Cheerleading!

Sarah cheered at the first football game this season and it proved to be a little early for her back.  She hadn't fully recovered as much as she thought, so she took another 6 weeks off.  She is back under those Friday night lights and loving it!  There are 2 seasonal games remaining before playoffs.

This year, the Senior girls decided to hold the first annual "Red Out" - a fundraiser for the American Heart Association in honor of their classmate and friend, McKinnley (holding the football in the middle of the picture).  She has been battling a heart condition since birth.  The girls sold t-shirts and heartbeat raffle tickets and raised over $5000!!  The winner of the raffle won the football signed by all of the Trojan football players.

Competitive cheer has been been challenging this year.  They have been faced with so many injuries and coach has had to change the routine week after week.  Of course, Sarah isn't on the mat competing, but she is still very much apart of this team and supports them 110% of the way!  She has been helping with behind the scenes activities and music, and motivates the girls every day at practice.  The Trojan Ladies will compete at the Region competition tomorrow in Columbus with the State competition being held the following weekend, November 10.  We all have hopeful hearts for another State Title this year!  The theme this year is "Back to Back".  Go Trojans!!

Halloween 2012

My children are usually dressed as the popular Super Hero of the year every Halloween.   Not this year!  I was very proud of Tyler for stepping outside of his box and going as an iPod!  Connor was an Angry Bird bomb, which for him, was a little outside of his box as well.  They both received so many cool comments!  Of course, everyone tried to push Tyler's buttons...haha!  But, most importantly they brought home lots of good candy for me and Bo! ;)

Tyler is 11!

Ty had a great time with his friends and family on his 11th birthday.  We started the day out at the skating rink and skated until our feet were sore!  Cake was served at home followed by the cracking of a pinata.  Thank you to all our friends and family that made it out to celebrate his special day!

Fairy Tale Ball

Every year the 2nd graders at Carrollton Elementary School learn about fairy tales.  To conclude their study, they are invited to participate in the Fairy Tale Ball.  Each child dresses up as a fairy tale character and danced at the ball, participates in craft activities, and has a special fairy tale snack.

Connor chose to be The Big Bad Wolf.  The pictures don't show it, but he also has a wolf tail.  Isn't he the cutest...I mean, meanest wolf you have ever seen??

Tyler visits a local radio station

Tyler is busy earning his Communications Badge for Boy Scouts.  His pack took a field trip to Kiss 102.7 and learned the ins and outs of the radio business.

Did you know that most of what you hear on the radio is pre-recorded?  It could have been recorded a week ago from another city!  Many radio personalities work for several stations and record their time and email it to the station.  Technology is awesome!

Fall = Football

Connor tried his hand at tackle football this year.  With this being his first year on tackle, he didn't get a lot of playing time.  When he did, however, he did great!  I am very proud of him for never once complaining about not playing as much as others.  He supported his team every step of the way.  They were undefeated this season and earned a place at the Kiwanis Bowl!  Unfortunately, they lost the first game.  It is important to note, however, that the other team's players were double the size of Connor's team, Trojan Blue, and they gave it their all with a final score of 12 to 20.



Below is one of his great plays.  He is normally # 33, but they had to wear alternate jerseys for this game, so he is #5 in black.  He leaped at # 36 and took him DOWN! Way to go Connor!

Sarah's senior pictures

CLICK HERE to view Sarah's senior pictures.  We headed out to the square in Carrollton with a local photographer and she did such a great job!  They are absolutely GORGEOUS!

Baylee

Upon looking through all of our pictures from this summer, it occurred to me that I never introduced Baylee. 

Let me back up a little....remember tiny, Gracie?  Well, with all the running and jumping that goes on in our house, she was stepped on and injured many times.  Poor baby had her tail broken at some point and we can't even figure out how it happened!  It seemed best for Gracie to live with a calmer family, so she took her wardrobe and moved in with Bo's parents.  She fits in perfectly over there and runs the roost!  We love that we still get to see her often!

Before Gracie moved, the kids were talking of wanting a bigger dog that they could throw the ball with and not injure.  I vaguely entertained the idea, but decided to act when I learned of a brindle 7 week old pit bull/lab mix puppy that needed a home.  A young man gifted the puppy to his girlfriend and, of course, her mother would have no part of it (what was he thinking?!?!).  They planned on taking her to the pound, so I took her.  It happened to be Father's Day, so guess what we got Bo??  A sweet little puppy!

It has been a challenge raising a puppy, but we have loved it.  She is just the sweetest little thing and doesn't meet a stranger.  Looking back over the pictures it is amazing how fast she has grown.  She is already 6 months old!  The funny part is that I have never been much of a dog person, but she has stolen my heart and she is treated like my fourth child.  She even goes to doggie daycare on the days that I work so that she isn't cooped up in the house all day long.....think she is spoiled??