Boys to Men

I was not sure what to title this blog but I felt the need to write it today.  Ryan, my baby, just turned 10-double digits.  Grant is going to be a teenager next month. They are growing and maturing so fast.  But the one I want to “blog” about today is Preston.  With Dennis gone, Preston has stepped into the role as man of the house!  He has set mouse traps for me (no mice I guess), helps keep the grass cut, killed 2 (small) snakes, and carries heavy things for me :).  He loaded and unloaded the tables and chairs for Ryan’s party and he took all the trash to the large can by the road and helped get the big stuff into the dumpster. 

He has been a huge help to me.  He has done all this while playing baseball and then football for both JV and Varsity, going to church and getting his school work done!  Today he drove Dennis’s truck for the first time! (just down the long driveway).  He also helps his grandfather with his chicken houses and helps my mom with whatever she needs.  He is growing up way to fast but I am so proud of they way he is maturing.  I am sure the “terrible teenage” fights are coming but right now I would not be able to make it without him!  Thanks Preston…I LOVE YOU!

Of course I can’t let him get a big head….

That’s him laying on the sidelines with cramps during a JV game :)

:) :) :)

Ryan’s Busy Birthday Weekend

The weekend started Friday night with the first Varsity home game.  We did not play well and lost.  Preston played the last 6 or 7 plays and did well.  Grant had 2 friends spend the night and Preston went to a school dance after the game.  Saturday was Ryan's birthday and he had the traditional candle in his breakfast (French toast this year).  Because of the sleep over we ended up with a breakfast “party” of 6 kids!

Later that day we had to get football team pictures made, take stuff to my parent’s house for the party and get back to the field for the games.  It was so hot!  We listened to the Auburn game on an MP3 until the 3rd quarter when they finally started to play football.  We played Elba and got slaughtered all 3 games!  Made it home for the 4th qtr of the Auburn game and helped pull them through to a win!!!  Ryan had a friend sleep over that night.  Sunday was church, quick lunch and get ready for party time!  The party was from 1:30 –4:00 pm.  There were 15 kids (not counting mine!)  Boys and girls!  They swam and then made original creations with ‘junk’.  Ryan had a great time and I think every one else did too.

I divided the 3 teams by birth month:  Jan-Apr, May-Aug, and Sept-Dec.  It worked out great!  No picking teams and captains, each team had boys and girls and all the “strong” personalities were spread out!  Each team had some common supplies on the tables: scissors, rubber bands, various kinds of tape etc.  Then they got to preview the supply table and choose 5 things to start with.  After they all got to choose, the supplies were up for grabs!  Some kids even brought their own junk to use or share!  The kids all worked well together, no fussin’ or fightin”.  I am going to make all the pictures into post cards for Ryan’s thank you notes.

Football pictures: I do not buy them anymore.  I take my own and stand behind the photographer for the group shots…saves me over $100 a yr!

 

The Supply Table and one of the team tables

Swimming first and last…it was hot!

The judges!

Team 3: Robot City

Team 1: Robot Warrior

Team 2:  Mexican Sponge Bob (the feet were saved by Ryan and Sami from a piñata a few weeks ago)

Ryan made his own cake.  It was supposed to look like it was covered with junk and it was!  Definitely not the prettiest cake but Ryan made it him self and it was easy!

I had to talk Dennis into having 3 kids (I always wanted  3) and Ryan has been a joy ever since!  He is funny, independent, will try anything, sweet, has many interests and makes us smile everyday!

 

Dennis holding Ryan- just a few days old

His first birthday!  It was a Clifford cake :(

He was pretending to be the Easter Bunny!

Bits and Pieces

Nothing big happening at the moment…Going to many “away” football games.  We will play at home this week finally. Our varsity team won Friday night and Preston got to play some in the 4th qtr.  Not sure who was more excited, him or his granddaddy and me!  He was even in on a tackle and looked good out there for his first varsity game!

Preston 31 and cousin Easton 19

Ryan and Grant played Saturday night.  Ryan’s team won and he made a great TD saving tackle.  Grant’s team lost in overtime. It was darker when Grant played and my camera is not doing very well under the football lights.

Grant is #35 …blocking for a run

Ryan ready and waiting!

Rosie the cat has come out of her shell.  She loves to play and if you won’t play with her she will bring a toy to wherever you are and play by herself.  She was just climbing up my leg and trying to get on the keyboard! She also discovered our gas fireplace (not even hooked up but has fake rock “logs”) and thinks it is great!  Everyone enjoys playing with her, including Preston!

 

They have spotted each other and seem curious but that is all

 

Sleeping on a cozy fleece blanket!

Dennis is in Kuwait and very busy.  Today we Skyped while he watched a football game and I did school work…just like being together! –almost! :)

Long Weekend

This weekend had its ups and downs.  Started Friday morning with no dogs and huge hole under another part of the fence.  The weather had gotten cooler and I could tell Sport smelled something Thursday night, so it did not really surprise me that they were gone.  However, they are STILL gone and that worries me.  They are so friendly, someone should have looked at their collars by now and given us a call.  Friday night was another varsity game..looked better at first but then lost it…literally!  After poor play by team, Preston has moved up to 2nd string!  Friday after work I went and picked up a kitten…YES to bring home….to our house!  Her name is Rosie and a friend of mine rescued her but her cat does not like the new one so she needed a home by this weekend so my friend could go out of town.  She came with shots, litter box, litter, food, dish , toy and treats!.  We are trying her out for the weekend and will see how it goes.  Dennis DOES know but don’t tell the landlord.  Dennis told me today that the Harley he wants costs $16,000!!!!

Saturday we ate and Watched the Auburn game at Dennis’s parents house.  WAR EAGLE!  Sunday was church, we finally got to Skype with Dennis-first time since he moved!  I forgot I wanted to straighten the garage so I bribed the kids at 7:30pm with Dairy Queen and boy did they work hard and fast!  Then we ordered a movie and had a nice night.  Monday poor Preston had football practice from 9:30-almost 4pm!  My parents finally got to see Dennis on Skype too and we worked out the final details of our house plans-I hope!  We swam, played a bean bag toss game and ate!  We also measured out our new house and laid down cones to mark it out.  The big pile has been burned but lots of work still needs to be done there.  On the way back all 3 boys were on a 4 wheeler supposed to be going slow back to the house.  Preston made a sharp turn and Ryan tumbled off. he has many scrapes and some “Road rash” (even though it was a dirt driveway) and is pretty sore.  You all probably heard him screaming when I mentioned cleaning his wounds!!  You might hear him again when we get dressed for school and football tomorrow!

You can’t tell much but we can…the cones represent the front of the house.  Dennis wanted a picture so he can super-impose (?) a drawing of “our” house onto the actual land…will post it soon!

Hope everyone had a great long weekend…now I have to get ready for work tomorrow! goodbye!