Fall Fun October 2013

Mona led the middle school band last Friday during half-time of the HS football game!

Ben resting in-between plays at his flag football game.  I love the last name on the back of his shirt!  He played center and a few other positions, but also ran the ball 30 yards for a TD!!!

Matt serving up Fireman's Chili at the local Chili Cookoff.  Beautiful day, delicious food!

Sunday Sept 22

The kids' school council members voted this year to create their own local fundraiser and dedicated all the proceeds to Diabetes research!  Saturday night, they held "Walk 2 Hours 2 Cure Diabetes".  The honorary co-chairs for the walk were Mona and another student in her class with the same diagnosis.  They held a banner on the first lap around the track and their families followed.  Then... we walked.  and walked.  and walked.  Each lap around, they gave you a bead to add to a bracelet string- it ended up being a great way at the end to measure how far we walked. 

Mona walked with friends, Zach ran a lot of the first laps (wow!), Ben walked in flip flops until he got a season-ending blister between his toes, Lizzie walked quite a ways and then hitched 4 laps on Dad's shoulders- I was so impressed by the distance they logged!  There was music over the PA system and "fun laps" with different things to do (the chicken dance is surprisingly hard to do while walking) and they had tailgate games set up in the middle for rest breaks.  T-shirts, concession stand, donations... they had raised $2700 by the end! 

Pretty proud of my community right now, and inspired to get involved in more of their fundraisers for other's causes.  :)  I hope the kids learn the same lesson too. 

Sunday 9/15/13

Sunday afternoon after we got back from camping up by Humboldt, there was a lot of laundry and a lot of resting and movie watching and cleaning out the camper (I am so sad to have it put away for the year already!!!).  HOWEVER...

since it was so beautiful out, I had Ben put on his long pants, long-sleeved shirt, helmet, and knee/elbow pads and head outside.  I had promised him (and myself) this was the summer that he would be taking off those training wheels and it seemed like summer was coming to a close.Any of you that know Ben understand when I say this has been a lot of years of trial and error and him getting more and more worried about crashing on a bike.  I had finally broke down and got him some knee/elbow pads so he had NO EXCUSES anymore.  He got suited up, and he wheeled his bike over to the garage.  We ceremoniously took off those stupid training wheels that he was SO embarrased about this year.  GONE FOREVER!

and 15 minutes later- perfection!

So Ben suggested that maybe Liz could do it too, and an hour later, (after I called in Matt for some reinforcements cause she and I weren't getting anywhere) I got an excited Liz coming to pull me outside to watch the magic...

I am so proud!!!

Saturday 9/14/13- Flag Football



Zach (in the red shorts) on defense



Liz and friends at the game

Hawks vs. Cyclones

Thursday 9-5-13

When I don't worry about the next thing that needs to happen or the next day that is just as busy as this one, I really, really enjoy my days.  Here's Thursday's run down that I thought would be horrible and was dreading:

1.  Matt's on a trip, so I stayed home a bit later this morning and helped the kids get ready for school (picture day :) which included a bath for Liz, hair styling, and a small fashion melt-down, a re-do of Ben's button fiasco, practicing smiles, handing out picture orders, quick hugs and a scramble out the door.

2.  Work- no details necessary!

3.  Drive to my home, then drive 15 minutes more while getting details about Z,B,&L's day at school.  Get to the elementary to pick up Mona from volleyball practice and have a pretty cool talk with her on the way home.

4.  Drop off Mona and Liz, hustle boys for flag football practice while grabbing water bottles on the way out the door.

5.  Stay in town to watch football played by tons of local kids TK thru 4th grade (AWESOME!) who are thrilled to be running around in the beautiful weather as it cools down.  Have a cool time with some friends who were also hanging out watching the show.  Have a cool time with Ben (while waiting for Zach to finish) walking to Caseys for some Gatorade and talking important stuff. 

6.  Snuggle with Liz so she can tell me the story she learned in Kindergarten "If you give a mouse a cookie" with her puppet.  She's got a steel trap memory, by the way!

7.   Finish the night with a little light music- Ben is my favorite little guitar player in the entire world!

It's been a great day.

Sunday 8/25/13

Things are definitely gearing up to be a busy fall.  The boys mutually decided to forego the cub scouts this fall in favor of being able to try flag football.  This ought to be interesting!  Zach has asked for years, and was thrilled; Ben- well, he didn't hesitate either on the decision.  I'm sure this will help in Zach's career goal of playing for the Wisconsin Badgers and then the Green Bay Packers. 

Ramona starts volleyball practice Monday, and I just wrote down all the games on my calendar.  It should be a little easier for me to get to them since the 7th grade plays first.  Last year I had to leave work early to get there even 1/2 way through her games.  She also has confirmation (last year for Mona!!!) starting in a couple weeks. 

I don't know that I enjoy all the "busy", but I do like having a schedule moving us along.  The kids seem to have adjusted already, not too many 1st week problems- with the small exception of Liz growing out of her shoes that fit JUST FINE not 2 weeks before!  That girl is growing as we speak!  Matt and I have vowed to stop feeding her until this stops.  :)

Off to School! 8/20/13

The first day of school- and Lizzie's first day of kindergarten!  There wasn't a lot of complaining after they got home- except for the ball that hit Zach in the face and the locker that wouldn't open for Ramona.... everything went really smooth.  Liz was singing a new song already- Hickory Dickory Dock- with some tongue clicks that she had perfected.  It's been a good day.