Squid Boys

The dynamic Duo as the Squid Boys!  They won these hats when Bob took them to King's Island by having the guy guess their weight.  You have no idea how much I love this picture!  It's perfect!

Gulf Shores Trip

Oma took Jayke and Zach to Gulf Shores Alabama for a few days.  Here a few pics that they sent home.  They went to the beach, toured a battle ship, went to a movie, and the water park.  Mom said they thoroughly enjoyed hotel living.  

Rain Delay

Jayke, Mason, and Mathew waiting out a rain delay.  Unfortunately it ended up being delayed for a week and we wasted an entire evening driving to Indy, waiting in the car, then driving straight back.  

A week later we went back and lost the game.  One more game to go and the regular season is over.  Tournament coming up this weekend though...hoping for better results!

Reunited...and Rewarded!

These two are teammates once again!  They were both thrilled!  We even brought back the "fancy feet" and got matching cleats again.  This weekend was our first look at the new team.  From what I had been hearing from Jayke after practice I didn't have very high hopes.  He kept telling me how the coach isn't playing anyone in their normal positions and some other crazy stuff.  I quickly changed my mind though once I saw us roll over the competition at our season opening tournament in Brownsburg.  

After day one we had won both of our games and it was looking pretty good for us heading into the final day of play.  We easily won our third game which put us in the championship game.  Great way to start the season.  Coming off of last season's Championship win at our final tournament, this was a great sign for our team this season! 

We ended up going to overtime in the championship game but couldn't quite pull off the win.  We ended up as tourney runner up and got a nice trophy for it!  Finally, getting to bring home some hardware that isn't just for participation.  Runner up right out of the gate isn't too shabby, looking forward to what this team can do the rest of the season and in our next two tournaments!

Always his Head

Jayke, Connor, His friend ?, Mason, and Alec

Jayke got invited to go skiing with Mason a few days ago.  I was a little worried about letting him go since he never has been and also based on my limited and unpleasant experience skiing.  I've been once.  Once is all I needed to determine it wasn't for me.  Turns out Jayke is just like his momma!  He had the exact same experience.  He fell down the entire mountain.  Only difference is he hit his head really hard.  Hard enough for the parent he was with to text me to see if he could take Tylenol.  It never fails, every time he goes any where he either hits his head or just gets a headache that sidelines him.  Poor kid.  

At least Bob and Angie got a few pics of him on skis since it will probably be a once in a lifetime thing!

After the great fall down the mountain, Angie took Jayke, her son, and his friend to the tubes.  This was much more enjoyable for him.  I'm glad he got to go so that he can say he has been and know whether or not he wants to do it again.  He just has no dare devil in him.  Probably why we haven't had to spend any time in the er yet.  I wish he had a little more in him...not er levels but just a little bit.

Perfect North Slopes

Eleven--Minecraft, Bouncing, and iTunes!

Birthday party time!  He chose Skyzone again so I enlisted Jeff to help drive 10 boys to Indy to bounce their brains out at the indoor trampoline park.  We had a really good group of kids this year.  

Mathew, Kaidan, Landon, Jonathan, Brayden, Mason, Mason, Jayke, Zach, and Perrin.  We had to wait a bit before our jump time so Kate, the party hostess came out to entertain the boys.  As  you can see, they liked Kate a lot.

Jayke got a special shirt that would allow him to jump to the front of the line...his buddies chose pink for him.  He didn't mind.

We had a minecraft creeper cake.  Dad and MJ picked it up for me, as usual.  They had no idea what it was.  I had a hard time explaining as I'm not even sure what that crazy game is.  Jayke loved it though and knew exactly what it was, of course.

As he opened his gifts we all had to laugh as each gift was the exact same thing.  He got $110.00 in iTunes gift cards!!!  I asked him if he told everyone that was what he wanted and he said no...it was what I told everyone who asked me though.  It was, after all, the only thing he told me he wanted since he just got everything you can imagine for Christmas.  He did get another pair of shoes from Meemaw and P'pa!  

When we got back from Skyzone they played outside for about an hour running around playing hide and seek.  By the time they came in they were worn out and the remaining five who were spending the night quietly watched a movie until they all fell asleep.  In the morning they went out and played in the rain and mud until everyone was picked up and it was time for Jayke and Zach to go to their basketball games.  They will probably all have pneumonia in a day or two.  Happy Birthday, Jayke!  Hope he enjoyed this party because it will probably be the final one since he is off to middle school next year.  I don't think you have birthday parties in middle school...at least that is what I'm going to try to get away with!

Charlie, Jayke, and Mason

Bob took the boys to the Ball State game tonight.  They hung out with Charlie and made it on the jumbotron.  Apparently he bought a $10 pretzel and slushie too.  How do college students afford that?  Fortunately, no injuries were had at this game.  Probably because of the lack of tailgating.

40 is the Magic Number!

Finally, made it to Kings Island on our second attempt.  We first tried on Saturday but once we got there we were told that they wouldn't run the roller coasters unless it got over 40 degrees.  It was 35 when we got to the park an hour before they opened.  The forecast predicted sunny and 50 the entire week as we watched to see if we would be able to go.  Unfortunately, it didn't look like it was going to turn out to be what was predicted.    We decided to go find a restaurant where we could eat lunch and give it a little time to warm up.  We found a "bar and grille" near by.  Turns out we spent the next four hours in that restaurant watching the weather channel, hoping it would hit that magic number, 40!

It didn't and finally, I convinced Jeff to leave and try again the next day.  There was no way the kids were going to last much longer couped up in that restaurant.  They were really good, but I could see that was coming to an end and it was time to go!  He agreed, and we headed home.  

We came back the next day and had much better weather.  The sun was shining, the rides were running, and it was nearing 50 degrees.  Being that it was Sunday, we wouldn't get as much time in the park but we lucked out with no lines so we were still able to ride everything there!

We took a friend for Emily.  My co-worker's daughter, Kaylee.  That was a great plan since it gave someone to occupy her and for her to ride the rides with.  We went straight to the back and jumped on the Racers to get our feet wet.  The boys ended up leaving us shortly after that to go ride the big coasters while Jeff and I took the girls to Snoopy Land.  It worked out well.  Everyone got to do everything they wanted including me, which was leave early!  LOL  Since the park closed at 7p.m. I got my wish too and no one could even protest!  Good day.

The Hunter

Jayke the Zombie Hunter.  Last year the zombie, this year the hunter.  Another awesome costume!  Love the pose too.  I had to keep telling him to stop smiling.  We had terrible weather for Trick or Treating this year.  Jeff and I ended up driving the van the entire way so they could get in and warm up when there was a gap between houses.  It started out cold and rainy then the wind picked up and before it was over, it was snowing!  They hung in there though and got a huge haul.  I think they lasted over 2 hours and covered all of Carrington Woods and part of Farmington, then our street on the way home.

Look at this scary bunch!  Zack Jeffers, Jayke, Mason, Jonathan Chimbanda, Emily and Zach.

Jonathan says he is a Dingus Wingus...whatever that is.  His costume was pretty creative!  

Zoo Boo

Mom took Jayke and Mason to Zoo Boo over fall break.  From what Jayke said, the animals were pretty active and fun to watch.

She sent me pics throughout the day to post to Facebook, Instagram, and any where else I could think of.  Below is a shot of the boys eating their $7 DipNDots.  They probably washed it down with a $4 water!

Jayke was oddly thrilled that the walrus kept chewing up his food and then spitting it on the glass only to slurp it back up and repeat.  I was overjoyed to hear this part of the day's events.

Party at Jayke's Place!

(This is only a small representation of the entire group)

Literally.  I had the entire team plus some of their younger siblings in our "other" hotel room...aka..."Jayke's Place".  

After coming home from Colorado I had to turn around and go back to Carmel for a soccer game the very next day.  That, in itself, wasn't too bad but didn't leave much time for packing...or should I say RE-packing for the following weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Friday after we returned from our trip out west, we headed south to Louisville for a two day soccer tournament.  We got two hotel rooms, one for the 3 kids and one for us (Jeff and me).  Saturday we had two games and afterwards the entire team headed back to the hotel for swimming, a carry-in dinner, and then...party at Jayke's place.  He invited the entire team up to his hotel room for a "party".  I must have been temporarily out of my mind and agreed to this.  

All the kids made a break for the elevators and stairs before I could even blink.  I was trying to get up there with them so I could lay down some ground rules but kept getting hung up by more parents asking if they could, conveniently, send their kid up as well.  Sure!  The more the merrier...(wth was I thinking?)

I finally got up there and luckily, I had a key since I was unaware of the secret code word to get admission.  Once inside I was overwhelmed by the smell of kids who had been out playing soccer, swimming, eating garlic bread sticks, and running through the hotel.  They had turned the air conditioner off which helped contribute to the ripeness in that room.  After the smell hit me, the next thing I was aware of was that all the lights were off, there was a strobe light going, and they had chosen to listen to Eminem while all laying around on the beds and floor playing their tablets.  Pretty tame, as long as they kept the noise level down and the AC up.  Each kid had also brought host gifts, it appeared.  There was a collection of half eaten bags of Goldfish crackers, fruit roll ups, and other chosen snacks piled on the tv stand.  I also discovered that before I arrived there must have been a pretty intense Cheese ball war waged.  

I can't even imagine how people have more than two kids and keep their sanity.  I felt like a top, spinning around and around.  Picking up shoes, socks, cheese balls, orange coated wash clothes (from the cheese balls) and even a toothbrush and toothpaste.  I had kids coming at me from all angles asking questions, telling me things, and Jayke showing off by MOUTHING off and trying to usher me out of the room.  My main objective was to get them to understand they had to be quiet or the wheelchair bound gentleman in the room adjacent to theirs would likely get us removed from the premises.  Once it was down to a dull roar, I left for my room with one last order...they had to come tell me if they were leaving to go back to their room or any other reason.

I then made my way across the hall and down towards the elevator where I propped the door open and set up camp in a chair where I could see both the tv, and the hall way.  The party broke up not too long after it started.  They were in there maybe an hour before they all started heading to their own rooms, whether by their choice or their parent's.   All in all, it wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be.  We didn't get kicked out and all the lamps were still standing.  Everyone had to get to bed for an early morning game.  We played for the win in our bracket but, ultimately were eliminated and didn't advance.  We headed home in shock after rolling through the first day and only allowing one goal the entire tournament.   Too bad it was the one that put us out.

Our soccer club arranged for some of our kids to participate in the pre-game activities at the Indy Eleven game.  Indy Eleven is in their second season as a professional soccer team in Indianapolis.  They play at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium.  You can see where a couple of the players from the Indy Eleven came to our fields here.  

Well over 50 kids signed up to participate in one of 3 "elements" of the pre-game.  There was the tunnel crew, flag bearers, and player escorts.  Each kid was given an Indy Eleven t-shirt to wear during the event.   DCFC got 34 spots and Jayke and Emily were both chosen to be flag bearers.  Jayke was a little bummed that he didn't get to carry the American flag but was still excited to be able to participate.  We were playing a team from Canada so they got to carry the Canadian flag.  Emily got to carry the Indy Eleven flag.

Here are the four flag bearers carrying the flag onto the field.

Brynna, Matthew, Jayke, and Jonathan holding the flag below.  All are members of Jayke's team and Brynna plays on the other U11 team and has played on teams with Jayke in the past.

Emily, bottom left corner, holding the Indy Eleven flag.

Before they carried the flags onto the field all of our kids who were there from DCFC got to play in a mini game.  Below are some pictures of Jayke in action!

Indy scored the first goal!  The picture below shows the rowdy section that we were all wishing we were in.  They were having way more fun over there...gotta love soccer fans, they're nuts!

It was a little calmer where we sat.

The game ended in a tie.  We had a bunch of tired cold kids on the way home, but they had a lot of fun.  I want to go back soon!