That's My Boy, Number 99!

ack decided he wanted to try his hand at football and what better place to experience it than good ol' Texas! I registered Jack to play Pop Warner football for the fall and practice started way back in August, the two weeks of fitnessing in the heat of August is no joking matter. Jack was such a trooper no complaining about the running, exercises, or practicing in gear with temps hitting 100!

Our season has consisted of Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday practices from 6:00-8:00 and games every Saturday and most Sundays! It is a huge commitment because if kids don't show up we have to forfeit and the kids are so disappointed! I have loved watching Jack interact with his teammates and learn that even if you are the smallest you can still be an allstar player! Jack is smiling every game and even when he gets knocked down (which is most of the time) he hops right back up. The greatest highlight of the season was his first tackle, followed by holding steady and not being tackled!

Davis & I have cheered him on each week and are a football family through and through!

Davis taking a break with his Sonic & Netflix!

Number 99 to the line

Such a great smile!

SeaWorld Halloween

The boys, my nieces, sister, and I loaded up and headed to San Antonio for a SeaWorld Halloween! We purchased season passes this summer and have definitely enjoyed going to the park for the day (the waterpark wasn't part of today's outing) and today was a fun Halloween opportunity! There aren't a lot of pumpkin patches in the area, so we have to find new ways to celebrate holidays. The park was decked out in an aquatic Halloween manner and isn't too spooky during the daylight hours. We saw some shows, went on a "haunted" maze, trick-or-treated, and rode some rides! It was a great day and we stopped at Maggiano's on the way home!

Fall Festival Booker T Washington Style

So, one of the extras of having a kindergartener is being pulled into the PTO. We all know how much I love to volunteer and this is no different, so I helped organize the Fall Festival to raise funds for the school. The festival had a rock climbing wall, face painting, Halloween photo ops, hair dye, hair tinsel, cupcake walk, games galore, and yummy food. My niece Holly went along to take Jack & Davis to the different classrooms while I helped run booths and tie hair tinsel. I am so appreciative that the boys have such a great cousin who helps out so much!

Jack with his snake face painting!

A quick cheese opportunity, and checking in with Mom!

Elgin Wildcat Homecoming

Okay so homecoming is a big deal in Texas, I mean huge! Mums are worn by the girls the bigger the better and it has to have a cowbell. Yes you read that right, a cowbell! Garters are the attire for the boys and again it needs to make some kind of noise, so a cowbell or a whistle! So, I tried my hand at making cowbells and garters for we were decked out for our homecoming game! Oh and t-shirts were a must too, and nothing is too much!

Jack loves to watch football and Davis loves to eat all the concession foods, so overall we can make it through at least 3/4th of a game! I will miss the thrill of high school football when we move back to Connecticut, but for now will savor it all!

October, How I Love Thee

Wow, it's October already! I haven't been so good about posting, but have been busy with everyday life (and man is it exhausting exciting).

I love October, who doesn't?! The crisp fall mornings, apple orchards, pumpkin gathering, seeing the foliage go through the color spectrum, delicious Starbucks' drinks, and don't even get me started on boots. This is the norm for fall...until Texas. I have to say we have had cooler mornings down in the sixties, but quickly getting to the nineties or even hundreds. Apples are gathered from HEB or if I am feeling daring Fiesta. Pumpkins will perish in this climate, so have to save that until the last minute. Foliage is all brown, silly drought. Starbuck's doesn't disappoint though, except nearest one is 15 minutes away. But, guess what my boots don't let me down at all. I do get to wear my tall boots and still wear flip flops, too and did I forget to mention I can wear cowboy boots anytime I want! Gotta love that!!!

The boys have been enjoying "fall", too. We still get to swim and go to the park without melting. Apples from the grocery store can still be doctored with caramel, for some gourmet caramel apple slices. Those crisp mornings are when we play our football game, but practice is in that heat.

So, here's to a new way to spending the fall!

Final Thoughts on 31

It is almost time to turn in for the evening and I feel a need to reflect on the past year. So, bear with me. It isn't awe inspiring, but it is my year :)

My ever changing life compliments of the Navy and a house being sold brought the boys and I to Texas to be with my sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces! Our crazy packing of our stuff was accomplished in the middle of winter with about a foot of snow and a sheet of ice, and some AMAZING friends! We were fortunate to be able to stay with some wonderful friends for what was only supposed to be a week, but an accident on before mentioned ice, left me with a broken bum (no joke) and bruised hip. So our short stay with friends was extended until I was cleared for travel. Huge thanks to the marvelous Joe & Jessie!

Settling into Texas was an adjustment, especially since Andy was finally home for more than a few hours....only problem was he was in Connecticut. Oh well, that's the story of our life. I did get a kids free trip in, but missed my munchkins something awful. Andy being on land was short lived, alas deployment was/is happening. The Navy called (this seems to be a constant) and Andy said love you, see you soon.

The boys and I have now been in Texas since March and love it! Well not so much the heat, lack of rains, bugs the size of small cats, fires, crazy drivers, REALLY we do love it. The things that make us love it, family, church, school, me being in a classroom teaching, football, and friends.

So to recap, my year had Andy home for a short while, broken bones, moving, running to games, teaching kiddos, family, and loving life! Here's to the next year!!!

First Day of School

Wow it really happened, Jack started Kindergarten!

I had an emotional time today remembering all that has happened over the past five years and cannot put into words how hard it was to drop off my Jack-Jack for all day school. I was quite proud of myself, I didn't cry until I left him inside his school. I don't know if the hardest part was not having Andy there to share in the day and imagine what the future will be like for Jack. I know he was there in spirit and it helped that we did get to talk to Andy a couple of days prior to it.

Jack on the other hand was ready to take off and never look back! He was super excited about specials, Monday is Art, Tuesday is Gym, Wednesday is Music, Thursday is Gym, and Friday is Computers. He informed me that Monday and Friday would be the best days of the week, that boy loves Art and Computers! He picked out his first day of clothes all by himself, which also made me realize how independent he is. Plus his shirt matches his personality and cracks me up!

So, here is to the next thirteen years (and then however long college takes) to one of the brightest and kindest little boys I love!

Jack all ready to head out! I love the monkey!!!

Eating breakfast at school, he requested to eat there!

Back to school night, all smiles!