Football

Blake played football for the first time this fall.  When I told him I signed him up, his reaction was less than excited.  As practice started, and he got more comfortable with learning the basics, he started to love it.  He loves to watch it with us now that he knows more about what's going on in the game.  It's quite comical at times.  Blake's first position was left guard.  Throughout the season he has also played center and a little defense if needed.  The first day of tackling practice he said "That was the best practice EVER!!!"  The league was small, only 4 teams of about 12 boys per team, ages 8-12.  There was a shortage of coaches and kids that signed up.  A few have quit along the season here and there.  Blake's team is the Landsharks.  He has worked hard juggling football, school, and band, along with normal chores and family activities.  He has done very well.  His team has yet to win a game, but they are having fun and working together.  Most of the boys on his team had never played before.  Even though they've lost, they have played some good footballand been good sports.  Hopefully he'll like it enough after this season to play again next year.  

The Landshark team and coaches

The whole football league

Soccer

Cathryn played soccer for the first time this fall. She had a wonderful time learning the basics.  The team had a great coach who stepped up after the start of the season so the kids on her team could particiapte in the soccer season.  Her team won most of their games, but also learned how to be good sports, whether they were on the winning side or losing side. She played defense most of the season.  She wants to play in the spring so I would say it was successful!  (She is #2 in the pictures.)

James is 5!!!

James turned five July 18th.  We went to see "Monsters University" and he picked McDonald's for dinner.  It was a total surprise for all of them!  He had his first official party with favors and everything on the 20th.  Nana & Hey Pop and some cousins came to visit and were able to be there for the party. We had five boys 5 and under running around making lots of noise.  We did cupcakes and a pinata, Chex mix and veggies.  They all had a great time and we're so happy James is 5 now!  Now for kindergarten in a little over a week!

The boys in their costumes.

I made the shells with disposable roasting pans and ribbon and spray paint.  Surprisingly easy and cheap so it didn't matter that some of them got all smashed and malformed. 

Eating snacks

Ken digging into the spread.

Time for presents!!

Thanks Nana & Hey Pop!!

We had 2 photographers: Hayden and Liannie.  

Pinata!!

Playing with homemade slime in the kitchen.  

Time for cupcakes and ice cream!

July 2013

The beginning of July was BUSY!  We arranged for my parents to watch the kids for July 3-5th while Ken & I went to the Atlanta Temple with some friends.  Ken & I were able to have a date the night of the 4th after getting to Atlanta.  It was a month shy of our 13th anniversary, but we celebrated anyway.  :)  Friday all day was spent in the temple.  Everything has changed since we got married and sealed there, but it's still beautiful and still feels the same.  We then drove to my parents house that night.  Saturday morning we took the kids and drove down to Mobile to see Ken's sister and her family.  We took all the kids to the Gulf Coast Exploreum.  We had a late lunch, then went back to Mom & Dad's house for dinner.  Then we drove home.  We were all glad to be home and sleep in our own beds, but we all had a great time!  Again, I didn't take many pictures due to running around with kids at the science center.  I also haven't gotten the pictures of us with our friends at the temple.  But here are some of the ones we took.

Atlanta Georgia Temple

June 2013

The kids got out of school May 31st.  We left right after school to go up to Lexington, KY to visit my brother's house.  We've never been up there and it's been LOTS of years since I have even driven through any of the states we went through (Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, along with the northern part of Alabama).  We had so much fun watching all the kids play.  We attended Teddy's baptism (which I forgot to get pictures of) and went to church with them.  I think our kids' favorite part, besides getting to play with cousins, was going to the Kentucky Horse park and seeing so many different kinds of horses.  Hopefully it won't be so long before we can get up there again.  Thanks for letting us invade, Preston & Terra!

I believe these chairs were part of a past jumping event for the horses.  

In order: James, Blake, Tate, Teddy, Lukas, Everett, Lynna, & Cathryn

Everett, Lynna, & Cathryn

Preston planning out our day.  I know.  It's shocking.  hahaha

We went on a carriage ride tour and these next few are some we got on the ride.

After the carriage ride, we were allowed to pet the horses. 

The Hall of Champions.  They brought out different horses and showed their highlight reels.

A Shire Sport Horse standing 19 hands tall.  We couldn't believe how big this one was.

Can't for the life of me remember what kind he was, but his name is Maximus and he was beautiful.

The American Paint Horse

An Andalusian with Spanish style 'dress'.

Cousins watching the Horses Around the World show.

A miniature horse

They have a kids barn full of fun stuff to try out and learn about.

James & Cathryn driving a buggy.

Cathryn & Teddy; James & Tate

A miniature horse and her baby.  They were going to bring them out for a show, but mama wasn't having it.  She went into protective mode.  

Teddy & Tate

Time to measure!  Teddy & Cathryn

Tate

Ken

Teddy, Lukas, Tate, & Blake

Finally found James to measure.  :)

Remember that movie "Secretariat"?  This was him.

We drove through Nashville on the way home and stopped by the temple.  We have never seen one that small.  The stake center was bigger.  Maybe one day we'll be able to go back and go inside.