The Rush...

I LOVE FALL!  I love the smell of the air, the sound of leaves bustling, cozy sweaters and scarves, hot cocoa and mittens, cuddling, cozy fires, football games and cheering under the lights. {okay so maybe I don't technically cheer anymore but I used to love it}  I still get so excited to be down on the track and sometimes it takes all I have not to run and tumble and jump! {okay, sometimes I do jump, but not that kind of jump}  I'm pretty positive I get more excited than my girls do!

Trying some new things as the new fall coach has proven to be interesting.  Not much is really catching on but I figured that heading into all this.  I will not give up.  Baby steps.  It will be worth it in the end I'm sure.  One idea is Best Fan in The Standz...one adult spectator, showing outstanding spirit in the stands, is chosen weekly as our best fan...{you get the idea}  I find it fun that all our fans are friends of mine...and I didn't help the picking process...not even one time!  Yay, friends!

Another idea is Fan Of The Week.  Same idea, only choosing one student each week and rewarding them with silly string and beads!  Oh, and pics on the sideline both with the girls and alone.  The individual pics will be posted in the high school this weekend!  I am way behind with that project but I finally just met up with the principal last week. {do now, ask for forgiveness later}  I have a big project ahead of me this weekend.  Thank goodness for my Cricut.

The third idea I won't get into because it is still a work in progress.  The fourth is bringing music to the stadium pregame, including fun tunes and the fight song.  The music happened last night but late {oh well} and the fight song never happened at all.  I think I might have to hire a professional. {Andrew}  By the end of the season, I hope to have all kinks ironed out.

We decided early on to do some sort of community give-back and I wasn't sure what to do.  I had some ideas for winter time and some other ideas I have done before and wanted something new.  I was thumbing through a BHG mag and noted that National Day of Service was September eleventh.  Fitting.  I semi dropped the ball but it was hard to come up with something different but able to be done by girls who aren't yet old enough to drive.  I decided in the shower {I do all my thinking there}the day before to ask Wesco if we could pump gas and wash windshields for their patrons.  I did not know of the law that prohibits people under the age of sixteen from pumping gas but I was awarded the windshield washing.  I assured Wesco people this was not a fundraiser and no money would be accepted by us as tip money.  I was told that no solicitation could occur, and when I started to repeat that we were not asking for money, I was interrupted with, "No...you know what I mean."  Well I didn't...but then I did!  Wowza.  We perched downtown so we were most visible.  We got lots of honks and waves and some patrons too.  The girls had fun and felt like they did something nice for others.  We will definitely be doing more fun stuff.

Big trucks were no match for my girls...they totally used their resources!

Little did the girls know that washing windows builds monster muscles!

I had the pleasure of working a little with the 1962 undefeated football team.  I met one of the guys in charge at a golf outing two summers ago.  He asked me to help him with the big fifty year reunion that was already slated for the fall of  two thousand twelve.  Fun.  I had done the alumni tent the fall prior and my name was mentioned to the man as a liaison of sorts between his group and the school.  Anywho, with us getting a new AD this year, I was really not of too much help so I fit in where I could.  The night of the event was amazing.  Spirits were high.  There was a definite buzz in the air.  People were everywhere.  The weather was perfect.  It was a definite rush.

The only thing stopping the night from ending perfectly was the outcome of the game.  Oh well.  Can't win 'em all.

Speaking of not winning them all...this is what happens when two friendly cops, whose children attend rival schools, happen to be neighbors...

This sign was posted at the end of our driveway, along with the North Muskegon baseball hat.  This is what happens when you mess with the Vikings...{according to Kyle}

And this is what happens when your mom is a cheerleading coach and you want in on the action...

I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why Kyle put dots between the words.  Then I remembered...my girls' banners read, "Go.Fight.Win."  Ah.  And he obviously paid attention to other details, too, since his "s" in Wildcats looks just like the ones on the footballs I made. 

The rush...it's fall...and I LOVE it!

A New Chapter...

Firsts, Firsts, Firsts...lots and lots of firsts.  This year is my first season of coaching fall sideline cheer.  I have wanted this job forever.  It is mine now and I won't give it up!  It's a tough age to work with but for all the negatives to coaching teenage girls, they are still fun!  Luckily I went back to blond because I imagine by now I am growing gray hair from being a mom of now thirteen high schoolers instead of just one!

Speaking of high school, I registered Caleb for high school and it was pretty hassle free.  Except without fail we  needed to request a schedule change.  Caleb decided he didn't want to have to repeat Algebra since he took it in seventh grade!  It was an easy change and was taken care of the next day.  My first experiences with the high school have been no biggie.

Finally, at age fifteen, Caleb had his first ever boy/girl party.  He thought I went overboard hanging balloons in the garage {on string, super cute}but I thought he'd think I went overboard with the "Caleb" confetti.  Yes, it is childish.  Yes, I was still excited to find his name!!  No, I wasn't looking for it.

The party was a big hit. {I think}  It certainly gets easier with older kids.  Supply food, drinks and music and let them figure out their own entertainment.

While at the high school registration, I signed up to chaperone both the Homecoming dance and the Christmas dance.  Caleb was right there with me.  Another friend and her son came up and she offered to sign up and you would have thought she dropped her drawers to pee in the cafeteria...he was so embarrassed and so against it!  Poor mom.  I am so lucky.

This was also the first year I didn't have much to do with Andrew's registration.  He had leadership training so I took him to school, dropped off his packet in a mail bin, grabbed his locker assignment and was out the door.  So very robotic.

This was also the first time I didn't make it to school open houses.  They were scheduled on a Wednesday, which is not the norm, and we had a game.  I felt so bad for all my freshmen {all thirteen, remember?} who could not go and had no idea what to expect from high school.  Sigh.

Kyle is going to school all day this year.  Eleven round about years at Shoreline.  Whew.  I sound old.  Kyle's new teacher is new to the district and he was nervous to meet her.  Actually he was less than thrilled.  I was able to schedule a private meeting with her so that Kyle would feel confident going to school on his first day.  BINGO.

First graders get hot lunch.  Bonus.  Kyle is so picky.  I figured he would cross most hot lunches off the calendar and then I would be left with the daunting task of coming up with a suitable cold lunch for him.  And myself.  Surprisingly, he only crossed off six days all month.  Progress.

The varsity's Defensive Coordinator asked Keith if he would ask Caleb if he would be interested in being on the sidelines with him, writing down all the plays the coordinator calls so he can reference the list when breaking down film.  It is right up Caleb's alley but I wondered if he would turn it down so he could go to the games with his friends.  I should have known better.  He never hesitated.  He'll be a coach someday.  I'm sure of it.

I'm having my very first issue with the school.  I love our school.  I am thrilled that the boys have always been able to participate in advanced and accelerated classes.  Caleb's trip to the high school daily last year was a great experience.  Not so much this year for Andrew.  Last spring he received his schedule stating geometry first hour.  There was no teacher for the subject and no high school class planned for first hour. {tricky}  As of late August, same issue.  As of the first day of school, same issue.  I hope it gets resolved soon.

Lastly, or at least in my brain, is the first day of a new year in school.  Andrew was psyched to wear his cool new tie dyed tee, with his name on it.  He had to wear it the first day of school for WEB. {Where Everyone Belongs}  He was stoked his tee was much cooler than Caleb's eighth grade tee.

My brand new high schooler.  Where does the time go? {not a zit on his forehead, but an ulcer}  It doesn't make me sad that he's growing up so fast and maturing.  I am so proud of him.  I didn't cry at registration and I didn't cry taking him to the bus stop on the first day.  What has gotten me, what is getting me at any given moment, and what will get me for the next few years is people referencing high school and how fast time goes by.  Yeah, yeah...I get it.  I also get that I never really thought about what would happen when Caleb graduates.  Yes, I know he plans on college and always has, but I never really thought about what that would mean.  I've figured it out.  He will move away to another state to attend school and will probably love it there and stay forever.  Forever!  He'll come home for some holidays but will have to split his time between us and his bride's family.  I want to send a smoke signal out...Pat and Jen, you both are on notice...we will be spending holidays together!  SO who's cooking the Thanksgiving turkey?? ☺

Ah, this kid...all ready for first grade.  Except he is less than thrilled about getting three recesses.  Yes, I typed that correctly...he is bummed to have three recesses!  How many boys can you count who have ever said that?  He's just plain crazy.  I cannot figure it out.

And The Fun Just Keeps On Coming...

So much has happened this summer and I miss blogging terribly.  Honestly, I am looking forward to fall because I will truly have some free time.  With Both K and I coaching and Caleb playing football, we are crazy busy {so busy that I forgot about planning for Kyle during the season} during the week but weekends look marvy...at least according to the calendar.  Unless I've scheduled something fr us, we are hearing crickets come weekend time.  And I love it.  I will finally be able to get some projects done {like painting the front door} and I am totally looking forward to pulling out the scrapbooks and dusting them off.  Finally...a fall we get to enjoy!

I found some shots from this summer that I didn't yet share.  Kyle enjoyed hanging out at Coach Zweigle's house playing ball.  Totally in his element.  Dressing like the big boys.  The guys are always so good to him.  Mr. Malbouef, Mr. Russell and Coach Aardema played basketball, cornhole and catch with him and coach Zweigle let him use the varsity equipment and even let Kyle take home an old bat, hat and ball.  Why didn't we make it to more happy hours this summer? lol

 It happened.  It totally happened.  I celebrated my twentieth reunion with classmates in mid August.  I totally tried to plan some grand shindig {maybe not grand, but thought out and fun} but in the end it just didn't pan out.  I was okay with it.  I was more concerned with people thinking I didn't put my time in than with my efforts not coming to fruition.  We had planned for a weekend event.  When the day finally came, I almost didn't go.  It was a long day at camp and I was emotionally exhausted.  I changed my mind last minute and headed out.  Friday night we met up at the Red Rooster for drinks.  It was a small turn out but I laughed a ton.  K met us out there and I'm a little embarrassed to say we closed the place down.  Saturday most of us made reservations at Crosswinds then headed to the beer tent, where seriously I think we were the oldest ones there.  How did that happen?  We ended the night at the Pub and, again, had an awesome time.  I laughed and laughed all night long.  It is great to know that not much has changed in twenty years.  It was as if we all just picked up right where we left off.  Now I want to reunionate every year.  My house, peeps. {we live so close to the Rooster, ya know}

Skipping ahead, and maybe for good, we celebrated the last holiday weekend before school with a little tubing and grilling and kick balling.  As it always goes, our first tube popped on blow up, our second tube never blew up and we were down two units of floating.  I bought three rafts for the boys.  K and I were going to float on a borrowed air mattress but then I thought of Kevin, who would have had to also float on a raft and asked if he'd want to trade me.  Once they got over floating together on one mattress, both K and Kevin were relieved to get what they thought was the better deal.  Yeah, buddy.  Three quarters of the way down the river, their mattress was punctured and they had to walk the rest of the way.  Holding my breath for an hour so I didn't tip over on my junior sized pool raft was totally worth it for that reason alone.

After getting sand out of most crevices from both the river and the beach, we grilled out with friends.  I believe we were totally full by the time we actually ate dinner.  It was another long day of fun and laughter.  Later we played kick ball with a soccer ball and of course the adults lost but that's because the game was rigged.

Afterward, the oldies {and Nate} played football against the babies.  I'm guessing the oldies didn't fare too well...but what do I know?

I may be totally off the mark but it looks to me as if there was a little cheating going on...

And Then It Was August...

Let me take a think break...remembering back, I was supposed to make it to Caleb's scrimmage before his season started.  That day, Kyle got sick.  First I thought it was because Andrew yanked hm off the couch and he hit his head and had a headache, like he told me when he called me.  Later, after asking why it happened and yelling at Andrew for it, Kyle told me he woke up with the headache!  But not before I called to check on him and was told he had been sleeping for a couple hours!  All I could think of was a concussion and I panicked and sped home.  Needless to say, I missed the scrimmage and there was no concussion.  just my poor baby Kyle and a puke bucket.  All. Day. Long.  Oh, and in case you are wondering, Andrew told Kyle to get dressed and he wouldn't so Andrew pulled him off the couch.  Oh, and Andrew was being paid to babysit.  I may have called him the worst babysitter ever at the point where I thought kyle's pain was related but I did later apologize and explain my anger. {but did I really need to explain?}

At the missed scrimmage, Caleb had "four or five tackles" and...he was scolded for "punching" another kid.  Okay, in a normal world, anyone might say "WHOOPIE, a few tackles" and "Ground that kid for punching and not knowing any better and you've failed as a parent and..." but on the contrary, K and I were thrilled with the tackles and, quite frankly, a bit tickled by the punch that turned out to be a push.  Caleb is not 

a-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e {couldn't help myself} on the field and is truly scared to death to make contact in fear of dying I assume.  I have told him repeatedly that in order to get over the fear, he has to make contact one time to see what it feels like.  Apparently he liked it.  As for the "punching", he was scolded by the ref and later by the coach {because he had to, right?}and figured he'd be in trouble at home.  We gave him a little parenting...and tried to hide the enthusiasm of being proud of him, not for using a form of violence but for sticking up for himself on the field.  It could have gone a few different ways but I was happy to see he has the spark.  It was a true day of growth for him.

Being on the sidelines coaching is really tough for me.  I cannot see much of anything, including players down, and it quite honestly sucks.  Don't get me wrong, I am really enjoying coaching but I am missing out on the field action!  The other night Kyle runs up to tell me the player down is Caleb!  I stood there, watching.  On one hand, I'm next to the filed so I could easily run over but on the other hand I do not want to be that parent who rushes over because her son tripped over his shoelace. {don't laugh, that really could happen to him}  besides, with K on the sidelines I knew if it was serious enough {but when is it NOT??} he would be on the scene.  I waited it out but bless my cheerleaders' hearts...they kept telling me to go over to Caleb.  Sweet little beans. ☺ And he's fine.  He thought he was kicked in the stomach but the truth is he was more like stepped on by the looks of the cleat print under his rib! 

There is one thing I get to see from where I stand...this sweet little kiddo. {although I tend to see too much of him while he is gallivanting back and forth all game long!}  He's now my go-to for all down players on the field.  I thought we'd do it on the DL, however.  Instead, I hear him screaming at me from the actual sidelines...as he was heading toward me just in front of the bleachers!  I'll bet you didn't realize the lanes of the track are sooo wide?!

Cheer has been a little tricky.  Twenty four girls signed up for tryouts but only thirteen actually showed up.  I decided to keep all thirteen, knowing we'd have plenty of work to do.  In the midst, we lost one to dance, which was a bummer.  We had a difficult time at stunt camp, vacation work-arounds and personalities clashing a bit but come game day, they knocked my socks off with how well they did together with such little time together to practice.  It's going to be a fun season!

Varsity football is in full swing and it's fun to sit in the bleachers on Friday nights, cheering for our Vikings.  I've been taking pics of the team for their FB page and, I swear, the energy on that field is contagious!  This year I am watching not only K down there coaching but Kyle on the side, cheering our boys on and Caleb, who was asked to keep track of defensive plays for the Defensive Coordinator.  What an honor!  It's so right up his alley.  I was afraid he'd turn down the offer because it would mean no hanging out with friends in the stands but  should have known that this is da bomb in his world.

We planned to spend a nice evening two weekends ago with friends at the campground, but it already set in...while coaching, I prefer to be home bound.  I cannot easily be swayed to leave my domain during the season.  I find real comfort in the confines of my own walls.  Not to rain on their parade, K and Kyle headed out without me.  I sent chips and dip, although we just had a conversation about that the night before. {kind of a marriage faux pas in my opinion}  I just didn't have it in me to do more. {sorry Huiz}  Anywho, I felt a sudden burst of energy and since I had been hanging onto a bunch of sayings I wanted to use somehow relating to either football or cheer, I decided to update my wall for fall.  Hopefully I can post a full pic soon...every time I try to take one, it turns out dark, even with my flash on!  For now this is all I can offer...

{don't mind the "are gray" at the top...that is always there!}

Taking a break from summer for a moment, I found another project to add to my novel. I love the look of lining drawers and this is stinkin' cute!

I got to drool over tons of paper online and want these stores close to home. STAT!

This is an easy enough project and adds just the spice I need in my life right now. ☺