Summer Sports Season Has Begun...

The summer season of sports has started around here.

And it is gonna be HOT!!!

R's flag football games are going to be

on Friday evenings supposedly as things are getting cooler.

But the hottest part of the day down here is at 6pm!!

Daddy is coaching R's flag football

and 

J's baseball.

Since there are only 3 flag football teams, 

one team gets to play 2 games per night

twice during the season.

Our first night we played twice.

Ms. Priss decided she wanted to go to the game

in her dress-up costume,

then proceeded to plop down on the ground

and dig in the dirt!

Whatever, she was out of my hair 

and I could watch the game.

That was until I turned around

and saw her and J

COVERING 

Mr. T in dirt! 

Literally head to toe,

they were filthy!

Argh!

Since Mr. T was not using his stroller,

another family on our team had a sleeping toddler

and I offered to let him sleep in the stroller so daddy

didn't have to hold him.

That was fine until Mr. T realized

some strange child was sleeping in HIS spot in HIS stroller!!!

Who are you and why are you sleeping in my seat???

I did get to catch a few plays of the two games R played.

They won the first game and lost the second...

blame it on tiredness.  ;)

We left the Y at about 8:30pm...

we arrived back at the Y the following morning for two 8am games.

Ms. Priss & J's games.

I stayed with Ms. Priss, while daddy coached J.

The absolute BEST part of Ms. Priss' game...

Its hard to see this, but there are 3 children on the 

field on Ms. Priss' team...(her team is in orange)

You will notice that there is one child in orange by

 themself in the middle of the picture,

then there are two other children in orange

being "talked to" by their parents...

then the entire yellow team is looking on.

What was going on, you ask?

Well none of the BOYS on Ms. Priss' team

wanted to play!

They were too busy crying!!

Ms. Priss is the ONLY girl on her team

and she is the ONLY one that was actually playing!

She even scored a goal BY HERSELF!

Totally 5 on 1 

She scored in the other teams goal,

but I don't care - she led the charge and scored a goal!

There were 5 players on our team there

(the number needed to play)

but the other 4 - all boys

refused to play...

so they called the game since Ms. Priss was the 

only one playing and it was 

5 on 1.

I was so stinking proud of her!!!

Whoo Hoo!!

You Go Girl!!!

Here is yet another picture of parents pleading with their sons

to play soccer...

My girl is standing in the middle of the field ready to play!!

 

After they called the game,

we ventured over to catch the last inning of J's game.

Daddy is having to remind himself what its like to 

coach kids who have never played baseball before.

Quite a few have no idea 

- how to hold a bat

- how to throw a ball

- how to run the bases

- where the bases are

- when to run the bases

So J decided to show them how it is done!

 

Duck daddy - this one is coming straight at you!

Apparently daddy had to get out of the way for his next hit too!

Then J was literally pushing the kid in front of him

around the bases!

And he insisted on sliding into home!

We knew we needed to buy J some new 

cleats,

and we finally went on Sunday...

we got him a pair 3 sizes LARGER than the ones

he was wearing!

How in the world did I get them on his feet twice every week???

Poor thing...I felt so bad...

but I could still get them on him...

and he didn't complain!

Mas y Mas y Mas...

I would like to refer you back to the last picture of 

this

post....

I have mentioned the boys beloved box

quite a few times...

unfortunately,

the older two 

decided to get a little rough with it

and it finally bit the dust.

After 3 months 

of using it as our 

"extra bedroom"

for nap times...

it was thrown in the trash.

So the boys had to resort to other means.

They got creative and

here are the results:

Yep - there is a kid under all that!

What ever works.

Eventually, I suggested that we open that tent up

and they could sleep in that.

That works too.

A, got to participate a little bit during our weekly PE

class.  

It was cute and worth sharing.

PE with her newly purchased jewelry from Nana.

We took Nana and Grandmother along too.

Then we did the typical Monday night soccer/baseball

practice rounds.

And sweet Nana indulged the kids in an icee.

Three were purchased and the baby got 

to take turns eating from the older ones.

Too cute!!!

Look at that mouth!!!  Go gracious...

Well, he got what he wanted...

J's mouth being that wide open helps T eat,

I guess...

Tuesday is our "down day" around here...

so we took the opportunity to do some touristy stuff.

I love love love the Riverwalk.  I absolutely enjoy just walking along the riverside.

So we hoofed it down there.

Then we stopped for lunch.

And ventured into the Alamo for a visit.

I really enjoyed walking around with the boys and talking and teaching.

We received these scavenger hunt sheets from the 

sweet lady at the "help desk"

for the boys -

now that we have found the cannons...

what's next??

The old well!

What's down there??

Oooo, ooo, ooo, lemme see, lemme see!

Oh look, mommy gets to be IN a picture!

Checking out a giant cactus...

Don't get too close boys...

We did find ONE cactus blossom.

T passed out so we decided to kill a little 

extra time...

We stopped and looked at the koi pond they had on site.

While there, a lady stopped by and 

asked us if we had ever been to the 

Sunken Gardens.

No, never heard of it!

Then after doing a little googling while we were standing

in the middle of the Alamo grounds,

I discovered that she was referring to the 

Japanese Tea Garden.

So we loaded back up 

(after we consulted my newly downloaded

app to locate where we parked the car - 

and wouldn't ya know it - IT WORKED!!!)

and headed to the 

Japanese Tea Garden.

It was amazing!!

I think everyone enjoyed this more than the Riverwalk.

The boys got to climb all over rocks 

and run around a little more.

It is an old quarry that was turned into a beautiful

garden with HUMONGOUS koi!

It was beautiful!!

Look at all those fish!  They are huge!!

Jumping on the boulders out front...

Nana helping out the baby...

nice action shot!

After this...

we headed home.

I dropped of the grandmothers and the little ones...

then me and the boys headed right back out

to a new barbershop right around the corner

that just opened up.

The boys needed haircuts,

sort of.

I have been in love with J's hair since he was born.

Hubby and I had quite a few disagreements

on whether or not to cut those amazing baby curls.

And when his hair was just too long.

(according to everyone else BUT me!)

J has never really "wanted" his hair cut.

Which was always fine with me!

This time was no different...

until genius here remembered

that the last time R got his hair cut

it was short enough to spike up in the front.

J liked it and asked me to spike his too.

But, his was too long to spike...

So the good mommy I am,

I mention this to J.

Lord, you should have seen his face light up!

"yeah, yeah, yeah!!!"

(meanwhile, inside I am quite disappointed)

I asked him a couple of times if he was sure,

cause it would be really short!!

He said yes, then eventually told me

that I didn't have to ask him anymore

cause he was really sure...

So then the time came...

the ONLY thing that kept me from crying as they 

started literally shaving his beautiful hair off

was the fact that he actually had an opinion 

about his hair...

for ONCE!

It was tough for me to watch...

so much so,

I had to take some commemorative pictures.

At this point, I can't remember if I asked the lady if we
could just leave it like that
or
glue it back if I didn't like it.

Either way - she was tickled by my silliness over a
haircut!

oh yeah, R got his done too...

Look at all that hair! 

AND

~drum roll please~

THE RESULTS!!

Ugh - all that beautiful hair...

GONE!

But look at that smile!!

(I know - meanie mommy - made them face the sun!)

I love and miss that hair already!

But my boy likes it...

Recommendation, Warning & Let the Games Begin!!!

Recommendation:

We have ALL seen the 

rotisserie chickens

that the local grocery stores 

have for sale every day.

And if you have ever tried them, 

you know that they are scrumptious!

BUT - unless you found somewhere 

that has them for $3.50 each...

its hard to pay $7/chicken.

(well for me anyways).

Back at my favorite grocery store chain in NC,

they would occasionally run these super specials

on chickens and you could get them for $0.59/lb.

So me being the frugal person I have always been,

I would buy as many as they would let me and

load my freezer.  I was known to have 12

chickens in my freezer at once.

(outside, garage freezer)

Then I had to come up with ways to cook all those

silly chickens!!

I decided to bite the bullet and buy a rotisserie.

We did NOT buy one new.

(remember the frugal statement above)

I wasn't convinced we would love it and use it,

so I wasn't forking out the dough for a new

kitchen toy.

So we found on on Craigslist for $40.

It had ALL the pieces and the lady

said she had only used it a handful of times.

That was the BEST $40 we have EVER spent.

I have learned how to truss the birds,

without those goofy strings they sell specifically 

for trussing.

(I just use cotton thread!)

And after some trial and error -

if you have never brined a bird...

oh good heavens,

you MUST!

There is NO other way to do a chicken!

You have to play with the seasonings in your brine.

But your loved ones,

will be asking for you to make

"one of your rotisserie chickens".

(oh and a little Lawry's seasoning on top is the kicker)

You gotta try it!!

Warning:

Along with the frugalness,

referred to above,

I do my best,

and always have,

to know where our money is going.

When we sign a contract to buy a house,

I want to know where all of those 

costs are coming from on that 

"good faith estimate" 

they present you with.

When we buy a car,

why aren't these numbers adding up?

I ask questions...

Tax documentation,

double check it!

Most of the time,

they are correct

and legit,

but occasionally,

by you asking questions

and double checking,

you can find errors

that could cost you 

literally 

HUNDREDS of dollars.

The past two days, 

I have spent crunching numbers

only to discover an error

significantly to our disadvantage.

So now we have to get it fixed...

let the fun begin!

It doesn't take long,

just give it a shot.

Trust me,

you will thank me one day!

The Usual:

Nothing too exciting this week.

I actually got ALL four of the kids

at the table and occupied this week

(once)

it was beautiful!

(albeit fleeting - I'll take it)

A few years ago,

I discovered dried beans

as a sensory item!

My kids have LOVED them.  

Its easier than rice and sand inside.

But give them: 

different color beans

funnels

bowls

measuring spoons

measuring cups

aluminum pie pans

and 

watch them go!

They will spend quite a while occupying themselves that way.

Just stay close, cause when the beans start flying...

or TOO many are hitting the ground...

they are DONE!  

haha!

Let the Games Begin!!!

Our new sports season is officially in full swing and

we had our first Saturday FULL of games today.

MERCY!!!

10am - A's soccer game

2pm - J's soccer game

4:15 - R's baseball game

This is about what our Saturday's look like

for the next 8 weeks.

OY!

And, of course, the field is too far from the house

to justify going home between games

(most of the time).

Which makes for a VERY long day

with an 18 mo old in tow!

Below are a few pics from our day...

Soccer Girl!!!

Home Sweet Home

(we had to get something but that thing had NO airflow and it was HOT!)

Camera man, videoing his brother's soccer game.

T's perch most of the day.

(poor thing)

Action shot, after a throw in.

J's is doing AMAZING this year in soccer!!

Luckily the camera snapped when it did - cause the ball went

right through his legs.

I would have HATED to get that on camera!

Haha!!

Team M!

Accountability Check In:

1) Getting up before the kids...

not every day.

2) Working out before the kids get up...

NOPE, not at all,

but I have been getting my workout in 

before they get up from their newly 

implemented rest time,

does that count?

3) Dave Ramsey/Budget - 

Done, let me just say, I have NEVER 

looked so forward to the first day of the month

in my LIFE!

Brand new squeaky clean budget to work with!!