The Big Game....

The game was to start at 7, Kennedy needed to be there at 6:45. At 6:15 we were still debating if we should make it a family event, or if I should go alone to watch Kennedy. I thought I should go alone, but at 6:30 Shawn decided all the kids should get a taste of football. Ethan was dragging his feet in protest, Jack was wound up from parade candy, and Landon was just whiny. But, I relented and we all loaded into the van. Because it was the homecoming game, and we live in a town that thrives on local events, you can imagine how packed the bleachers were. We ended up on the grassy hill designated for parents of the rah-rah rookies. The incline of this hill was unbelievable. My feet were cramping just trying to keep my body from sliding into the people sitting in front of me. Jack loved the hill. He was about 10 feet from where we were sitting starting from the top and running to the bottom. Over and over. Until he was so thirsty he could run no more. Ethan started out enjoying the game, until he realized there was a concession stand that we were not frequenting. Then his complaints became known. Loudly. He finally covered his head with the sweatshirt that was too hot to wear and laid down on the blanket. Nice. Until Landon thought he was trying to play "jump on me" and one hard thump sent him into hysterics. This wasn't even the end of the 1st quarter. Kennedy was finally up to cheer. It was short, and I couldn't really even see her from where we were. She came off the sidelines smiling and giggling with her friends, so it seemed to be successful in her eyes. I would have loved to watch the drill team perform at half-time, but couldn't sit through another quarter. Home to bed seemed to be the only option. Next year if it's a family affair we will bring our own drinks and possibly sedate the children with something before we venture out of the house.

Homecoming Parade....

Kennedy was invited to march in the parade with the rah-rah rookies, and Jackson's preschool class was decorating vehicles to ride as a group. (Small town, everyone gets to participate that can think of a reason). The parents of the preschool kids needed to walk alongside their child, probably to keep everyone focused on actually finishing the parade. Shawn was off early that day and volunteered to watch from the sidelines with Landon and Ethan so the rest of us could participate. I dropped Kennedy off at her destination with instructions on how to find me after, and Jack and I headed to his meeting place with decorated bike in tow. Jack and I found ourselves at the very beginning of the parade, right behind the fire truck. (And the fire truck's siren. Fabulous.) As we were waiting for the signal to begin riding, Jack started looking around at the kids we were with. "Hey Mom. That kid is in my preschool class. Mom, that girl is in my class too. Mom, that is one of the teachers in my class. That's funny that they are all here at the same time as me!" They did decorate their bikes in school the previous day and have been talking about the parade for a week. You think my son would catch on that we were marching with the kids in his class and that is why we were surrounded by them. Good one Jack. The parade starts and we are off. It was fun. And short. The only complaint Jack had was that if he was in the parade he couldn't catch candy from the sidelines. We had a contingency plan that Natalie J. would throw candy at him after the parade, but because we were so early on in the game we were able to sit at the finish line and catch enough to satisfy. Kennedy came after us so I was also able to catch a glimpse of her in the throng of girls she was with. Fun parade. Next year we'll all get to do it again.

Rah-Rah-Rookies....

The Varsity cheerleaders at our local high school hold a cheer camp for kindergarten through 5th grade girls. They meet the saturday before the homecoming game and teach the girls some basic cheers, a short dance, and just have a good time. This was Kennedy's first year to participate and she loved it. When we first got in the gym she was her typical "observing" self. I was afraid she would just watch the entire time and get nothing out of this clinic. I stayed for a few minutes to watch. All the rookies were in a giant circle (about 100+ girls) with Varsity cheerleaders dispersed throughout. There were 4 varsity girls in the center of the circle. They began playing a game. They were singing some kind of chant and the girls in the center would start spinning with one arm pointing. When the chant ended, whomever the girls arms were pointing at would come into the center of the circle replacing the one who pointed. I knew Kennedy would never go into that circle, even if pointed to. Wrong. She was in that circle within 2 minutes of the game starting. After only 8 minutes of playing she made it into the circle 4 times. Remember, there were over 100 girls. The odds of her making it in the circle once were slim to none. But 4 times. That means she went into the circle when she wasn't actually even being pointed to. I learned that my "observer" child likes the spotlight in some situations. When that game ended they started another. This game wouldn't allow her to cheat her way into the spotlight, and as I watched I could see her body trying not to just jump in and risk social outcasting. I have to say I loved watching this side of her. It is a rare treat to see her come out of her shell in such a large group.

The cheers they learn at the clinic are used to perform between 1st and 2nd quarter at the homecoming football game.She had such a great time. I'm so glad she had this opportunity. It was good for her, and good for me to see that she does have a "showy" side. T-I-GERS we are the TIGERS!! (I'll be chanting this one for a number of weeks I'm sure).

Mother/Son Stampede

Our little town puts on a mother/son activity once a year in the fall. They call it a "stampede" because it's everything cowboy. I happened to find the cutest 7 year old in this here county and rounded him up to be my date. It's rare that Ethan and I get out on our own, so it's a night we both look forward to. On the drive to the activity Ethan mentioned he was planning on meeting some friends.

Me: What about me?

Ethan: Well, you can hang out with us too.

Me: But I wanted to be alone with you. (kind of a whiny tone)

Ethan: Well, maybe you can talk to their moms or something. C'mon Mom, it will be fine.

We saw those friends, but Ethan took pity on me and stayed by my side the entire night. The date started out at a local farm, and we were transported by a tractor-hayride to the destination of the activities. First stop, pumpkin decorating. The pumpkin crop was horrible this year and there were very few pumpkins in the bin. Mostly just teeny gord looking things. We were early enough that Ethan was able to snag a pumpkin. I need to mention that at the entrance the kids were each given a blue bandana to keep up with the cowboy theme. I was told there was no way it was going around the neck, not cool. The head is the appropriate place for these things.

Next activity, BB gun target shooting. This was the favorite. A local boy scout troop sponsored this event and had 6 men helpers lined up to teach the boys a thing or two about shooting. I guess moms aren't adequate enough for such things as shooting.

After shooting it was time for some grub. Hotdogs, chips,

and lemonade. A boys dream. After the hot dogs we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Did cowboys carry marshmallows in their packs?

The other events taking place were bookmark making, lasso roping, and an obstacle course. We did everything twice. I'm glad I have such a fun boy to take to events like these. Not only is he a fun date, he's quite the looker. Thanks Ethan for indulging me and hangin' around with me instead of your friends. I loved my time with you.

Li'l Stacker....

Landon has become quite the stacker of objects. His recent project? The cans from the kitchen cupboard.

Husbands and hooks......

Shawn had the weekend off. He got home around noon on Friday which is unheard of. By 4 o'clock he was lost as to what to do with himself. He was even thinking of trying to pick up an extra shift for the weekend. I nixed it and told him there was plenty he could do. He started thinking of things he's been putting off. I learned long ago not to give him honey-do-lists. If I even attempt these types of lists he ends up watching football on the couch all day in place of accomplishing anything productive. I did, however, mention the garage. I've been cleaning it myself for the past year and we really just don't have enough room for all the bikes, strollers, and various paraphernalia to be contained orderly on the floor. I would love to have the bikes hung by hooks in the rafters, and possibly even the strollers. I got the eye roll when I mentioned him possibly doing this as his Saturday project. The rest of the evening he continued to name things he could do to keep himself busy. I put the thought of hooks to rest in my mind, and tried to make peace with a messy garage all winter long. Saturday morning Shawn was up and in the shower by 7:30 (sleeping in to him). By 8 he was out in the garage organizing. I tried to hide my excitement, and really tried to suppress the thought of bikes hanging in case this wasn't really his plan. At noon I needed to go pick up Kennedy and Shawn told me to take the car because he needed the van to go to home depot with the boys. Still trying to suppress giddiness. While making lunch I heard the hum of the drill coming from the direction of the garage. Was my dear sweet busier-than-life husband really actually doing something on his day off that would bring me such pleasure? He scored serious brownie points with this one.

Before the hooks.

The giant jumble of stuff. The glorious hooks installed.

Children's Social....

Friday the student spouse organization held a children's social at the park. I love these things simply because it gives my boring life something to get excited about. Jack and Landon both had a really good time.

They iced and ate their own sugar cookie.

They played on the playground equipment.

Bergann showed Jack some

important things on the hill.

Landon ran around with a bucket on his head.

And Jack and Alex tied two jumpropes together

and ran up and down the hill many, many times.

Food, friends, and fun. What more could a kid ask for?