Football Kind of Family these days

Ok, so now i'm trying to catch up on my blog. My goal was to at least post once a month, so this month I may have three to catch up for September and October. We had barely finished up swim season, when football season began. I am not a big fan of my son playing "tackle" ball but Kevin said if he wanted to try it, we should let him and be supportive. So I have been VERY Supportive, at least I think so. Brandon made the "B" team of the Olney Bears Team. In the beginning he was a little timid about the tackling, but he has a great set of coaches and he has definitely improved since the beginning of the season. Its hard when you tell your child his whole life not to put his hands on someone else and then when they start playing football, you need to tell them to tackle or basically be tackled.

With the great coaching came a great season. At the end of the regular season, Brandon's team was 9-0. In 9 games not one team had scored on them at all! Not the usual i'm told. Last weekend began the playoffs and they won the game. When I asked Brandon why he wasn't more excited , he said "they scored on us Mom". More the norm I'm told. The Bears won 32-14. So this week he's still practicing 3 times a week with the 2nd playoff game scheduled for Friday night. I'll keep you posted on the outcome of the game.

Here are a few photos that I have taken of him:

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First Day of School and Last First Day...

It's hard to believe how time has flown by. When we were contemplating moving, my one wish was to be moved into where we wanted to live "forever"by the time Brandon was going into 1st grade, no later. We moved in before he started Kindergarten and have loved Greenwood. He's made lots of friends, as has Shelby and Kevin and I, too. Today was the first day of school, but also Brandon's last "first" day of school at Greenwood. It is strange to think that he will start middle school next year. But in the meantime we are going to enjoy and treasure this year..during the good times and I'm sure some trying times (i.e. homework!). I can't wait to hear all about their first day.

Sushi 101

The kids really wanted to have another sushi lesson (since Brandon had one at Scouts). They both love sushi, so funny since it took me till about 5 years ago to acquire the taste for it. I still pretty much stick to the California rolls...I don't go too far out of my comfort zone. We sort of made a list of things we would like to do this summer and this was one of them. So we called up the Dranny and asked her when she would be available and marked it on the calendar. So today was the day and her are some pics from the lesson.

Till We See Her Again...

I hate goodbye's. I don't do well with goodbye's. With that said, tonight I had to say goodbye to my niece, Emily, who is leaving for a year to go to Kenya. She will be a dorm mother for 9th grade girls at Rift Valley Academy. We are incredibly proud of her decision, but at the same time we are sad that she will be leaving and gone for a whole year. Last week, Emily, Peter and Brett took Brandon and Shelby out for a last "cousins" dinner at Mongolian BBQ in Bethesda. Tonight my sister hosted a farewell pizza dinner for family and a few friends. It was a nice gathering and I held it together pretty well, I did get teary eyed when Shelby hugged Emily and said her goodbyes. So Emily, its not goodbye, but till we see you again next year. Enjoy this next year, it will surely be a year of continued faith, joy, love, maybe a little homesickness, but definitely an experience you will never forget. We love you!

All Star Update

Well, yesterday we went to All Stars. Shelby did very well and had some stiff competition. She ended up 11th out of 16 which I think is great, especially given that it is her first time ever to All Stars. We celebrated afterwards with the coaches and the Corcorans (who had an All Star diver, too) at Fuddruckers. It was a fun evening for all. The best part....at the end of the night Shelby told Kristen, her coach, "I'm going to keep diving every year until I'm 20". Like I've said before, she never stops surprising us!

Kudos also belong to....Brandon

I'm not going to let Brandon's accomplishments go unnoticed either. Early in the season Brandon earned the "Tarpon" pillow for helping out during swimming and helping the younger kids. I was proud then but very proud and surprised at the banquet when he received the Jr.Coaches Trophy. The head coach recognized two kids that were there consistently, over at the coaches table asking what they could do to help, helping the younger kids, pulling in the lane ropes, cheering on their fellow teammates and in general just going over and beyond what is asked of them. I was stunned! But this season I saw a change in Brandon. We are at the pool for 3 hours every morning. He has 1 hour of swim practice, she has an hour of swim and an hour of dive, so basically he has 2 hours of just being there. This summer, I didn't get from him the usual, "I'm bored, there's nothing to do" without any prompting from me, he began to go over to the coaches, hang out with them and then began asking them what he could do to help. By the end of practice everyday I was having to practically drag him out of there because he didn't want to leave! I love the swim and dive team because not only is it a wonderful "team" sport but there is a true sense of community. The kids really help each other and cheer each other on. I said to Kevin that although Brandon had a very good swim season, I have been most proud of the sportsman like behavior and his want and desire to help and be a bigger part of the team. It makes my heart swell with pride and love. BRANDON, You Rock! Love you! The Mom

Off to ALL STARS!!

We always tell the kids that Swim is mandatory and dive is optional;however, this summer I told Shelby she had to dive, as it would be her third year diving 8 and under. This I told her, might, put her at an advantage. She reluctantly agreed. Well, now we are at the end of the season and she placed 2nd place in 4 out of 5 meets, got the high point trophy for 8 and under girls, made divisionals and placed yesterday 3rd at divisionals and will now go to All-Stars on Wednesday. Who would of thought!!! She has even told me recently that she would like to dive next year and that she has been having dreams about diving. She's come a long way this summer..from just knowing a front and back dive and front and back jumps to learning a front flip, a back flip, a front dive tuck and she wants to learn a front dive pike. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments this summer and look forward to what she might do next summer!!! GO SHELBY!

Catch up time....Shelby's Birthday

Our little Miss Shelby turned 8 in October. We had decided that instead of having a party we would still have a family get together but for her birthday I would take her to NYC for the weekend. As her birthday neared her father thought she would miss having a party. So he suggested she have something small, along with the trip and along with family dinner. Can you say "Daddy's Little Girl" :-))) So we decided to have a pizza, cake and a movie party at our house. In all we had 14 girls at our house. Brandon came up from the family room at one point and said "It's way too loud down there!" Shelby had a great time and so did her friends. Kevin made a short slide show of her accomplishments in the last year. The girls loved it and especially loved when the video played the song "Cotton Eye Joe". It was fun to see these 14 girls all dancing to the song. Family dinner was the next night and Shelby had requested Sushi, Spaghetti and Meatballs and Apple pie. We had about 24 for dinner that night and Shelby ate none of the things she requested. The party atomosphere kept her appetite I guess! 5 days later it was her actual birthday and I woke her by singing Happy Birthday and then put a candle in her waffle. (see picture above) That night we went out to dinner at a restaurant of her choice (another thing the "Daddy" had instituted). She picked the Japanese Steak House-Sakura.

Then it was back home, open gifts and get to bed as we were catching the 7 am train to NYC the next morning. I went to NYC when I turned 30---What's wrong with this picture? Hmmmmm...

More to come on the trip...

Meeting "Kate"

Okay, Okay, Great Auntie Boo! (Sounds so old, though)



What better picture than Kate with her Great-Grandma Dahl. The kids have been so excited about meeting their new cousin, Kate. We had a piano lesson yesterday but their minds were only on meeting Kate. Both of them were very sweet with her. Brandon was a little apprehensive about holding her but after I made him, he liked it and said he could hold her for awhile. Kate is here to celebrate her "Gigi's" big 50th birthday. I think Susan is going by Gigi (for Grandma) or maybe its Marmie, but we are all excited about celebrating her BIG Day with the whole family. Travis (Nora's husband)arrives next week as well as Erik and Howard. I'm looking forward to all of us being together. Lots of photo ops, too!

Quote of the Day!

We were talking about the month of October coming up and I jokingly told Shelby we could just skip over that month. She said "Mom, then we would miss my birthday!" My neighbor Brandon said, "Yeah, we would miss Halloween". I told them I guessed it would not be good to skip over October because we would miss Brett and Aunt Susan's birthdays and she was going to be turning 50!
My Brandon responded, "Wow, she's half way to 100!"

I had to laugh...I told him he should say that to Aunt Susan when he sees her--His response "I don't think so!"

Kids do say whatever is on their mind!!

Sing, Sing A Song

Over the years, Kevin has asked the kids questions or to sing and then he video tapes them. It is always fun and funny to look back and to hear their voices. Last night he had them both sing a little song for us. I thought I would share them with everyone.

Back(packing) To School

It is so hard to believe that they are back to school today. They were excited and sad. We really had a wonderful summer together, so today was somewhat bittersweet for even me. The kids met their teachers yesterday and got to see which friends are in which classes. This morning Brandon was up early (as usual) but with a surprise for me. He had gotten dressed, made his bed and brushed his teeth, all before coming downstairs. This is a first. We had just had a talk about this recently, and sometimes I'm just not sure if he is listening. But obviously he is! Yeah, what a great way to start off the year. Shelby woke up by herself, which also does not happen very often, got dressed, etc. and was ready early. I think they will miss lazy days, time at the pool, TV and computer during the week but are happy to see their friends and to get back into a routine (minus the homework routine) I saw many tearful parents this morning and I tried to be sympathetic without showing my enthusiasm for having a day to myself :) I'm anxious to hear how their day goes. Brandon gets to pick who he sits with, so I am interested who he will pick that won't distract him too much. Shelby's new teacher is so nice and pretty and Shelby even asked to go back into her classroom yesterday and visit with her teacher. I don't worry too much about her, she adapts fairly easily to just about any situation. It's hard to believe that I have a 3rd and 4th grader this year. Here are some pics from this morning,i ncluding the neighbors, Brandon and Jenny. Jenny is starting Kindergarten, so its a big day for her too. She's the last of the "little ones" now in the court. We have a 9th,6th, 5th, three 4th, 3rd and a Kindergarten in our cul-de-sac. Its fun to look back to see how much they all have changed in the last 5 years. I'm so glad they have such good friends literally right next door. I'll update later on the first day events!




And then there's Penny, she's very happy to have the peace and quiet again in the house during the day.

It's That Time of Year Again....

Time for the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. We just returned from 3 full days at Hershey Park last Wednesday (I will have to post some pics when Kevin downloads them), a day of rest (more like exhaustion on Thursday) and then we were off to the fair. My Mom (Grandma to the kids) has taken her grandkids for the last 23 years to the fair. I think she has missed 2 years in those 23 but it is an annual tradition, one my kids look forward to every summer. I love the tradition, but my feet were so tired after Hershey, I wasn't sure I was going to make it! But we went and the weather was slightly overcast, not too hot, and the fair wasn't very crowded. My brother went along and he rode the rides with the kids. I have to say that after about 1/2 dozen rides, he looked like he was done, too! It was a long day, but filled with memories! Thanks Mom!