Paradin'

When Kitties and Jokers Attack

Evie and Griffin's Halloween party is always a "scary" good time!
Sports and dance friends a plenty!

Halloween Kick Off

Alex and Oni's parents had their annual Halloween party Saturday night - and it was a blast. The boys have all "morphed" into crazy clowns. I blame the remake of "It" (which none of them have seen).

The girls are all pretty things ... Ashlee is a rainbow cat, although she insists she is a rainbow cheetah. She will wear her full costume on Halloween day.

Justin and I went as potato heads because well, let's face it, it's left overs from the boat parade and trivia night!

Flight of the Cavs

 Tyler has the orange shoes; No. 31

Yesterday and today, Tyler and his buddies took "Flight" as a new team, led by a new coach.

This summer, his basketball team essentially broke apart into the individual high schools, meaning his team is "coached" by the high school basketball coach.

Yes, at age 10.

Once a week, the HS coach leads practice. Another day of the week our other coach, the one that leads us in tournaments, has practice. Essentially a head coach and an assistant; 2 practices.

Today, the team, now called "Flight," had its first tournament. They won the first game and then were put up against a bunch of street thugs for game 2. Let's just say one of our kids had to go to the hospital for X-rays.

Maybe the next tournament will be a little more "regulation."

 

Wildwood

The fifth-graders went on their first field trip today.

The ceremonial Wildwood retreat - where they spend the day doing obstacles as teams. If you don't work together and concentrate on the outcome, you'll spend hours on the same obstacle and be bored out of your mind.

Just ask Tyler and his team. They apparently spent almost 2 hours on the same obstacle.

I only heard about this second hand at lunch as I wasn't allowed to be with his group. They have a rule that parents are not paired with their children because you're not allowed to tell the kids how to solve the problems.

It's a bit hard not to interject, let me tell you. With or without your kid in the group. I've come to love all of these kids as if they are my own after nearly 6 years.

My group solved 6 or 7 obstacles and worked well together. I wonder what Tyler's weak link was?

 Ever played a 76/78 person dodgeball game? Yeah, I'd just say no!

Donutology

Yay for good friends who take you for donuts on no school days!
Extra points for gluten-free donuts!

Fall Ball {It's Outta Here}

We were back at it this weekend - after a break since July

Same team. New name {The Bombers}
New affiliation {Independent}

Wish us luck!!!

QB on the Run

The last year of tackle football is underway for the Packers

The season is starting off wonderfully

Obessed

When your son is obsessed with cars, you walk to your friend Bob's house and wait while your son sits in the driver's seat of his Porsche and smiles ear to ear ...  just cause.

And then you wonder what the big deal is about its engine revving, and why he insists on taking so many videos of it?!?

I guess it's something boys do that moms just won't understand ....but we do it because we know they love it!

Just "Sing!" at the Movies

Holiday Bags

Tyler's class made care bags as part of their holiday party.

They decorated the bags and filled them with shampoo, toothpaste and other necessities for donation.

Check out Tyler's; I'm surprised he decorated it as much as he did!! His stuff is great if he puts his mind to it!

It was a fun way to give back this holiday season - rather than creating a craft they don't want to do.

The kids also were supposed to enjoy treats, but the parent in charge of that forgot - so, instead, they enjoyed some candy someone dug up.

How you forget you're in charge of that when you're emailed the day before, I don't know?!?

A Blake sandwich

Forever Royal

The big 4th-grade field trip is a tour of Kauffman Stadium, aka home of the Royals.

To say Tyler was excited is an understatement. 

Not only was he visiting his favorite place with all of his buddies, but he was going with his dad ... and dad doesn't usually get off for field trips.  

We're lucky he got to go.

Since I volunteer at school so much, Tyler got two "sticks" in the drawing and one of them was picked along with 1 other parent. The field trip is so popular every parent wants to go!

I gave Justin the option of attending this one. I knew he'd really enjoy it - plus I went with Ashlee's class back in preschool.

The two of them had a really fun day together - even if Justin had to serve as photographer for the entire class! And it was super cold out! But I think those were minor in comparison of visiting the World Series Champs!

Justin "played" Ned in the interview room (secretly he loved it)