Life's More Fun with Friends

It's a fact--you simply have more fun when you've got great people around you!  Our kids are blessed with the best.

Fabulous birthday parties, like this one for Siena...

where Cami learned that she could scale the wall just like the big kids!

Guess what?  She made it all the way to the top!  Two thumbs up, kiddo.

Next, she tackled the ropes course like a pro.  Never even got nervous...amazing!

Life's more fun when your friend invites you to their family birthday dinner.  I just love these two.

Your sister's soccer games are more fun when you get to play with slime and be silly with other little sisters, like Evelyn.

Football games are more fun when old friends come to watch you play.

School field trips are better when your best friend gets put in your group.

Friday Night Lights are better when you and your teammates get to be on the field with the Varsity!

Lunch with your mom is more fun when Allie and Nathan's moms join you.  Party of 6!

And your first year of being a Daisy is definitely more fun when two of your best friends are in there, and also when you've got two awesome moms to be your leaders.

Learning the Girl Scout Pledge...

and handshake. 

This little girl is game for anything...sports, dance, running club, daisies, she says "yes!" to all. 

Maverick Fall Social

Every year, the Murphy Mavericks have a Fall Social.  The past two years it has been sports-themed, which suits my middle schooler perfectly.

A fantastic fun-filled night for sure!

We had signs hung up all over the school...

many parent volunteers, and high school kids who volunteered to work some booths. 
This group is mostly made up of our neighbors, who are former Mavericks themselves.

We had pizza...

snacks, and lots of refreshments, too.

Julia, Carolyn and I welcomed all the students by having them run through our spirit tunnel!

And Sarah joined in on the fun for a bit as well:)

Madison and Bella went to see Abby, Bella's big sister, and the spirit tattoo booth...

then they headed off to the big gym to find Jackson, who was busy playing volleyball.

I'm so happy that Madison has found a good group of kids that she loves hanging out with!  

Jackson's crew played plenty of ball, then went into the small gym to check out Gaga Ball and the Wipeout game.  They all got taken out by this moving apparatus--pretty darn funny.

Madison came into the cafeteria to hang out with me...well, really maybe it was more because of the DJ and food, but I still liked seeing her!

We even had Mavs Man, the official mascot of the Dallas Mavericks, come to the event.  So cool!

Everyone was all smiles, all night...especially this new couple.  They have liked each other for the past year, but Jackson was always too shy to act on it.  He finally worked up the courage to ask her to be his girlfriend a few days before the fall social. And he even let me take a picture of them together!  How cute are they?!

It was a fantastic night and I loved being able to make it special for all the kids, especially my favorite Murphy Mavericks.

Hunt Hounds on the Run

 Instead of doing a Check-Writing Campaign this year, the girls' elementary school decided to go a different route.  The goal was still to make lots of money, but in a more interesting, interactive way, directly involving the kids.

Step 1: Take a cute picture in Hunt Spirit Wear. 
Check!

Step 2:  Create an online video and share it on Facebook.
Check!

Step 3:  Get ready to run!
Check!

The PTA had the Kona Ice people set-up in the parking lot after school on the day of the race.  Since the temps were pushing 100 degrees, this was a nice treat.  My girls enjoyed their shaved ice before the race...

along with lots of their little friends.

On your mark, get set, go!  There were two tracks, one for K-2nd and one for 3rd - 5th. 
It was a bit crazy!

The girls did so well, though, and both completed their goal of 35 laps.  They raised $350!

Whew!  After it was all over, these girls were sweaty hot messes!

Coach Dodge congratulated them on a job well done. 
The school raised over $30K!  Amazing!  I think I'd call that a huge success!

Football Family

It's no secret that football is my favorite sport.  I love baseball, too, but mostly when our son is playing.  And soccer has grown on me, especially since our girls love it so much.  Jackson played flag football for years, but just recently has been given the chance to be the starting quarterback for his 7th grade football team.  He is such a talented kid that I tried really hard to not be the Mama Bear that held him back, due to my fearfulness of the game.  I mean, I love watching other people's kids play tackle football, but watching mine is a whole different ball game!  Our whole family rallied behind this kid...

including his cousin, who even wore her shirt to school on game day!

I just love it.

Jackson had a whole section of the bleachers just for his fans, including Lila, Maddie, Memaw, Cousin Connor, Aunt Lyndsie...

Uncle Scott, Boom Pa, Gigi, Sofia's mom, Angie, Poppi and Jared.

Little sister was there as well, chatting with everyone, including Brooke, whose brother is also on the team.

The game started well and Jackson didn't look too rattled at these big boys coming for him.

He stood confidently in the pocket and threw a few touchdowns right away.  In fact, his first play was a touchdown pass to Blake!  It was SO EXCITING!

Since we were winning handily by halftime, he got to play defense during the second half.  Both he and I were really happy that this big kid didn't squash him like a bug!

In the fourth quarter, he read the quarterback's eyes and knew just where he was throwing it.  Interception!

Gooooooo Jackson!!!  He ran it back...

and was marked down an inch shy of the goal line.  It was such a great play--he got excellent blocks from his whole team and was this close to scoring.

You can bet his fan club was cheering like crazy!

The Mavericks won 48-0 against Armstrong!  Such an impressive start to their season!

Everyone couldn't wait to tell him "good job!"

and we got to celebrate with a late dinner at Country Burger--one of his faves.

I am now a Football Mama.  And I love it.  Go Mavs!