Youth Art Month

March is Youth Art Month. 



The schools submit different student's art to hang at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center all month long.  Saturday was the last day of the show.  We stopped by on our way to the ballfield because both Banks and Mary Reese had a piece hanging...



Nothing like waiting until the very last second!





We looked at everyone's art until we found this...





Then we found this...





I am so proud of them!

DCMS Delano Mile Run 2012

Today was a big day.  One that Banks had been looking forward to all school year.  It was a first for Mary Reese so she was a little excited, a little nervous.  The Delano Mile Run is a huge deal at the magnet school.  They train for it during PE.  They have special race day shirts...



They have an official finish line with an official timeclock...



They wear bibb numbers and race chips on their shoes...



Mary Reese



Banks

I am telling you it is official.  Big Stuff.  Like a marathon to an elementary schooler.  Parent, gradparents, teachers and friends are all along the course cheering the runners on.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade were the first to run at 8:30.  Mrs. Propst got her class lined up early to insure them the perfect starting position...



Coach Q stresses one more time about pacing themselves and gives them instructions on how not to run over each other...



I have seen some nasty falls at the starting line in the three years I have watched the mile run.

K & 1st - On your mark, get set, GO...



We headed over to the half way point to give her a little encouragement...



She was doing great!



Then back to the finish line to cheer her on...





9:35 was her unofficial time.  She was the 3rd girl to finish.  I might have a little runner on my hands!

She and her friend Mia Kate recover together at the finish line...



Mia Kate finished a few seconds ahead of her.

They found the Propst class cooler stocked with gatorade, water and popsicles to enjoy with friends...



[Mary Reese, Abby, Gray, Mary Bibb & Virginia]

Mrs. Propst was proud of her girl...



Being silly with good friends...



Mary Reese, Gray and Mia Kate who all have older siblings...so they knew just how big of a deal the mile run was!

The 3rd Graders were scheduled to run at 9:30.  They get lined up at the starting line...



They get some instructions from Coach Albert...



3rd - On your mark, get set, GO...




They must have not listened because I did see one little girl take a spill.  I felt so sorry for her.

Mrs. Propst's class cheering the 3rd Graders on at the starting line before they boarded to bus back to school...



Then we headed over to the half way point to cheer Banks on...



He had a great pace and was towards the beginning of the pack...



Emily Simmons was the only one from his class a head of him.  He knew she would be tough to beat.  Her goal was to win the whole thing and she almost pulled it off.



Almost done.





7:59 was the unoffical finish time.  He thinks he finished about 8th in the 3rd Grade.

Rehydrating with the guys after their race...



[Matthew, Sam, Hudson, Banks & William]

The PTA also added another component to the run this year.  They kicked off an Incremental Mile Program at the Gobble Wobble in November.  The kids were suppose to run and log miles on their own.  Before the Delano Mile, they were suppose to have logged at least 25.2 miles.  The Delano Mile would be their last mile of their marathon.  Both Banks and Mary Reese participated.  They got a special t-shirt for participating along with a medal.  They were both thrilled and I was proud they finished!

Another great Delano Mile Run...definitely something we look forward to each year!

another Dixie Youth Baseball Opening Day in the books

It is hard to believe that we have been participating in these opening days for five years now. Honestly, I can’t remember a time when we haven’t. I know I will be sad when the last one rolls around. So for now, we will treasure every minute of them.

Our league did things a little differently this year. Friday night they invited everyone to the ball fields for a family fun night to kick off the season. They opened the concession stand selling all the regulars but adding barbeque sandwich plates to the mix. They had a bounce house and a blow up obstacle course. They also had carnival games including the ever popular “Pie-in-the-Face” booth. The kids were hysterical and the coaches were good sports. They were selling t-shirts and other novelty items. I think they set an all time record for fundraising that night!

Saturday morning we were up bright and early for the Opening Day Parade into the park. Since we have moved up to a bigger league [Minor A], we were towards the back of the line-up.

Mary Reese and some of her gang patiently waiting to catch their share of the candy…



Mary Reese, Gray, Emily, Mary Bibb and Abby [They all go to the same school and all just started taking tennis lessons together on Friday. A great group of girls! They played together all afternoon at the parks.]

Finally here come the Minor A Reds…



…and Banks who could care less that his momma was screaming at him to look at the camera and his little brother wanted a wave…



…I think he was still torn up that I told him the older kids weren’t throwing candy this year because they had been known to peg people in the past…



The team happened to be together before Opening Ceremony…



Can you tell they weren’t too trilled about having their picture made? It was like being in a torture chamber. I told them one day they would be glad some of us mommas were capturing all these moments!



Luke, Katie & Collin [bottom row]
Lawson, Banks, Chase, Jacob & Jackson [middle row]
Gabe & Eppes [back row]

A great group of kids! We always end up on a team with a great group of kids that become such a tight knit group by the end of the season. A true team.

Opening Day Ceremonies…



…complete with the introduction of the teams, a run down of the sponsors, the singing of the national anthem, a drawing for a TV and a $200.00 cash prize, and the throwing out of the first pitch…

We had the second game of the day. We just hung out at the park, supporting the concession stand, watching our friends play ball and spending some more time in the bounce houses.

Finally it was our turn. We were guest so first up to bat…



Banks batted 3rd in the lineup.



He played first base, centerfield, third base and catcher…



He did a great job at all positions even making a couple of outs! The Reds ended up beating the Phillies 9 to 7!

We were going to stay to watch some of the games after ours, but the rain came in so we hit the road!

The base ball uniform went quickly into the washer…our first official game is tonight. Hopefully we can pull out a win! Go Reds!

little owie turns three

It is hard to believe that my baby is already three.  It seems like just yesterday he joined our family becoming the caboose.  We celebrated his birthday the day before, the day of and the day after.  His actual birthday is March 10.  It fell on a Saturday this year, so Friday he took cupcakes to share with his friends at school...



Oreo Cupcakes...what else would I send for this Oreo loving boy?  He doesn't just ask for 1 Oreo at a time, he always asks for 2.  I search Pinterest for Oreo cupcakes, found an idea and then made it my own.  I took the tops off the double-stuffed cookies and crushed them for the icing.  I put the bottom of the cookie with the creme filling in the bottom of a cupcake liner.  I mixed up some devil's food cake and poured that on top of the Oreo.  I baked according to the package directions.  For the icing, I made my traditional buttercream and added the crushed up Oreos.  A perfect birthday treat to share with friends.

Friday afternoon, we hit Tarjay for a salty snack for Banks to take to Camp Sumatanga.  We had promised Owen a tricycle if he would potty train.  One Saturday back in January, he decided he wanted to wear underwear.  That was it...easy, peasy.  Don't get me wrong, we have had a couple of accidents along the way, but for the most part he has it down.  More importantly, he goes all by himself without anyone having to ask if he needs to go.  While in Tarjay, I wheeled him down the tricycle aisle let him pick out the one of his dreams...



He hasn't gotten off since.  He rides that thing inside and outside.  Most nights you even have to take it up to his room so he can "sleep with it."  He has logged countless miles on it already.  He has even been known to do a little naked tricyle riding (inside only of course).

Banks and Jody left for a church retreat the morning of his actual birthday.  Before they left, we celebrated with a little birthday breakfast...



Waffles and bacon...his favorite.

We had our family over on Sunday afternoon for a Spaghetti Pie dinner complete with salad, bread, cake and ice cream...



Owen designed his own cake at Judi Moore's one afternoon.  A race car cake...but not just any race car...it had to be the Pepsi car.

After dinner, we sang a round of Happy Birthday.  Owen blew out his candle...



and we dug in!  There is nothing better than a Judi Moore cake!



But no cake eating will ever top his first birthday...



It was a beautiful day.  We enjoyed the rest of it outside...



...riding tricycles and scooters in the street...



...and on the sidewalk showing out great-grandmother how it is done!

Then the real fun began...



The water guns came out and everyone was soaked, including some adults!

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Caboose!