Start of School & Fall Sports

August 2011 started yet another school year for all 4 kids... Zachary now is a 7th grader and is playing football. Jared will start his last year of elementary school and is in the 5th grade. Olivia is a 3rd grader and Anna will be in kindergarten again.

Our excited 7th grader, who has to get up so early and go to school in the dark.

And our 3 elementary kids so excited for school.

With the start of school, also means the beginning of Middle School Football & weekend softball tournaments. Also, a new adventure for Jared- his first year of playing football with his dad coaching. And with all of this means- no weeknight or weekend free..busy, busy, busy!!

The 7/8 Falcons played 4/5 weekends in August/September and had 1 first place finish, 2 seconds and a 3rd.

And the MV Colts so far have a winning record and in 2nd place. Jared has done OK as a first year player and continues to improve and learn the game.

And a big shout out to our #85 for an amazing season in football!!! WOOT! WOOT! Zachary started on JV, in which the team went on to have an UNDEFEATED season!! Way to go COUGARS!! And also a couple of games into the Varsity Season got to dress out for 4 quarters and start for them. The team finished out the rest of the year with "W's" and they went on to the HCAC championship game against Hunter. Zachary started in that championship game on both Offense and Defense,  and we couldn't have been more proud of his performance. The Cougars WON that game and were HCAC champs!!! Already looking forward to next year... oh but wait, basketball has already started......

And last but not least, our little cheerleader... who fearlessly attends all the games rooting for her big sister and brothers. More to come on these photos....as mom & Anna had a photo session for "Mom & Me", so that she could have a picture collage like her siblings when they were a baby.

Summer 2011- 2 Words---Kangaroo Cups!!

The end of school in May marked the beginning of a very busy summer. Literally the day after school ended, Anna had her left hip (the China repaired hip) rebroke and aligned back. This did help the length differential some and time will only tell how much with her gait. She was in a wheelchair for 4 wks, then a walker for a couple of weeks. She quickly ditched the walker due to being self conscious about it. She has regained her strength back sooner after this surgery than last. Despite not being able to walk most of June, she was able to swim in her grandparents pool!!
Also, at the end of May, our local Kangaroo gas stations offered a cup for $6.99 for unlimited refills (cokes or icees) the WHOLE summer till September...Needless to say, we bought 5 and they have paid for themselves over and over. Some days due to Camp All Star, the kids would get 3 refills a day!! And all summer their motto has been, "don't leave home without it". We have literally mapped out Kangaroo stations on our way to softball tournaments and even out of state to see if we will be close to one. Looking forward to next year in hopes they do it again. And, we still have managed to keep up with all 5.

Playing the Home Health Nurse all summer has been a challenge, and have never been so excited for school to start back.
*Anna had her surgery on May 24th, and was non weight bearing/wheelchair for 4 weeks, then started Physical Therapy 2 times/week.
* Zachary slipped at the lake dock on Memorial Day and cut a chunk the size of a quarter out of his foot. I was having to clean/dress it 3 times a day because it couldn't take stitches due to too deep, and had to heal from inside to out. It took 7 weeks to fully heal and scab over.
*Olivia had to have her tonsils/adenoids removed in July.
Throw some camps, softball tourneys, and work-outs in there~BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. Ready for school 2011-2012.