Football

Quote of the Day:  Kenny Chesney says it best in this video from YouTube The Boys of Fall.  They played this song during the slide show at the Football banquet last night.  My big boy was on the team.  His position is Offensive Lineman.  He played during the JV games and one quarter of a varsity game that our team dominated.  Mostly, he stood on the sidelines, suited up and ready, and cheered on his teammates.  Brainerd had a winning season.  They made it to the metrodome for the semi-final game, and lost. 

My boy is a junior this year.  He has one more season to play, but for the seniors it was like the first graduation of their final year of high school.  A couple of the boys gave speeches and broke down.  One boy said, "Hey, you guys know I'm an emotional guy."  He could barely talk as he said good-bye to the team, and called up next year's captains.

When my boy was in 4th grade he was so excited to sign up to play youth football.  "It's real tackle football, Mom," he said with a gleam in his eye.  At that age, everyone gets to play.  They get to try every position and feel the thrill of the game and hear the crack of the shoulder pads.  They're all smiles and excitement.  So, even though I don't love football and grimace every time I hear that crack of pads and helmets and gently touch their bruises, I get it.  I understand that boys love to play rough.  They love the game, the strategy, the camaraderie.  I also understand that by high school varsity, it's about winning and who can make that happen.  And, the guys who come to practice, take the hits for the starters, and stand on the sidelines to cheer, are dressed and ready in case they might get their chance for a play - just one good hit.

I asked my boy what the best memory or moment was for him this season.  They won some big games, practiced at the Minnesota Vikings training facility, and played in the Metrodome.  He said, "The Apollo game because I got to play most of the last quarter."

This post is dedicated to Sue at the dry cleaners.  Last week, I dropped off my boy's dirty dress clothes and told her I'd need them back for the football banquet.  She got all nostalgic, reminiscing about her son's football days, and we had a good mom chat.  She said she wished she was going to the banquet with us.  She still goes to games.  Once a football mom, always a football mom.

Journaling Prompt:  Write about your high school activity experiences.  Were you a player, or tooting your horn in the pep band like I did?  Or, were you in some other place discovering your gifts and talents?

Room for Play

Quote of the Day:  If work is fun, is it really work?  from yours truly - more of a question to ponder, really, than a quote, or a need for an answer.

If you read my post on Friday, you will remember that taking time to play was on the schedule for the weekend.  Many of you had play dates that you mentioned.  We installed a bit of playground fun in my twins' bedroom

This project sparked all sorts of creativity.  The boys and I designed their loft bed with a slide.  I mean, who wouldn't want to slide into mornings?  Plus, we live in central Minnesota.  Winter winds and piles of snow will soon cover outdoor playgrounds.  I got this idea from a friend who put something similar in her basement playroom.  I roughly sketched the design and talked with craftsman Sid.  He drew up the plans and built it for us.  The big boys and our friend Jon carried it in.  Jon used his problem solving skills to get that long piece into the bedroom which, of course, was the most difficult room to turn into upstairs!

A few weeks ago, my boys and their buddy painted their room.  I let them choose from all the remnant colors in the basement.  We had at least five cans of paint open.

Once the room was cleared and the bed installed, the space opened up creative play from all my boys!

We were blessed with gorgeous fall weather, so the boys also played outside - all the usual sports:  football, soccer, shooting baskets, and something involving lightsabers, a baracade, and lots of running!

I played piano for my church.  Charlie and I shared the water I brought.  During Communion, he came over and got a drink.  I was singing and playing, but whispered between verses that he should take a drink and sit down.  He said he needed to do something first.  He came in closer and kissed me on the cheek - in front of God, the congregation and everybody!

Sweet memories linger: 

Creative Expression on bedroom walls,

An indoor playground that makes you happy to get up in the morning,

Happy, healthy boys who run and play and enjoy being together,

and, a sweet Communion kiss.

Journaling Prompt:  What sweet memories do you have of playing and being with someone you love?

Scout Camp

Quote of the Day:  Scout Oath (or Promise)

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.


Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.

I went to scout camp this year with my twin sons.  It was my first time at scout camp.  The past couple years they've gone with their dad.  When they went with him, they slept in a tent and hauled their stuff a long ways.  I got to go the year that we stayed in the castle!

A courteous young man carried my bags.

Inside is a great hall, a large bathroom for the boys, a large baracks style room for the boys, a couple smaller rooms for the adults (the moms got the smaller rooms with just two sets of bunks and our own bathroom), and another big baracks style room in the dungeon for the dads.  Our den dad said, "That's a whole lotta snoring!"

We learned firearm safety.

Don't I look strong?

We learned to work as a team to build things.

This is a catapult.  And, yes, they got to try it when it was done!

We have a great den leader, Kyle.  His super organizational skills got us into the castle and helped us all have a terrific time at camp.

Thanks, Kyle!

Older Boy Scouts were the leaders.  The guy who's wrapped up like a mummy was in a motorcycle accident just a few days before our camp.  His assistent, in the purple costume, took over some of his duties, but he was with the boys most of the time.  They learned much from this young man who might not have been there but for quick thinking and a good helmet!  The boys were very gentle around him as he patiently explained to them how to do things.

After the bon fire and crazy skits, we walked back to the castle by the light of the full moon.

A couple of tired guys counting stars.

Scout camp is a place where you get lots of exercise walking from activity to campsite to the chow line.  It's a place to try new things and make new friends.  It's a time to see moms and dads stepping up and doing good things with and for their sons. Thanks for the memories, guys!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a camp or camping experience  - a memory from your youth, or a time with children.