Okay so, I might be a boy mom. I might be used to dirt, noise, balls, sports, wrestling, and all things action figure. Something I still don't like? SNAKES. Like, can't stand them. Even if I am looking at them across a pond and safely standing on a path not even near the slimy thing, I can still say with 100% certainty that I do not like snakes. So, 
imagine my "pure joy" when the group of 6 Lincoln boys and our parent chaperones found NOT ONE but TWO snakes on our path through Oxley Nature Center. I was pretty proud of myself for not throwing myself on the ground and wailing, or running away screaming with my hands in the air, or shrieking like a girl. I wanted to do all of those things. All of those things all at one time, but I held it together for the sake of the boys (and so I wouldn't look too much like a weenie in front of 6 boys). The list was ever growing of the items, alive and dead, that we found on those trails. The highlight of the day? The 
snakes. Oh my gracious. Boys.
But, I am ever so thankful I got to spend some time with this boy. My almost 8 year old on our first field trip together as a Lincoln Christian student and parent. So proud of him for his character and willingness to work hard academically and with sports on and off the field. I couldn't be prouder. I love him snake lover and all:)
So, before you are tempted to skip ahead and see the wonderful picture I snapped of Bob Stoops...don't worry he's in this post. Just not in the form you might think of him as:)
Wednesday and Thursday rounded out Spirit Week for my boys this week as Friday Will is going on a field trip and has to wear his uniform (which just reminded me it is still sitting in the washer waiting to be transferred to the dryer. Please hold).
Okay, I'm back. Now, Wednesday was 80's day. Not too easy with boys. I can't throw on some neon and crimp their hair with banana clips. I figured out that all they would really allow me to do is upturned collars, bad hair, and french rolled jeans (which Owen wanted no part of). By the time I picked them up after school the rolls had fallen out of the jeans, the collars were back down, and their hair still looked bad. So overall, it just looked like a normal day:)
Thursday was the day we got to see BOB STOOPS. See, I told you it was in this story somewhere. Thursday was dress as your favorite coach or teacher day. Again, the boys have ONLY had female teachers 
and I wasn't about to put my boys in a dress or skirt so they decided they wanted to dress like Bob Stoops. Most of the items we already had in our possession so after a quick trip to Academy to score some $7 visors and $2 whistles, they were set!
We got to school and Will spotted one of his best friends, Gavin. Gavin was Gundy the head coach from OSU. Best friends and coaches can still be friendly on Spirit Day right? Oh, they got a kick out of each other and their outfits. These two love to be together and hang out. Kind of like their little brothers. Just two little siblings who find ways to
entertain each other after school with a little game of "what do you think's down there? I heard sharks live in there? No, I don't think so but I'm pretty sure alligators do." This was seriously their conversation as they were laying full out in the street with hands and mouths all over the storm drain. It's a good thing I'm a boy mom.....
I really just need to grow up, suck it up, move on, and stop OBSESSING over my children growing up. I mean, it's gonna happen. It's inevitable. Them being able to stay the same size and age forever is
physically impossible so I must just move on. 
Sometimes that's hard. Even harder when you pick up your phone and start playing with collage apps of their little faces from big to small. Ugh...I MUST STOP.
The hardest one for me was this picture. My little Will who Steven and I thought he looked SO BIG in this picture. I remember exactly where it was taken, when it was, who we were with, and why he was so excited about sitting on that little wooden stump. He had tried and tried many times to climb up 
there, turn himself around, and sit without falling off. He had tried many times and could never do it. That day, he did it and he was so proud of himself. That picture compared to my almost 8 year old son today? Oh, be still my heart. I must stop downloading stupid collage apps on my phone! No more!
The first time you hear, "It's a boy" you think balls, sports, dirt, and noise. The second time you hear, "It's another boy", you think that's A LOT of balls, sports, dirt, and noise. I really wouldn't want it any other way in our household. Sure, I've dreamed of a little girl and I love to borrow my nieces when I want some girl time but I am so used to sports, balls, dirt, and noise around here that I would terribly miss it if no boys were in my household.
So, along those lines I find my days, nights, and weekends at baseball fields, football fields, practice fields, backyard kickball/soccer/football
/trampoline/mud pie tournaments. This is where our family spends our free time in the evenings. Fall is an awesome time to do such things. It's not too hot, it's not too cold and most nights (football nights excluded) we are outside for 1-2 hours before it's time for baths and bed. This is my life, and YES I knew what I was getting into allowing my boys to sign up for every sport known to man. Their Daddy was like that, and still is, so how could I really say no?
The boys have met some of their best friends at these ball parks. They play all sports together, grow as a team and an individual, learn valuable life lessons, and meet new people 
in each and every sport they do.
Needless to say, this week's "Spirit Week" at school has been pretty easy so far. Monday was "Sports Day" and Tuesday was "Dynamic Duo" day. Like I said...simple!
Now...Wednesday might be a little harder. It's 70, 80, 90's day. That's difficult with boys. I'm thinking on it though. Right now I'm stuck in 1989 with up turned collars and french rolled jeans. Who knows if 
they will actually allow me to dress them like that tomorrow though. Stay tuned...it's still a work in progress!
So, on my last day in the Bluegrass state I told Andrea I wanted to try that Pinot's Pallet place. Okay, let me clarify a few things first before I move on with this blog:
1. I don't draw
2. I don't paint
3. I'm not creative
4. I'm not crafty
5. I can barely draw a stick figure
6. I don't like wine
All those listed things might be reason not to try this fun and exciting girls night adventure. Remember my blog a few days back about adventure? I'm not usually too into it. I wanted to try this adventure though. I see people post their paintings and all the fun they have at this place and I 
knew I just had to put aside my insecurities and try it out. Of course, Andrea's painting blew mine out of the water but just the fact that I was able to finish it and it "somewhat" looked like what the finished product was supposed to look like was a win-win for me.
Note Picasso hard at work on her masterpiece. She even had the picture blown up on her cell phone so she could look at it more in detail to make her painting the best it could be. Me, on the other hand, was done with every step way before Andrea and only looked at my phone once to see the picture because it stressed me out too much to try and 
attempt to make mine perfect. This was supposed to be a fun night, right?! Look at this! If the night could have stopped right here (2 steps in), I would have walked away a true artist. I followed those 2 steps to a T. Then after that, I sort of faded off.....
It was pretty amazing though to see about 50 different men and women who were all painting the EXACT same 
painting. There were not 2 alike in the whole place. It's crazy how people's minds and bodies work together to get 50 differing views of one piece of artwork. Oh well, try not to look too closely at my "Picasso" but rather look at the joy on our faces from getting to spend a night together:)
As crazy as this sounds I really had a great time and, believe it or not, have already set up another girls night next week at our local Pinot's Palette with my mom, sister, and friend. More on that blog to come. Until then...go make a Picasso of your own today!
announced onto the big field and over the loud speakers before the game began. He was super excited about getting to run through the large inflatable bulldog that all the HS players get to run through! 
great time while we were there. There are already plans for our calendar in October to hit up another Friday night lights game. It reminds me so much of many a Friday night spent under the lights of football fields. All very good memories!
