kitchen (sorta) clean

Ash's chore was to clean the kitchen. He announced "I'm done!" and so, as I always do, I went to inspect his work. When I turned the corner I saw this on the counter. I called Ash in and asked him "how he could be done cleaning when there was still so much stuff on the counters...?" to which he replied "I cleaned though. I lifted everything up, cleaned under them and then put them back down." Palm. To. Face. You'd think after 10+ years of raising this kid I would remember that I can't give him general directions. I have to give EXTREMELY detailed directions. We both learned a lesson today.

the soap on the bus goes bubble, bubble, bubble

Teams that wash buses together stay together! I am still recovering from surgery so Brandon took Maddox to his football team's car wash fundraiser! Maddox worked hard and his team raised enough money to purchase new tackling dummies for practice. Proud mama!

eaten alive

Raising boys makes everything an adventure...and that includes something as simple and basic as dusting! This is my latest find. A mounted piranha with a lego man in his mouth! Ha! I'm not sure what was happening during playtime that resulted in this (and, in fact, I'm not sure I WANT to know...) but nevertheless it happened! The minds of boys never cease to amaze (and confuse) me!

round robin

Maddox's first football "game" was actually a round robin scrimmage. It was out of town and involved five or six other youth teams. They spent the evening playing each other on half the field over and over until all the scrimmages were complete. This was the first time we got to see Maddox's little team in action and while we have a lot of work to do we've also come a long way! We definitely got a taste of what this season will be like. Some teams are comparable to ours while others have lineman the size of 12 year olds! Where do they find these kids? One thing is for sure, this scrimmage got us all very excited for the season! We can't wait for our first real game! 

On a side note, this round robin was just a few days after my gallbladder surgery. I was determined to go, and did, but probably shouldn't have. I had a hard time walking from the car to the field, sitting down into my lawn chair and then standing up out of my lawn chair. I was in pain, drugged up and don't remember many details about the night. I spent more time reminding myself to breath than I did watching Maddox play but I'm still so proud of him. He played his little heart out and I'm happy I got to be there...whether I have much memory of it or not.

first day

The first day of school 2014-2015! Ashtyn is 10 years old and starting 4th grade. His teacher's name is Mrs. Johnson but he also starts switching classrooms this year for each subject to prepare him for intermediate school next year. Maddox is 8 years old and starting 3rd grade. His teacher's name is Mrs. Bates.

Yep...I'm THAT mom taking WAY too many pictures and annoying my kids! I just can't help myself! This year the boys let me walk them into the school but told me they could go by themselves once we got to the entryway to their hallway. Gone are the days of walking them right into their classrooms...

With the first day of school comes the first day of long after school pick up lines. The first day line is always the worst but as the year goes on I actually enjoy this time alone. It's the calm before the after school storm of homework, chores, dinner and bedtime.

meet the teacher

Meet the teacher nights at the beginning of the school year are always kind of sad for me. It's a day that is so mundane and yet marks time in a way like no other day can. It's still summer, we still sleep in, we still swim and play video games all day and then all of a sudden we are loading school supplies into the boys' backpacks and are headed to the school to see their desks, load lunch accounts and meet teachers. It's almost like two worlds colliding. It's this weird in between twilight zone that is summer ending and a new school year beginning. This year my boys start 3rd and 4th grade. This is Ashtyn's last year in elementary school. Next year he will attend intermediate school at the 5th and 6th grade center. Scary! To say the least! As summer comes to an end there is always part of me that's ready. I am a creature of habit and thrive on routine. And yet, at the same time, I feel conflicted because, like I said, nothing reminds me how fast time is going than meet the teacher night at school.

fear no one respect every one

Made it home from camp cousin just in time to eat dinner, get dressed and head out to Maddox's first football practice of the season! We are all so excited...but I just might take the cake! I was born to be a football mom!

Maddox was a bit timid at first but it didn't take long for him to get out on the field and start tossing the ball around with his new teammates. He looks comfortable out there.

He looks so tiny and so big at the same time.

Football practices in the summer are brutal.

It seems Maddox's football team will end each practice with a huddle. It is already obvious that Maddox's coaches are going to be great leaders and even better teachers. They ended their huddle by chanting "Fear No One! Respect Every One!" It's going to be a great season!

He's tired. He's battered. He's bruised. He's pouring more sweat than I've ever seen come out of one person...but he's happy! And if he's happy, I'm happy!

With the hard work and dedication my baby will commit to this season comes some extra (okay a lot of extra) work for mom as well. My stain removing abilities are about to be put to the test!