The Titans

My 9 year old just started tackle football! I've got to say, I was really nervous about this. He is by far the smallest on the team and I have to tape the bottom of his pants so his pads don't fall out. I knew that if he didn't like it we were going to make him stick it out and finish the season and I think 80% of me figured he was going to hate it. Being the younger boy I knew he wasn't going to be QB or running back as those positions are pretty much earned and the older boys fill them. So what in the world would my small boy do?? Tackle?? YES! I have to say I am soo impressed the way my little guy has stepped up. He has been knocked down numerous times but keeps getting up. Not a tear, no "I don't want to play anymore", nothing. And let me tell you, that kid can tackle. He grabs on and doesn't let go.

The kids on this team are amazing. I have never seen young kids so supportive of one another, constantly cheering each other on, even when they are the ones getting knocked down. Now I know why people are so passionate about football when they say it changed their lives. If football brings out these characteristics in children so young, I will let my kids play for as long as they want.

That's Gage, getting under the big guy. Advantages for being short!

Bonus! Dad gets to coach Gage's team too!

Who is that masked man????

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. I knew he was running around the backyard naked in the pool, but we moved the sprinkler to the front and Davis came in to tell us he was outside wearing a "mask" in the sprinkler.

Last Fair Day for Me...maybe

So I really wasn't planning on taking the kids AGAIN to the fair, but I told them if I won Bunco Thursday night, I would take them. Now, I haven't won a thing playing Bunco in about a year, let alone THE Bunco. So whatdoyaknow...I won!! And since I hosted at my house, my kids were there to witness it all, so they knew I had to stick to my promise! Honestly though, I probably would have taken them again anyway, I just love the fair. So Friday morning we met Kate (Kate, was this 3rd day for you?? Your just as bad as me) to let the kids have some more fun. I packed a lunch for the kids (which sucked, fair food is so much better) but caved in when the kids wanted sno-cones. It was good times but I was a little too hot. Sweating everywhere, and I hate that. Poor Dane's face was beat red and his little hairline was all sweaty! We stuck it out for a few hours until I really could handle it no longer, so we headed home. I am sad to say I wimped out a bit but Kate and Heather pushed through the heat and stayed! We went home and I filled the pool up for the kids so they could cool off. I laid on the couch thinking about taking another shower, but too tired.

After a few hours, it cooled of quite a bit and I got a phone call from Kate saying "We're still here!" So as soon as my husband got home, I confessed to going to the fair again ( I didn't tell him my plans that morning knowing he would probably roll his eyes and then justified the money spending with my Bunco win) and asked if I could go back WITHOUT the kids so I could actually look at a few things. Being the fantastic husband that he is, he said of course, but he was going to lock the kids in a room so he could get a presentation done. Fantastic! So I hopped in the car and parked a ways from the fair and took a FREE shuttle there. Met up with Kate again (she was on hour 8 or so?? What a true fair girl.) and got some ice cream and puttered around looking through the booths. Finally Kate called it a day around hour 9 but I stayed. I am totally kicking myself for not bringing my camera back. What a beautiful night! Full moon and they had the Newsboys blaring in concert. I just walked around slowly taking in all the sights and smells. Boy is it sure different when you don't have 4 little ones to keep track of. I didn't realize how much stuff I miss. By 9:30 I decided to call it a night, and walked toward the shuttle, but I didn't really feel like getting home so soon. I figured I would just walk to my car. It was only half mile or a mile away. Beautiful night and you could hear the band playing better the further I got from the fairgrounds. I walked really slow enjoying my alone time. It really made me realize how little time I have spent by myself in such a long time and that I have to remember to do this more often. I was a little disappointed on how fast I got to my car and considered walking around the block a few more times, but I didn't and headed home. The house was quiet when I got home, my husband working on his stuff and the kids were all watching a movie, not locked in a room. It was a good day.

Oh yeah, today is the last day of the fair. Wonder if I will head out there again.

Fair Week

It is fair week! I love the fair. I think I went almost everyday last year. So far the kids have been every day too. We did the demo derby on Monday, rides on Tuesday and Grandma is taking the kids today. The two older boys in the morning and the two younger ones in the evening! Maybe I will sneak back in later tonight with the kids since my hubs will be working late. I only took a few pictures because I didnt want to haul my big camera around all day and I usually end up carrying all sorts of "goodies" that the kids have aquired throughout the day. So here are a few shots. Gage moves around so much that he is hardly in any. Dane is getting tired of me taking pictures of him and Davis asks me to take a picture of him at every turn!

Our Trip to the Oregon Coast

We just got back from the Oregon Coast. I am more of a warm weather girl, so I froze the whole time but great place for photo's. I have lots of photo's, so I will post some more later...we got to get ready for the fair!!!

Funny Story...at least I think so...

Here is a little story about me. I will keep it short and sweet. So I got to head out to the mall without any children yesterday. I decided I would check out what the GAP had on sale, so I mozied on in. In amongst the pants and shorts was a creme, gauzy, flowy looking skirt with a bow that you tied in the front. OOhhh pretty, and only $4.97, I think I will try it on. Into the dressing room I go and slip on the skirt. Nice, it has elastic in the back but this bow in the front ties kind of weird. It kind of goes into a V so your belly button shows (If your wearing a half shirt, which I do not do ). A little perplexed I thought I would ask the employee how exactly this ties, it just didn't seem quite right, but I really loved the fabric and the flowiness of it. As I peeked out from around the door, she had left. "Oh well" I thought, its only 5 bucks, I think I will get it anyway. As I am hanging it back on the hanger (the kind they use for skirts) I notice some little hooks in the back of the skirt, then I notice some long straps in a little baggy attached to the skirt. "What are these for" I wonder. Then I realize, this is not a skirt, its a shirt! It is a strapless tank with a big bow front to tie you in, or you can use the straps that come with it. I started to laugh out loud in the dressing room all by my self. What a dork I am! Can you imagine. Here I am wearing my new "skirt" out and see someone wearing my "skirt" as a shirt?? Haha, boy would I have felt really stupid then! And thank God I didn't ask the employee for help! Can you tell how often I buy myself stuff..haha!

Here it is...Dont ask, I have no idea what I was thinking!

Visiting the Tall Ships

Kate and I took the munchkins to visit the tall ships. Only 2 pirate looking boats but the kids thought they were pretty cool. Unfortunately I only brought my telephoto lens so I was not able to get any good pictures of the kids unless we were on opposite ends of the boat. Not a good idea though, since the 2 year old likes to peer over the edge, and honestly I am a little tired of taking their pictures. That sounds bad, so let me rephrase that. I like taking their pictures so they remember all the fun things they will have done as a child, creatively speaking I would like to try something a little different than just the same old pictures of them at the same old places all the time. Maybe its time for an adventure! So here are only a couple pictures of the tall ship day, and I couldn't even get in a full boat with my long lens!