Project Life 2012 - Week 43

October 21 - 27

On Sunday, the 21st Bennett got to pitch again and I was there to catch it with my camera!

I forget to breathe when he pitches. I just was beginning to remember to breathe when he is up to bat!! He, however, is cool as a cucumber :)

+++++++
Well, we went through our whole flag football season without any wins - until the very end! We went out winning, which shocked everyone. Well, everyone except for the boys!

We played in the tournament on the 22nd and wouldn't you know it - we won!! 

 Shocked. That is really the only word that I can have to our win. I have to admit that I had counted the game on the 22nd as our last game. That'll teach me to make plans :)  And wouldn't you know it that the next game, which was on the 25th was a late game!! In case you don't know it, we are not much on late night activities around here. 

But, regardless of how I feel about late night activities, we were moving on up the bracket! So, on Thursday, the 25th we headed back to the fields for another game. 
This game didn't go so well for us.

The boys were sad, but they had a great season. And, as Coach said, they made great improvements over the season!
And, as a consolation, we had a little impromptu team party at Brusters, complete with trophies. Ice cream and big gaudy trophies make everything better!
Then I hurried Bennett home to get into bed. Gotta stick to the schedule :)

On Friday, the 26th, Bennett's school had a their Service Day. Since it was our first time to experience this day, I was excited to be able to go along! We went to downtown shelter to let the kids play with the younger children there. I wasn't sure how it would go, but I was sure that God would work it out, and boy, did he!

When we arrived it was like most mission trips we have been on - pure chaos. Of course, the kids really didn't know and were having a great time just doing something out of the ordinary. We finally got divided into groups and our half of the 4th grade was to go and 'play' with the 3 year olds in their classroom. Well, just as we settled in to read books, the fire alarm went off. We all headed outside - the residents acted as if this happened all the time (and come to find out, I think it does! It happened once more before we left!!)

Well, we had brought silly b@nds for the children (the kids had donated from their own collections) so we let them give them out while we were outside. It was awesome to watch! Bennett was so excited to interact with the children and just give. 

Somehow, after the fire alarm, our group was allowed to go outside with some of the little children to play on the playground. What a blessing! At first, the big kids weren't sure what to do, but after a little encouragement to 'just play', they began doing what kids do best. Bennett found a friend after just a few minutes. We don't know his real name - he only wanted to be called 'Batman', so that's what Bennett called him :)

They sawed down trees and pretty much were inseparable for the 45 minutes that we were there. We brought Popsicles, which were also a hit as you can imagine. Finally, they brought out the $ store goodies that the kids had donated. It was so cute to see each child as they finally understood that the gift was theirs to keep. As Bennett helped Batman put together his big Styrofoam airplane I walked up and as I watched them together I realized that Batman didn't understand that the plane was for him. Bennett was putting it together for him and Batman was content just watching. I encouraged Bennett to tell Batman that it was his to keep. At first Bennett was a little defensive, but once I explained, he understood. My heart swelled as Bennett told Batman that the plane was his to keep. For ever and ever. And the smile on Batman's face was enough to melt my heart.

The experience at the shelter reminds me of all of the other times I've been on mission trips - I go thinking that I am going to help others (or in this case to be a chaperon on a field trip), but really, God does a work on me. My heart broke as 2 little boys on 2 separate occasions cried for me to pick them up and not leave them. I could only imagine the heartache that these little guys had been through at such a young age. 

Bennett didn't want to leave when it was time to go. He told me that he had tears in his eyes when he heard it was time to leave. He's asked several times if we could go back and visit Batman. His heart has been changed and he has a new understanding for loving others. What a blessing. 
I'm thankful in so many ways.

Project Life 2012 - Week 42

October 14 - 20

Home! I'm staying home for a while! :) I love being home!!

On the 17th we enjoyed a nice dinner outside at Shane's. We love that place!

Did I mention that Bennett got a nice black eye?

It happened on the 12th at a friend's birthday party. Apparently the boys decided to play a little game of tackle football while waiting to pick up the sister of the birthday boy. No helmets, of course! My friend (the mom) felt terrible. Bennett got lots of attention with it, though, so I think it turned out to not be such a bad thing :) This picture doesn't really even do it justice. It was really a doozie!!

On the 19th we celebrated Mooma's birthday (a week early).

Bennett did a great job decorating her cake! Remember the other cake disaster?? 

Well, this one was a success, don't you think??!!

 We had a wonderful evening celebrating Brad's mom. She is a wonderful mom and Mooma! We are so blessed to have her so close by!

On Saturday the 20th we had another flag football game!!

I have to admit - I still have NO idea what is going on in these games :)

But I do know to cheer when Bennett crosses the end zone!!

(But I just had to ask Brad what it was called... is it an in-zone?? No, he says 'END zone'. Oh, I say. One word? Nope, he says. Two. HA!)

Here Bennett is celebrating a touchdown!! I love it when he gets to be in on the action!! He is so happy!

We were too! 

Oh, and I am a sucker for the huddles. Oh, those boys are so sweet. 

I know that they wouldn't want me to say that. But, I mean, come on. Look at that. I know that they are talking about how to crush the opponent. But from the sidelines, where the mom is sitting, that looks like something really sweet is going on, doesn't it :)

AND... after the game Pa and Brad took Bennett to the shooting range.
I said 'no' for long enough, I guess.
It is no secret that I don't like guns. It's kinda strange that I don't like them, since making bullets in the basement with dad when I was growing up is a very fond childhood memory, but anyway... I just don't. And do I want my baby child shooting a gun? Well, no.
But, Pa promised me that he would only bring the little guns, so I didn't say no.

And then I made them promise to bring me a picture :)
At least I could document it, right?
They also brought the targets with the bullet holes. 
I think next time I might go and show them how mama can hit the bullseye.
Oh wait. I don't like guns. ;)

Project Life 2012 - Week 41

October 7-13

One of the main goals that Angie and I set for the trip was to get some good family photos... you know that I am ALWAYS up for that! :) Here were some from the first try...

These were all taken on the morning of the 7th. We started at the beach, but it was too bright and windy. And Evie wasn't really feeling it :)

Mom did a good job with the group shot, though, don't you think??!!

After the photo op, we headed to the beach...

Evie likes the sand - as long as she doesn't have to touch it :)

I don't think that we've ever seen the water so smooth! They boys took a kayak out and saw tons of fish!

That night we went out to eat at Run Runners and Bennett and Evie enjoyed a little cousin time on the lawn. The picture isn't the best, but I still love it. They are the best of friends. He loves her and she loves him right back. sigh...

 On Monday, the 8th, we started with our usual early morning beach trip...

And ended the night at the Crab Trap with the hopes of some sunset pictures...

I think we did pretty good...

What do you think??

It was a great trip. I love my family! I love that Bennett gets to spend time with them. I love that Brad puts up with me (and with them). And that they put up with me :)

So much to be thankful for.

Project Life 2012 - Week 40

September 30 - October 6

I returned from Chicago on Monday afternoon. It really was a great trip! I'd never been to the Windy City before and would love to take my boys back there. We didn't really have much time to see the sites, and I know that there is so much to see!

So, I know that I said that I prefer to stay home, but just to totally test my sanity, we planned a family beach trip the weekend after I returned!! Bennett was lucky to have a long weekend, and a few months ago when we asked him what he wanted to do with his long weekend, he said that he wanted to go to the beach with Gigi, Bubba and Evie. Luckily for us their schedule was clear, so we booked a condo and planned our trip!!

Bennett got out of school at 12:40 on Friday, October 5 (just like every Friday - have I mentioned that I LOVE our new school's schedule!!) so he and I headed down ahead of everyone else. I was really looking forward to this time together. 
We planned to get lunch at Chick-fil-@ and then cruise on down.
I was envisioning chatting about our week the whole 4 hour trip... but Bennett hopped right in the back and turned on the TV :)  Oh well. Quality time comes in all forms, right? Ha!

We made great time getting down to Sandestin (we took a new way - didn't really like it), got to our condo, unpacked, and then headed to dinner and to the grocery store.
This is when we got our quality time.
(I called it a date, but Bennett thought that was inappropriate :)

 Here is my handsome date (squinting from the extra bright flash). We were making cootie catchers while waiting for our dinner. Fun times.
After dinner we got our groceries and went back to the condo to put them away. Bennett was the biggest helper the whole time, totally taking a big role in carrying heavy items, opening the doors, etc. It was fun seeing him be so grown up. He even helped me with the massive task of sanitizing the condo - big help!! :)

A memory I never want to forget: 

As we were loading the cold items into the fridge, Bennett said 'Mom, I think that going to W (his new school) has made me think about God a lot more.' 

Me: 'Really? How?'

B: 'Well, I can just think of Him with every day type things.'

Me: 'What do you mean?'

B: 'Well, like with this fridge door. See how it keeps moving away from me when I try to put things into it to fill it up?'

Me: 'Yes'

B: 'Well, that's how it is with God. If I keep moving away from Him, it will be harder for him to fill me up.'

It was one of those moments as a mom that made my heart swell with joy (and one that I wanted to hit the pause button on and just take it all in!!). 

I am so thankful for those few hours that God gave me all alone with my boy. I knew that we had lots of fun ahead of us with the rest of the family on their way, but I was thankful to be able to slow down and realize that even if the rest of the weekend was a bust, the whole trip had been worth it for me already!

But the whole rest of the trip wasn't a bust!!
On Saturday morning we headed to the beach...

and waited for Gigi, Nana, and Evie to arrive. Brad and Bubba had arrived late Friday night, so the boys all played in the sand while I just relaxed. The girls arrived before lunch, so it was perfect! Oh, and the weather was gorgeous!! We couldn't have asked for better!!

More beach photos in the next post...

Project Life 2012 - Week 39

September 23-29

On the 21st I went to South Carolina to attend a photography conference, leaving the boys to a fun-filled boys-only weekend. I'm not sure what they did, but I know that they had a great time :)

On the 23rd, while I was in the middle of a photo-editing class, I was clutching my phone anxiously awaiting minute-by-minute updates from Bennett's baseball game. You see, it was rumored that he was going to pitch his first-ever game. 

I got the first text. 

He's in! He's pitching!

 And I was hundreds of miles away. 

My eyes filled with tears and my heart broke just a little knowing that I was missing such a big moment in his life. 

The texts kept coming - all good news about how great he was doing. Strike outs. Some walks. He didn't hit any one :)

And I was so proud. (and I was trying to pay attention to the class I was in!!)

What a great moment - and I'm so thankful to Brad for taking the pictures for me! 

I got home late Sunday night from South Carolina and turned right back around and left on Friday the 28th for Chicago!! Wow! 

I was lucky to be asked to go to a Children's Ministry Conference with our church - how could I say no??

The conference started Friday night with...

BETH MOORE!!! Can you believe it?!?!  Look how close we were :) 

Every time I've been lucky enough to hear Beth speak, she has been so inspiring - and this time was no different! So wonderful!

We took a little time off one day to go into Chicago to see the sights... so fun!! 

 We even travelled in style... horse-drawn carriage tour. Can you tell it was a little windy?  The conference was great - it filled my mind with all kinds of great ideas and things to try. 

I had a great time with the girls from church, but I sure did miss my boys! By the end of this second weekend, Bennett was really ready for me to come home - and I was ready to be home too! For the first weekend, I think the boys were enjoying all the freedom that they have when mommy is out of town - I can only imagine what goes on while I'm gone! Thankfully, they (at least pretended) wanted me to come back home!

Home, sweet, home!

Project Life 2012 - Week 38

Hello! Yes, we are still here! I know it seems like I've dropped of the face of the earth, but I haven't! We've just been busy, and blogging has been moved to the back burner.

So, let's get back on track!!

September 16 - 22

On Tuesday, the 18th of September, Brad and I went to see Hillsong Live.

It was a great concert and I really enjoyed our night out together :)

On Friday, the 21st Bennett's class had Monk Day.

After spending several weeks studying Monks and their contributions to society, the class got to spend a whole day as Monks would. They did illuminated writings, service work (picking up trash around the parking lot), and hourly prayers.

I was lucky enough to be able to go and help out with the Monk Meal which consisted of bread, cheese, grapes, and juice. The Monks ate in silence (for one minute!!) which was hilarious to watch! They said that it was SO hard to do. They were so cute. 

I love Bennett's new school! We all do :) They are so creative and their learning style is so hands-on... we are ALL learning! What a blessing.

Project Life 2012 - Week 37

Sept 9 - 15

Hooray for Fall Baseball!! 

Our first game was on Sunday, the 9th, and Bennett was an All Star player!

He was up to bat first...

 He made the first run of the season!! Yea!!
Look at the smile :)

Remember when he said that he wanted to catch? 
Well, he got to! And he did great!

Aaaaannnnddd... he made the last run of the game too! Way to go!

Our coach doesn't give game balls, but I'm sure that if he did, Bennett would have gotten it :)  What a fun game! (oh, and we won!)

On Saturday, the 15th, Bennett had his 2nd football game.

 He ran around a bunch.

Evie came to cheer. 
And she checked out a ladybug (Gigi thought it was gross :).

Bennett got to quarterback a couple of times.

AND THEN... he threw a touch down pass at the very end of the game to his best buddy!

Cheers all around!
We didn't win, but there certainly was a bunch of celebrating going on!!

We are really enjoying our Fall. School is going great and Bennett is really enjoying his activities. And I'm enjoying keeping up with him!! 
Fun times!