Jack got his first Hat Trick!!!

Jack had his third soccer game last weekend (Sat. Sept 22, 2007) and scored all 3 goals for his team! I was so incredibly proud of him. I don't think I ever scored a goal in 10+ years of playing soccer, so you can imagine how I felt to be out there on the field with him when he did it. The week before that he got his first goal, but he was way more confident and aggressive this time and really went after the ball. The first goal was very impressive. He dribbled out of a pack of kids and kicked it hard right into the middle of the goal. The second one was a long kick from about mid field and a kid on the opposing team actually tapped it before it went it, but the third one was all him. It was another long one from about 20 feet out, but he kicked it right at the goal and it rolled in. I don't think he has any idea how awesome that is! He was trying hard to go after the ball and he got tripped up near the end of the game and rolled over and got grass all over himself and started to cry... So I let him sit out the rest of the game. He was still kind'of whimpering as we were getting ready to leave, and some old man we'd never seen before came up to him and said "Boy, you're a real fine soccer player. Keep up the good work!" Jack perked up right away and said, "Did you see that first goal I made???"

It was great!

Labor Day Weekend

We decided to FINALLY go to Randy and Tina’s during the summer to just visit. Greg and Billie were supposed to go too but back out at the last minute as usual. Dee, Stacie, Cade (almost 5) and Cole (age 2) also came up from Tallahassee. That made the trip even better! We’ve said for so long that we should do it and we finally did. It was a great weekend. We left after Jeff got off work on Friday around 1:00. We stopped to use the restroom just past Nashville and then at the rest area in Chattanooga that we always stop at. We grabbed some McDonald’s before the rest area so we had dinner there and played some soccer and just hung out for about 30 minutes. We didn’t have any trouble and pulled into Randy and Tina’s just shortly after 9pm. We were so happy to see everyone and Jack immediately made a great friend in Cade! We eventually went over to Grandma’s and got to bed around midnight. Saturday morning, we got up and it was cloudy and breezy out. The kids played on the swing set/jungle gym and riding toys all morning. They absolutely love it out there. I put some cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes in the oven and we all had breakfast (Jessica and Randi were over by then). By the time we ate (they are late eaters!), it was naptime for the girls. We then got them up at 1:00 and the 5 of us went into Downtown Atlanta to the Georgia Aquarium. It was very crowded and we had a hard time with the double stroller but it was neat. The kids enjoyed it but Jack couldn’t wait to get back to Cade! We came back and just hung out. Jack and Cade would go outside and play on the Barbie Jeep or the riding toys and then they’d come inside and play pool. They had a BALL! For dinner (at 7:30 their time!), we went to La Hacienda. There were 14 of us and then Randy and Gomer joined us after they went hunting. We headed back and got the girls to bed. Jack went to Cade’s room to watch Ninja Turtles and Jeff and I went to the Theater room and watched “Wild Hogs”. It was really funny! Sunday, we didn’t even leave the property. It was pretty chilly and windy again. The kids played outside all morning and then Randy and Tina went and got donuts. After we had breakfast, Dee went and picked up Grandma. She was so frail and bruised from a fall she took about a week ago. She didn’t say much. She gets confused and can’t remember names, etc. By this time, the house was packed. It was Randy, Tina, Steve, Molly, Avery, Sara, Jeremy, Jessica, Randi, Dillon, Dee, Stacie, Cade, Cole, Grandma, Gomer, Kathy, Jeanie, Jake, Amy (these are Gomer’s kids and grandson) and all 5 of us. They grilled out and we had so much food. The little boys swam…and Ally after she tumbled in. Jack had such a good time. Steve finally joined them! Earlier, in all this mess while the girls were sleeping, Tina took me, Dee and Stacie out to the OLD cemetery on their property. The tombstones are from the Civil War era with dates such as 1864. It was so neat. We also went over to the shop and shopped! I picked out a purse for Lori for her birthday. Right at dark, the boys got out of the pool and got settled down. Tina and I went over to the shop to get Lori’s purse embroidered. Jeff came over and worked on Tina’s computer. Jessica came over and finished Lori’s purse. Everyone left around this time. By the time we got out of there, everyone was gone or in bed except me, Tina, Randy and Stacie. We cleaned up the house and pool area. Monday, we got up and went over and had breakfast and coffee with everyone. While telling everyone goodbye, Jack started to cry because he didn’t want to leave his new friend! We headed out at 9am and should be home right around 4:00 or 4:30. It was a great trip!!