Riggs' Real Birthday- Happy 12th!

You have to celebrate on your REAL no matter what! SO today we celebrated Riggs's Real birthday on his Real Birthday! He chose Hometown Pizza with his buddies that could come!

 Of course, the Family and the Timmerings were there to celebrate too!

 I can't believe he is 12...next year he will be a Teenager! I hope we wishes to be little forever on his requested Dairy Queen ice cream cake. (sniff....sniff....)

 We opened presents ......

 and I love that he got a Flash shirt...he lived in his Flash costume when he was little!

 It was a fun night....

 Even the car ride home was full of laughter!

 Back at home the boys played basketball.....

 and he got more presents....

 all in all..I'd say he had a great day on his 12 th birthday! We sure love you, Riggsy!

Lila's Kindergarten Zoo Trip

 I have now been to the zoo with all four of my littles their Kindergarten year at Goshen! It's tradition and so much fun! Of course, everything with Lou Lou, my last...the baby...is bittersweet.....

But we had a great day! She loves all her friends in the class so very much!

 I am so glad I got to go on this trip with her and share in this fun, kindergarten memory with her!

Goshen Mud Run

 As a Fund raiser this year we have looked into more family activities an less "buy this" from our Goshen families. Today was one of the family events I was most excited about! The Mighty Titan Mud Run came to Goshen to raise money for class leveled books. The weather was beautiful and the kids had an absolute...muddy......messy...great time! Rollins has a fractured foot but I let him take the boot off to get a little muddy with his friends!

 Sk LOVED it!!!!!!!! She ran it about 12 times! This girl is girly but she jumps right in to this kind of thing and I love that about her! Down and Dirty! She had a ball!

 She lost her shoes in the mud pit but just kept on going!

 Julia, Emily and SK ran it together several times and giggled the whole way!

 They finished holding hands and shouting "friends forever"!

 It was just a fun event and we all loved every second of it!

The fire truck was there to hose the kids off...but it mud was caked on and even after bath number one...we found traces of mud in ears!

Lila ray would only do it with me...so I could not take pics of her while I was rolling in the mud myself...hoping the mighty titans got one I can buy of her doing it! 

Tates Creek Track Meet

After a FULL day...Goshen door decorating...a reception I hosted at Goshen, a Kindergarten zoo trip..I picked Riggs up from school and he and I headed to Lexington for a track meet at Tates Creek High School. He has very few friends on the track team and today not one of them were there. He hung with me...we sat in the bleachers...as the sun set...under a blanket. He was tired from the week...I was too. We both just wanted to go home...but we left that unsaid.  Jeremy was on first call but surprised us and showed up. Riggs usually takes a potassium pill before he runs and when I left the house that morning I did not grab them. It hit him that he didn't take it and he freaked out a bit...he was afraid he would cramp up on his run. I felt terrible. I try so hard to juggle the 6 of us...but sometimes I drop the ball...even with my very best efforts. I suggested a melt away tylenol that we told him was a potassium pill...mind over matter....and it worked like a charm. 

Riggs, when you read this later in life....just know I love you..sorry to trick you but it worked.

 It was a big meet...stiff competition..

 He was little.....and most everyone in the heat ran a sub 6 mile....yikes!

 But he ran and...without potassium...earned himself a new PR...a 5:29 mile!

 Now the tough part.....it was cold...and we were freezing. Riggs and I sat in the truck ...in the dark for over an hour together...and at 11 pm...tired and cold...they called him to run 2 miles as fast as he could....(deep sign)....we both wanted to eat....and have a warm bath...

 but off he went....

 and it was hard.....

 really hard.....

 but he did it...and I was so proud of him....
We gathered our stuff and headed to the car....stopped by Wendy's for nuggets and Starbucks for a Vanilla bean frap....he so deserved it! We headed back to Louisville and at midnight when it was officially his birthday I cranked the music and flashed the lights and beeped the horn! Riggs was officially 12! We were bone tired but together ringing in his birthday!

Bubble love

I am a firm believer that a nice, warm bath can make almost anything better. My littles believe this too...I think it's just a part of their genetic make up. On a sick day we take bath after bath....on a stressful day we  can be found taking a soak...and on any given day we just love climbing into a tub of warm water and bubbles. Truly, it's just the best. But the best part about a nice, warm bath is the company you keep and the conversations you have. I love a bath by myself...it give me time to think...and relax..... but my favorite baths these days are the ones with my baby. Most every night...she hears my bath water running....and here she comes to join me. We talk and giggle...about everything and nothing....we play barbies and practice spelling words....we tell stories and have the best time amongst the bubbles....so thankful for my baby and bubble love.

Trinity Tailgate

Fall and football is sneaking up on us....and oh I love it! Tonight we went to the Trinity / St. X game and just had the best time!

 The boys played football in the parking lot and everyone wanted a picture with the cheerleaders!

 The sun began to set and the National anthem was played and the boys went on into the game.

 The Momas sat for just a little while longer at the tailgate...talking about everything and nothing.

 We enjoyed the game and this taste of fall!

A feeling of accomplishment

We all know the transition to Kindergarten was a big rough for Lila Ray. We seemed to try every possible thing to get her motivated...excited...and happy about going to school. As a Moma I was at my wits end...she would have a few good days and then about 10 bad ones...it hurt my heart so very much. I had been patient..tried comforting her...keeping her busy with tasks and focus...been stern and pushy...and finally I put my hands in the air and resorted to bribing her. Sad but true, folks. Sad but true. Jenna drop off this Special barbie that Lila had noticed in a store and wanted and so the next morning I showed her the barbie...and brokered the deal....one week of no tears and the doll was hers the minute she got off the bus on Friday afternoon. Face to face....eye to eye...we shook on it. The doll went up on the highest self in the house. 

The days went by with no tears...and before I know it it was Friday morning. I sent her off with love....

 and when the bus pulled up Friday afternoon....sister comes flying off the bus....yelling..."I did it, Moma!!!"

 and she had! The barbie was hers....but more than that...she also now owned a sense of accomplishment...a goal set and reached.....and a happy week of school under her belt.

Yes...I bribed her....I paid her for this tearless week...but to me it was priceless. Wishing you many more happy weeks of school, my Lila and here's to your fist lesson on commitment!