Ike . . . revisited

I finally managed to get over to my neighbor's house and picked up the pictures from our vacation, I mean our tragedy called Ike. It's never too late to share some great times with friends. While I was with my friend, we 'reminisced' about the great time we had when the power was off and we had nothing but the ice-chest to keep the food cold. It was really nice. I honestly enjoyed getting closer to my neighbors. Now it's almost a month after the disaster, life is back to normal . . . school days, sports, church, fundraisers, work, groceries, and on, and on, and on. I miss being able to enjoy my family. I miss hanging out on the front lawn with my neighbors. We are so busy it is as if we've forgotten the bonds created from the times of trouble.

As I sit and write this, Emma is downstairs resting because she is not feeling well. Alice is making lunch in between loads of never ending laundry and e-mail correspondence. The boys are at school. And I am working on PTO projects. I miss the 'simple' life. Enjoy some pictures from our eight-day hiatus from modern convenience. The Slide Show gives all the details!

Saturday Sports

Last Saturday was the pinnacle of our multi-sport family. I have to say, this is why we encourage the boys to participate in the same sports . . .

Saturday morning the boys competed in their first cross country meet. There are eleven (that's right 11) boys on the 7th grade cross country team for their school. They were in a group of almost one hundred other seventh grade boys. The boys run a two mile course. Miles came in 52, finishing second on his school team. Taylor came in 72, finishing third on the school team.

Meanwhile, across town, Emma had a double header for soccer with pictures at 8:00 AM, a game at 9:oo AM and another game at 10:15 AM. Her team, The Hurricanes, won both games 4:1 and 2:0. Emma is learning to play goalie, forward, and sweeper. I think she likes playing goalie best.

Emma is such a trooper. She is the only girl on an all boy's team. This was a little discouraging at first because all of her girl friends in Colorado are playing on all-girl teams with "real" fields. We enrolled Emma through the YMCA which is not a private league. But she is really coming to enjoy playing and being a part of the team. She is making friends and her coach also has a YMCA co-ed baseball team and has asked her to join them when it begins.

Emma is such a versatile little girl. One moment she wants to play Barbies or dress up her baby dolls, the next minute she's diving for a ball to keep it from the goal or playing X-Box with her brothers.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. Miles and Taylor have three meets left before basketball season begins. Both boys want to try out for the team. Emma has only a few games left too. I don't know how I would manage any of this without Jamie.



Miles in the pack


Taylor in the home stretch




Goalie Emma





Keeping up with the boys