We did the Color Run!

Last Saturday, the boys and I participated in a color run as a fundraiser for the band program at our schools.  Basically, this is a run (5K) where at a few different points along the route, you get sprayed with colored water.  Also, at the end, you get to douse yourself with colored chalk.  What a great way to start your day (or end it, since I had worked the night before).  The only true runners in our group were Marcus and Cale.  Marcus actually came in first and Cale came in 4th.  Their times are a mystery since no one was keeping track.  I don't think Marcus even got to run through a finish line ribbon or anything.  Just the satisfaction of a job well done will be his reward.  Ewan finished in the middle and Liam and I came in a respectable not last.  Anyway, I think the boys all had fun.  Afterward, there was a dunk tank where Ewan sunk his future band director twice in a row with a powerful throw.  Some snacks and social time wrapped up our time.  Hope we get to do this again next year!

Before, all clean and crisp.

The aftermath.  Some of them enjoyed the chalk more than others.

Grandpa needs to start shopping

The boys have been inspired by some robot battle show on tv.  They want to build their own and have their own battles.  Grandpa Jerry is on board for the building.  He told the boys to make a list of the supplies they need.  Here is Cale's....

"2 small stainless steel knives

1 small blow torch

20 wires

1 large chip

3 sheets of metal

4 medium of-road wheels"

Well, this list promises to be interesting.  Have fun boys.

rec league soccer is over!

I have the computer to myself. 

 In the car. 

 At Marcus's third to last soccer practice.  

Time for a new blog post.

Here are some pics from Cale, Ewan and Liam's last soccer games. Rec league ended last weekend in between the girls' birthdays.  The boys played great, got awards and we even tried to go to a semi-pro soccer game that day.

Ewan, right after a kick.  One of the fastest kids on his team and a good passer.

Cale, playing goalie.  He stood a lot in this game.

Liam has scored a couple goals this season.  He runs with the pack most of the time and understands the rules of the game.  And, he has fun!  What us can we ask for?

Ewan and his medal.

Liam and his medal, and snacks.

Cale, Cale, Cale.  Cale won MVP for his team this season.  His second time he won this award.  He is now the owner of 2 white soccer balls with the rec club logo on them.  Liam promptly claimed the old one for himself.  Cale was gracious enough to give Liam the ball.

And, then, to top off the day, Marcus's second game got rained and lighteninged out, as did our trip to the Indy Eleven soccer game.  We got to see about 20 mins of the game, including a goal by the Indy Eleven, before they called a weather delay and made everyone leave the stadium.  We got to the parking garage just in time before the downpour started.  Turns out, about that time, a tornado was going through a neighborhood on the south side of Indy (we were downtown).  Who knew?  Anyway, we did not stay for the re-opening of the gates which did not happen till 10pm.  We will have to try to attend a full game later.

A break from sports.  How sweet is that?

Good thing sleds are so cheap

Last Saturday was the warmest day of the past week.  It was also the day after a fair amount of snow had fallen.  Time to drag the sleds out of the garage for their yearly trip to the park.  I drove the boys club of Marcus, Cale, Ewan, Liam and their neighbor friend.  

The park has a great hill that goes down into the golf course area.  Clearly, we were not the only ones taking advantage of the weather.

Marcus was good about letting Liam ride with him.  Then I convinced Liam to take a trip down by himself....no more hitching a ride after that!

Liam had a blast and I constantly caught him eating snow!

This boy....he would be the one covered in snow.

The best way to get a picture of a group of boys-wait until they are tired.

5 boys + 3 sleds = sledding fun!

Random basketball update

Can't believe I haven't mentioned how basketball is going.  And, since I'm up with the boys before school, I have a chance to be on the computer.  So, here we go folks...

Marcus has been playing 6th grade ball.  The school has an A team and B team. Marcus plays are fair amount of time with the B team.  He has gotten better as the season has gone on.  His season is almost over.  He has a game tonight, Thursday, a tournament Saturday and one more game next Wednesday.  I think both the A and B teams win most of their games.  I honestly don't know.

Cale is on a 4th/5th grade rec team.  Their name is the Pacers.  The 4th/5th grade teams are called by NBA names.  I think right now his team in 3-1.  It's always fun to watch Cale play.  He gets a little tired of my unsolicited advice so I try not to yell too loud.  He can shut down most of the starters for the 4th grade travel team, which makes me a little proud, since Cale doesn't get a lot of playing time of the travel team.  And, Cale is playing travel ball again.  Still not seeing the floor a whole lot.  We finally asked the coach what he would like Cale to improve on.  It's a start.  I do feel the players are all pretty equal, but whatever.  Cale likes it and it's more practice time for him.  I think the travel team has won 3 games.  The only kid that could really shoot the ball moved away, and since no other players were every developed as shooters.... One more regular season game, a week off and then tourney play starts.  I'm hoping for a fast out.  Shame on me, I know.

Ewan is on a 2nd grade rec team.  I think their name is Auburn.  Their record is 2-1 or 3-1.  There are four teams for 2nd grade ball.  I think he's having fun.  I have seen an improvement in Ewan's playing.  Ewan will tell you that his best sport is soccer, but I wonder if that is because he is not actually playing that sport right now.  Of course, Ewan would probably rather not play a sport and just spend his time in imagination play.  But, on the other hand, I know that he likes and wants to be as good at sports as his brothers.  Ewan is also playing on the 2nd grade travel team.  10 kids tried out, and 10 kids made the team.  He is not the strongest player, by far, but he sees a good amount of playing time in each game.  The league they are in is not very challenging, and Ewan's team, all the players, have been playing organized ball since kindergarten.  Next year, the team will be in the Indy Hoops league, which will be tougher.  Will Ewan be a part of that team?  Who knows.

Liam just started team practices and games a few weeks ago.  I should know, since I am his coach.  A  moment of weakness made me offer myself to coach these small folk.  The team is 0-2 and I will be surprised and excited if we win a game.  For all the assistant coach and I do in practice, the kids can't seem to remember that it's okay to catch a rebound.  They also forget to move around on offense.  And, sometimes, can't remember how to guard the other team.  We also aren't great scorers.  Liam sporadically participates in practices.  I think it's because he is just not very coordinated and basketball is hard for him so he doesn't want to try (might have gotten that from his mother).  But, he likes the idea of being on the team and I can convince him to play in the games if there is a promise of a snack afterwards.  But, the kids seem to be having fun, and I know that 's the most important thing.  But, I'm competitive.  A win would be nice, too.

Rec league goes through most of February.  This weekend, we have a bunch of games.  Saturday Marcus has his tourney, Ewan has 2 games, Cale has 1 game and Liam has a double header.  Then Saturday Cale plays his last regular season travel game.  Busy, busy.

My goal is to maybe take some pictures, since I just realized I have none to share right now.

I've got some handsome boys here

Working on checking things off my to-do list today.  Baking Cale's birthday cake, wrapping presents, never-ending laundry, cleaning, and uploading photos.  Friday is our "slow" day with just one basketball practice this evening.  And, I have to work.  Saturday promises to be chock-full of basketball with three of these boys having a practice and one with a game.  

For viewing enjoyment, here are their school pictures, taken in September.  I can't promise, but I'm hopeful to get these pics to all family members expecting pics by Christmas.

Ewan-2nd grade

Liam-kindergarten

Marcus-6th grade

Cale-4th grade

Ready, set, go for school!

School started yesterday (Monday).  The boys liked it enough to go back today.  So, at home now, it's girl time.  The ladies and I are just hanging out.  Yesterday we watched some Wiggles, went grocery shopping for lunch food, at lunch, took naps and then Marcus was home!  I have no expectations to get more stuff done since I just have the two girls at home.  Today, I want to take them to the library in the bike trailer-Kinley's first time.  

Marcus is in 6th grade.  Middle school.  Last week, we took him to his school to try out his locker combination and walk his schedule.  Most of his classes are in the 6th grade hallway except for band and pre-algebra.  (Mr. I-have-a-D+ in- math the last 9 weeks of 5th grade got placed in the advanced math class thanks to his high score on ISTEP) Anyway.  Then, Andy took Marcus a few days later to drop off his school supplies in his locker.  

Meet the teacher night for the elementary and primary schools was last Friday.  I was so happy to get all the school supplies out of our house.  I'm not too sure how excited the kids were to meet their teachers.  

Cale did not want his picture taken.  Tough Cale, I'm your mom.  Look at the camera. Cale will have Mrs. Burkhardt for homeroom and language arts (Marcus had this teacher, too) and Mr. Bullock for math.

Liam, you cannot tell by the picture, was actually pretty excited to meet his teacher and see his classroom.  Liam has Mrs. Goff, the same kindergarten teacher that Cale had.

Ewan has Mr. Clary for his teacher.  Right now, Ewan will be in this class for both reading and math.

Ice cream always makes them happy.

Then, we tried out the school playground.

Marcus was ready to go out to the bus stop about 20 minutes before the bus came.  His bus picks up at 7:05, so he was out there early.  There are, I think, 7 middle school/high school kids at our stop.  Marcus said the bus ride was a lot more quiet than he thought it would be.  

The rest of the boys were out at the stop by 8am.  Their bus picks up between 8:10-8:15.  We are never late because we live right on the corner and the kids are always ready to go in the morning. Liam was super pumped about riding the bus.

 

Well, all the boys at our stop made it, there are 3 girls not in this picture.

Everyone had a great first day!  Liam made it off the bus at the right stop that afternoon.  From what I could pry out of the kids, they all had fun at school.  Liam even ate the school lunch.  I think this will be a great school year!

end of year wrap up/start of summer fun

The boys are finished up with school last Friday, June 6th.  They were kept busy that last week with soccer camp and basketball camp, not to mention soccer games three nights that week.  Now we are relaxing our way through the first of 7 weeks of our summer break.  I have a feeling it's going to go by too fast.

Last day of school pic.

Liam, kind of running in his game.  Grammy Pammy says that watching Liam play soccer reminds her of Ferdinand the Bull (from the story Ferdinand).  I have to agree.

Saturday, the 7th, saw the last soccer games for Liam, Ewan and Cale.  Marcus has been done with soccer for a couple weeks now.

Ewan

Cale

Ewan's team

Liam, thrilled that he got a medal and a snack.

Cale's team got 2nd place in the U10 league.  

Cale's team

We started the library reading program on Monday.  The kids got to see a science experiment show and Cale, Ewan and Liam each got their own library cards.  Marcus already has one and his mother needs the pay off the tab she incurred returning books/movies very late.  $19.25 late.  Ouch.  

Marcus started 2 weeks of band camp on Tuesday.  Classes are in the morning and are section specific.  He is in the trombone, baritone, tuba group.  Marcus is pretty excited about getting his horn and starting to learn to play it.  

And, this morning (wednesday), Cale and Ewan took off for Cub Scout camp with Andy.  They should have a blast.  The weather looks like it will be great, too.  I can't wait to hear some of their camp stories when they get back on Saturday.