First Game Victory!!

Final score was 20 to 14 as the new high school attained its first victory! Ups and downs, but it was a great game. Alpaca Rob and I donned our new high school fan gear and watched CJ make 3 carries, I think, for 16 yards. I am not the stats person...but I think that's what they said. Our local paper is carrying some neat shots of local games...so I added a few of our favorite player on the field, #7. These are much better than our camera could take. I am learning a little more football lingo as times rolls along, but am mostly trying to watch for #7 doing his thing as I keep a busy Esther from rolling off the bleachers:O) Enjoy the pics!

CJ, one of 4 or 5 wide receivers, catches the ball and runs for yardage.


CJ was passed the ball on 4th down and ran the ball 7 yards to make the 1st down.


Here the opposing team tackles him several yards later. Way to make the 1st down buddy! So, the team is now 1-1, which is not too bad without any Seniors...rah team!

Recognition to start the year...

Our little Ru was honored with a phone call a week before school started to announce that she was one of 14 students chosen for the district calendar. She was asked to come to a rehearsal where she would present what she had written about in front of the whole district staff on the first "kick off" day for teachers. Ruthie chose "I am Imagination" and wrote that she loves to create stories...especially those where she is the heroine. It was an honor to be able to be with her and watch her do such a fantastic job presenting in front of over 1000 teachers and staff. Way to go Ru!!

Birthday Girl!

Hard to believe another year has passed with our little Ess. She recently turned 3 and was even able to say "bir-day". She understood this year that the celebration was all about her and enjoyed opening her presents. Here are some photos of the special day:

This would be the yummy reeses pieces cake make by Ruthie and her cuz A. Now every time we light a candle, Esther asks "bir-day"?


This is Ess donning her birthday crown and necklace and holding her favorite present...the puppy that makes noise.


I love my puppy!!!


All worn out at the end of the day...birthday girl and big sissy are ready for bedtime. Do you notice Ru's new glasses too? She got them for reading only. Now we have two glasses girls!!

Recap IV...the perfect ending

So, our summer of adventure and fun ended with a bang. Our dear friends the W family came to our fair cities for a week of visiting and escaping to the mountains. I did not include any pictures of the mountains as I enjoyed the relationship time much more...so my pics are of moments savored together. It is hard to have close friends move away...and far away at that. It was so sweet to reunite and parting held such sweet sorrow. Until next time W family...we had an awesome time...thanks for coming all that way to share time with us!!!

The J family...also our close friends with whom we shared our lovely mountain lodge.
The lodge was so perfect for three families with many kiddos. Can you believe we survived with 15 bodies, 2 toilets, and only 1 shower? Now that's what I call roughing it!!


Hanging out in the morning before we got going on the days adventure...


Guys in party shirts! Need any more be said?


Ice cream bonding at its best! Our two daughters and theirs had such fun together...pollies, Barbies, and dress up...doesn't get any better than girly girl fun:)


So, off to celebrate some young person's birthday together...a little spicy fun and a night on the town! All our love to you W fam...we miss you all ready!!

Recap III...the lands of the north

So, while other members of the family were in different portions of the globe...Ru and I headed north to visit family for a gathering of a loved one. It had been many years since I had visited this childhood family gathering place. It was a first to be able to share it with Ruthie. This visit was truly blessed with many memories, smells, sights, and sounds that I was able to share with my daughter and revisit from my own childhood. We also made new memories with family and friends and had a blast sharing time with P.P.Grandpa and Grandmama!

This is on the "rocks" with Ru at sunset. I climbed up here at least twice a day, rain or shine, and refreshed my soul gazing atop the 1 square mile island high spot to blue green water and many pines and lush greenery...not to mention listening to the variety of birds sing their lovely tunes.


So, the fishing...it was exceptional...especially for one young fishergirl...who caught more than her Grandpa or I...and razzed us daily with her counts of fish caught and the variety.


Conquering fears was part of the adventure too. One young lady had never really spent much time swimming in weed infested waters...especially those filled with fish. She overcame her fears and worked up to this rock jumping episode...made her Mama proud!!


So, I had to learn to clean fish again and Ru was kind enough to document it on camera for me. PPGrandpa was kind enough to guide me through. We caught enough to have a yummy fish dinner one of the nights. Between the fun fishing, catching and almost catching, and then cleaning...my fishing license surely paid for itself. Yum!


Had to document PPGrandpa and Ru on a place commonly known as "swimming rock". This is where one experiences "sludge sliding". This is where you step on the edge of the rock underwater that is covered in sludgy slime and you gently slide down the incline of the rock into the ice cold water. The trick is to do it gracefully enough so you don't land painfully on your hiney. By the end...Ru was a pro! Thanks PPGrandpa and Grandmama and all the kin Up North for such a wonderful time!!

Recap II...the Japan Experience

So, as many of you know...CJ was part of a Japanese exchange this summer. These photos only touch the surface of the many experiences he had. He stayed with the families of the boys we hosted back in the spring. He had things he did with his host family every day and things he did with the travel group every other day. He had such a wonderful, life changing experience and so enjoyed himself and the Japanese people. I am so happy he was able to have this opportunity! Thank-you to his many sponsors out there who helped him get there!!

His host family took CJ and roomate Mr. G to a Karate studio to learn the basic moves. CJ said he worked up such a sweat by the end that he was just dripping.


These are the American tempermental chefs in the Japanese kitchen getting ready to whip up some Kraft Macs and Cheese carried in their suitcases to treat their host families to a loved American dish. CJ said it was a great hit and his host family just loved it!


Here are Ken and Kou with the guys in front of one of the boys homes. CJ and Mr. G were able to share their time between the two host boy's homes. That was great as they were able to experience two different homes and those family's lifestyles. They had daily touring, lots of eating, and nightly Nintendo tournaments:) As CJ told me "those women really know how to whip up amazing food in their small kitchens."


The guys spent a day at the Buddist temple. There were many more pictures with many more buddhas, but we'll suffice with this one at the temple entrance. There were water hand washing and purification areas throughout the temple to purify one's self before entering different areas. They guys even got to take part in a purification ceremony with purification water at one of the host families' future home sites. It was a very eye opening experience for CJ to experience the beliefs and traditions of a different culture.


Finally, our two heroe's adventure would not be complete without traditional Japanese apparel. The guys purchased these kimonos and donned their wares for this photo opp. CJ also purchased the traditional wooden sword he is holding, but had to pay more for shipping it home than the sword itself cost. He said his host family teased him quite a bit about that one..."oh CJ has no money left...he spend all to get sword home."

Recap I of the many lands we visited...

Rob, Ess, and Ev went to the very warm lands to visit Papaw and Grandma and the awesome Uncle G. They had a wonderful time just hanging out and spending time together.

Here is Ess with her favorite Uncle G!


Here is Ev hangin' with Grandma...aren't they sweet!


Here is Papaw doing his water aerobics...go Papaw!


Here are the two sun bathers getting some rays after a refreshing dip!


Traveling buddies...Evan was such a big helper according to Rob...way to go Evan...especially since it took 19 hours to get home!