Belated SPONGE Party

Isaac has talked about his 10 year old birthday sleepover for years.  I'm not sure if he's ever been this excited about a birthday party before!?!  He wanted it to be special, and therefore, he wanted to postpone it to the weekend that the new SPONGEBOB movie was released.  Nothing screams "I'm READY" like Spongebob Squarepants.  The movie release date was last Friday night (Feb. 6) - only two week's post-birthday, not bad.

    We started the evening off at the house.  I wanted to collect all the boys and their belongings as opposed to doing that in the theater parking lot.  Since Regal doesn't release their movie times until late in the week, I wasn't entirely sure what time we'd be going to the movie.  Plus, I wanted to make sure everyone had something to eat before the movie.  I got a few of Isaac favorite foods including Zaxby's chicken, fries, marshmallows, Fun Dip, pretzels, Gold Fish, Chips Ahoy and cookie cake.  His drink choice is always A & W Root Beer.

If Isaac had his way, he would've invited quite a few more friends.  But, unfortunately, his dear ol' mother told him that our maximum party limit was five (six with him).  I told him I didn't have space in my car nor my house for more than that.  I had capped Karson's 10 year old party at five and plan to do the same if Miles wants to have one in two years.  Isaac carefully selected his party pics - his cousin Evan, his long-time friend at church Gunnar, our neighbor Jack L., and two friends from his class at school Eli and Jack O.  I don't think he could've picked a better, more compatible group of boys.  They were all perfect!  Everyone got along well and seemed to enjoy their time together.

 

If you haven't played Bean Boozled yet, you need to?  AND, you need to invite my son Miles over because it's his favorite past-time in the world right now.  Bean Boozled is a Jelly Belly (beans) game where there are two jellybeans the exact same color, however, they taste different.  For example (see chart)

The boys (especially Miles) enjoyed this game before we took off to the movies.

One adult, one senior and seven kids tickets...I decided to take the boys to the 8:15 showing since I figured it would be packed, and we'd need to leave relatively early to get good seats.  I got the tickets early just in case. Did I mention yet that Matt was out of town last weekend?  He was.  He and South Warren's bowling team went to the regional tournament in Mayfield, KY.  I knew Isaac had his heart set on February 6 so I asked the next best person to help with the party,  Isaac's PAP Colvin.  I knew I would need extra hands and eyes at the movie - getting them there, safety in the parking lot, etc.

 Popcorn, Cherry Cokes, slushies and arcade games to start off the night at the theater.  Looks like we had the entire theater to ourselves, but it filled up pretty quickly after we arrived.  We almost filled an entire row.

I thought the movie was great.  It's actually been a while since I've been to a cartoon movie.  I can't think of that last one?  Karson was a bit bummed she missed it.  She spent the night with her cousin.  Since I scored a free movie ticket purchasing ALL those tickets, I'll let Matt take her to see it.  Miles came with us to the movie but Colvin took him to my mom's post-movie at Isaac's request.  I realize having a younger sibling can make it tough when you just want to hang out with your friends, and I wanted Isaac to have "his" night.  Miles was disappointed (because he loved being with the older boys) but went willingly.

  I was a bit nervous taking the boys home alone, but again, they were such an easy going group.  I blew up all the air mattresses when we got home (about 10:15/10:30), and they all got in their PJ's.  Isaac wanted them to watch the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" which lasted about 30 minutes before they all wanted to play NBA 2K15 on the X-box.  Around midnight, I told them all it was time for bed because a few of them had early morning basketball games, tournament games.  I said, "your parents will not be happy with me if I let you all stay up super late."  After about 15 more minutes of talking and whispering, I didn't hear a sound.

 The boys woke up a little earlier than I would've liked on Saturday morning - 6:15 a.m.  Don't get me wrong, I usually get up before 7 most days.  However, I was kind of hoping they'd get a little more rest since they went to bed so late. 

 

Saturday was gorgeous.  It was almost 50 degrees outside by 7:30.  After the boys ate donuts and cinnamon rolls (Isaac's favorite breakfast), they started the sugar twitch and were ready to go. I set up the ping pong table in the garage, told them all to get dressed and they could go outside and shoot, play ping pong and run around.  They liked that idea.  They also decided to play a good ol' fashioned round of dogdeball in the backyard.  Parents started showing up right around 9 to collect the boys and their things.  I truly don't think a slumber party could have gone any smoother.  Everybody had fun, got along, no one broke anything and my house was still in tact.

To quote Spongebob's song "It's the best day ever!"  And it truly was.

A Basketball Chapter Closes

 It's hard to believe that Karson has invested the last six years of her life in Warren County Parks Basketball.  I remember those early years coaching her at Cumberland Trace and Briarwood Elementary.  Aggression simply wasn't her style.  The sport itself was unfamiliar to her in many ways.  She was hooked after that first year (kind of surprised me honestly) and has wanted to play every year since.  After the second year of coaching her, I quickly realized that our personalities probably wouldn't mesh well if I continued to coach her along the way.

I gave up coaching the third year, and that's when we met Brock Button.   He became Karson's first coach outside of her dear ol' mom.  It only lasted a season as there was an age difference in Karson and Lexi (Brock's daughter - blond center in picture above).  Lexi would move up a division the next year, meaning Karson would have a different coach.

 One of Karson's close pals, Elizabeth Warder's (in pic), dad, Jamie, decided to coach the girls their 4th grade year.  It was so much fun for Karson playing with one of her very best buddies.

In 5th grade, we were reunited with Lexi and her dad Brock.

 

Lexi moved on to play ball for the 7th Grade South Warren Spartans.  Karson continued on in rec league playing for Jamie Warder again this 6th grade year.  She's had three coaches along the way: me, Brock and Jamie and has developed into an amazing basketball player.  Her team had a 12-0 record winning all of the regular season basketball games and brought home the Championship trophy last night in a nail biting win against the Tigers.

Sweet Lexi came to the game - it was such a treat seeing her! 

Wow, what a season!  It's fun winning lots of games, but it's even more fun playing on a team with some of your best friends.

Karson's #1 fans!

2014-2015 Warren County Parks GOLD Division Champions - the Spartans!

There aren't too many people that can say that they've won one Championship in their entire sports run.  However, Karson's team(s) have managed to pull out two Championship wins this year in both basketball and volleyball.  We're thankful for the teams, players, supportive coaches, and parents that have been with us through the journey. 

 Karson's a champion inside and out in our book!  

Double Digits and Traditions

Sunday's at our home have been dubbed "Cinnamon Roll Sunday."  It's a weekly tradition to have cinnamon rolls every Sunday.  I'm no Pioneer Woman so the traditional Pillsbury Rolls happen in our house.  I'm truly afraid if I went to ALL that work of a homemade roll, the kids would laugh it out of the house.  I'll stick with the $2 can and save myself the humiliation.  This morning was a special occasion.  Our sweet, creative middle child turned DOUBLE digits - 10 years old TODAY.  I can hardly believe that I have two kids in double digits.  Another tradition in our house is the double digit sleepover, which did not happen this weekend.  Isaac decided weeks ago that he wanted to take his friends to see the new Spongebob movie.  However, it's not released until the first weekend in February.  AND, since I don't have his basketball tournament schedule, it's a little tricky setting a firm date.  In keeping with traditions….

Why stop a good thing?!?  We decided to eat at Zaxby's for Isaac's birthday for the second year in a row.  It's still his absolute favorite place to eat.  We met up with family and friends after church today to celebrate.  Of course, the after church lunch crowd, made it difficult for us all to sit together.  We did manage to snag the entire right-half of the restaurant though.

Just a couple of our favorite people!!!

I decided to make some cupcakes for his birthday because he has, yet, another tradition with Pap and Nana of getting a fully iced cookie cake for his birthday.  He and Nana (Pap is in Texas with his sister) got a Spongebob cake yesterday.  SO, we had cupcakes and cookie cake - sugar high!

Isaac got lots of sweet cards and cash for his birthday this year.  It was burning a hole in his pocket this afternoon, and he was ready to spend it.  Matt gave him 'some' of it.  Isaac and Andrew have a birthday tradition of going to Toys R Us to pick out gifts.  I am certain he would've spent it all.  I know he's going to want some new Xbox One games.  Did I mention we now own an Xbox One???  Our TV went out last Saturday.  It's been acting up for a while and finally just stopped cooperating.  Matt took off to get a new one.  He came home with a new TV set and an Xbox for Isaac.  I was completely cool with it because Isaac wasn't too keen on his Christmas (GO PRO Camera) gift.  He was "due" a nice present from "Santa."  We own the old school Wii and now an Xbox.  Back to the games…those suckers are expensive.  We got him one game NBA 2K15, and for his birthday, we got him the racing game Forza 2 Horizons.  He's got his eye on Mortal Kombat X and Minecraft.  

One of the first years our great grandparents and Uncle Mike have been here for Isaac's special day.
We're glad they made the move to BG.  

We're so happy that Grandad was able to come to the party.  He's a special man!

Isaac came into our lives at 7:11 p.m. on a Tuesday - Three Tuesday Tots =).  My pregnancy with him was a bit overwhelming.  The doctor (Dr. Fee) who had delivered Karson had been diagnosed with a rather aggressive cancer and had to stop practicing immediately.  About halfway through my pregnancy, I was switched to another doctor in the practice, Dr. Davis.  I was super nervous about the change and hadn't ever been to a male OBGYN.  However, the practice was scrambling moving all of Dr. Fee's patients around, and I heard the BEST things about Dr. Davis.  We immediately bonded with him and quickly learned why so many people spoke highly of him.  Isaac's pregnancy was a breeze, just like Karson's.  I gained more weight than Shamu as usual.  I didn't have quick labor with Isaac.  I was induced on a Tuesday (keeping with that tradition), and it felt like the day lasted forever.  Dr. Davis wasn't on-call that day which meant unless my labor went quickly, he probably wouldn't be at the hospital to help speed it along. I had an epidural, but it eventually wore off by the time he was ready to appear.  They added more to my IV, but it still wasn't ideal.  I felt groggy and numb most of the night.  But, I was so excited to have a son.  Isaac was a super happy baby.  I think the other kids get angry when I brag about what a good baby he was =).  He was a good sleeper and a good eater.  Isaac has grown into an intelligent, creative, well-liked, chocolate milk drinking young man!  Speaking of babies….my sister in law (left center) is expecting her first baby in August.  I am over-the-moon excited about having a new little niece or nephew.  

Halfway Mark

I had no idea we were almost to the halfway point in January.  Truly, where does the time go?  You blink and it's almost the end of the month already.  SO, Happy 2015 (13 days late).  We spent the New Year with some of our closest friends, the Vernon's and the Caffey's.  We played Mad Gab and cards, ate pizza, laughed a lot, stayed up late and crashed after midnight.  Karson was invited to a New Year's birthday party sleepover which was a spectacular idea in my opinion. She's become quite close to a handful of 7th graders - Amelia (in the blue shirt next to Karson in the picture below) celebrated her 13th birthday.  I'm sure Karson fit right in with this sweet little group even though she's still an elementary school-er =).  She already knew a couple of the girls from volleyball and basketball which was nice.  However, she did take up smoking (cigs the wrong way, I might add).

 My brain is on sleepovers these days as I have committed myself to allowing the kids to have a sleepover with friends on their 10th birthday(s).  Isaac is counting the days until his party.  Right now, it is tentatively scheduled for February 6 because he wants to take all his friends to see the new Spongebob movie which is being released that day.  His actual birthday is on January 25.  However, I like his plan of taking all the boys to a movie.  Maybe if we catch a 7:30/8:00 flick, it will break the night up for this tiresome mom.  Matt is going to be out of pocket that weekend.  He'll be with his bowlers in Mayfield, KY at the regional tournament.  His dad Colvin is going to be my wing-man for the night.  I decided to get all pinterest-y and did an actual Sponge birthday invitation.  I scored some two-packs at the Dollar Tree and made my invitations.  I think they turned out pretty cute if I can say that for a boys birthday invitation.  We narrowed/whittled/sliced his list down to a few boys.  I only have SO much space and sanity, so I had to limit how many he could invite. 

Who are these kids and why are they calling me mom?!?!  Stakz had a half-price fro-yo day around New Years.  We decided it was time to spend some of those Christmas gift cards.  I know I'm biased, as all parents are, but I think these are the cutest kids ever!  I love my babies kids small adults!

Speaking of post Christmas activities, Karson and I decided to do one of her crafting gifts from Smithsonian - growing crystals.  

 We followed the step by step instructions and voila...

After a couple of days, not too exciting...

I have no idea why we continue to fund their terrible projects.

 

Nerf goals have a way of testing every ounce of patience in our home.  I think we've gone through about four or five of those cheap, cardboard goals.  I found a nice, sturdy one during the holidays at Fruit of the Loom Brand Shop (of all places) to replace Miles's goal.  I had about two weeks of basketball peace before Christmas.  It was nice and quiet in the boys room, but that all changed after Christmas.  The new goal is UP and man is it LOUD.  KaKlunk, KaKlunk, KaKlunk....I hear that ALL.DAY.LONG!  Miles is a basketball playing machine.  He lives and breathes playing basketball.  We took him to the GHS vs. BGHS game the other night, and he lasted about two quarters before he was ready to go home.  I left the game, brought him home, and BAM he put on his Lebron jersey and the shooting began.  He needs to be in on the action - watching can only take him so far =).

His basketball team, the Spartans, are a bunch of cuties.  He got to do the tip at his game on Saturday.  And, he's got some new moves - like the behind the back dribble.  He's a baller.  At last week's game, he scored the max amount in his league 12 points.    I'm sure there is a valid reason for the cap, but I'm not sure why.  He'd have a fast break to the basket but would have to stop and look for someone to pass it to since his points wouldn't count. I'm looking forward to seeing him play in Isaac's division next year.  I think he'll improve greatly.  Isaac's team won their first game last week.  It's been a tough season for the Kings.  Isaac had his game high - 8 points and was over the moon excited.  I was tickled for him. Karson's team continues to be undefeated and played two of the league's toughest teams this week.  She scored around 14 points and usually averages about 10 per game.  Fingers crossed she'll make the middle school team next year.  She's worked really hard this season and improved a lot.

Miles and I seize the opportunity after his basketball practices at Living Hope to go on donut runs.  Heck, anytime of the day is a donut time of the day.  We went to Krispy Kreme last night, and the Hot Fresh Now sign was on when we pulled up.  I ordered our usual chocolate glazed.  The guy behind the counter asked if wanted any of the hot donuts.  I told him I wish the chocolate iced were hot because those are our favorite.  He disappeared for a second and came back with the freshest batch - not too hot but certainly ooey gooey yummy chocolate iced!  I thought that was nice of him.

The kids needed some Garcia in their lives on Sunday.  Miles's buddy Samuel came home with us after church, and Karson went home with 4-year old Abby Kate to play.  Miles and Samuel decided to try out some Mortal Kombat moves (while watching the movie) and both ended up hurt - Miles hit his elbow hard, and Samuel banged his head.  They decided to just do some snuggling on the couch and watch the movie instead.  Karson and Abby Kate did some modeling =).  Isaac spent the day with his best friend Pap Colvin.  Pap had been in Houston, Texas most of the week with his sister Karen.  Isaac and Pap have a special relationship and spend lots of time together throughout the week and during the weekend.  He sure did miss him while he was gone. 

Please be prayerful for Karen Deaton as she has a long road ahead.  Her cancer has resurfaced, and she is looking at all options for the best form of treatment.  As of now, she will head back to MD Anderson in Houston next Tuesday and start 15 rounds of radiation which will take about three weeks to complete.  She will then go through chemotherapy at Vanderbilt.  We are simply heartbroken that she has to go through all of this, but we serve a mighty God who will be with her through all of this.

This quote is posted above my desk at work and gives me peace...

You will not find MY peace by engaging in excessive planning, attempting to control what will happen to you in the future.  That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief.  When your mind spins with multiple plans, peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you.  Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion. I did not design the human mind to figure out the future.  That is beyond your capability.  I crafted your mind for continual communication with ME.  Bring ME all your needs, your hopes and fears.  Commit everything into MY care.  Turn from the path of planning to the path of peace. 1 Peter 6:6-7

  We solicit your prayers for peace-filled minds, not only for us, but specifically for our Karen Lou.