FLAG (or not) FOOTBALL

 Trace has been super excited to be old enough to play football.  He has done football camp for the last two years and has been patiently waiting for flag football to start.  I was thinking it would be like tball.  Pick the grass, talk to your buddy, pick your nose, daydream.....  No sir.  These boys (and one brave girl!) meant business! In fact, it was supposed to be flag football, but most of the time the kids had enough momentum going that it turned into tackle. Trace had a great time, except on the nights he had double headers.  Two hours was too much for some of the younger kids and they did get bored.  I mostly loved watching this, but there were a couple times when T got tackled or pushed or something and I was like "Geez!"  I don't like to watch that happen to my baby.  Regardless,  T had a blast, that's the best thing for me. :)

BLOCK!



PASS!

 

The lineup-  they look like a rough bunch don't they?  My poor T is the second smallest on the team.  YIKES!

 

Warm ups.

More blocking!  Awesome job T! (#2, white shirt)

 

 

TOOTHLESS

There has been alotta tooth loosin' going on around here.  But this one takes the cake for me!  Two top teeth are GONE!  Tay Jay looks so different to me now,  I can only imagine what she will look like when the grow in! 

 

Back to school

Neither one of my kids wanted pictures of the first day of school.  Soooooo,  I took one of them about two weeks later.  Here they are before school one morning.  As you can see, Trace has been doing his own hair in the mornings.  Hopefully this year will be as good as last year.  I have a feeling it will be.  They have great teachers and they are good kids.  Makes for a good combination!

 

My mutton bustin' CHAMP!

Trace waited ALL YEAR LONG to do the mutton busting at the fair this year.  He did it last year and had a blast.  This year was great!  He wasn't nervous or scared at all.  He jumped right on!  He hung on for dear life and stayed on for so long.  He could have gone longer, but the sheep tripped and rolled over on him.  After all the contestants had gone they announced the winners.  YEP, you guessed it,  MY cowboy won 1st place! 

 

Fair Days

There is nothing better than fair days in San Juan County!  This year,  we scoped out the animals and watched the showmanship and auction.  My kids have been thinking they want to do a pig,  so I made them go see what it's all about first.  Trace and Steve also did the family rodeo one night which was the highlight for me!  Trace was so pumped and had been talking about doing the hide race for like six months.  Seriously.  He had such a great time.  I got a few pictures,  but didn't get any of the hide race because I was too busy filming.  My family came over to watch a couple nights and so did our good friends the Stringham's.  It was great to have company in the bleachers and we loved the support!  Thanks guys!  The kids also enjoyed some fair food and watching the magicians.  It was a super fun week for our family.

 

Warming up before everything starts.

 

 

Hangin' with the boys.  I really like this picture.



 

Waiting for the rescue race to start

 

Up ya go buddy!

 

 

 

S*O*C*C*E*R

Trace LOVES to play soccer.  This is his first year and I am pretty sure it's his favorite sport so far.  He put so much effort into almost every game.  He can't wait to play next time,  and loves to go out and kick the ball with friends, Tay, or one of us.  I think I have a soccer star in the making!

 

Look how flushed he is!  It's because he was playing awesome!

 

 

He loved playing goalie,  and I think he has a little bit of natural talent!

 

Love this mug!

FIREWOOD

Oh, it's the season to cut firewood.  We have not been out as much as we should-  but we always end up having a fun time and feeling like we have accomplished something.  It makes me feel comforted to know we will have warmth for the winter.  Does that make me sound like a bear getting ready to hibernate?  That's one of the the things I enjoy about cold season.  I feel like I can curl up by my toasty fire,  with a book and my blanket and escape the world. 

 

This is what Tay thinks of the process--  look at that GLARE! Geez! Heaven help me when she gets to be a teenager!

 

I am still convinced that he gets the easy job of cutting, while the kids and I load.....  But then I think, nevermind,  because he comes home and splits it all.  Sounds like a fair trade, right?

 

Jay came with us this day-- and loved the outdoors!

Found us some pitch mom!

 



There is a smile!

HORSE GAMES

A few pictures from horse games this summer-- 

 

 

Love to look down through the bleachers and see this smiling face!

 

AH- I love this!

4th of JULY

Ah yes,  this is a post from JULY....... It is OCTOBER.  That's how I roll!  

 

We had a fabulous 4th.  I always have fun,  but this year for some reason,  it was awesome.  We started the day early with the 1 mile fun run for Trace--  I have ran the 5k a few times, so he wanted to participate.  He took it serious too.  About two weeks before,  he started running around our block, stretching and lifting weights.  Which was hillarious! I loved watching him lift these little dumbells and really thinking he was BIG STUFF!

 

Here is the start of the race--  Go T!

 

 

Coming into the finish.

 

Finish Line!

 

Our best buddy Trey at the finish line.

 

Ribbons...... YES!

 

Then we went to the parade--  Trace and Trey have been serious buds.  They were all over having matching red, white, and blue hair!

 

Nana, Tay, and Jay waiting for the parade to start.  (Love the hose mom!)

 

AHHHH--  i LOVE her!

 

This is actually my favorite picture from the day-  Kaden and Trace.  T loves his Uncle Kaden.

 

Our Family parade picture.

 

AH,  then we went to the foot races/greased pig/chicken chase! 

Here is Tay and Trace, waiting for the race to start--

 

I didn't get any good pictures of them running, because I was too busy cheering them on!  Tayia was so fast it BLEW my mind!  She took second in her race.  Here she is collecting her 2 dollars.  I still can't believe how fast she was.  Track and Field runner in my future????

 

Miss J, running her little heart out!

 

And my hubby--  I know where Tay gets her fast legs from!  He was bookin' it.  He also took 2nd place in his race.

 

My two 2nd place winners!

 

 

Then we had a big BBQ, which I didn't take any pictures of--  and ended the evening by heading down to the park.  We danced, listened to the band, and watched a great fireworks display! 

 

 

I am so thankful for everyone who fights for us to be free.  Past and Present.  I think that military families are amazing.  I really thought alot about that this year.  I had the conversation with my kids about why we celebrate independence day.  We are so lucky.  We are so blessed.  Happy Birthday America!