November's BAMA Trip

Good night!  What happened to November?!  Pretty much slipped through my fingers.

Here's a good highlight:  We went to Bama for a four day weekend!

We stopped by Auburn first, stayed with my sister, got a sweet hair cut, cuddled with a beautiful baby girl, boys went fishing with Matt and Uncle Dave, and then we headed to B'ham to see my parents.  With Luke in tow, too!

In B'ham, we went fishing.  Like, a lot.  And Matt and Isaac both caught a large mouth bass for the first time!  They were both soooo excited!   Good for them, man.  Matt and the boys have really gotten into fishing.  Which is great.  The more they want to be outdoors, the better.  But one thing Matt's learning is how to fish different fish than the ones he fished up north.  It's different.  So getting a bass was a big deal for the both of them!

Also, family time.  Love it.  My parents' home is really peaceful!

We Survived Soccer Season 2014

Seriously.  That's the way I look at it: SURVIVAL!

This was the first sports season which had every kid play.  Wow, it was a lot of work to get everyone ready and on time to their games and practices.

But the boys really enjoyed it.  Like, a lot.  I guess we call that a success then, right?

Isaac scored one goal during the season, and his team didn't win a game.  But in all honesty, his team was a hot mess.  I think every kid besides Isaac had some form of ADD/ADHD.  There wasn't much focus, which got on Isaac nerves.  He's a very focused dude.  Despite this, Isaac's soccer talent improved durning the season.  He really flourished in defense, and towards the latter end of the season he started to really understand offense and taking control of the ball.  Go U8 Pirates!

Eli was totally into each game.  There was never any fear about being in the midst of the kicking chaos.  We pretty much had to yell, "DON'T PUSH!!" every 2 minutes while he played.  He got a little better at the end… a little.  I think at one point he and another player from a different team got in a pushing match (Eli won!).  Eli's focus and understanding of ball awareness improved immensely.  In the beginning he was just running around not looking where the ball was--just wanted to in the pack of kids to kick and push.  His ball handling skills and awareness slowly came.  He even would take the control of the ball in a mass of kids.  I don't know if he ever scored a goal during a game, but I know he did during scrimmage.  Go U6 Tigers!

Titus.  What to say about Titus?  Not a lot.  To give him some credit, he probably was the youngest of his team on the pitch.  So I guess it makes sense he was the least focused and least involved on his team.  The game to him was one big "pretend land."  He would stand and do his karate moves.  He would look around for money on the ground.  He would play tag with his team mates while in the game with his team mates.  Oh boy.  But he loved it… Somehow he scored a goal on his last game.  What?!  I focused enough for one play to take the ball down and kick it in.  That boy has athletic skill, I promise.  Go U6 Puppy Ninjas!

The last night of soccer the coaches gave out little gifts and trophies.
And we didn't bring our camera.  So enjoy the worst pictures in We Be Studly history!

Columbus Day Weekend = Sickness and Beach Fun

Wednesday, October 8th was a half day for Eli and Isaac.  And each came home with fevers.  I was like, "What?!"  Their fevers were each close to 102, and they were both tired and achy and headachy.  Tylenol took care of their fevers and the other symptoms, but the sickness was a mystery.  Their throats didn't hurt, and nothing else came.

Then two days later Eli's fever broke and his body broke into a rash.  Isaac's rash followed Eli's quickly.  These boys did not go to school on Thursday, but thankfully they each (along with Titus and Matt) had a four day weekend.  

So since the two older boys were sick/recovering from sickness, and Titus seemed ill as well, we had a very low key Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  

But on Monday everyone was fully recovered, and cabin fever had begun to set in.  

It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and so we took advantage of one of the perks living in coastal GA and went to the beach!  In October!  

We went in the morning.  The sun was hot, but the water was really cool.  I stayed out of the water and manned the beach: taking pictures, helping getting water and snacks, and finding sand toys.  Matt had a lot of fun in the water with the boys.  

Eli is fearless, truly.  

Isaac is weary, but likes to have fun. 

Titus can stand the water only so much, then his land-lover self needs to be running up and down the beach.  

After 3 hours at the beach we came back to our city, turned in coupons for free ice cream at the local Dairy Queen, then went home and rested.  That evening we spent a long time at the park.  

Overall, a really good 4 day weekend.