A Rainy Birthday, a Visit and More!

Nick turned 9 on Sunday October 13th!  When planning his birthday party, all Nick wanted was to play TACKLE football in the yard with his friends.  Ryan and I were a little cautious about kids getting hurt, but the previous 5 days of rain ended all fears.  Instead of a backyard brawl in my yard, all 50 plus parents and kids were crammed inside my house! 

Nick's party kicked off the night before with 5 boys sleeping over.  Lauren lucked out and spent the night with Carson.  It was all boys and boy activities all night long...wrestling, pillow fights, nerf guns, legos, and video games.  They also managed to play a wet game of football in the rain. 

Sunday arrived and Ryan cooked the boys a Big Boy Breakfast of pancakes, sausage gravy, and cinnamon rolls.  Then it was decorating, cooking and party prep work.  Finally, the party began and we did our best to not let that rain get us down.

 

The boys still managed to play some football outside in the rain, we ate lots of chili, and we enjoyed everyone coming out despite the monsoon we had that week!

Lauren and her friend Sadi

Picture Day 2013!

The following week the kids spent a day with Grandma because they didn't have school on Monday.  Tuesday, Lauren had her very 1st Kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch.  Thursday was school picture day.  And then finally on Friday....

Nana and Jeff came to see us for the weekend!

Friday night we enjoyed Nana and Jeff's company over dinner and a bit of R&R at home.  But on Saturday, I ran their socks off!  After coffee and breakfast we hit the pavement for Nick's 9 am football game, which was a WIN!  Then we ran some errands to the bank, drycleaning, and some Halloween shopping.  Then it was McCallister's for lunch, then some thrift store shopping.  Next was Lauren's gymnastics at 1 pm.  Then we hustled to Nick's baseball game in Woodstock, which was not a win.  But, Nick played hard and pitched great!  One inning he even had 3 batters up and 3 batters down...strike outs 3 in a row!  

 

 

 

After baseball we made it home for chili dinner.  Then, we ran back out the door to the Haunted House at the baseball fields.  The kids were begging to go all week and all day Saturday.  During dinner we saw the sky grow black with rain clouds, but we aren't ones to let rain get us down.  We headed right over to the front of that Haunted House line and waited in the rain.  Finally they opened and let us thru!  We were very excited and anxious!  As soon as we entered, Lauren jumped in my arms, and Lauren and I took 10 steps in, and walked 10 steps back out.  Nick lasted just over 1/2 way and high tailed it out.  Nana and Jeff enjoyed getting spooked.  For the rest of us, there's always another scare next year!

This week has been our last insanely busy week of fall with a football game, baseball game and piano.  This Saturday is our last day of football, baseball and gymnastics!  Yes, I'm a bit happy to end this craziness.  But, boy has it been a F-U-N season.  No doubt about it! 

Here is an email I received from Lauren's Teacher this week. She always has such nice things to say about Lauren, and I must share!

Well I must say, I thoroughly enjoy having Lauren in my class! She is an amazing young lady and an asset to our class and school! What a great role model and she is so smart!!!! Yes, her snack day is Friday the 25^th! Have a great day! ~Mrs. Scheulen