All Stars

After a GREAT regular season of basketball, Sarah was invited to play on the county all star team. After a couple weeks of practice, they lost their first game in the state tournament. As they prepared for an extra invitational tournament, they were invited back to the state playoffs. It was our county's turn to host the state playoffs, and a lot of the teams from south Alabama didn't want to travel this far. As a result, her team was needed. Friday night she and her teammates WON against a very tall Hoover, Alabama team. It was a great game, and Sarah scored 4 points for her team. She is an outstanding basketball player and a great sportsman.

Today they played again, but this time they played a tall, very athletic all black team from Hobson City, Alabama (near Oxford). Our girls held their own during the first quarter, but once the other team got settled, they scored like mad. Those girls were fast! They beat us by over 20 points. I would love to watch them play again.

Anyway . . . Congratulations Sarah on a great season. You are AWESOME! (I hope pictures will be forth coming).

Opening ceremonies

Here are my girls. This is Eliza's first year in fast pitch. Her first game is tomorrow morning. We look forward to watching her and her teammates walk around the bases all season. I do have confidence that if a pitch should cross the plate Eliza could hit it. I just don't have any confidence that the ball will actually reach the strike zone.

Sarah's team might actually win a game this year. Sarah is very aggressive when she plays. She likes to play, and she likes to play well.

More of Sarah's baptism

Sarah's baptism

Last week we had a very, very special day! Yes Thanksgiving was a special day, but this one was even better. Not only did we enjoy celebrating Sarah's 8th birthday but also her baptism. My mom and dad came down for it, and many members of our branch attended despite it being the week of Thanksgiving. I have other pictures to post, but blogger is not cooperating at the moment.

The first day of school

Monday, August 11th. The first day of school. How exciting! It ranks right up there with Christmas morning. In fact, on the 10th, Eliza woke up and said, "Leah! Wake up! It's the day before the first day of school!" That was followed by a shriek by them both. 

Leah in her kindergarten classroom. 

Sarah unloading and sorting the gobs of supplies.

This was Monday morning with Leah's kindergarten teacher. After doing paperwork, listening to a story, and coloring a picture, Leah came home with me. Tuesday was her first full day. 

Tuesday. Leah's first ride home on the school bus. How cool is that? They even have a brand new bus this year. Eliza said the seats are comfortable, Mrs. Peggy (the bus driver) has a florescent seatbelt, and it circulates cool air. She gave it her approval. 

What a cute kindergartner!

Backyard picnic

At times we find it necessary yet difficult to escape the daily grind of work and church. We also find that the very walls of our home feel as though they are crushing the very life out of us. I realize that sounds pretty bad, but I am trying to help you understand why I cooked sauerkraut and hotdogs in a skillet on charcoal briquettes in Alabama heat in my backyard when I had a functioning kitchen. Why I chose to carry a dining table and 6 chairs outside to my backyard to eat with bugs. Why I snuck around my home whispering orders to the children about all the condiments and such that they had to carry to the table in our backyard. As pathetic as it seems, it worked. We surprised Paul with a "BBQ?" or "Picnic?" We ate our dinner with the bugs, and Dad breathed a sigh of relief while he ate staring at the blue sky. I am sure our neighbors wondered, but we enjoyed it.

I forgot to get the camera out until after dinner, but here we are, Sorry!

My sweetheart turning the very large compost pile after dinner. We have had 3 volunteer tomato plants from it this summer. Note the "garden" in the background. Every year I honestly think I will be a better gardener. This year I have grown very healthy grass and 3 cucumbers. The tomatoes are growing but haven't ripened yet. My fertilizing in May only killed 4 or 5 tomato plants. I am so proud! I am amazed that I still have 4 children. I guess it's because they have learned to feed themselves to some extent, and they don't require weeding.

He was happy eating outside with the flies. Honest!

Yes, we did smores too. I hope the video below works. If so, check it out.

We weighed Luke last night, and he is officially 45 lbs. now. Leah is 50. Sarah is 56. Eliza might be mad if I told her weight. Let me just say that she is very tall, and her weight reflects that fact.

 

Award ceremonies

We had the pleasure of attending, not one, but two award ceremonies this year. Eliza and Sarah worked very hard and were nagged by us quite a bit, but they did very well as a result. Paul commented that we will have to endure at least eight more years of these. Although the ceremonies could be considered a form of torture (considering their length, lack of airflow, the effort required to keep Luke and Leah under control, cramps from clapping, etc.), they are a small price to pay considering the alternative. 

Eliza received a trophy for the all A's honor roll and a certificate for reading above her grade level throughout the year. Next to her is her friend Taylor.

My Sarah with her beautiful, long hair. I chopped it off this week. I was tired of the hair wars we were having several times a day. We haven't gotten those pictures developed yet, sorry.

This is outside the school after Eliza's ceremony. Luke was fairly well behaved but very tired. He finally crashed as she received her final trophy. So much for a family picture. 

After Sarah received her awards, we HAD to go to the library, so she could buy some books from the book fair. Mike and Sully are permanent residents in our school library. She received a trophy for the all A's honor roll and a certificate for having a yearly average of 95 or higher in English.