The Wallwork's: Sports

Oh September and October how you have come and gone. Why can't I keep up with the passing months? It's not like I'm extrememly busy with 4 kids in school, 2 in football, and one is soccer for a very short time, activity days, and an eternally unclean house.

This is, by far, my favorite time of the year...the weather cools down and the kids are actually excited to be going back to school, and the leaves start turning colors of yellows, reds, oranges, and shades in between. LOVE.IT.

John had his birthday in September and I started the post and then got tired of sitting at the computer. Story of my blogging life. Anyway, we did nothing spectacular for his birthday. Birthdays were never a big deal at my house and I've sort of kept that tradition alive. We did go to a concert on a houseboat though which just happened to fall on his birthday week. He let me count that. Lame of me, I know. But the concert was fun. Just a small houseboat concert at night on the Columbia River. It was cozy and had such great ambience. It was also nice to go on a date during the week and kind of take a break. It was a concert by Sarah Sample, whom neither of us had heard of. But we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. That's why I love this man. He is always willing to do whatever. If I want to do it and want him to come, he is there (well, I do have to beg and plead for him to come hiking with me on Badger Mtn., but other than that and running with me he's great!). The kids made a banner for him to surprise him when he came home and we had delicious homemade maple butter blondies...one of his favorites.

Happy Birthday Babe! You ARE the best!

Along with September comes football season. Israel decided he wanted to play this year after skipping last year. He's doing great. He's a lineman where there is no glory, but he's good at what he does. Often times the opposing team will put two guys on him or he breaks through the line. I love it. Now the competetive side of me wishes he would crush some kids but I have to remember it's not high school or college just grid kids. I don't think that kid has a mean bone in his body anyway...definitely takes after his dad.

Love his smile!

Israel's fans.

We also STRONGLY encouraged Wyatt to give football one more year. I didn't want him coming home after school and doing absolutely nothing or worse, play video games. So he did. He hated the first few weeks of football, but from what his coaches have said, he was a hard worker anyway. Always giving his best effort. About three weeks ago he was put up on varsity and he was excited! He was playing both varsity and JV. Numbers at Pasco High are small and several kids play both Varsity and JV. He was excited to wear the varsity jersey. He played in two games. In his last JV game, after catching the ball for a first down, he was tackled and fractured his collarbone. Of course, he thought it was just sore, and asked to come out of the game but they had no replacement for him so he played a few minutes more. Next day, the doc confirmed my suspicions and he is now out for the rest of the season. He was bummed, and we were bummed for him. But the great thing is that he's planning on going out for football next year. Here's hoping.

Taken with my iPhone so forgive the picture quality.

Wyatt and TJ

Varsity...Friday night lights! Sunnyside game

Fans...Kekoa was cranky because we wouldn't let him climb on the stands. His life is so rough!

Finally free!!

This year we have 4 kids in three schools. Wyatt at the High School, Tealani at the Middle School, and Nyah and Israel in Elementary. It's a little crazy with the different schedules but we're getting used to it. John was also hired as McGloughlin Middle School's new principal this year and he is loving it. It has been nice to have him home at 5:30ish almost every day as well as the weekends. No Friday night sports or Saturday school anymore...LOVE it!!

Israel has decided to be in band this year and play the trumpet also.He's really liking it, but now that means I have to get Nyah to school. I guess it forces me to get out of the house early and not lounge around in my pajamas all morning...like I'd ever do that!

After I drop Nyah and Korissa off, I take a little detour home sometimes and walk to the park so Kekoa can get outside and play before it gets too cold.

Fall never lasts long enough for me.

Here are just a bunch of photos and a few videos I've taken and never posted because I was, as I'd like to say...busy.

I have been giving the kids piano for almost a year now. They had their first piano recital in May. Although they could play them flawlessly at home, they were a bit nervous and had a few brain freezes here and there. It was so fun to watch them and yet I was glad that they did not have to practice those songs at home anymore!

Nyah-Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

She'd only been taking piano for 4 months. It was a struggle at first, she could not remember where middle C was and so we had to go to the simplest books. But when she caught on she was on fire. Now, she plays piano everyday and goes beyond her lesson and does awesome. She's great sight reader.

Israel-Marine's Hymn. 8 months playing

When Israel started playing the piano, he took off and there was no stopping him. But lately, the novelty of playing the piano has worn off and it is a chore to get him to practice, but we keep plugging along and doing what we can to get him motivated. He has such talent for it, I can't let him quit.

Te'alani-Chiapanecas (The Mexican Hand-Clapping Song) 8 months playing

She struggled with wanting to play the piano at first and had a hard time catching on to certain things but as she went through the school year playing the trumpet in band and playing in Mad Mallets (big xylophone things) she started to excel and now she is an incredible player at her level.

There was no way Wyatt was going to play in a recital...so I didn't force the issue. Besides I think he would have had to play Three Blind Mice. He wanted me to start giving him lessons again and is doing okay. He's just busy with all the other teenage stuff, but he still wants to learn so I still teach.

And then there's Kekoa who just bangs away. Video courtesy of the kids. Thought you'd appreciate some of these mom.