A Turn-Around!

Last weekend was a fantastic sports weekend! Grady's team finished their season with a win, Gabe's team eeked out a nail-biter of a win, K-State won B-I-G and Michigan State (not necessarily a huge fan, but I may be now) gave me one of the best games to watch Saturday night!

So, Grady's team finished their season with a win....finishing in 3rd place! They had a great game....another shut out...3-0! They were definitely back...the team that played the last two weeks was long gone! Grady played goalie in the second quarter and had a save! I was so proud!He also played defender and was able to keep the ball away from the goal in that position as well! Way to go AAA and Grady!

Gabe's was also super exciting! For one, he played on several defense plays as well as a few offensive ones. His team also looked like a completely different team! Gabe also had his name announced for a tackle while on defense! The final score: Orioles 12 Bulldogs 6! It was a very exciting game....just about the time we would get close to scoring they would get a penalty and every thing would be for not! Hard to watch, but there was still plenty of excitement! Gabe ends his season on Saturday here in Augusta! Go ORIOLES!

Pumpkin Patch!

My pumpkins with their pumpkins!

Grady riding the zip line!

Gabe at the pumpkin sling shot!

Yesterday the boys had a day off from school, so we decided to head over to Apple Jack Pumpkin Patch! The boys had a blast going on the zip line, pillow bounce, venturing our way through the corn and milo maze, the gourd gun, the pumpkin sling shot, hay rack ride, duck races....it was a fun, but really exhausting day...for me....I'm certain they could have stayed much longer! The patch part was kind of sad...they have had just as much rain as us--which is not a lot--, and it appears they had the same problem with grasshoppers! There were some pumpkins in the patch, but most of them were green and pretty small! We did come away with 2 pretty good looking pumpkins, though! It was a great fall day for the patch...so glad I got to spend it with 2 of my favorite fellas!

Gabe's Field Trip!

Watch out for the giant squid!
Gabe's fifth grad class! He is 5th from the right in the blue Ewalt sweatshirt!

Jacob and Gabe inside the tornado!

On Friday, Gabe's fifth grade class headed to Exploration Place in Wichita for a Science field trip! We got to sit in on a squid dissection, learn how flight works, see a miniature replica of the state of Kansas, figure out how to build a dam and watch "Forces of Nature" in the dome theatre! It was all very cool...even the squid dissection! The miniature of Kansas was my personal favorite, however, I think the kids were bored to tears in there! The kids seemed most impressed with the tornado tube! They would stand inside a huge tube and then wind would spin around them...supposedly what it would feel like inside of tornado, minus about 150 miles per hour of wind! It was pretty cool! Again the class was so well behaved and so polite! When someone from Exploration would be speaking, all ears and eyes were on them! As I have said before, I am so thankful I get to go on these trips! It is a great way to see how your child interacts with others on their turf....and I must admit, I am pretty happy with the way our boys conduct themselves! Thanks Gabe and Grady for letting me tag along....

Grady's Field Trip!

Last Tuesday, Grady's first grade class headed to Walter's Pumpkin Patch! The class had a blast! There was ton of stuff to do! The favorite was the slide that was a tube that went through the side of a hill! You took a disk sled to the top and whoosh! out the other end you would come! I wish I would have been smaller...definitely would have liked to give that one a whirl! This pumpkin patch is located north of El Dorado...and they must have been blessed with a lot more rain, because their pumpkins were fantastic! The kiddos each got to pick one to take home! The two fellas I had (Grady and Matt) were on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin....it may have taken a while, but in the end, they both found terrific looking pumpkins! It was a gorgeous day to be at the Patch, and the class was very well behaved! I tell ya, I have been on several field trips in my day...and this week I was blessed to be a part of 2 very fantastically behaved class field trips! I so love going with boys' classes on field trips...I am so thankful I am able to go and they still want me to be a part of this!

Score Updates!

Grady on the far side....getting ready to ATTACK!
Gabe is the second one from the back....this is on a kick off return!

Yep, I'm 2 full weeks behind...what's new?! Well, I have been procrastinating on this for 2 very good reasons! 1-All last week, I spent one day at home...the rest on field trips and other school related stuffs....the one day I had free was spent gathering food for the fam....these people just can't seem to get by without it! 2- There were absolutely no good sports scores to report!

I'm not sure if burn out has finally set in, but neither Gabe's nor Grady's team has been performing like they did in the beginning of the season! The last few weeks have been somewhat painful as spectators! Two weeks ago, we headed to Hesston with Gabe's team....final score 38-0...yikes! Yes, it was every bit as painful to watch as you would imagine. Gabe had quite a bit of playtime that day....and he played well. Unfortunately, football is a team sport, so if the team is having an off day...it doesn't much matter what you are doing! Last weekend we were back in Augusta...but you really couldn't tell one week from the other! I really can't remember the final score....something bad...with Augusta losing, how's that? Gabe did not have a lot of playtime on Saturday...he was in on special teams, but other than that...not really anything else! We did have a visit with the Coach...hopefully things will sort themselves out. Gabe was not the only one and we were not the only perturbed parents! Would have hated to be a Coach after that game. I can speak for Shawn and I, we were very civil....I hope all parents were!

Grady and AAA......well, painful on that account as well! I know for a fact that Grady is done....we started in the beginning of August and are now 3 weeks into October....I guess 12 weeks doing one thing is a little long for Grady! After the game 2 weeks ago, we had to have a talk with Grady about finishing things out strong even when you are tired....it seemed to have helped this week, but again...team sport...if every one is not on board with finishing strong...not much you can do! Two weeks ago was the start of the tournament...they played one of the teams they had tied with....well, Saturday was not our day....final score 7-0..OUCH! Last week we played the other team we had tied with...the outcome was the same, but AAA was able to score.....final score 6-2! This week, Grady has his last game! They will be playing for 3rd and 4th! Keeping our fingers crossed to end the season with a win!! GO AAA!

Little Mr. Citizenship!

Last week, Grady won the Citizenship award for Mrs. Maska's 1st Grade Class! He was chosen by his teacher and principal for this prestigious honor! We are so proud of you, Grady! WAY TO GO!

Hot Dawg Day!

Gabe doing the jackrabbit race!

Gabe and his partner McKenzie.....she is a little sweet on him! I know he will kill me if he sees this....but, really too cute! She chose him as her partner...and as he puts it, well, she wouldn't have been my first pick as a partner, but she is the Student Council President, so that should get you somewhere shouldn't it?! Gabe...you gotta love him!

Grady and his class having their Hot Dawg Lunch!

Gabe, Easton and Jacob eating their lunch and trying to make sure that I could get them in the picture!

Grady and Wyeth concentrating so hard on stacking those cups and plates into a pyramid!

Gabe and Dalton getting ready for the egg toss....he had to lose the lady friend....she may be Student Council President, but unfortunately not athletically inclined...I think that is how he put it!

Today was Hot Dawg Day at Ewalt!! This is such a fun day for the kiddos...it is a day filled with running, playing, eating, giggling, good times! Because I have two kids in two different age groups...I get to volunteer at stations all day, plus have lunch with the boys...bonus! The fifth graders also have an extra special event at the end of the day...the annual egg toss! Gabe and his partner Dalton were 2nd in their class...thanks to Mom giving a little pre-game coaching on the proper technique for successfully catching an egg...unfortunately the 1st placers were listening too! The weather stayed pretty nice for the day....we could have done without all of the wind, but at least I wasn't standing outside in the rain! I am posting a few pictures of the boys doing some of the activities, eating lunch with their buddies, and Gabe right before the egg toss began. I actually videoed the event, so I only got the one picture! Enjoy!

Score Update!

Yep, we will officially be playing again in 12 hours....but it's better late than never! Last week's scores:

Gabe and the 5th Grade Orioles - 16-12! A close and exciting win! Gabe actually played more offense than defense this week, and was on most every special team play! Just when I think I have it all figured out, they have to go and switch everything up!

Grady and the AAA Hardwood - 5-0!! YAY! Another win...that put them in the second seed for the tournament....which starts tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.! He will have two more games after that...and the times will depend on a win or loss....I will try and get the times out a little quicker!

So proud of our little sporties!! Can't wait for another fun Saturday of football and soccer!! GO GABE AND GRADY!