More Football

Just got back from Preston's game. They are now 1-4. The one win was a forfeit! They lost 0-30 BUT played MUCH better. It was actually fun to watch this game. Preston's younger cousin was moved to QB and played his 1st game very well. Preston played well on offense, defense and special teams. He had a few tackles and made a few nice blocks. Ryan and Grant's teams lost too this past weekend. They played well but the other teams were just bigger, faster and played better in the rain. We were soaked even under umbrellas and ponchos. Preston and I shared ear phones and listened to the Auburn game in the rain during Grant's game. Dennis's cousin continues to play well on the varsity team and they are fun to watch as well. Football in the South!

Preston #22 ready to try and tackle big #78...said he bounced off and his foot tripped the next guy

Ryan blocking

Nice sunset

Grant's team running though the sign before the game

Preston #22

Birthdays!

We are 2/3 of the way through our "birthday season". Dennis turned 40 on the 24th and Ryan finally had his party on the 27th. It was a beautiful day..no rain and still warm enough to swim. The kids swam and then played a water balloon game by the pool. Then we started on the target shooting. They shot a target with a bow and arrow (Grant and Katie -winners), then they shot sling shots at clay targets. NONE of the boys could even hit the wood holding the target and several said "no one can hit that" Then it was Katie's turn. She hit the wood and ALL FOUR targets fell! It was priceless. If only I had it on video. When they moved closer some of the boys got better but many were watching "how Katie does it". We also shot BB guns, paint ball guns and pellet guns at cans and bottles. They won huge pixie sticks and candy but were really just interested in shooting again. Many swam again after cake and ice cream. We opened presents and then we all rushed back to church for children's choir, youth group and puppet ministries which included all the kids there. It was a nice day. I said I want to try all the targets one day too. Some of the dads couldn't resist trying to show up their kids!
The pictures are all out of order......

The wind blew out the candles so we just pretended :)

Caleb shooting the BB gun

Dalton with the sling shot

Harrison with the pellet gun

Katie (the sharp shooter of the day) shooting paint balls

Ryan shooting the sling shot

Uncle Dennis helping Lauren shoot the bow and arrow

Water balloon toss

Ryan's Bulls-eye target cake

Dennis turned the BIG 4-0 on the 24th

Presents and cupcakes on Ryan's real birthday

Happy Birthday Ryan

Ryan on his first birthday!
(it was a clifford cake)


My third little boy and last baby is now NINE years old. Seems like yesterday I was convincing Dennis to have #3. Boy am I glad we did (he is too). Ryan is our happy -go -lucky drama child who loves everything and will try just about anything. He is too cute for his own good and always gets the girls. We were waiting for the varsity football game to start and one of the JV cheerleaders runs up the stands to give him a hug! He eats hot peppers as an afternoon snack and will spend hours singing, making things out of tape and household junk and quoting TV shows! He can't decide if he wants to be a chef, art teacher or actor when he grows up. Life would be dull without him! Happy Birthday Ryan!


Three of his cousins ended up spending the night w/ us b/c their dad was in the hospital so we had a crowd at breakfast. It was 6:30 in the morning so we were not that chipper but I did make french toast with the customary birthday candle in it. Later my niece and nephews and I made cup cakes for Ryan while he was at school. My parents came over after school to see Ryan open his presents and have a cup cake. Then we (my dad and us) headed off to the HS football game. Ryan's big party will be next Sunday...pray for nice weather!

Ryan's Birthday Breakfast w/ cousins

Ryan is NINE years old!

A FANTASTIC FOOTBALL WEEKEND!!!

Ryan and Grant played their first games on Saturday and the 3 NB teams all won! Ryan played the entire game and boy was it hot at first! He played offense and defense and never missed a play. He did a great job blocking and defending. Grant's team won big and he scored one of the many touchdowns! He ran it in from about the 10 yd line. He was wide open for a pass but it was not a good throw and he was in on a few tackles. His name was announced twice...once for the TD and once for a solo tackle! my nephews' team won also and my niece Lauren cheered for Ryan's team. It was a long fun afternoon of football. Later that night Auburn finally pulled it out to beat W VA and Friday night, our varsity team won and Dennis's cousin Justin played a great game both offensively (with a TD catch) and defensively. Great football weekend. Now if we can get Preston's team to win one on Monday! I am fixing the pre-game sandwiches for the team so maybe I can add a little luck!
That's all we did this weekend....throw in a little church and a bit of a birthday for Ryan and that was it.

Grant #35

Grant ran the ball in for a TOUCHDOWN

Grant

Grant coming off the field

Dennis and Preston "the Chain Gang"

My neice Lauren cheering for Ryan

Grant

my neice Autumn cheering for them all

Ryan

Ryan White jersey on left...blocking

Ryan in center of pic....blocking

Helmet and mouth piece look too big

Ryan waving to the crowd like the varsity players do after a win!

Game 2

Here's the good and bad news again.....The Bad news is that they lost 35-0. But there is good news...28 of those points were from the 1st quarter....after that we played better and more aggressive and they only scored once more. They also put their younger boys in that were more in line size -wise with our boys. We do not play our 15 yr old 10th graders but so far I think the last 2 teams have....our team is mostly 8th and 9th graders. There can be a huge difference between 13 yr olds and 15 yr olds who have been in the weight room.
ANYWAY...Preston did not play in the 1st half but played defense the entire 2nd half and we were on defense ALOT! Our offense needs a bit of help! He played cornerback/safety (?) and did really well. He plays smart and knows his position. Their team still has a long way to go but this looked better than the 1st game. They play again next Monday.
Ryan and Grant play this Saturday. I will post pictures of them after their games.
Ryan will be NINE on Friday! Happy Birthday Ryan! He is excited mainly b/c he started school a year early b/c we lived in MD then so he is still 8 and most of his class is 10! He said they do not believe him when he says he is only 8....so he is ready to be nine! We are going to wait until the 27th to have his party so most of his friends can be there. We are going to have a TARGET party! BB guns, sling shots, paint balls, bows and arrows etc as well as swimming at my parent's house. Pray for good weather. Dennis will be 40 on the 24th so I am trying to come up with something fun for his day also. The last half of this month is hectic!
It is pouring right now...again so I am going to save this before the lightning hits:)
more soon...

Preston getting water

Lining up

Staying with his man anticipating a pass

That's him on the right :) of the pile

Preston dove and held on...

he did not bring him down but slowed him down

for the next guy to get him

Preston's first game

The good news is Preston played in his first game as a New Brockton Gamecock. When they announced his name in the line up my dad said, "I've waited along time to hear that". Both sets of grandparents were there even though both grandmothers are sick. The bad news is- they lost big time...32-0! I had expected a bit of confusion b/c of the way the practices are run but the boys looked scared and unprepared. Except for Preston of course Haha. He only played on one kick off but helped make the tackle! He is new and earning his stripes but I hope he will play more next week and that the team will be better prepared. It was fun watching him play in a stadium where Dennis has played and I have cheered. It was an away game and next week is too. Our first home game will be really exciting. He seemed to enjoy the atmosphere but was bummed at how bad everyone played. Next week will be better-I hope. Next games are: Varsity Friday night, Preston Monday night and Ryan and Grant next Saturday. Will keep you posted!
On the home front: the van and 4 wheeler are now in the garage. Dennis and I laboured hard on Labor Day and bought 3 new shelves and organized the garage. It is packed! Not only does the weight bench have to be in there but all the stuff from our attic, shed and other garage! Once I get all the garage sale stuff out I will take pictures of the inside and outside of the house.

Our first glimpse of Preston in his uniform
#22

HERE COME THE GAMECOCKS!!!

Team taking the field

Preston #22 on the sidelines

That blur is Preston on his first play as a JV Gamecock

He assisted in a tackle!!! Missed that part fooling with the

camera :(