This and That

Here are a few pictures of Dennis’s project (his late night mistress) and Ryan’s new SGA shirt ….he’s very proud. Plus one of the boys by a helicopter at Ft Rucker taken in September.

Dennis working on a broken down and neglected John Deere Gator

He almost has it ready to go but works on it all hours of the night

I surprised him

 

 

Ryan’s SGA shirt.  They are very nice. I was surprised!

Trunk or Treat

This was our first year ever doing trunk or treat and it was pretty fun.  People decorated their trunks and the kids (and adults) ran around getting candy.  I was very busy and decided to do a quick and easy trunk decoration.  I just bought a large bag of the fake spider web and used some fake spiders I have.  A little tape and we were done!  Preston helped the youth group with a scary maze in the youth room area.  Grant just wore a football jersey and Ryan decided (all by himself) to go as Pajama boy (?).  He even did his own eye makeup to look like he hadn’t slept in awhile.  They had a great time with all the events like a cake walk, haunted rooms and mazes, fishing, hay rides and the Jump a roo.  We also ate soups and chili and the adults had a cake/fall goods walk and bingo as well.  It was a fun night for all age groups  and nice not to have to worry about the kids since it was at church and we knew everyone.

Our Trunk

Ryan with (cousin) Autumn

LOTS of kids

My niece Lauren reaching through the web …some kids did not want to :)

Hay rides:  Grant is in the 35 jersey next to (cousin) Corbin in the flannel

(cousin) Caleb and Ryan on the hay ride

Pumpkin Carving

We finally had time to carve pumpkins but we had to get them first.  We normally go to a pumpkin patch or nice roadside stand and take pictures.  This year when I looked around, I could not find any pumpkins.  In Maryland there were at least 10 pumpkin stands that i drove past weekly, plus many pumpkin patches nearby.  A few weeks ago we did go to a corn maze but they only had a few little pumpkins.  Then time ran out and we were scrambling to find any pumpkins.  I finally saw a truck with a few at a gas station!  We picked out 3 nice sized pumpkins and the boys were happy. I think they are tired of all the picture moments and loved going to the gas stati on to get them in 5  minutes without a camera!  Anyway, problem solved, we started carving.  Now that the boys are older, they need less help.  I pretty much just stand around taking pictures, ready to take action if they cut themselves.  They did a great job.  Next year I will get my own so that I get to do something!

Getting started

Gotta have a GUTS picture

  Grant

 

Preston needed no help at all

Ryan working on the face

The finished Jack o lanterns

Special Plates all around!

We have a tradition in our house that was started long ago. Before the kids were born, I bought red plates that say "YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY". I am sure I read about it in a magazine or heard about it from a friend but I decided to buy the plates when we lived in Germany to use with our future children. I even had the foresight to buy THREE. Whenever someone does something good, has a special event or birthday, they get the Special Plate. It has become so well known in our family that my mother asked last month if Dennis got the Special Plate on his birthday (he sure did!). The kids will even remind me..."You should get the Special Plate for that" or "Shouldn't Grant get the Special Plate tonight?" I like to surprise them at times too. They will have to ask, Who gets the Special Plate? or Why do I get the Special Plate? Just this week I gave the Special Plate to Preston because his basketball team won a game. It was especailly exciting because his football team did not win any games so this was his first win as a New Brockton Gamecock! When we moved, they all got the plate one night. I explained how good they had been with the move and all our moving from house to house to hotel, starting a new school right away etc.
Well today was report card day and I was a bit worried because we are in a new school, new state etc. Ryan and Grant got ALL As....Preston got all As and one B. Preston also had to get a tooth pulled today and was a champ about it.I might not be here tonight when they get back from football practice and eat but I will leave three Special Plates on the table! Good Job Boys! We are so Proud!

Basketball

Preston started his first basketball season as a New Brockton Gamecock on Monday. The first game was away and we lost. Preston scored the first 2 points of the game and ended up with 6 total. He played very well on offense and defense- (he had at least 2 steals). Tuesday night they played at home and there was quite a crowd for a junior high game. The girls played first so some of them stuck around and the varsity came to watch after their practice. It was loud, exciting and came down the last few seconds! We won 32-31 and Preston scored 2. They still have some work to do on free throws and fouls but I think they will do fine. It is fun to watch! I am going to sign Grant and Ryan up tomorrow for Rec league basketball in Enterprise. They are still playing football and have 2 more games left. Preston plays 3 games next week. We still have a few varsity games left too.

Preston running out for his very first NB basketball game

Tip-off to start the game (Preston is to the right)

Preston #10

White Jerseys at home

We WON in a nail bitter....

but you can't bite your nails when you are screaming!!

It was loud and fun!!

Corn Maze

I REALLY miss the Fall in Maryland...changing colors, crisp weather and blue skies! We finally had the weather but not a fall colored leaf in sight :(. I also LOVED all the corn mazes in Maryland and low and behold there are a few around here in AL! So we took advantage of the Fall weather and headed to a new corn maze. Not the best or nicest one I have been to but it was fun. We had 10 kids and 5 adults in our group. There was a maze with 2 parts, a place to get a snack with a sand box full of corn and a corn shooter. The maze was fun. The first side was easy but the other side was pretty tricky....even for the adults. Next we tried to win $50 by shooting an ear of corn into a small box a long way away! Needless to say, no one from our group won any money. Surprisingly the kids had more fun in the silly corn box. They had a great time burying each other in the corn. (Preston had basketball practice so he (and Dennis) did not get to come but our weekends are so booked this was about the only time and the weather was gorgeous!) Might try another one if we find the time. Happy Fall Y'all!!