Cousin time at the pumpkin patch

We've done it every year for a long time.   There is a nursery by my parents house in Burke that does a scaled down version of what Cox Farms is.  We were the first ones there which meant we cleaned the dew off of all of the rides/slides!  When we left two hours later there was a huge line to get in and inside it was packed!  All in the name of fun.......

WHEEEEEE

It was really sunny!

Having fun on the tire swing

Paxson joined in!

Brody, Paxson and Travis---the boys

Can't wait for this movie

My loves

The whole cousin crew!  Top L to R--Paxson (4) Annabelle (6) and Caroline (3)  Bottom L to R--Caityln (1.5), Travis (11) and Brody (5)

Same child........5 seasons

I know it's cliche but they really do grow up so fast!  Travis was just barely 7 years old his first season of tackle football.  Wow.....

Harris Teeter Super Doubles through Oct 20th!

They are once again doubling an y coupons up to $2!  So your $2 off coupon just turned into $4 off!  This adds up quickly folks!  I went this am and spent $25 on $70 worth of groceries!  I even got Axe deodorant and Dove for men body wash for $1 each!  Seriously though......if you have a Harris Teeter near you this is a must.  Most of the coupons I used today were from the past few weeks Sunday papers.  (some people don't use their coupons so ask for them on Freecycle---I've seen people post this!)  I did use a few from www.coupons.com.  When paired with a weekly Harris Teeter special you can get great deals!  The rules for this can be found here.  There is a max of 20 coupons per customer but that doesn't mean you can't go back multiple times in the week.  :)  Hopefully this Sunday's paper will bring some more great coupons!

Lions WIN game 1!

Last weekend we traveled down to Stafford for a football game.  Of course they had moved our game the night before and forgot to tell us---we got to one location and the field Marshall comes over and says "you guys aren't supposed to be here---you are supposed to be at Melchers".  Once we looked up where that was we saw it was only about 10 miles away BUT they only way to get there was to travel about 3 miles on I-95 North on a Saturday am----needless to say it took our caravan about 40 minutes to get to the other field.  Thankfully they let us weigh in when we got there--even though we were technically late.

Our team took the opening kickoff down the field for a touch down----just one play. I had heard the team we were playing weren't great but yeah it got ugly quickly.  We have a mercy rule in our league so the official mercy rule score was 35-0 but I've been told 3 different "real" scores of 48-0, 44-0 and 42-0.  Who knows.  The kids had a great time winning their first game and that's all that matters right?  :)

In these pictures he's playing center........#21.......

The Lions opened their season August 29th with a CLOSE game

They played a powerhouse the first week.  Beacon Ridge is a team out of NE DC and they are always in the hunt for championships---according to both their website and what I've heard.

Travis' team (he's #21 and plays center and defensive end usually) played tough and despite being down 12-0 with minutes left to play they scored a touchdown and kicked for 2 points to end the game!  (the other team's second touchdown should've been called back on a penalty but the refs missed the call----so the score should've been 6-0 before this touchdown)  They lost 12-8 in the end but they gained a lot of respect out there.  The other team before the game started was saying they were going to "mercy rule" us which is code for scoring over 35 points.........not even close my friends.  I almost wish we could play them again but since they are out of conference that likely won't happen.  ;)

1st day of school

Isn't it so fitting that my last real post was about the last day of school????  Clearly the summer got away from me.  (sigh)  Oh well---moving forward right?

This past Monday Travis started 6th grade at Seneca Ridge Middle School.  This means riding the bus daily, having a locker, band class and a college like schedule.  Classes are 90 min and on "A" days he goes to 4 classes and on "B" days he goes to 5 (one of the 90 min blocks is split in half).  We are still working on his organization of multiple classes, teachers etc.  Thankfully most of his teachers are using an app called "myhomework" so at any time I can look at the app and see what he has due.  Not sure yet if tests will show up on there but at least the homework will.  ;)

Brody started full day Kindergarten at Potowmack this year.  He seems to be enjoying it so far which is good.  I can tell you he is by far the worst at coloring in the class.....BUT he can read anything and I mean ANYTHING you put in front of him so that's more important right?

I hope it's a great year for both Ross boys!

Class party and the last day of school

You will be able to tell which pictures I took and which ones Travis took when he snagged my phone.

The morning of the last day

Seriously?

Using Mr. Knecht's computer

Travis and Mr. Knecht

lol

Brody waiting for the clap out

They walk around the school twice as their "last walk through the elementary school" halls

All of the balloons the kids put there as they walked by

Cuties

Summer list 2015

More 5th grade graduation posts next.........

For the last few years I have made a list of things we need to try and accomplish before the end of the summer.  We have gotten close to completing the list but we've never made it......yet........

1.    Go bowling
2.    Have a water fight---water balloons, water guns or whatever
3.    Make popsicles
4.    Go to the beach
5.    Pinata day
6.    Go to a waterpark
7.    Make our own ice cream
8.    Go on a hike---preferably at the Falls
9.    Go to the library
10.  Fly a kite
11.  Family game night
12.  See fireworks
13.  Family movie night---at home or at the theater
14.  Kids plan dinner night
15.  Make a fort and/or pillow fort
16.  Play mini golf
17.  Go to a farm to "pick our own" fruit
18.  Make something from the "pick your own"
19.  Feed the ducks/birds somewhere
21.  Have a picnic
22.  Have a pillow fight
23.  Wash a car
24.  Go to Busch Gardens
25.  Have a silly string fight

5th grade DJ after party

I chaperoned the after party (12:30-2:30 on Monday) and it was amusing.  The kids did dance.....the boys more than the girls and the DJ did a great job keeping them entertained with games too.  Here are some pictures and videos from the after party.

Lining up for a game

TIME OUT

The game they were playing is below......

Connor being Connor  :)

Really Travis?

Tate?  lol

They had to try and stand up while being linked together by the arms

Travis and Logan

Travis and Tate

It was at this point that Travis took my phone and then this happened............

It looks like they had a great time doesn't it?  :)