Warriors

This kid is now a four-sport wonder.  No joke--he is currently playing baseball, soccer AND football.  All at the same time.  He has at least two practices a day and so far we are making it work.  Meet the starting quarterback for the Warriors!

 

They had a few practices and this kid was ready to go for his first game the other night. 
He was all smiles...

 

but make no mistake about it, he's all business on the field!

 

 

 

I thought when we signed up to play indoor flag football this summer it would just be laid-back.  I thought they might have practice a time or two and we'd just show up for the games once a week.  Boy was I wrong!  They have a coach who is SERIOUS about winning.  Serious, as in, emailed us the plays after the first practice, asking Jackson to study them and have them memorized before the next practice.  It's like he's been drafted into the pros!  They have 18 plays now, all color coded with different code names for each player, and Jackson is in Hog Heaven. 

 

He had so many fans come watch his debut as a quarterback, too.  Even Meme made it there!  He really did fantastic, and the coach told us he made 90% of his throws accurately.  In the coach's own words, "that's ridiculous to be that on target for the first game!"  He has high hopes for this kid, and so do we.  The Warriors lost 6-0 in overtime, but they played really well.  It's a very fast-paced game--much quicker than I expected!

Tonight he is going to watch films so that his coach can show all the boys where they need to improve.  Like I said, it really is like he's been drafted!  For our sports-nut, this is a dream come true.  Go get 'em, kiddo!

It's Summer!

Wow!  Summer has sure started off with a bang.  It is hot, hot, hot most days, with the sun in full force.  We have been cheering for #7 and his Fury teammates as they wrap up this season.

 

Jackson had an excellent second season pitching.  He didn't have any runs score on him the entire season until the last game that he pitched.  And that was against the #1 team in the league, made up of some really big, talented 4th grade boys.  He rocked the mound this season!

 

 

He batted second for his team, had some really great at-bats, and struggled at other times.  It's been a bit of a struggle to transition from coach-pitch to kid-pitch, but I think he and his team will only get better with time.  Despite being hard to watch your kid strike out, I really do believe that it builds character and mental toughness.  Baseball really is about so much more than just getting three outs or hitting a home run, although both of those are awesome when they happen!

 

 

Jackson's coaches are men he can look up to, and they lead by example on how to be a good sport, but still try your best to win.  I know a certain little girl who thinks her Bubba hung the moon!

When we haven't been at baseball, soccer or football practice, it's been so nice to go jump in a cool swimming pool.  Before we could do that the other night, though, Lila had to get in some good quality time with one of the new baby kittens in Memaw's backyard. She loves them!

Cami thought they were really cute, too, and kept meowing at them all evening.

Then it was time to cool off!

We've also been swimming at Gigi's house a time or two.  Is this kid 5 or 15? 
Oh my word. 
Stop growing up, child!

Thank goodness this child is a fan of water.  She would much rather climb in and out of the pool right now, as opposed to sit in a float, but I'm not giving up hope yet!  We will start daily training once our pool is done.

And speaking of training, all three kids did the dishes for me yesterday.  The girls washed as brother loaded.  Gotta love some good child labor.  I also gave Jackson a laundry lesson, and then the kids made their own list of chores to complete every day this summer.  So far they are on board with pitching in more around the house--we will see how long that lasts!

 



Yesterday afternoon J's team was awarded 3rd place in the 10U Kid Pitch division for Sachse Baseball.  They were the only all 8 year-old team and they did better than any of the coaches or parents ever expected. Way to go, Fury!

This kid is racking up the trophies.  We really do love watching him play a game that he's such a natural at.  He has worked hard to be good at it, and it shows.  Way to go #7!

Sayonara Second Grade!

Friday was J's last day of second grade.  To celebrate, they had a pizza party at school. Let me just say, there was A LOT of energy at this party.

The kids were a little coo coo with excitement.  They played a game, made a craft, signed a Frisbee...

 

 

and then went outside for a hula hooping contest and some popsicles. 
After that, we said goodbye to school and went home!

 

A couple minutes later, the kids were having a ball at Tucker and Brently's end-of-year swim party.  Lots of Jackson's buddies were there, and they were especially thrilled when they saw this truck pull up...

Kona Ice!  How cool is that?!

It really is such a neat party and we're thankful the Barton's are such good party hosts!

This was one awesome pool party.

 

Goodbye Second Grade. Hello Summer and no alarm clocks!!!

 

Cruise Ship Director

So far this summer, and I know it's only been a few days, but I have found myself feeling like quite the cruise ship director.  Does everyone have what they need?  Would you like another drink?  How about a snack? What movie would you like to watch?  Can I please take your plate for you? 

It's never ending!!  So when we got invited to go meet an old friend of mine's baby twin girls, I jumped at the chance. 

 

"I finally get to meet Stella and Frankie!"

They were too precious all together.  Cami held Stella for a little while on the couch, but she wasn't that much bigger than the baby, so it was kinda hard!

A few days later, we met a group of friends at Hayley's new house for a swim day. 
In her heated pool!  It was greatness.  The girls got all sunscreened up, especially the little one, who did a lot by herself...

and were ready to dive in with Finley and Brooklynn.

These two are crazy about the water!  Cami loves it, and Lila is a little fishy with those goggles on.  She swam the length of the pool, no problem.  Yes!  No swim lessons this summer:)

Wednesday's agenda was to go to the Dallas Zoo.  We found out the night before, though, that half of it was going to be closed down.  Boo!  We amended our plan and met at Klyde Warren Park.  Such a great view!

All the babies had fun, too!  Cami was out of her stroller within seconds...

and first went over to say hello to her friend Colby.  He was telling jokes, I think:)

The big girls were having a blast running through the water.

One very happy five year old.

Her one year old sister was pretty proud of herself for WALKING up these three steps, too!

It didn't take long for the heat to turn up, and Sweaty Eddie (aka Cami) had to take off her clothes and jump into the water.

After we ran thru lots of fountains it was time for lunch.  Ahh--the shade was so nice.

Cowen, Brooklynn and Lila scaled this before we headed out in search of snow cones. 
Three little monkeys, for sure.

 

Great success!  They got the biggest rainbow snow cones in town.  Perfect way to end the afternoon. I think the Activities Director gets an A plus! 

 

Sunshine and Smiles

Last Saturday was Papaw's 87th birthday.  He asked for Italian food, so we went to A Taste of Italy.  He had four of his great grandkids there to celebrate with him...

 

although one was a little bit tough to wrangle.  Where's Cameron?

Did anyone check the booth behind our table?  There she is!  This wild monkey was a handful.  And lunch lasted 2 hours.  Yep--two hours.  Thanks, slowest waitress on earth!

I didn't get to each too much of my lunch, so I was really excited to see this fabulous chocolate cake.

Everyone sang to Papaw and then the big kids helped blow out the candles.  We left there thoroughly exhausted, but not ready to throw in the towel for the day.  After a couple hours at home, we took the kids to Adventure Landing.  The boys did the batting cages first, and then we went over to the kiddie racetrack.

It wasn't much of a track, but Jackson went as fast as he could for ten laps and had fun!

Sister had to borrow her brother's tennis shoes because flip flops weren't allowed, so she raced after he did.  She was a bit slower and got lapped many times....just like her mama in the Nascar race a few years ago.  I felt her pain!

Next up was the big go carts.  Daddy was the driver and he took his first passenger around the track at lightning fast speed.

Lila Lou was ready to rock and was so happy when it was her turn.

Hi Daddy and Sister!  She loves her some speed, just as long as she's not driving.

The next day we went to early church and were cheering on these kids at their baseball game that afternoon.  They won their first tournament game.  Go Fury!

Then Jackson's day got even better.  He had his first flag football practice and LOVED it.  So much.  This kid can't wait to play QB for the Warriors.

It was a great afternoon, made even better by this little cutie pie being in such a good mood. 
I'm pretty sure it was the sunshine that did it.  All of us were so happy to have a whole weekend with no rain!