Soccer Camp

Brynn is playing soccer this fall and she's really excited about it...so she went to this SEMO soccer camp a couple of weeks ago. 

The first night started out a little rough...We got there on the first night and thought that they were going to break up the Pre-K and K kids from the older kids (they were up to 8th grade).  So Brynn runs out all excited but they keep ALL the kids together and the coach starts barking out orders and kids are running around everywhere and Brynn looks at us like "oh my gosh what is going on here and I could cry at any moment."  Part of me was thinking "it's so good for her to experience this" and then another part of me was like "dude...some of these kids don't even know how to dribble and he's yelling stuff I don't even know how to do!"  Every single water break she would slowly run over to us and Ryan would give her her water bottle and she would just LOSE IT.  But somehow before the water break was up she'd slowly make her way back out there.  I'll admit that I was SUPER proud of her for that.  My parents and my sister went that Sunday night and we were all like "wow, Ryan great pep talk!  How did you get her back out there?"  He says "I just reminded her to keep it up and we are going to Paglia's after this and then I"ll take her to Target!"  HA!  #greatparenting

Slowly but surely she got a little more confident and then the last half hour they broke up into age groups...she LOVED that part.  

The next couple of nights we knew what to expect so it went much smoother...we just talked before we went how she would have to play with the big kids for the first half and then she'd play soccer games with the younger kids, and she was great.  The SEMO soccer team girls were SO SWEET to stay with her and help her and I'm really glad we pushed her to stay out there and not quit.    

Wow...she was doing great!  (And obviously by great I mean...she was nowhere near one of the better younger ones, but for her to get out there and try her best...we were really proud!)  As she gets older and starts more activities it's easy to see how people get caught up in wanting their kid to be the best.  Of course I want her to do well in things, but I just pray that she sees us as the kind of parents who are proud of her no matter what.  I'm sure some things she will be really good at and some things she won't be so good at, but I want her to know that we are proud of her no matter what.  If she finishes last in something or she doesn't make a certain team (I'll just warn her not to try out for choir if she has my genes...lol!) then we will still support her just the same.

And Emory...oh this kid...

Here's what she thought about watching soccer camp...

I was SO THANKFUL that our friends were there and their little boy Alex was also doing soccer camp!

The kids got to meet Rowdy the Redhawk the last night!

Randoms =)

I've been reading the book "The Nesting Place" by the blogger "The Nester" (it was a house warming gift from our family friend Lisa and it IS AWESOME...if you need an idea for a housewarming gift or a book for someone who likes decorating, this is a great idea.)  It's all about how she designs and decorates her house and about hospitality, etc. It's just so good.  Anyway - I've been reading it and of course it gives me the design itch.  There are still lots of places in our house that are bare or we just threw old stuff on and I want to eventually do something fun and new there.  One of those places was in our bedroom across from our bed.  We literally had a tv sitting on the dresser and that was it and it drove me nuts.  Ryan doesn't always like my design "itch" because it costs him moolah so I set out to Goodwill to just see what I could do.  I came home with this...(I bought a couple of pictures just for the frames...they were like 50 cents.  I'm sure the cashier was like "what?"  And of course Emory loved the picture when I took it out of the frame, so that picture is now up in her closet I think!  HA!)

I got out some other things we already had, filled some old frames with burlap (and I'd love to put old black and whites of our grandparents on their wedding day in those...hint hint grandma!), and a day later...had this.  I've added a few more things to it but I really like it and it's coming together. And it's so much more fun to look at than the bare wall.  And I think I spent like 11 bucks at Goodwill.

Soaking up the last few days of summer at the Water Park...

This picture is out of order but I told Emory and Brynn that Ebby Lee was coming to visit and this is the face Emory made...priceless!  We love you Slaughters!

And then there's her hair...anyone have any suggestions or know how Einstein fixed his?

We went to Discovery Playhouse...

and soaked in our last visit with Ebby Lee, Nixon, and Bowen before they left to head back to Texas...

Brynn helped with some cookies...=)

and I made some engagement cookies for the boy I went to my high school Farewell Freshman dance with!  HA!  Congrats Whit! (Yes, he and I had the same name).  Full circle moment...that dance was 16 years ago.  WHOA.

Ride 'Em Cowgirl

While Erika and her kids were still here, we headed to Zalma on Monday and the kids got to ride horses!  It was SO FUN to watch them...and I loved it too.  There is just something about riding a horse...it's so fun!

The kids were definitely nervous at first...

But thankfully once they got on and started going they were all smiles and so excited!

After they rode, then Emory and I took a turn.

Bowen and Erika rode, and then the girls asked to ride again.  I was shocked when Brynn actually wanted to ride by herself!  She and Ebby Lee got their own horse and went out on a ride together.  =)

I had visions of myself just galloping off on a horse (I don't know why that always sounds like it would be so fun) but I didn't...instead we just walked slowly, but it was AWESOME!  Thanks Aunt Tina and Erika for inviting us...next summer I'm seriously going on my gallop ride!

"Family Reunion" Weekend

At the very beginning of August we had a very special weekend with some of my very very favorite people!  My cousin Erika (most of you probably know her and she has a popular blog but I'm technologically challenged and I don't know how to link to it...ha!) planned her annual summer road trip to Missouri with her family!  Her mom and my mom are sisters, and my Aunt Tina lives in a small town about 45 minutes away.  We had so much fun going out there to grill out, hang out, swim, and visit!

Since Erika was coming a bunch of our extended family also planned to come.  My mom's other sister, my Aunt Gina, and her whole crew came and stayed with my grandma, and my sister came in town too!  WOOHOO!  

Lindsey got there super late Thursday night, so on Friday morning we headed over to my mom's and the "big girls" got to go get our nails done!  Thank you for treating us to pedicures mom!  It was so fun!

We pretty much hung out ALL DAY LONG and that evening we ate and then were heading over to my parents neighbors pool that they were taking care of.  The girls wanted to get in but didn't have their suits, so we just let them get in...in their birthday suits.  Ryan borrowed a pair of my Dad's swim shorts, and then all of a sudden my mom JUMPS IN WITH HER CLOTHES ON!  Just to be crazy and fun I guess?  It was a hilarious moment to say the least...HA!

Saturday morning we got up and headed to Zalma to Aunt Tina's house (or as the kids call her...T-Nonnie's house).  Brynn and Ebby Lee wasted NO TIME heading to the pool!

I have to say...my cousin's have all married well, and my awesome cousin Ty married a keeper...Morgan!  Well Morgan and Erika decided we needed a fun game...I heard someone suggested a wiffle-ball tournament, but I think those two nixed wiffle-ball in favor of washers.  =)  We set up a big tournament bracket and Erika was drawing names for teams.  (The fam still clains I rigged the bracket...but that's not true. I can't help it that Marshall and I were so talented we made it to the championship round!  HA!)  I was merely trying to have the more athletic teams play the less athletic teams the first round, so that we'd have some great match-ups in the semis! HA!

Bring on the washers!

These two were a little more interested in swimming than in watching...

Who would have thought that my mom and Tori would beat Ty and Tab?? HA!  Those two had a friendly argument (it was a joke...the picture kind of makes them look like they were really mad!  HA!) about their humiliating loss...HA!

My grandpa is A STUD at washers!  Go Pawpaw!

Marshall and I VS. Lindsey and Uncle Bruce for the championship...

We lost really bad!  But we still had lots of fun..

You know it wouldn't be a family function without a show by the kids...

And then Boo took these kiddos for a 4-wheeler ride!  I think they were in heaven =)

Ryan, my cousin Ty, and Erika's hubby Tab...love these guys!

So thankful for an amazing family and getting to spend time with them! LOVE YOU GUYS!