WW ~ I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN HE'S AMAZING!!

I've known since the day I laid eyes on him that he is amazing!

To his flipping around action in my belly during surgery while I was six months pregnant to his 82 yard touchdown

HE ROCKS!!

My theory of his amazingness (yes I know that is not an actual word) was proven during his school awards ceremony. Although I am proud of all his educational awards, the award I am most proud of is...

....his Citizenship Certificate because it honors his character and my skills as a parent or so I like to think!!

The Citizenship Certificate is given to the cream of the crop in recognition of exemplary behavior and valuable services rendered to the staff and classmates both in and ouside of class WITHOUT having to be told to do so.

THAT'S MY BOY!!

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WORDFUL WEDNESDAY

October 2008 ~ I love this picture! Elijah played his first season of tackle football last year and I love this picture because although he is running for a touchdown somehow he looked RIGHT at the camera ~ woo hoo Carolee! I can not believe I am about to say this but I can't wait for football season to start again! Yep you read that right! The self-proclaimed "not footbally" Mom who still does not understand the game, hated the practice schedule and was really sick of driving to far away games is missing football. Please hold back on the "I told you so" comments because I can always edit the post to delete the admission! I don't miss the game! I miss seeing my son play the game! I understand our boys first "fairytale" season isn't promised to repeat but wouldn't it be awesome if it did. I miss seeing him run his little heart out juking along the way and the joy on his face each time he got a touchdown. I miss seeing him use his amazing defense skills to plow down the other players. I miss watching him play from start to finish without complaining and never giving up when the score was down. I miss photographing him and his team from up and down the sidelines. I miss downloading all the pics to see if I got any good action shots. I miss the other parents ~ we got very lucky and we all got along. I miss cheering on our boys and getting them pumped up if they were down. I can't believe it and I never ever thought I would utter these words ~ I. MISS. FOOTBALL. (well at least watching my kid since I hate watching it on TV) I was the Mom that did not want her child to start tackle football yet. I was the Mom about to puke on the sidelines watching them in the playoffs and the championship game because I was just that excited and nervous for them. I was the Mom in shock when an opposing coach offered us money not to let our son play in a playoff game against his team. I was also the Mom who thought "you are kidding, right? This is 1st grade tackle football not the NFL but then wondered how much he would have been willing to pay since he was serious!" NO I would NOT have accepted just a little curious! I was the Mom who ran out after they won a very tough playoff game to scoop up my baby in my arms and spin him around telling him how proud I was. I was the Mom crying when they WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP!! I was the Mom who did NOT have a "footbally" bone in her body and hated the mere idea of her son playing but now I am the Mom who can't wait for it to start all over again! How crazy is that? I wish I could be the Mom who didn't worry though ~ good luck with that one! I have a feeling that instant "stomach drop" feeling when Elijah hits so hard that the helmets crash and my first thought is bones breaking might last his whole life or at least until he gets up safely ready for the next hit! BOYS!

THAT'S MY BOY!

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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!

Wow if I thought I was nervous wreck before Thursday's game then that was an understatement because the real nerves took hold after I knew we were playing in the championship game Nov 8th!! Let's see Friday morning was donut day for the kids then I proceeded to go "potty" about 5 times in between taking kids to school and the 90 minutes I had before my haircut. I then had multiple errands to run before picking up all three boys at different schools. It is amazing how my Fridays off are taking up by taking kids to school, donut day, errands and appts then picking the kids up from school. I might as well work b/c I think it would be a lot less hectic. Anyhow I was nervous all day and the only thing I ate between Thursday's playoff game and Saturday's morning championship game was a glazed twist, a glazed donut and plenty of TUMS!!! Why was I like this? Got me!!?? I was a wreck. I really wanted the boys to win and have a wonderful time but I didn't want too much disappointment if they lost because they are still a remarkable group of boys. I didn't want anyone to get injured. I didn't want to oversleep and miss the game. I didn't want it to be too cold (no such luck on that one). Friday night, sleep was pretty much impossible and Saturday morning my stomach was a mess but with the constant feeling I could vomit at any second I could NOT eat. I then went to the bathroom at the field about four times in the hour before the game until I went to my car and ate the remaining TUMS I had brought to the game. After the TUMS I was pretty good until the END of the fourth quarter, when I had to sit on the medical case on the sidelines because for the FIRST time in the game we were no longer in the lead. They gave us a little over a minute but that is all we needed to score and WIN THE INFC CHAMPIONSHIP!!! I cried with excitement, relief and overwhelming pride I felt for this team!! You would think they had won the superbowl or something. Some people look at us like we are idiots and make too much out of this team but I say, "just wait until it is your child!!" Then when asked what we are going to be like by high school my answer is "heavily sedated" but excited for scholarships and NFL so we can get a HUGE house!! Just kidding I do not care if the boys even play sports but I will support them in the fullest with anything they want to venture into with the exceptions of golf and baseball which I find so boring that I would sleep on the bleachers!! Here are the pics - I took so many that I just made a slideshow!!

NERVOUS WRECK FOOTBALL MOM

Thursday the boys had the final game of the playoffs before the championship. We played Pryor who has a jerk for a coach. He is rude, demeaning, selfish and down right awful to his kids. Some of the things he said to his boys during the game: "I don't care how you win this game just break their legs if you have to b/c they can't run w/o them!, You guys are playing like a bunch of girls!, and I shouldn't have even come to this game b/c you guys aren't playing football you are just embarrassing ME!" HELLO you are coaching 6 YEAR OLD BOYS!!! I think if he was my son's coach we would've had more than a few words WAY before the playoffs!! Anyway I was a nervous wreck ALL day thursday. I would get butterflies at the mere thought of the game. I wanted the boys to win so bad b/c they are just amazing and they have worked so hard to get to this point. Well needless to say after many moments of me nearly vomiting on the sidelines....WE WON AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE INFC CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Wow the last 7 seconds of the game were really INTENSE!! Everyone ran onto the field again and it was mayheim trying to catch the pics but you know I did!!! Championship game Saturday...WOOHOO!!

TOO CRAZY TO BELIEVE, BUT TRUE!!

Presenting the competition with a united front!!

Last night the boys had their second playoff game against Skiatook Red. Before the game, the Skiatook coaches were waiting outside the gate. The Skiatook coach actually offered my hubby money NOT to play Elijah in the game. I was in disbelief and thought for sure this was a joke; however, when my hubby said, "Are you kidding me?" the coach replied with, "Well NOT if you take the money!" You can't be serious!! These are 6 yr old boys and this is not the Superbowl. There is no money involved in winning the championship just the right to be called champions! I still think we should turn him in b/c it is obviously illegal but I still wonder how much he would have actually paid! Too funny and sad at the same time! This was THE game of ALL games!! An awesome football game! True nail biter and my stomach was in absolute knots! It was rather funny how people migrated over to cheer for our boys. Parents who could no longer sit in anticipation were standing along the fence line with perfect strangers who were cheering for OUR boys. Teams waiting to play were watching because it was just an AWESOME GAME!! At half time a lot of the parents and onlookers were worried and I was not about to give up telling them to look at our history. Our boys always come back stronger in the second half. Always! Even when we are way ahead at halftime they still come back to hit HARDER, run faster and further and THEY NEVER GIVE UP!! Wow this game was so good I felt like I could get sick at any moment. Our boys FOUGHT for this win that they so deserved! Fought right up to the last second! I almost cried when they won just b/c I knew how bad they wanted it and how hard they had worked. Don't say anything b/c you just can't understand the game unless you were there. Many of the Moms were a nervous wreck. We all stormed the field when they won to go get OUR BOYS!!! I have goosebumps just thinking of that moment!!

Good tackle Carson!

Halfway through the fourth quarter we scored then held them back!!

I thought it was over but they added some time. This was the final score!!

Our Coaches were so happy!

Tez was really proud of his little brother and it was so cute!

I know this picture is blurry but I love it anyway!

THAT'S MY BOY! THAT'S MY BOY!

Are you ready for some football? I love my kids in hats!!

Saturday was the boys' last football game well at least regular season but playoffs start next Saturday. They beat the Catoosa Indians today 25 - 12! Go Tigers!! They ended the regular season with only one loss. I never could have even imagined they would have done this well for their first year in tackle football. As I always mention we are really proud. Coach keeps saying how amazing Elijah is getting and in his words "he has just become a machine and changed so much through the season so much that HE actually understands the game". It is nice to have a coach that doesn't pick at each flaw and instead praises the kids and teaches them HOW to correct their mistakes. Only parents with kids in sports can understand how key that truly is to success ~ a bad coach can break a good player! I am not saying he is a martyr and never gets angry but that is only human. However, he ususally just talks about it to the other coaches or yells at the refs. The boys love all their coaches! Anyway Coach Travis was talking that night about how well Elijah played on Saturday and he said he was really proud of something that he had said at halftime. By halftime we were winning but only by one point, Coach pointed out that yes they were winning but they still had half of the game left. Then Coach Travis asked them if they wanted to play a tough game or an easy game. Elijah responded with, "a TOUGH game Coach!" When Coach asked him why, Elijah responded with, "because it makes us better!" Coach was impressed with his answer as am I as his parent that he doesn't just want the easy way out! It surprised me that Elijah answered with this since he was having a tougher game than normal b/c the opposing coach tried his hardest to hold him down! The Coach kept screaming at the kids, "GET NUMBER 10 DOUBLE TEAM HIM!" I was screaming in my head, "NO DON'T GET NUMBER 10!" They definitely knew his number and tried to hold him back but he still managed to evade many tackles to make his longest touchdown yet ~ 80 yds! I thought he would run out of "gas" at the 30 yd line but he kept on and scored!!! All the while I was in shock and my brother Curt kept saying, "Angie camera camera" at which time I fumbled with the camera and gave up! I just kept screaming, "GO BABY GO! KEEP GOING! THAT'S MY BOY! THAT'S MY BOY!!" Then I quickly asked my sister-in-law Carolee if she caught that run! She did ~ thank goodness she came with her mega awesome camera to take pics of Elijah for me!! She got some REALLY GOOD PICTURES OF MY BOY ~ actually 62 of them and he is in almost every single one! Woohoo Carolee! It was nice to have both my brothers and my sister plus their families at the game! We always like having visitors!

Sergian lost his loose tooth during the game!

Here is the slideshow of Carolee's awesome game pics:

Elijah is #10

Even if you hate football you have to admit she took great pics!!

WHAT IS A RIDGERUNNER?

Elijah playing with Daddy's Coach hat and looking dashing as ever while on the road again ...... just can't wait to get on the road again.....Are you singing along??

Saturday we had to travel to Grove ~ 90 minutes from our home ~ for another football game. Fortunately, this game unlike EVERY other away game was not AS early so we did not have to leave at the butt crack of dawn not till at least 7:30 am on a SATURDAY!! Wow just one more game then the playoffs! Did I mention the Coach saw we were polled as one of the top 3 1st grade teams in the INFC conference? Good job boys! What exactly is a Ridgerunner? I am guessing by the picture it is some sort of red bird but couldn't they come up with something easier to put into a cheer or chant for those girls!! Today the boys were back in the game, ready to play their hearts out again! They are such a good and kind group of boys and we are all so proud of them. Elijah made two touchdowns today, some hard hitting - momma hold your breath tackles and four sacs. One was a 36yd touchdown and the other was a 60yd touchdown (yes you read that correctly 60).

His 36 yd run photo and I just prayed that #75 (a big 'ol boy) would not clobber him! I wish I would've captured an end zone view of the 60yd touchdown but I was too busy cheering and running that way and I don't quite run as fast as him ~ almost not quite ~ DREAM ON! The funny part is after I made it down there and got the camera ready to capture the extra point the opposing Coach was talking to one of his players who wouldn't move up in line. When asked why he wouldn't just scoot up, the boy replied, "they are trying to kill me Coach I really think they are trying to kill me!" Sad I know but still funny when you hear irrational thoughts of kids!

After the game he was telling me the play by play action of the 60yd touchdown and it was so cute. I wish you could see his face as he was talking about it. He said, "Ok Mom while I was running I was looking out of the corner of my eye, right. Then I saw someone running after me so I just put a little more speed in it and just made a touchdown!" I think after typing it that you would have to see him while he tells the story to get the humor ~ facial expressions are priceless! All the boys did really well today. There were a bunch of good tackles, runs and thanks to the defensive line I don't think Grove ever made it passed

the 30 yd line! I wish I could take pics of a freshly painted field!

At one point Coach Travis only had one play left to go and we were on their 22yd line when he tells the boys, "Let's get this done in one play Tigers!" "OK," the team shouted back. Being the doubting Thomas I thought wow those are high hopes Travis. Carson, our quarterback, got the ball and ran 78 yards with no one even close to him and made the touchdown in one play. This isn't rare for Carson who is FAST and he can go the distance but it is still exciting and impressive each and EVERY time!!! Cody had some good runs and good tackles ~ he is so tiny and adorable I would just squeeze him if he weren't so darn sweaty!! I think he may have been juicin'!! JUST KIDDING! Parker did good today......Ryan did good....what am I rambling aka typing and thinking about they ALL did very good so I will shut up now!!

Final score: Tigers 26, Ridgerunners 0

GO TIGERS!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Up close and personal!

Five years ago on September 27th, I married the love of my life! I would say he changed me but I truly believe our love changed US to be better people and better parents! We have grown SO much since we met it is unreal!

In Dec we will have been together for 8 yrs. The first year and a half was ROCKY to say the least but we both made a decision to either split apart or work it out for good and that is exactly what we did - we worked it out. He makes me so happy not to say he never aggravates me but he loves me FOR WHO I TRULY AM and a lot of people can't say that. I realize how lucky I am to have a husband who helps with the kids, works two jobs (b/c HE wants to provide more), coaches his son's football team and still has time for the cop a feel moments! lol He still makes me laugh, smile and can talk about nothing into the wee hours if I can't sleep (not so say he doesn't fall asleep while I am talking) AND I appreciate him for it!! Even if I complain to my friends who are mostly single moms about stuff he doesn't do, they are quick to defend HIM b/c of all they know he DOES for me AND the kids - even for THEIR kids - w/o being asked! I never thought I would find a "keeper" that my friends AND family would love too! Trust me my family loves him like he is their own and he loves them too! (Sometimes I wonder if they may even love HIM more! ha well ok not ha!)

For the most part we really don't fight at least not like other couples we know. WELL unless HE is driving! lol Yes we disagree and racial issues will bring about a heated discussion but he then understands I am always right and won't allow racial issues as a cop out (sp?)! lol Just kidding but honestly we discuss our differences and sometimes we just have to agree to disagree b/c no two people will ever agree on EVERYTHING 100%. We have only slept apart two nights in almost eight years except when I've been in the hospital for childbirth and other random surgeries. Yes sometimes I wish we had more alone time but that is a bridge I think every parent wants to cross. He is an amazing father AND daddy to our boys and I love every time Isaiah (Daddy's boy) says, "Daddy I missed you and I wuv you buncha bunches! You my best Daddy evo!" and then Martez gets the biggest grin and repeats it back to him. It is moments like that that make each bad day seem not so bad.

My three loves!

Tonight the boys went to spend the night with Meme and Papa while we went to the Riverwalk. We went to eat at Outback - oh how I love Outback steaks! Then we went to the Riverwalk, watched a movie and then walked around. I must say I thought the Riverwalk was going to be a lot more than it was. Maybe once there is more it will appeal to us more. Then Martez wanted to go to the casino and even though I didn't really want to, I obliged. We walked in and he said, "Do you want to go to the high stakes room?" My answer was "Baby WE aren't high stakes" but again I obliged. I sat down at a five dollar wheel of fortune machine, put in ten dollars and with four pokes of a button and thirty seconds later I was up $600! I guess I am high stakes after all! I wasn't sure if I had actually won that money so I cashed out to check and just stared at the voucher in disbelief as I read "six hundred ten dollars and no cents". I quickly decided not to push my luck and called it quits. We left happy with our winnings and went home to get lucky again! (wink wink) You know you are old when you are at home in bed on a child free night at 10:30pm! At least I didn't say we were "asleep" at 10:30pm! TMI I KNOW! I love you baby!

WALK THE PLANK

Today was an awesome day even with a 5:45am wake-up, an hour drive to the game and rain ALL DAY!l! We played in Locust Grove with the e-coli epidemic and all. No food or drink was purchased anywhere close to Locust Grove - lol! Our boys did AWESOME! Go Tigers!!! All the boys had great plays! My baby caused a fumble, recovered the ball and ran for like 50 - 60 yds until he was tackled right before the goal line! He also scored an extra point and did some great tackles!! By far his best game yet - by far the best our team as a whole has done! In fact for some odd reason the home team turned off the scored board after half time (that depressed I guess!).

Because we had a good lead at halftime 25 - 0, Coach Hinesley experimented with them playing different positions and they did well. Elijah is normally running back and corner but today he also got to play quarterback and defensive line! Not so good as the quarterback but great job as defensive lineman! It was really exciting when he was running the fumble return (not sure if that is the techincal term) b/c I happened to be walking around to the opposite side of the field and was right by the end zone when I heard everyone screaming. I looked up to see my boy running towards me as fast as his little legs could go so I dropped the umbrella tried to take what I thought would be an awesome picture all the while screaming "COME ON BABY! GO BABY GO!" Still fiddling with the camera wondering why I can't see him when I realize the camera lens cover was still on and by the time I figured it out he got tackled right before the goal line! Boo hoo! It was the PERFECT picture opt with the PERFECT ANGLE and I MISSED IT!!! Don't think I am not kicking myself over and over for that one - seriously the perfect scrapbook moment!! It rained most of the game and we had to sit in the opposing sides bleachers in order to see and I must say they did not like that at all and they were rude! I bet they would not have been as rude if they only had a chance!! WE WHOOPED SOME LOCUST GROVE PIRATE BUTT!! We won 37 - 0! How awesome is that!!!! On the ride home the boys and the parents were pumped and I said, "Elijah baby you sent those pirates back out to sea!" He said, "Yep those pirates need to walk the plank! We took their ship! Aaarrgghh!" How cute is that!

I love this shirt Mindy made for Ellie! This is the back & so true - her 3 big brothers play for BA

I had to include this pic b/c the Locust Grove coaches attire cracked me up!!

One has on a "wife beater" (I hate that name!) and the other is wearing overalls!
After we finally arrived home we decided to go to my nephew Nehemiah's game since we were already wet anyway. My Mom, Sister and Logan came too! Needless to say I didn't even try to speak to my brother after the game since he was the not-so-happy Coach after losing 34 - 0! I sure wouldn't want to be his team this week at practice!! In their defense it took three or four of their guys to take down any player on the opposing team and that gets old after awhile. It was shocking to me to see my brother as a Coach - he is a yeller and not really his nice self! After leaving Nehemiah's game, our friends Tammy and Jessie called to see if we wanted to go eat at Indigo Joe's a sports bar and grill. The plan was to eat, let the men watch football while Tammy and I went to get a pedicure! What? Who says no to that??!!?? It was nice to finally get a pedicure WITH a girlfriend and just relax and chat. Next came home for rainy day activities aka hubby watches football on TV, kids complain of being bored while I blog, download pictures and return to kicking myself over the lost perfect picture moment! Now if I could just keep my head from exploding that would be terrific! Did I mention I am getting sick and allergies are kicking my butt!?!?

LEARNING THE JOYS OF GIVING

Elijah is growing up no matter how hard I try to keep him as my baby boy! Sad but true! At least he is a nice, obedient, loving and thoughtful boy....for the time being! Don't get me wrong he has his ornery streak but overall he is a very good kid. At high school aka elementary school they had a mini store set up so the students could buy Christmas gifts for their family and friends. Little nick knacks, FINE jewelry and toys for them to spend their own money on if so desired. Well first he bought me a ring for Christmas but absolutely couldn't stand it anymore and gave it to me for my birthday......it is one precious gem I tell you!

He then bought me a couple of other gifts and a couple for Daddy for Christmas. He then decided his Meme and Papa needed gifts JUST from him.

He bought Meme a beautiful 5kt "yellow diamond" ring which she just loves!

Conveniently Elijah bought Papa a car that he will be able to play with when he is at their house!

I am very proud of my little man for still being his thoughtful little self and for wanting to spend the money on others instead of buying toys for himself. The look on his face watching them unwrap their presents was priceless for me. He even wrapped them himself. I am proud of my boy and he was so full of pride and excitement it was cute. It makes me think I AM doing SOMETHING right!!