K....S....U...Wildcats!

 Last weekend we had the opportunity to attend the KSU vs. OSU football game!!!  It was an evening game, which the boys and I had never been to an evening game...so, this was pretty exciting...the driving back at midnight...not so exciting, but everything else...totally rocked!  We had a fantastic time cheering the Wildcats to their 9th victory of the season!!  Thanks Mom and Dad Fox for the tickets!!  We had a blast!

Happy Halloween!

 As many of you know....our family has been soooo busy this year!  I really don't think it will slow down for the next oh, say 10 years or so!  With that being said, we still managed to eek out a jack-o-lantern before Halloween!  Meet Cyclops-O-Lantern!

Grady "Rocky" Fox

 

And with the addition of a middle schooler in our household came the subtraction of a trick-or-treater in our household!  So, here he is our only trick-or-treater! 

 

Touchdowns, No-Hitters and Business Trips!

Such is life in the Fox household....I have decided I will consider it a complete blogging success if I complete one blog each month!  This school year has been CrAzY!!!  I will give you a run down what the four of us has been up to!

Grady -  He has been playing flag football in Andover!!  He is a monster on defense....he loves grabbing those flags!  He is also not afraid to run right up the middle....he was able to score his first touchdown on Tuesday night!!!   I think we may have found his sport of choice!  Normally he is pretty mellow...not in the least bit aggressive, but you turn him loose on the football field and that boy is an animal!  I guess we will see if he is interested in the tackle football next year!  He has also joined the Green Team at Ewalt!  Our own little tree hugger!  He will be doing projects on how to be global friendly, picking up the recycling from each classroom and learning how to be a better inhabitant of Earth.....He is super excited about this club!  He had to apply, get his teacher to sign off that he would be a good candidate for the job and then have Mom and Dad agree to the extra time outside of school!  It was quite a process....I think they were trying to weed out any that weren't willing to work!  He is also doing very well in school!  He reached his reading goal 2 full weeks before the due date and has scored 100% on each of his spelling tests!! 

Gabe - He has been rocking the baseball fields!!  Last weekend he pitched a no-hitter...okay well, 2 innings, but still a no-hitter!!  He has been learning so much this season during Fall Ball!  I am so glad we were able to find the Sluggers Academy!  He was also asked to join a traveling team, so it looks like this will be his sport of choice!  He is still going to give wrestling a go this winter....so we may be a little busier than we like for a few months!  He is doing very well in middle school as well!  I was a little worried about this trasition...but is has been as smooth as butter!  He is adjusting to the responsibilities of middle school and seems to enjoy the added freedom that comes with the new title "Middle Schooler"!

Shawn - That little turkey....he just returned from a week long trip to the beautiful Northwest!!  Of course, he was working, but the lucky duck got to soak up the fantastic views and scrumptious food while he was there!  The main topic of conversation when he would call at night was what he was having for dinner!!  We all missed him like crazy...and were never so happy to have him home!

Me - Well, where to start....being a single mom if only for a week is absolutely NO FUN!  I think the older the boys get the harder it is to chase them around!  So, I may have been even a little more excited than the boys to have Shawn back home!  Work has been a challenge...I am learning something new everyday...and gaining something everyday...patience!   Each day I am asked if I go home and collapse or just sit in the peace and quiet....and to that I respond, "What I do each night is thank God for the 2 boys I am blessed with."  I tell you my job is not easy, but I can leave and I get to come home and run my 2 boys every where they want to go...I also know that in 10 years from now they will more than likely be on their own....or heading in that direction...a reality that is not of the parents of the little fellas I work with.  I truly believe God placed me in this job to remind me how much I have been given, to show me how lacking I was in patience and that I am able to make a difference...even if very, very small!  Aside from work, I am continuing with college...and no, I have not changed my major!  My boss keeps asking me that!   I am still in Early Childhood, I will not be detered!

So, there you have it...all caught up!  I will try and post some pics of our sporty boys when I get a free minute!    

...and the sports begin again!

This weekend was the official beginning of sports weekends in the Fox house for the Fall!  Yesterday, Grady had his first flag football game!  Unfortunately, his team didn't win, but Grady had a good time and did a very good job!  He started out the day on defense getting 3 flags (he says 5...if you ask him!) and played offense in the 2nd half.  He carried the ball a couple of times and went out for a pass once!  He had a good run once...but, he tripped over the center so, he didn't get too far!  His team has only had a few practices...so, I'm sure they will improve as the season continues!  Go Crushers!!!

Gabe had a double header on Sunday in his season fall ball opener!  He had 2 very good games...his team losing by 1 in the first and ending in a tie in the second!  In the first game, he had a double and a walk in the first game and a single and a strike out in the second game in his at bats!  He played all outfield in the first game and first base in the second.  While at center field he backed up the 2nd baseman and was able to get an out at 2nd...and almost had a "highlight reel" play while at left...unfortunately, the foul ball he was attempting to catch popped right out of his glove as he slid to get it!  BUMMER!  It was still a foul ball, so nothing gained, nothing lost!  During the second game, his best play was a cleanly fielded ball that came full speed between 1st and 2nd....Gabe stopped it and beat the runner to 1st...AWESOME play!  He will have double headers all of September...so I think he will definitely have his fill of baseball by the end of this season!  He has only had 2 practices with the Sluggers Academy, but he has improved so much!  Go Sluggers!!!

Gabe in mid transition at 1st...he is getting ready to do his little stealing a base jig!  Sorry, I didn't get any pics of Grady this weekend...I was busy trying to get all of the action on video!!!

Tea With Grandma!

On Friday, Ewalt had their annual 2nd Grandparent's Day Tea!  Grady decided tea should be a grandma tea, so he invited both Grandma Judy and Nana Kathy!  They had cookies, read books together, went on a tour of Grady's room and school, and even had to do a little "interview" about themselves!  Grady ate up having both Grandmas there......total attention just for him!!  Thank you Grandma Judy and Nana for coming to the tea...Grady had a blast!

Grady was also the door greeter for the Grandparents as they entered Ewalt....he was totally chillin'!

Labor Day!

On Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, we spent the day with the Pryor side of my family hanging out at my Grandma's pond!  We swam, fished, sunned, talked, laughed, relaxed and ate...pretty fantastic way to spend a weekend, if I do say so myself!

Matt, Gabe, Kyler and Grady swimming with the fishies!

Back To School!

We are all officially back to school!  After one week in, we have got this school thing back down pat!  It is so nice getting back to a regular schedule!  Gabe has successfully tackled his first week of middle school....locker combination, moving from class to class...and has LOVED every minute!  Grady is really enjoying 2nd grade!  He has already aced his first two (yes, I said 2!) spelling tests...he loves his teacher--he says she has the best laugh!  As for me....I have started back to work, taking on a new challenge this year!  I really can't go into too much detail because of privacy laws and such, but it has been a challenge, a challenge I have truly enjoyed!  I prayed about taking this position, and after a week of my new job, I know God has to be with me in this because there is no way I could have done this alone!  I do feel this is my niche...I really do love doing what I do!  I have also started back to college school..taking one class online.  I am officially going to make this college thing last FOREVER at this pace!  



Gabe after his first day of Middle School!  That running from class to class must have been too much!!



Reality!

This is the reality....I can wear Gabe's shoes....they fit perfectly....I knew this day would come, but really, he's eleven!

Winding Down!

A trip to Eskimo Joe's!

Summer is officially winding down.....BOOO!!!  I go back to work on Thursday...and while I am super excited to see what I will be doing this year....I am not ready to have to wake up to the alarm..and actually HAVE to go somewhere each day!  The heat and dry weather has kept us inside a lot this summer....thankfully the last week has been saved by the Olympics..which we have become total junkies of!  We have been spending a lot of afternoons at the pool, mornings outside (but it's still hot and miserable!), and evenings watching movies, playing games and chilling!  It's been a good summer...it just went a little too fast!  So, here are a few of the things we've been winding down summer with!

Shawn coming down the red slide at Rock River Rapids!

The one and only time the boys got me on a slide....we came around a corner and almost flipped over....so much for a good hair day!

Cool Guy on the Lazy River....we didn't see much of this boy while at the water park...guess we aren't cool enough!

Getting ready to man the Walking Taco Stand for Boy Scouts!  There was a car show in Augusta this weekend...a little steamy to be walking around looking at cool cars...but fun none the less!



And Gabe has been making his Christmas list...he will take either this one...or

This one...either one will be just fine!  By the way...he wanted me to let you know...he will not be picky on colors!  HA!

Happy Birthday Gabe!

About eleven and half years ago, Shawn and I found out our world would be changing...drastically!  God was blessing us with a beautiful baby.  And while that pregnancy was not the picture of baby bliss....from that scary, crazy, 9 months came one of the joys of our lives!  Is it even possible??  Gabe has turned 11 and ready for middle school...it seems like just a couple of years ago that I was taking him to his first day of preschool!  He has grown into a wonderful young man..so caring, considerate, and a bright little whippersnapper!  Each day he amazes us with his knowledge of EVERYTHING...he can figure out anything that has to do with electronics...you give him the time and space and he will have a solution!  He has begun making decisions where friends and peer pressure are involved that would make any parent proud...parents that would have had a hard time making the same good decisions at 11!  He is the best brother to Grady...sure they have their arguments... but he is Grady's #1 fan and always has time to toss him a ball or show him something that only big brothers know about!  Not only does he teach Grady something new everyday..but generally he can teach Shawn and I something new each day as well!  He once had to do an assignment for Sunday School where he had to ask people a few words that would explain him as a student, friend, family member...I remember a few of the responses he got back...wise beyond his years, caring, considerate, wonderful example to his friends and family, compassionate...Gabe these things are YOU...don't change!  We are so proud to have you for our son!  11 years ago, God changed our lives forever....I'm so glad He did!  Happy Birthday Gabe!