Multi-sport weekend

 We had one of those weekends where you couldn't possibly cram one more thing in.  It started on Friday night with the high school football game being at the same time as the opening game for a baseball tournament that Cameron was in.  The football game was called several times for lightening, and finally rescheduled.  The girls were not overjoyed by the delays, the lightening, or by being held hostage by a NHS concession stand.

 Saturday morning, we were up and running to Quincy's soccer game.  She played awesome 

 and even scored a goal, which she was totally thrilled with!

 The little girls are not good fans....as a matter of fact, they spent more time rolling up in the blanket than they did watching their sister!

 From soccer, we ran back to Kansas City for more Monster Bash action.  At one of the games, the team is allowed to dress up and decorate their dugout.  If they win (which Cam's team did), they get some money taken off their next tournament entry fee.  Cameron's team had a good time I think, although the games didn't really go their way.

 We were at the ballpark a very long time.  Saige was so, so good!  She is an awesome little sister!

 Cameron did get hurt playing catcher yesterday.  He took a pretty hard pitch to the thumb.  He was hurt bad enough that it was difficult to squeeze his glove.  He played pretty well anyhow.  His team is not lacking in talent, but they do have a way to go and have a lot to improve on.  It was definitely a learning experience to go to this tournament.

 Leave Jim alone for one minute and look what he does.

 We spent Sunday watching Preston play flag football.  He had an awesome game and even scored a touchdown!  

I do love this time of the year and it was an exceptionally nice weekend to be outside!  Unfortunately, all this outdoor time did nothing for my laundry pile!  Guess I know what I get to spend tomorrow doing!!  :)

Small FYI

 Our friend Cindi told us about an exotic pet contest for the paper.  I spent a long time today trying to get a great photo of the bearded dragons for this contest because when I told Preston he was all about it.  So Cindi, her is your preview of the contest photo entry.....I sent it in this afternoon.  FYI bearded dragons are really awesome pets, however they are not very easy to photograph.  Preston had to spend quite a lot of time cleaning the tomatoes off their faces, and then they refused to smile for me.

I might point out, since we know I recently passed the line into official insanity, that I am blown away by how much Lollipop has grown since we brought her home in June (Lollipop is the one on the left as you look at the photo),  She has gained several ounces and  several inches as well.  PJ has grown too, but not as drastically.  Thanks to grandma, we were recently gifted a very large tank.  It is so much fun to watch them and as pets go, I have to say these are really great!  My original hope that Preston would discover a love for vegetables while chopping and feeding has not really worked out though!

Cameron's baseball team won their scrimmage game today.  Jim said that they played really well and it was a fun day, except for the wind, Jim did not enjoy the wind!  :)  When I saw the preview photos of the uniforms, I was unsure about the black and blue, but I must say, I really like it!

 Quincy's soccer team played their second game.  Quincy played really well, and they won.  It was way cold out, which is so typical for soccer season.  

 Quincy said it was just right out and that she wasn't cold at all.  :)

 After soccer, we attended the 4-H skating party.  Well, Preston, Quincy and Harper attended.  The big kids were all working.

 Preston ended up falling down a ton and hurt his foot.  He is not overly excited about skating.

 I figured that Harper would go out, fall down and be done.  I anticipated having to entertain her while the other kids skated.  I could not have been more wrong.  She skated the whole time and only fell about 2 times.  She had a great time and proclaimed she loves skating!

 During the last part of the party, they opened up the floor for the kids to dance without skates.  I don't know if you can see it in these photos, but Harper was right out in the middle of the big kids.  She even knew some of the dance moves when they were line dancing.  Sometimes it makes me laugh how having big siblings teaches the little ones things that I would never have guessed.  I think the skating party was a huge success.  I was happy to see so many 4-Hers come out.

 Today I took Preston to his first flag football game while Jim took Cameron to a scrimmage game for his fall baseball team.  Preston's team played really well.  they are masters of the fake and they used it to win the game.  It was fun to watch!  I haven't heard yet how Cameron's team did, they are not back yet.  I hope it was good.  With his football team having sort of a rough season, I would love to see the baseball team have a little success!  One only needs to build so much character!

The week ahead looks to be a busy one.  I am happy that my kids are involved in all this stuff, happy to be walking this journey with them.

Invisible line

 Harper had a couple of baby teeth that were very bad.  She had one on each side and unfortunately, they will only deaden one side of your mouth at a time.  So last week, we had the first tooth crowned and she had an appointment to go back this morning for the other side.  Our dentist, whom we absolutely adore, does not crown teeth, so we had to go to a specialist.  The specialist was pretty nice, and last week went swell.  This time however, Harper knew what she was in for, and she remembered that her mouth hurt for a day or so afterward, so she was not at all amused by the idea of going back.  This particular dentist believes that children do better if mom sits in the waiting room.  I understand their point, and agreed to this procedure.  However, I was not prepared to hear my child sobbing and begging for me from the 'treatment room' and it was a hard thing for both of us.  They did get her tooth fixed, and the dentist assured me that while she was sad about not being with me, she was not in much pain he didn't think.  All that is leading up to this.  After the appointment, we had to go to the pet store to buy bearded dragon food.  Harper was still very sad while we were there, and I cheered her up by allowing her to pick out a Halloween costume for Adolf.  She was instantly happy, forgot about the dentist, and was giddy about getting home to the cat and showing him the costume.  While I think this might have been the best 3 dollars I ever spent, on the way home it dawned on me.  I may have just crossed the line from a little redneck crazy into a full blown weirdo.  Jim was super amused with the cat's dreadlock hat at lunch time, so at least we are still in this together!  The only one who was not amused was Adolf.  He is still pouting!

 This has been a rather long week.  The boys had a lot of football games, and none of them were very pretty score wise.  Last night, Cam played at Perry.  Cam's team usually has 4 boys to use as subs, however, 2 were hurt and 2 were ineligible to play, which meant that they had no subs.  On top of that, the Perry kids were unusually large and extremely talented.  It did not make for a fun game to watch at all.  I did tell Cameron I was extremely proud of him.  He never quit.  Never stopped hustling, never stopped hitting hard, never stopped playing the game, even when only a miracle could have saved the score.  He agreed with me that these type of things are character building.

Now we gear up for a wild and crazy weekend.  It would seem that October is as full as any time during the summer.  Wonder why I always think things will slow down when school starts?

Kitty in a basket

 Adolf has become Harper's project.  He tries to escape, but she scoops him up and forces him to do her will!  Actually, he doesn't seem to mind that much!  Our family trickles out the door in the morning, with everyone catching buses, walking, driving, and going to work.  By the time the little girls leave, the kitty is feeling like we are abandoning him.  He sits in the window and cries while we get in the van.  He is so happy to see the girls when we get home at noon.  Such a good little buddy!

 Quincy came home in a real fine mood today!  Needless to say her bedtime got moved up a little bit tonight!

 One of the guys at the grocery store asked Saige if she was having an extreme bad hair day.  I can't understand why he would say that at all!?!

And then there is this guy.  He started flag football practice, and is super pumped about his team.  He also is the sweetest kid!  Quincy forgot her homework folder at school.  He rode his bike down and got it for her when she was having a complete meltdown about getting into trouble tomorrow.  Such a good big brother!