Chase's 13th Birthday Party

Chase wanted to go to the deer lease with some friends for his birthday this year. Since the deer lease in August is hot and miserable, we decided to wait and do it in October (and by "we" I mean "Mark"). The only problem is that Chase was not able to invite everyone he wanted to come. Some of his friends had sports that weekend, so that helped with narrowing down who to invite. Chase and his friends had a great time. There was fire, night vision, pigs, and 4-wheelers, and no one got hurt! Happy birthday, again!

First Ever "Mommy Guilt Monday"

Before I had kids, no one told me about the tremendous amount of guilt that I would feel about what I was or wasn't doing right for my children.  Sometimes the guilt really gets to me, and I know that I am not alone in this.  Lately, the weight of the guilt has really been getting to me.  In an effort to purge my soul of some of this guilt, I am introducing, "Mommy Guilt Monday".  This may not be a weekly feature (even though there is plenty of material).  Feel free to play along.

Today's topic - Chase's sport development

Chase has wanted to play football for years.  The money and time commitment were more than we felt we could afford.  We did let him play flag football last year, but never tackle football.  This year he was able to play on the school team.  He is loving it, but he is at a disadvantage since he has never played before.  The mommy guilt hits.  I feel guilty for not providing him with the opportunities to play football in the past so that he would have had the experience that he needed in order to play better this year.  Guilt, guilt, guilt.

This week, Chase will be trying out for the basketball team.  Ask me if he has played basketball before.  

Football Game #2

This has to be one of my favorite pictures ever.

Still super cute in the uniform :)

Chase's First Football Game

Chase's first tackle football game ever.  He started the year on the "A" team.  He wasn't able to play very much.  Later in the season, his coaches moved him to the "B" team so that he could get more playing time.  For this game, he was on the "A" team.

Hanging out before time to play

They noticed the family

The 2 boys on the left are 2 of Chase's best buds.  They are super good kids (in spite of the fact that one of them is a Yankee's fan)

Dylan and his buddy, Blake, watching the action

Cade watching the game

Chase is the one on the end, #84

I know that he won't appreciate this, but my boy is stinkin' cute in his uniform.

I never thought that I would enjoy 7th grade football, but I do.  Go Hawks!!

Wrestlemania

Nate and Cade loved the wrestling outfits I got them in Mexico.

Just His Style

My Nate has his own way of doing things. Here he is helping to pack (I don't remember where we were going).





Yes, I am the mom who lets her child go out in public like this


But I draw the line at this.

- Jenna

Ihop

I teach Nate's class on Wednesday nights. One night this summer, we made an Ihop run after class. The boys were thrilled. I don't remember where Chase was.












- Jenna

You Don't Know the POWER of the Dark Side

Nate has really been into Star Wars lately. He has also shown an interest in volcanos. I couldn't figure out why he was suddenly interested in them. Duh, Anakin fell into lava and then became Darth Vader.


- Jenna

TCU Game

Chase and I were able to go to a TCU game

Self-portrait

Rowski!

Grandparent's Day

Grammy and Grandad were here for grandparent's day at Cade's school. Believe it or not, it is the first time that grandparents have made it for this event. Cade was thrilled.

Mexico

I was able to go on a trip to Mexico with my sister and 2 sister-in-laws.  I have never had a vacation like this before.  Sleep, eat, sit, read, repeat :-)

The pool

These chairs in the pool looked so cool, until we tried to sit on them.  You would immediately slip down and off.  Bummer.

My sister

Kristen and Jenise

Ceiling at the hotel

The nightclub cracked us up.  It was decorated in a Star Wars theme

Nothing says party like a stormtrooper

Jenise, Kristen, and I participated in a hula hoop contest

I would have beat Jenise, but I looked at her and laughed.  Ever try to hula hoop and laugh at the same time?

Jenise won the entire contest

Sheri

The beach

Kristen and Jenise trying out the souvenirs that I bought for the boys