It's Here!

The night (and days) are getting colder and colder. This past week we've barely made it out of the 50s. Days are filled with school and afternoons are packed with homework. After the warm ease of summer it is enough to make the kids cry. There is one thing that makes it all bearable.  

Football. 

Both Todd and I come from football families. My dad was a pretty big deal around here. He played on the only undefeated football team in his college's history (Mission House- now Lakeland College). Then he went on to play semi professional football for the Redwings. The Packers got wind of my dad and wanted him to try out just as my dad got drafted into the army during the Korean War. Todd's dad was a fantastic football player in high school (and Todd never knew it until he was going through his dad's old year book and read, "Twinkle, twinkle football star, what a bashful boy you are") and received full ride football scholarships to Marquette (who had a football team at the time) and Madison (to play for the Badgers). Then of course there is Todd. First team all conference in high school and college. Needless to say we are a football family. If there would be a women's football team around here there is NO DOUBT I would have wanted to be on it. 

We love football. And, apparently, so do our kids.

The boys wait anxiously all year for football season to roll around and this year was especially exciting.  This was Ben's first year being able to play flag football. For four years Ben had to traipse with us to Joey's and Tommy's flag football games and finally, FINALLY, it was his turn. Each week since I signed Ben up in June he would ask how many days until football started. 

Finally Ben gets Coach Daddy all to himself. The past few weeks Todd and Ben would go off together to the practices and this past Monday Ben had his first game. Never mind that the teams don't keep score. Never mind that it doesn't even follow a regular flow of a game just yet (each team gets 6 plays and then they switch). This was a big deal.  All day long Ben told his teachers and classmates that he had a big game tonight. It was too sweet for words.

The "Big Game" came and Ben did great. He stole flags, he hiked the ball, he even got a touchdown. I am so happy to say that the first game expectations really lived up to the hype. Ben had a blast.

This football season is a big deal for the two older boys as well. Todd and I broke down and finally decided to let them join tackle football. We talked to the program directors and really liked how instructional and supportive the tackle league is. Part of me thought that Tommy might be a little young for tackle but Todd assured me that the 4th grade level was fairly gentle.

I must admit that after watching Tommy in practice I am now more concerned about Tommy hurting someone else than Tommy getting hurt. That kid knows what he is doing and he loves to hit. He has such natural athletic ability and no fear. 

At practice Tommy made the tackle on almost every single play. I'm not even exaggerating. Almost every. Single. Play. The coaches were really getting a kick out of watching Tommy.

Last Saturday Tommy had his first tackle football game and he was all business out on that field. The other team couldn't get any yardage because Tommy was making every tackle. The other team double teamed Tommy and he'd still make the tackle. No matter where that ball went number 4 was on it, flinging himself into every tackle. He was in heaven! And I was in heaven watching him help the tackled opponents up and pat them on the back. Warmed this mama's heart to see what a compassionate player he is.

Joey is on the 6th grade north side tackle football team. It is a fairly large team (about 40 players) and Joey is one of only a few new players. I know it was intimidating for him, being the new guy, trying to learn all the plays, all the different positions, but he threw himself into the practices full bore. At his very first practice the kids did calisthenics for close to an hour before they even got to drills. When I saw the kids doing push ups I assumed Joey would have a tough time since he was never a fan of push ups. Yet I watched as Joey did 20 push ups in full pads. I was amazed. As Joey ran over to me to grab his water I said, "Holy push ups, Joe! Where did that come from?"  Joe just smiled, shrugged, and went about his business. I could tell he was pleased.

At Joey's 1st game a few weeks ago he ran up to me right before the game began and handed me a baby tooth that he had just lost. I must be honest and admit that it choked me up a little bit, watching my oldest run off to join his tackle football team as I held on to one of his last baby teeth. What a juxtaposition between boy and man.

This football season has already done amazing things for Joe. I can physically SEE the confidence Joey is gaining even in just the last few weeks. He began the games a little timidly. Mostly watching and observing. He went from being in for only a few plays to playing most of the game in just 3 weeks. With each game he has grown more and more confident, making plays, making the tackle, helping his team. Before he wanted to do it and now he knows that he can do it. Watching Joey work so hard and feel proud of himself is just priceless.

I have always loved football.  And even though these last few weeks of football schedules has been tough with three boys in practices and games, I am so thankful for it. I'm thankful for the work ethic it helps instill in the boys. I'm thankful for the confidence it is giving them. And I'm thankful that they have proven to themselves that they are capable of more than they thought they were.

And I know, for sure, that somewhere there are two grandpa angels watching, smiling, cheering on, and getting a bang out of their football boys.

FIVE

I'm not sure how this happened. I thought I had been so careful. I thought I had been soaking in every day, every second. I thought I treasured each moment. Some days went by more quickly than I would have liked but others seemed to drag on. Still, the entire year flew by and now here we are in the middle of August. And Gracie is five. FIVE.

I don't know how this happened. 

We celebrated Gracie's birthday early this year (the 13th) since Todd would be out of town on her actual birthday (the 15th). You'd think that would have given me enough time to prepare myself for her turning five yet somehow it still caught me off guard. 

On Wednesday we did the usual presents and cake. Grace got a beloved baby carriage, a fishing rod (to replace the one she accidentally cast overboard as we were fishing a few months back), and a few toys. As you can see she was pretty excited. She was equally excited when she woke up from her nap to find I had decorated her cake. Her pink on the outside, and pink on the inside, cake. It was a very exciting day. 

As the tradition goes, the grandmas joined us for dinner at the restaurant of Gracie's choice. The entire restaurant sang "Happy Birthday" to her and she was properly embarrassed. However, the free t-shirt and treat made it worth it. Afterwards it was back to our house for a couple of presents yet to be given (from the grandmas) and then some pink cake. 

Overall, it was a very happy birthday for Grace. 

That night as I was getting ready for bed I smugly patted myself on the back for being such a brave mama. All day long we had watched Grace's baby videos and I only got mildly sentimental. My baby girl turned FIVE and I didn't even cry. Wow. I must be getting stronger.

"Of course," (a small voice in my head spoke up) "she isn't really five yet. She doesn't turn five until Friday. She isn't really older yet. She is still four."   

I shrugged off the crazy voice in my head. What difference will two days make? She is practically five already!

And then before I knew it today was here. Grace's birthday.

It didn't really feel like her birthday since we had already celebrated it so I had that going for me. I was going to be fine.

Still. Today was her ACTUAL birthday so I felt that we should all do something special.

I packed the kids in the car and we drove up to Green Bay to a wildlife sanctuary. The kids had a blast running around looking at all the different animals. Cougars, wolves, river otters, eagles, owls, hawks, fox, bobcats, skunks, deer, coyotes, turtles, and hundreds of ducks and geese. We even met some crazy tame chipmunks that came up and ate corn out of the kids' hands. But the best and most favorite part of the day was when the kids fed the ducks and geese. Who knew a $1 bag of corn could make my kids so happy? It was exciting stuff, people.

We spent hours at the wildlife sanctuary, too busy for me to even start to get melancholy over my girl's birthday. As a matter of fact I think I only remembered it was her birthday when I reminded her that now that she is 5 years old there is no need to whine since 5 year olds don't whine. Happy Birthday!

Since the kids were so good and we had so much fun I decided to reward them with a trip across the street to Bay Beach. Yes, we were just there last week (in part as an early birthday gift to Grace, as a matter of fact) but who can resist such inexpensive fun? Surely, not I.

We ran from ride to ride enjoying the warm sunshine. Grace got to ride all of her favorites and skipped out on the ones that still freak her out. She is too little for the rollar coaster yet (which is just fine with her) but Ben really wanted to go on it. Joey and Tommy offered to take Grace on all the kiddie rides while I rode the coaster with Ben. I was a little nervous that my two little meatheads wouldn't be responsible enough for the task at hand but they vowed to be extra attentive. 

Luckily, there was absolutely no line at the rollar coaster and Ben and I were able to walk right on. In ten minutes Ben and I were on our way back to look for Joey, Tommy, and Grace. The minute I spotted them my heart nearly burst. Joey was ushering Grace onto one of the safest rides in the park. Not only did he walk her to the little car but he lifted her in and secured her seatbelt too. Yep. He was extra attentive. I asked the boys if they were able to ride anything with Grace and the both just shook their heads. They let Grace pick the rides and both boys were too big to ride with her. Instead they stood vigil. Good boys.

After a full 7 plus hours of walking and running and riding and laughing we were all famished. So, once again, it was off to our favorite restaurant, Kaleidescope. Our meal was delicious and Grace was treated like a little princess and was served her very own extra large slice of chocolate cake. Thankfully, Grace shared it with all of us because it was THE BEST chocolate cake I have ever had in my entire life. Woah. Amazing. 

The car ride home was heavy with rehashed favorites, complaints of full bellies and tired feet, and singing and dancing along to the radio. By the time we got home the kids were actually eager to hop into bed.  

And I did it! Grace turned five and I didn't cry. I wasn't overly emotional. I was barely even sentimental. 

And then I started editing our pictures from today. And I started looking through pictures from past birthdays. 

And then...

I just lost it. 

Because, how?  HOW????

How do I go from this...

my newborn baby girl, Grace.

To this...

my newly walking one year old Grace.

And then this...

 my spunky 2 year old Grace.

 And before I knew it she was...

my three year old Tinkerbell, Grace.

And I blinked and she was...

 my 4 year old fairy princess, Grace.

Just like that. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

And now she is five. FIVE. My five year old, Grace. Still a pink-loving, princess-loving, spunky, sweet, sassy, independent, smart, funny, tough, shy, cuddly, loving, kind little lady. But now she is five. FIVE. 

And she is this.

Wow.

My girl. My Grace. Happy 5th Birthday.

I love you.

From Brutal to Blissful

So... this is the craziest winter in all of history. Okay. Maybe not. But it certainly feels that way. I hesitate to even write about it since I know we are all pretty sick of talking about it, hearing about, and living through it. If it isn't the bitter, nasty cold it is the piles and piles of snow. 

The other night we got another 10 inches of snow. Todd always plows three of our neighbors' driveways as well as our own (and his mother's) so he was outside on his tractor until about 11 o'clock at night. First he plowed our driveway and then by the time he finished our three neighbors' (actually it was four because he felt especially charitable) driveways he saw that our driveway had another 3 or 4 inches of fresh snow. So he plowed our driveway again.  Madness.

At school the kids have been trapped inside for almost a month because the temperatures were below zero and it was too cold to go outside for recess. A sledding trip for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders (a reward for good behavior) was cancelled and rescheduled over and over again for 4 weeks straight on account of snow or below zero temps.

Finally this past week we had temperatures in the 30s. It felt like spring. Everyone wanted to go outside without jackets and take runs and ride their bikes (in the snow). The school sledding trip was taken. For three days we basked in mid 30s as if it were summer.  Then we had a massive snowstorm and the temps plummeted again. The highest temperature expected for this coming week is 12 degrees.

I think I can officially say we are DONE with winter. D.O.N.E.

That is why we decided to use this wonderful "No School" Friday as an escape from winter. The minute I found out the kids didn't have school I told Todd to take off of work. I had plans.

Seeing as how Joey's birthday is on Monday I wanted to do something special this weekend to celebrate. Todd is out of town on Friday night until Sunday so the "No School" on Friday came at the perfect time.

We kept it a secret from the kids just in case another horrible snow storm came through or one of the kids suddenly got sick.

This morning the kids were healthy and the weather (though windy and cold) was clear.

Immediately after breakfast we told the kids that for Joey's birthday treat we were all going to Blue Harbor to enjoy the waterpark for the day. Screams and cheers of excitement all around.

The minute we stepped into the hot air of the waterpark we knew we had made a good decision. It took approximately 2 seconds for the kids to rip of their jackets and sweatshirts and jump into the water and onto the slides.

Todd and I couldn't get over how much fun it was. I'd even call it relaxing. All of the boys can swim like pros and Grace was doing amazingly well. It was really the first time when Todd and I could sit back and play and relax and swim and watch while the kids had fun, instead of holding and wading and helping a little one. A little bittersweet for me, but mostly sweet. It was so much fun!

We played basketball in the water, we swam, we rode all the slides, we floated and played in the lazy river, and we even had relaxing time in the hot tub. It was perfection. The absolutely perfect way to spend the umpteenth freezing cold, windy winter day.




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Summertime

"Summertime and the livin' is easy..."

The hot weather is here and we are taking full advantage.  Our favorite swimming hole has provided hours and hours of fun.  The baseball games at night are a little less comfortable to play (and to watch) but it is a trade-off we are willing to make.  Yay for summer!

I have taken so many pics that sum up summer to me and I decided to post them all in one post (minus the pics that have already made it into previous posts). Hang on to your hats!

So many water pictures but it has reached 100 degrees here (with LOTS of humidity) for the last three days so we've been hanging in the water.  Personally, I like the hot weather.  Certainly makes for a fun summer.



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PSF- Not The Same

This is Tommy and Joey.  My two oldest boys.  I understand some time may have passed since these photos were taken but this is pretty much how I still see them.  

So, you will understand my concern when my two oldest babies came to me this past spring begging to go to Boy Scout camp in summer.  The very first thought that popped into my head was, "Oh, HELL to the no."  Before you judge me take another look at the pictures above.  My babies, people.  Okay?  

Todd, on the other hand, seemed to think it was a fabulous idea.  He kept spewing stuff about how it will be "good for them" and blah, blah, blah.  I don't know.  I didn't hear half of it.  All I could think of was "My babies!"  

*sigh*

Apparently, my argument for not letting them go, "Because I don't want them to!", didn't hold up and the boys were signed up for camp.  

This past week the preparations were made.  Travel sized toiletries, bug spray, and sunscreen were purchased, along with brand new flashlights and batteries, camp chairs, and healthy snacks.  Wednesday morning came and together the boys and I packed up the suitcases with their clothes and made sure they had every last thing they needed. 

The boys knew I wasn't a huge fan of letting them go.  "I know you two will be fine." I told them.  "I just  like being the one taking care of you."  I didn't happen to mention the fact that I don't trust anyone else to take care of my babies like I do. And I know bad things could still happen if my kids were with me but at least I would be with them.   

"I know mom." Joey said.  "But, you know when you just sometimes want to be by yourself?  Yeah.  I am kind of like that too.  No offense to you or anything.  I just like to, ya know, be by myself sometimes." I nodded and told him I understood. 

"Yeah, mom.  I'm gonna miss you, but I really want to go off on my own. When I'm by myself I feel kinda proud of myself and grown up and stuff. No offense." Tommy told me. I wasn't offended. I was proud. And I let them know it.  

To make myself feel a little better, and because I'm paranoid, the kids and I read "I Said No" yet again. The perfect book that makes them feel empowered without freaking them out.  They love that book.  I love that book.  I think we both felt better after reading it again.  

We went over rules.  We went over safety.  We talked about how they are representing not only themselves but their family too and they need to be the good boys we know they are.  

Then it was all over but the crying. Okay, fine, I didn't cry. I held it together for them. But I wanted to cry.

See?  Babies, people!  MY babies!

The boys let me hug and kiss all over them for a good, long time before they left.  

Joey's camp is two hours away and he was the first to leave at 11:00. Tommy soon followed at 12:30 to set off for his camp 30 minutes from us. An hour later Grace heard a car door outside and she excitedly said, "Are the boys back?"  I explained the boys would not be home for a few days and she told me she missed them already.  Ben and I agreed.  

I've been checking the weather at both of the camps incessantly.  There have been thunderstorms.  I'm sure Tommy was fine in his cabin, but Joey and his troop were staying in tents. And I can't call them. I don't like that. If I could just talk to them and hear how they are doing that would help. But no. 

So, I worry. It's what I do. 

It's been weird around here. So much quieter. You'd think I'd enjoy that but I don't. It's eerie. Ben and Grace play calmly with each other and bore quickly. Mealtimes and bedtimes go so much faster. Playing outside isn't as thrilling.  Even going swimming wasn't as much fun without Tommy and Joey with us. And to think we have a whole other day and night to get through yet.  

It's not the same around here without them. We are ready for them to be home. I want my babies back.  I don't like this whole growing up thing. I'm not good at letting go no matter how slowly I have to learn how to do it. 

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