Bad Words

Keagan: Mom, are the A word and B word bad words?

Me: (I have no idea what he is talking about but I nod my head.) Absolutely! You must not ever say those words, Keagan. Even thinking those words in your mind and heart is wrong and a sin in God's eye.

Keagan: What do the A word and B word start with?

I think this means that I'm not the only one who has no idea what he is talking about.

Fort Pulaski

It is "Vetenarian's Day", and to show our patriotism and our gratitude to all of our military friends old and new, Wes and I sat around the house this morning while Keagan played "checkards" with Oma, and Evan played football with Opa. When I decided that there had to be more to the holiday than taunts like "You're going down, Oma," and "You really need to work on your passing game, Opa," I made the executive decision to make the drive to Fort Pulaski outside of Savannah. Wes wasn't thrilled with the idea and claimed he was "forted" out (afterall, we have visited at least four since we moved to Georgia in June), but I gave him the look, and he was packing the car in no time. And it's a good thing because it was beautiful!

The boys packed their Civil War era muskets and decided the battle was on. Keagan shot every person he saw, and it was so annoying that even the elderly visiting the site were not endeared. (I say this because they are usually captivated by Keagan's big blue eyes, freckles, and quick wit.)

Evan claimed to be embarrassed by his little brother, but he did his fair share of shootin' up the place. He aimed for the alligator in the moat, though, so no one seemed to mind nearly as much.

In the midst of Civil War era battles and shoot-outs, though, the boys earned their Junior Ranger badges. Evan views this accomplishment as a perfect segway into a new hobby - Junior Ranger badge collections. This of course means we must now re-visit every battle ground in the immediate area, and I know one person who might not be up to that. However, Opa and Oma have only seen Pulaski so with some encouragement, Evan just might have the opportunity to see them again.

Gators Undefeated

Evan's Gator soccer team played its last regular season soccer game today in Savannah. After our poor performance at Jekyll this past summer, I wondered if I would ever see Evan win a game again. So we were all pretty pumped to not only win but have an undefeated season. I think Evan might have been excited.

There's no doubt that all of the boys were excited.

The coach even celebrated by allowing the kids to spray paint his hair green and white. The team's next stop is state in Atlanta. 

All of the dads, with the exception of Evan's, have agreed to shave their heads if we win state.

Aim, Shoot, Celebrate

We celebrated Evan's birthday Friday night with a laser tag party. The boys loved it, and best of all, it was great to be surrounded by family and so many of our new friends.

This next week four families associated with Heifer International will awake with flocks of chicks at their doors with the donations and generosity of our friends. When Evan first decided to do this in lieu of gifts from friends, he thought the chicks would be sent to our house, and then we would distribute them. I had to explain that we would not actually see the chicks but trust that the chicks would make it to the right people. He seemed to be okay with this, but our discussion made me wonder. When we originally visited the website, Evan had first selected a water buffalo. Where did he think we would keep a water buffalo?

Texas Turkey

 Different teacher. Different school. Different state. Yet, Keagan has been assigned the exact same assignment completed by Evan two years ago when he was in kindergarten. Evan dressed his turkey as a pirate. Keagan dressed his as a cowboy.

I am just relieved to have it done! There aren't any family bonding moments created in this family when arts and crafts are involved. That is unless you count power struggles and color wheel battles. Somehow I don't think that is what the teacher had in mind, though.

I think Keagan might be just as happy to have it done. He knows how compulsive I am, and he can't believe he completed the project with no hot glue burns!

Then and Now Eight Years Later

 Eight years ago, we were blessed with the early arrival of this bundle of joy. 

Today I have a bundle of joy that eats as much as an adult male but cries with the injustice of every little-brother-mishap. In other words, my baby is now eight.

Here Are the Eight Things I Love About my Eight Year Old:
1) Evan's smile. When I catch it on camera, it absolutely makes the picture - any picture.

2) Evan's reasoning skills. He can only think in black and white. For instance, I asked him to spray Pam on the sides of the crock pot so our roast wouldn't stick. He sprayed the sides, alright, but the OUTSIDE of the crock pot.

3) Evan's passion for football. In the yard playing football with his brother, on the Wii playing Madden, wearing his multiple jerseys, watching the NFL, reading a book on famous football players...He can never tire of it.

4) Evan's opinions. He is always right. There have been times when I have detested it, but overall, I LOVE having a boy that can think for himself and establish a well-thought out opinion.

5) Evan's ability to empathize with others. What eight year old requests that friends buy chicks for a family in Africa instead of receiving birthday gifts? After reading "Give a Goat", he did just that.

6) Evan's running. He runs with his head cocked to the side so that he can run against his shadow. After eight years and lots of races, he claims lots of ties.

7) Evan's competitiveness. Who doesn't want to win, though?

8) Evan's big brown eyes. Absolutely LOVE them.

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Trick or Treat

Because Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, the town of Hinesville decided trick or treat hours should be moved to Saturday. We were even "issued" times that trick or treating would be allowed. 

Could we be in the deep South AND in a military town? 

Just maybe.

The costumes are held together with safety pins, and even with the pins, they just barely stayed together for the big night. Because of the generousity of our neighbors, no doors were knocked down, and no squirts from the water gun were necessary. However, Evan may need therapy after stopping at this house.

He told me, "I think that guy might be a little crazy because he is dressed as a woman!"