I'm a Football Mom!

Austin and Tara (Me!)

I'm so excited Austin is playing football this year! He had his first scrimmage on Friday. Jason got off work and met me and Ashlyn at the football field. My mom and Jen were there too. It was so fun to watch him play! DaNae (Grandma), Brynne, and Jen

Austin and his cousin Wes

Austin and Jason

Austin after his scrimmage

He had some great tackles, but my favorite play was when Austin stripped the ball from the other team and started to run! Austin was so excited, he didn't hear the whistle blow, calling the play. Here is a quick clip of the play:

The next morning, he had his first game. They called it a Football Carnival. Each team played 2 games at he huge High school Stadium. He had to be at the school at 7:20am. Austin is not a morning person! Jason went in to wake him up at 6:20am and he was already awake laying in his bed. When he went back in to check on Austin a little bit later, he was just getting the last of his uniform on. This was the first time he got to wear all of it. Before going down to get breakfast, he said, "Hang on. I just want to look in the mirror." He turned and looked at himself all decked out in his football gear. "That looks awesome!"

We didn't get to talk to him until after his game. The stadium is huge! I was so glad we brought binoculars. Jason and I were nervous for him before each game. He must have felt so grown up playing on the High School field with the big stadium and the announcers booming over the speaker!

She Walks!

Ashlyn took her first step about a month ago. Just in the last few days, she will walk without us trying to coax her to come to one of us. I can't believe how fast she is growing up! She will be 1 in just a few weeks!

Morning Moments

Good Morning Bunny,
Walking into your room in the morning when you wake up, is my favorite time of day. You get a huge sleepy smile on your face and reach your arms out to me. When I pick you up, you lay your head back on my shoulder. We snuggle for a minute and then you start to "talk". I pretend to understand and ask you questions about your night. I laugh and kiss your cheeks as we go get breakfast. You have the best behead I have ever seen! You are growing up so fast and I am going to miss these morning moments so much...

The Colors of Crayola

Saturday morning, we were going about our normal routine. The kids grumbled about doing chores. It's so funny how they complain about doing it, but once they get started, they seem to really enjoy it. On Saturday's the kids work with me for a half an hour. They don't have assigned chores because the same things don't always need to be done.

On school days, they have to do 10 jobs. Depending on how busy they are with sports and homework and how much I get done while they are gone, determines what kind of jobs they get. Sometimes it is as simple as taking the newspaper out to the recycling bin or putting away a pair of shoes. Other days they have jobs like unloading the dishwasher or vacuuming a room. I think it is good for them to learn how to work. We like to turn on music while we work.

Anyway, I had the kids come into the laundry room so I could send each of them up with their clothes. While they were upstairs, I started to pull out the laundry from the dryer. I noticed something strange. Everything seemed to be covered in orange spots. All of the sudden- horror! Honestly, it was awful! I pulled out of my dryer, an orange, empty, Crayola wrapper! Empty because a full size orange crayon had melted into our clothes!!!!

Flashback When I was in 7th grade, my mom thought it was silly to spend more than the minimum on clothes, so I started to buy my own. She also was a fan of teaching her kids the value of work. I did my own laundry. I did an entire load of whites, with a tube of red lipstick in the pocket of my Guess jeans! We bought everything under the sun to try to get out he red. I don't think anything was saved.

Friday I taught a class on Friday and my assistant- I'll have to post about that another time- came over to watch Ashlyn and do some things around the house. She calls laundry a "hobby" of hers, so I usually have her throw in a load or two of the kids clothes when she is here. There wasn't enough kids laundry for a full load, so I gave her some of my laundry.

It was so sad. Austin and Jessica came in and I was just holding a few pieces. I'm sure my jaw was still on the floor. Jason came down to get his next assignment- I love Saturday- and saw the orange spots on some of his favorite shorts. "What happened ?" I handed him the crayon wrapper.

"What's my next job, Mom?" Austin asked. He somehow didn't notice his green shirt could have been a leopard print!

"Honey, could you turn down the music? We'll finish up later, okay?" I managed to get out.

A few minutes later, Lauren came down with her head hung down. "Mom? It was my fault. I put the crayon in my pocket. I accidentally left my class with the crayon in my hand. When I went back to put it back in my class, the door was locked so I just put it in my pocket."

I was a little distracted by the spots I was now trying to remove from one of my favorite shirts. "It's okay, Lou."

She walked out slowly. I tossed Jason a shirt as he set up the ironing board in the hall so we could have more room to work. There was still clean, folded laundry on the counters. "I guess it is a good time to try out my magic cleaner!" Jason had teased me for being a sucker when I bought cleaner from a door to door sales person for some crazy amount of money.

We started working on the spots and I went into the kitchen to find another rag. I saw Lauren sitting on the couch all alone, with her head still hung. I put down my rag and gave her the attention I should have the first time. I put my arms around her and told her my lipstick story. I told her we weren't mad at her at all. We were just worried about our clothes. "Is is going to ruin all of our clothes?"

"I sure hope not," I said.

"Can I help get the spots out?" She asked. Lauren loves her clothes as much, if not more, than any grown woman!

What a sweet girl. I told her she could help and that I was so proud of her for telling the truth and taking responsibility. She was proud of herself for saving a pair of Austin's basketball shorts.

It was actually really nice to work together and I have to say that my magic cleaner really is magic! One of Jason's Polo shirts and a couple of pairs of shorts survived. My favorite knit shirt made it! Some stuff was just too covered and may not have lasted more than another month when the weather changes. By the time some of the clothes would be in season again, the kids would have grown and needed new ones anyway. I was okay with a few orange spots on my pajamas and work out shorts. I said goodbye to a favorite T-shirt. It would have taken hours!

The funniest part of it all was Jason puling out the camera! "This one's for the blog!"

Nice. So, here I am in all of my Saturday morning, pajamas, no make up and awesome hair, glory! Thanks Babe!

Beautiful Idea

Oh I already miss lazy summer days!!! Getting the kids up and out the door in the mornings can be exhausting! Some mornings I feel grumpy before 8 am! I hate being the nag, but I feel like I am constantly on them to brush their teeth, put on their shoes, etc. You know the routine. I know I am not alone here.

Well, last week we had a meeting (I'm on the Enrichment committee) to plan our Super Saturday. We were looking for a few other ideas and came across a fun idea I borrowed to help my girls get ready in the morning. Jessica and I went over to Michael's and picked out some flowers and a couple of pots. We bought paint, so the girls could decorate the pots how ever they wanted.

They were very creative and I think they came out really cute!

Each flower represents a morning task. Take Shower. Get Dressed. Eat Breakfast. Brush Teeth. Make Bed. Make Lunch. Hair Done. They can do it in whatever order they want, but they can't put their flower in the pot until the task is complete. It helps them remember all the things they have to do and they are so excited to see how pretty it looks when they are ready for school! The first day, when it was time to go, Lauren started running up to her room. "Wait! I have to make my bed!"

Ahhh... yes. Beautiful idea.

Labor Day

On Labor Day we went over to Mike and Angie's to watch the Fresno State football game and barbeque. Well- the boys watched the game anyway.
Ashlyn and Jason Rickards

We watched the kids play out front. Kristi lives right next door to Angie. (They are sisters. How cool huh?)

Kristi and Angie

Between the two of them there was a ton is cards for the kids to drive. I couldn't get over it! I thought it was so funny to see all those kids driving around! The cars were pretty fast too! Mason and Rylee

Maddie and Lauren

Jessica Maddie, Kimberlyn and Lauren

When they were nice and hot, we took them out back to swim. Jessica Austin Lauren

Kristi and Kennedy, Tara and Angie

Sacramento

Jason had to go to Sacramento to look at some property, so we decided to make a trip of it and visit family. Ashlyn asleep on the way there...

We spent Sunday at Justin and Danale's house. It was fun to see how big Colton is getting and see some of his new tricks! He can stand for a few seconds, sit up, roll over, melt your heart when he smiles and make you laugh out loud when he giggles at his daddy being silly! Danale and Colton

It was such a nice day! The weather was so much cooler, but Austin had a good time in the pool. Jason and Justin took turns throwing the football to him and running plays into the water!







Jason and Justin's tough guy pose!

Danale lovin' on Ashlyn

It was so nice to hang out and relax. I love having family that you would choose to be friends with!

Later Jason's dad and Teresa came over to visit with us. It was fun to have both of the grand babies there at the same time! Teresa (holding Ashlyn) and Danny

Swimming at Grandma's

It has been so hot here lately! We tried to stay cool Saturday night by swimming at my mom's house. The McCauley's came over the have pizza and swim with us. Margaret and Kimberlyn

Here is Jason trying to coax Ashlyn into jumping into the pool! I'm not sure who was having more fun!












I think I have been a little camera happy lately! I have totally been into preserving memories. When you look through a lens, everyday life sometime looks a little different. Last year, in one of Jessica's journals for school, she listed swimming at her grandma's with her family as one of her favorite things to do.

Notice Austin's new hair cut? He really wanted to keep it long, but after much persuasion, he agreed it was better to have it short for football season.

Lauren's awesome dive off the rocks!

My dad hanging out in the hot tub with the kids.

Ashlyn is such a Grandma's girl!