Friday Night Football

Our favorite memories as a family are made on Friday nights.  The anticipation that day, knowing we are going to Daddy's football game makes Friday a buzz of excitement around our house.  Watching Daddy from afar on the bleachers, visiting with friends and eating sweets way past bedtime makes it an exciting night in itself.

But once the game is over - and everyone gathers on the field - that is my favorite part, it's what we have been waiting all day for.  Chloe and Yates run into Daddy's arms, their patience in waiting to see Daddy- to kiss Daddy- to hug Daddy all day is gone.  Chloe loves to socialize with her "fellow cheerleaders" and adores the attention she gets from the fans, players, and her friends.  But Yates just wants Daddy, and knows he will get to stay in his arms while Daddy mingles with reporters, the players and their families.  He knows football is important to Daddy, and so football is important to him- and he takes that very seriously.  After the last words are spoken on the field and the players and fans start to make their way home, Daddy takes Yates up to the press box where he does his post-game radio show.  Yates goes with him, and by the look on my little boy's face he knows it is a privilege, and his smile glows with pride. 

A coach's son doesn't know, and doesn't care what the score on the scoreboard means- but he does know that his Daddy is his hero... and if Yates could tell him, I know I know he would say how proud he is of his Daddy and the hardwork he puts into his team each and every day of the week.

The Many Faces of a Toddler

The many faces of a two and a half year old...

 

 

Grumpy: Getting up too early (as in, before 8:00 am) in the morning makes you grumpy.  You like to sleep in... and need at least 10-15 minutes of the snooze button before your feet hit the ground.

 

Happy: Daddy and candy make you happy.  Enough said.

 

Sassy: You are sassy, well... let's be honest, most of the time.  But when you play dress-up in your Cinderella dress and wave your "princess wand" we are all subject to your "orders"... and you can get really, really sassy.

 

Silly: You love games.  You love to play hide-n-seek, ring-around-the-rosy and dancing in the kitchen.  You also are a night owl and love to be extra silly when it's time to go to bed. (That drives me crazy by the way, in case you were wondering.)

Daddy's Girl

 

She wanted to play dress-up, as always.  Instead of  the usual Cinderella dress and slippers I suggested Daddy's old college football jersey.  We had just cleaned out closets and I found his jersey tucked away in Yates's room.  She initially turned her nose up ("football is for boys, Mama"), but when I told her "make-up" was involved she quickly agreed.  The funny part of it all was that she called it a dress, because it was so big... so I foresee many more dress-up days in the future with Daddy's dress.

(p.s. This was one of those in-the-moment pictures that I took with my phone.  They turned out blurry/grainy and I regret not getting my camera out.  I still had to share these though when I realized she looked so darn cute ...)

Spaghetti Night

Granny's spaghetti dinner is a very exciting night in our house.  For everyone involved.  Yates usually eats seconds, thirds and sometimes even fourths.  Coach waits very (im)patiently at the foot of his highchair for at least a bite or two.  And Mama gets to clean up the mess... or disaster that is created.  To say that spaghetti gets everywhere is an understatement- but really that is just a testament as to how good it is and how quickly it gets shoveled into bellies.  I used to be that Mama that would quickly give the kids a bath, scrub down the floors, and get anxiety just thinking about the fact that spaghetti would create hours worth of cleaning- but I am learning to embrace the moment and realize that a kid with a spaghetti stained mouth is pretty darn cute, and a four legged vacuum cleaner does a pretty good job helping me clean up.

A messy spaghetti night is worth it, and especially since it is cooked with Granny's love.

Sunday Best

Sundays are for God, family, football, bowties, smocked dresses...

and picking Mama a few flowers before church.

Football Friday Night

 

 

We are three games into our small town Friday Night Football season.  In case you don't know much about K-Town... the whole city shuts down, and comes to the Friday night football games.  The bleachers are completely full and overflowing of fans cheering their heart out, the sound is electrifying and the intensity from the field is felt from the stands.  It really is what you imagine Friday Night Lights to be.

It's a magical night, one we look forward to- and we are very blessed to be a part of it.

Sweet as Candy

 

This girl would rather have candy (lollipops specifically) over anything else, anytime of the day.  Put candy on a necklace and she's sold - she's the sweetest princess there ever was.