Mitten Strings for God - Chapter 7

I began this study back in 2008 when my children were much younger.  I never finished.  This morning I woke up very early and was looking for something to read.  I picked the book back up (it's been in my to read shelf all these years) and was reminded how much I loved it.  I also reread my old posts and was thrilled to read of our daily lives.  One day I will look back on my current days and will enjoy reminiscing like I did this morning.  

So lets see what I can do in 2017...

Chapter 7 in Mitten Strings for God is on Play.  

Play is much different in our home than it was in 2008.  

Our current favorite ways to play...

Artie - playing hearts with the men at Evans Training Center or basketball with the boys or ping pong with everyone

Kelly - watch a movie or reading a book

Currently Artie and I have been watching college basketball while the South Carolina Gamecocks made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history. 

Emily - playing with Chloe, shopping in stores and online, and hanging out with Lane

Stephen - video games and basketball

Bobby - running 

Terry - chatting with many friends on his phone, playing football or jumping on the trampoline

Looking back when I was their ages, my favorite play time was time spent with Artie.  Terry is just the age I was when Artie became my boyfriend (8th grade). We wrote notes and snuck around and talked on the telephone (which was attached to a chord and hanging on the wall!).  We went on so many dates - to the mall, the movies, out to dinner, to play putt putt.  Our funnest times were just hanging out at his mama's house cooking tacos with jalapenos and watching movies.  (this picture is probably 10th or 11th grade)

Katrina Kenison (the author) says "Children need time that is utterly their own." I believe that is true for all of us at any age.  Spring break begins here tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to having some free time that we just can't experience as much during the school year.  The neighborhood kids all come and play basketball and football.  Boyfriends and girlfriends will be in the mix of plans.  I'm looking forward to some spring time weather and meals.  It's time to wear flip flops and capri's.  It's a beautiful time to be alive!! 

Boy Scout Camping

Catching up with some pictures from earlier in the year...

Artie, Stephen, Bobby and Terry went camping with the Boy Scouts at Mr. Dan's house. Stephen was impressed with the tepee, it had a bathroom inside.... Stephen liked giving Granny Smith apples to the horses.

Stephen found a toad.

He had to show Bobby.

and Terry..

and Mr. Chris... You know how important a toad it to a boy~~~~ :-)

Talking at the campsite.

Time for a walk in the woods

On their hike they picked up their favorite nature finds and worked them into a spider web made of string. Stephen had a empty cocoon in his.

Even when Scouting, Bobby's still the gymnast!! :-)

The boys had a nice picnic in Artie's tailgate.

Yummm, Lunchables!!!

Time for the campfire - Stephen was picked to be the wearer of the Armor of God.

Who knew such a little tiny piece of popcorn could cause such a ruckus. For everyone's knowledge - don't put this in your ear!!! :-)

We spent the morning with the doctor removing one from Stephen right ear. Not sure how long it had been there. Stephen ran a fever Saturday and Sunday - probably trying to fight off his ear invader!! Hopefully he will be great and ready for Bible School tonight. He had to miss last night...

Now we get to move on to the dentist - Troy's getting his first two wisdom teeth pulled today!! Somedays just don't seem all that fun!!!! :-)

Pinewood Derby - Stephen

My friend, Daniel, was learning about the Pinewood Derby in a Weekly Reader type paper in his school (in Asia). He was asking his mom about it and she told him it was something little boys used to do in the states. They were surprised to find out that our boys were fixing to compete in their Boy Scouts. So, Daniel has been waiting on my to finally get the pictures up. Hope you enjoy Daniel. :-)

Stephen's Hummer

The competition - Wolf Cubs - That Batman car was fast!!

Stephen won most creative for the Wolves - it came down to him and Bobby. They also raced each other - it was like the wrestling tournament all over again - ALMOST!!

Here is a video of one of Stephen's races. The sound on our computer isn't working, so I'm not sure how this sounds, but it is a good view of Stevie's race.

Bell Ringers

Bobby and Stephen were bell ringers for the Salvation Army with their wolf pack. They took an hour slot in the middle of the afternoon and it was freezing that day!!! People felt sorry for them out in the cold and seemed to give even more money. They took turns and when it wasn't there turn they waited in the warm door way of Belks. (They have about 5 layers under their boy scout uniforms and jeans.)

Christmas Parade

Stephen and Bobby in the Christmas Parade

Wold Pack 53

Emily (wearing a do-it-yourself hair-do) and Terry (very cold) watching the parade.

On their way to Boy Scouts

Bobby, Stephen

The Littles coming home from school

Emily

Bobby and Terry

Terry and StephenElmo begins barking as soon as he hears the bus rolling down the road. He can hear them way before I can. They are always so excited when they run in the door. School is a great place to them and they are learning so much!!

This is the way Dollie spends her time while Emily is at school - propped up reading a book waiting on Emily to return.

Terry's kindergarten nap towel

Boy Scouts

Bobby (front - missing both front teeth!!) and Stephen (back right) with Mr. Ed - one of their Scout leaders. They are enjoying scouting. This week they learned about fire safety with a tour through a smoke house.

Stephen's learned how to tie his shoe!!!

Diego

So, here is the Deigo room. It is shared by all three little boys. Terry has a little race car bed on the right of the picture. Bobby's twin bed is across the room on the left. They have two little closets on each side of the toy box under the window.

Here you can see a little more of the set up of the room. Stephen's bed is on the far left against another wall. Their dresser is on the far wall and then a big walk-in closet is on the left of the dresser. I don't think it shows in any of the pictures. So, there is plenty of room for all the little boys and all their toys!!



Stephen (there you can see the door to the walk in closet on the right of the picture)

Each boy wanted their picture taken on their own bed. Bobby

Terry

Go Diego Go!! :-)





So, I still have a little more to do up there. I am looking for new door knobs (for old doors), there is some electrical work Artie's gonna do for me. I need new light switch and outlet covers and a light cover still. But the main part is finished now!!! I think it turned out cute!!

State Wrestling Finals!!!

A couple of days ago, we moved the computer from our bedroom (in hopes of keeping the children out more) and into the dining/school room. In the process, I've lost the chord to download my pictures - as soon as it turns up, I'll upload the matching pictures.



Great, the pictures are here now. This is the Indian Wrestling Team!!

Brothers!!

Last Saturday, Stephen, Bobby and I woke and left the house at 5:00AM!!! We were headed to our first State Wrestling Finals!!! They were so excited.

It was hosted at Eastside High School in Greenville (about an hour away from our home). The place was packed when we got there and continued to fill through out the morning!!

Tuesday night at practice, Bobby had weighed in at 60 pounds and Stephen at 59. Both were signed up to wrestle in the 60 pound weight class. That meant that if they weighed in Saturday at 61 - they wouldn't be able to participate!! So, breakfast was held until after weigh-ins - they made it - both weighing in at 58 1/2.

They had a fun breakfast of honey buns, bananas and orange juice.

Stephen wrestled first and Bobby had a bye. Stephen lost his first match but put up a good show.
Here is Stephen's first match. Again - this is the boy that ended up winning the whole thing for their weight class.

Stephen wrestled his second match before Bobby had wrestled at all. The moment we've been waiting all year for ----- Stephen won his first match!!!!! Yeah!!! I had prayed for him (not that he would be the best or win them all, but just that he would get the enjoyment of winning one match this season - that's okay for a mother to pray right?) :-) It was a true pin - 1-2-3 - Stephen's hand was raided in victory!!! I was so happy for him. He's worked and practiced all year for this.

Here is Stephen's first pin!!!!!

Next it was Bobby's time to wrestle finally. Because Bobby didn't wrestle all year - he started halfway through - this was his first tournament. He had a good first match, but the other wrestler won. Because of Bobby's bye the first round, he still had one more match....
Here is Bobby's first match. Look how low that boys was, I knew it didn't look good before it even began!!! :-)

Every sport's mother's nightmare. . . .

Stephen and Bobby were wrestling each other for fourth place and a medal!!!


I told them I was gonna be yelling for who ever was on the bottom. It lasted forever. Stephen started out in a furry and got most of his points, then Bobby came bursting back. Next thing you know it was tied 6 to 6 and they were going into overtime!!! Next one to score a point wins - Bobby took Stephen down and won the point and medal.

(That's Bobby on the far left)


What a hard place to be in!! We ended up enjoying the fact that both boys won their first wrestling match on the same day in the State Finals!! What a blessing to have a brother so close to you!!!