Extra-Curriculars

We've slipped back into a nice, if rather hectic, school week routine since mid-August. Monday evenings I have class. We squeeze in TKD for Andrew and my time at the YMCA whatever nights we can, and Tuesday and Thursdays are football nights.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE football practice. I never in a million years would have pegged myself as a football mom. But, here's how it goes. The weather is nice. I take my lawn chair, send the boys on their way, and plop down amongst the other moms. Several big sisters take it upon themselves to entertain Sophie, and I get an hour and a half of forced fresh air and socializing. Fabulous. Plus, as an added bonus, the kids are worked so hard that they are getting great exercising and don't gripe about bedtime. Here's Andrew:
And, shock of all shocks, this is Aidan at football practice as well:

Aidan went to exactly one week of Andrew's football practices before he changed his mind. He was dead set on playing soccer again, and I had already signed him up, resigning myself to one more evening of running here and there. Then, he realized that some of his friends were playing football with Andrew and he changed his mind. I got my money back from the YMCA, wrote my check to school, and we were set. I'm not complaining - one less practice, one less place to go, and cheaper to boot. Aidan has done really well, but at the end of each practice he's so tired that he wants to quit. By the next practice, he's ready to go again. He may actually end up a better player than Andrew. I see my retirement ahead....remember the Manning family? Peyton and Eli? They've got nothing on the Singleton boys!

Our weekends are generally busy, but Saturday went beyond the call of duty. How we fit everything in, I'll never know. At any rate, the kids had a great time. I started the morning off by working the PTO pancake breakfast from 7:30 - 9:30 am. I dropped by the house, picked up the rest of the family, and we were at "Touch a Truck" by 10. We were a little disappointed this year - not nearly as many trucks to touch. However, Aidan enjoyed honking the horn of every vehicle until I nearly went deaf after the dump truck, and Andrew was excited about seeing the new tower truck for the CFD.
By the way - this is NOT one of CFD's trucks!

I didn't get Sophie out of the stroller, but she enjoyed all the honking and even modeled a Duke Energy hat.
After Touch a Truck, we perused the town Yard Sale and stopped by the Boy Scout booth. We didn't find any bargains we couldn't live without and by 11:30 we had met up with Mom and Dad at the Mount St. Francis picnic. The Mount picnic used to be hands-down my favorite, but I was a little disappointed in the food this year - with the exception of the homemade dumplings.

We left the Mount and were home before two for quick naps and snacks. Then, it was time for the event of the day - at least in Andrew's eyes. Andrew has been looking forward to becoming a cub scout for as long as I can remember - and Tony and I are equally excited. I adored Girl Scouts, and Tony regrets never having been a Boy Scout. Because we registered Andrew in May last year instead of waiting until this year, he got to participate in the Boy Scout Parade at the Louisville Bats game. We had to be there at 5:15, because the Scouts paraded around the field before the 6:05 game started. Here is Andrew and one of his friends before the parade:
I left Andrew and Tony and took the little ones with another mom to find our seats. Here is Pack 48, parading around the field. Andrew is so proud!

The Bats game wouldn't be complete without Buddy Bat:

Yes, Aidan, the orange slush did turn your mouth orange!

Sophie was just watching some ball and eating some goldfish!

We had such a great time at the Bats game, although we left after the top of the 6th inning. It was SO hot when we arrived, that by the time the weather cooled down the kiddos were finished. We were so frugal at the game that after we put the kids to bed and I sent Tony out to get us a treat for surviving the day - takeout fried pickled and boneless wings from Hooters. Yummy.

Although our Saturday was packed, we had a great day. I've said it before, but it's worth reiterating - we are so blessed with wonderful friends. Having a job teaching where my kids go to school, particularly this year with Andrew in the same grade, could be a nightmare. But we have such wonderful relationships with the families in the parish, and Andrew has super friends with parents who like us in spite of my teaching job! I used to worry about whether or not my kids would make friends and I would get along with parents - what a waste of worry time!