We are BREWER BEARS!!

Last night I had the awesome privilege to go to the first game of the Brewer Bears football team! While normally, I would be happy to go and cheer on the team, last night was special because I got to sit in the super-nice VIP seats. These were up on the fourth floor with all of the important people. There was lots of food and drinks, and perhaps best of all, it was air-conditioned!! These seats were available to me because of the company that I keep!!

If you remember last Spring, two of my finest friends, Emily and Jenny, were awarded Teacher of the Year at the respective schools. One of the perks of that award is that they and a guest get to sit in the VIP seats at the first home game!! So...that's how we scored these great seats!!

The game was a great one! Even though we didn't win, the score was 50-something to 40-something so that meant a lot of touchdowns!! It was so fun to be up high screaming and rooting for the team!! Here's our view --

The quality of these pictures isn't great, but it was kind of difficult getting good pictures with glass there!!

Even Reagan and Alex managed to get up there with us for a few minutes!

All in all, it was a great game and loads of fun! There is so much spirit among the students and the community this year...makes for some good times, indeed!

Alex is playing some football!!

Alex is one week into his life dream of playing football!!

And while I'm not sure it has lived up to every possible expectation he had of it, he's doing great and having a good time!

The hardest part is getting up at 5:45 to be at practice by 6:30! But they got their pads yesterday, so now they are bigtime!!

Before the first practice with pads, we had a little homework....the mouthpiece!!

I remember Ryan doing this when we were in high school. I thought maybe they would've come up with a more high-tech way of doing this in the last 20 years! Guess not!

We also had the privilege of having practice today, the first Saturday after the first week of school!! It was a short practice where parents were invited to stay and watch and then attend a meeting after practice. It was pretty cool to see the whole team dressed out and acting like a team already! Here he is running in a couple of drills. He's #55.

Check out the knees of his pants!!

It's gonna be a great season!!

Back to the School House 2009

Monday morning came bright and early as our laid-back, sleeping-in, be-lazy summer came to a screeching halt!!

The 2009-2010 school year brings with it this unique opportunity -- all 4 boys are at 4 different schools!! How fun is that??!!? If my calculations are correct, that won't happen again!

Alex starts his day first with football practice. What we thought was a 7:00 start time has morphed into a be-on-the-field-at-6:50-stretching-and-in-all-your-pads!! He's been leaving at 6:15 but we may have to bump it up a bit!! Ouch!! The great thing is that he's having a great time! He likes football...every day has brought something new to look forward to. He also likes lunch where he has so many food choices and can sit where ever he wants!! It's the little things!! Here are he and Landry on the first day!! Notice the slight sunrise in the background!!

Parker started at the Intermediate school and is really loving it! He likes his teachers a lot and seems very pleased. He has a team of teachers that his cousin, Meagan, had when she was in 5th grade. That connection has already been made and he's loving life at the big school!! He didn't even want me to walk him in so this is the best I could do with the pic!!

Luke is in first grade and his teacher is Mrs. Ball!! How cool is that?? (Landry called her Mrs. Bald for the first couple of days!!) He's having a good week and is really excited that he gets to buy his lunch tomorrow!!

Landry actually went to school one day last week since they have to open when the teachers go back. We went ahead and took a first day picture then because he really felt like that was his first day!! He was so excited to take his new backpack that lights up and wear his new shoes!!

He has had a good week...seeing old friends, playing in centers, reading and coloring. I'm so glad he's so happy there. I thought it would be fun to revisit last year....remember this??

Not such a happy boy here!! But now?? All smiles!!

Here's to a great school year!!

Good-bye Summer '09

To the Summer of 2009 --

You were a good one!! I don't think I'd ever looked forward to a summer like I did this one. Maybe it has something to do with working full-time???

Though it went by so fast, we had so much fun!! We swam, slid, tubed and got soaked at NRH2O. Our season passes proved to be more than a great value as we were there just about every week!!

We traveled across state lines to visit with family and that provided many new adventures. New York City was awesome, as were the subway and Yankee stadium.

We stayed up late and slept in late...more days than I care to admit!!

We shuttled Alex back and forth to Conditioning Camp and watched his BB guns turn into BIG guns!! Haha!! Not really, but he thinks so!!

Alex and Parker spent a week at Kids Camp and spent some time with Nana, Poppy, and Meagan on the Guadalupe River.

Luke spent some time with Nana, Poppy, and Lexie in Dallas.

Landry got a big boy haircut!

We went to visit the Great Wolf Lodge and had mucho fun there!!

We watched a lot of movies.

We spent a LOT of time together!!

And while I sometimes wish it would go on forever, sometimes I'm glad it doesn't!!

For right now, at 8:04 pm, everyone under the age of 13 is in bed and THAT is a great thing, indeed!

Good-bye Summer '09!

Welcome 09-10 School Year!!

A new, old friend

Reagan is certainly no stranger to our family. He and Alex have grown up together and were great friends before they drew their first breaths!! But now Landry has taken Reagan as his new friend, and fast friends, they are!!

We've enjoyed a lot of time with the Rothenbergers this summer and it was worth it all when Landry declared the night this pic was taken....

Readan...you're my best tousin!!

Though there's no blood relation between them, you couldn't convince Landry that Reagan's not just another member of the family!!

Alex made a funny!

This is not a political statement - - -

Alex and I were doing something on the internet today when he saw a picture of Barack Obama with a cigarette in his mouth.

Alex, shocked that the leader of the free world would do such a thing, says, "Mom, does the president SMOKE??"

To which I replied, "Yes, I think he does."

He lets out a big, disgusted "Aaaahhh....he is an OBAMA-nation to our country! Haha....get it, Mom?? An abomination...OBAMAnation!!!"

He thinks he came up with this, but I'm thinking maybe not. Anybody heard this before??

Either way, we got a good laugh out of it!!

Classic Parker

Last night found Parker and I in bed and he was unusually talkative and sweet.

The conversation went something like this:

P - Mom, you're the best mom in the world. I'm so glad I got you!

M - Parker, you're a really great boy and I'm so glad God chose you to be in our family.

P - SO, which boy do you love the most?

M - Well, I love all of you. You all have things you're really good at and all so different.

P - But, who's your favorite?

M - I don't have a favorite...I love you all the same! (classic parent line!)

P - Well, who do you think is the most handsome?

M - All of you!

P - Well, then.....why do you have more pictures of ME on the fridge than anyone else??!!!

And to think...I thought he needed some confidence building!!!