witch Pitch, and the doughnut/string game.  Of course no party would be complete with out root beer on dry ice (spooky) and popcorn from the popcorn machine.

This boy is just funny.  He has some cute new friends in his class and he is doing great.  Can't believe he is in 1st grade already!

Trick-Or-Treat!

 Halloween night was as fun as always.  We went to Sugar's house for dinner, games and trick-or-treating.  This is always a highlight for the kids and this year was not different.

 There were bean bag tosses, pin the wart on the witch, witch pitch and bingo.

 This year Sugar gave each of the kids a list of things to find around her house and then sent them on their way to find all the spooky items.  It was so fun to watch the kids try and figure out where each of the spooky items were hidden.

 Of course there was the annual fashion show where we crank up some spooky music and have the kids show off their costumes one by one.  

 After dinner and games, it was off to trick-or-treat.  Things got interesting this year with my gang.  There was lots of whining and complaining about the silliest things.  It made for a long night around the block.

 How cute are these trick-or-treaters?

 Brody complained all night that he couldn't see out of the mask Jeremy made him.  Berkley cried because the girls were going too fast and not waiting for her.  I can't even remember what Ledger and Case's issues were but at one point I think all of them were upset about something. Awesome kids!

 Katlyn was a trooper hanging out with these two girls.

 Being a trick-or-treating princess is not easy.  Thank goodness we had Frank to carry the girls home.  Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  However, this year I was a little burned out before it even started.  Having the ward trunk-or-treat the night before Halloween was too much for us.  Next year, I vote we have trunk-or-treat the weekend before.  Two nights in a row with costumes on is just yuck!