More Football

So, I wasn't going to post about football again, but the coach said the funniest thing today when Cade was playing, and I had to share. One of the boys got hurt in a tackle. He was crying and said that his ankle hurt. The coach asked where it hurt and then asked how old he was. The boy said, "8". The coach said, "OK, good, you can't break until you're 9. You're fine." The kid got up and started playing again. It was too funny. So, since we're on the football subject, here are a couple of my favorites from today:
This is Braden playing center. You can see that he is hiking the ball to the coach. In this league, the kids aren't on a permanent team. They get changed around based on their ability level. That way no one gets hurt (hopefully). Also, the coach plays quarterback. The kids get to focus on learning all the other positions. It seems to be a really good way to do it.

And here's the cutie waiting for Cade to play:

So here's the second star, making a run for the goal line. He is such a monster out there. He made the last tackle of the game, and it was a doozie! He just knocked this little boy flat. All the dads were so impressed!

And here he is all sweaty and oh, too cute:


I feel like I am totally leaving Bryce out, but since he's not playing, I don't have football pictures of him! You know I love him, though, don't you?

And, for all of you who live where it actually feels like fall, you should see the sunburn I got today in my tank top and shorts! Our football weather will be here in maybe another month!!

Well, have to go finish the weekly laundry, and prepare myself for another week. Have a great one!

My Messy Little Artist

My kids went to a camp this summer called Camp Invention. I posted about it then, but they invent things using their imagination, broken appliances and alot of tape. Well, ever since then, Cade has had a fascination with tape. He goes through it by the roll. Masking, Scotch, Duck tape - doesn't matter which kind. The other day, I bought him a roll of masking tape at the store. When I gave it to him, you would have thought he had won the lottery! Talk about easy to please. I know what Santa's going to be putting in his stocking this year!

With all the creativity comes an awful mess. I can't tell you the times I have walked in a room and it is covered with little scraps of paper everywhere. I don't let it bother me much because he is having such a good time. He does have to pick it up later, though. Here are a few of his creations, and one of the aftermath:



For those of you wondering, this is the same child who has had his Christmas list going for at least a month or two. I hadn't seen that list in a while, and was kind of hoping he had lost interest in it, but no worrys, I caught a glimpse of him getting it out from under his bed to add something to it just yesterday. Just great! You should see how much he's written on it. I'm sure we'll be having the "Santa doesn't have enough to give all the kids EVERYTHING they want" talk.

I have a great picture of a portrait of me Cade did out of left over pizza the other night at a restaurant. The problem is that it is on my phone, and I don't know how to get it off! When I figure it out, I'll share it. It is hysterical!

My Heart Is Full!!

This is a T-shirt I found at a Christmas market recently, and just had to get it. Here's a look at what makes my heart so full:

This is one of my favorite pictures. It was taken at the beach a couple of years ago.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!

 

Well, today was the day! Braden and Cade's first football games. They have been counting down the days, and practicing their victory dances. It was alot of fun. They enjoyed pummeling their friends and I enjoyed having something different to take pictures of. The only thing that would have made it better would have been some cooler weather. It was 92 degrees today! Maybe by the last game we'll actually experience some "football weather", but I wouldn't count on it!

You can click on the collage and see the pictures bigger.

I'm SO Tired

I have been so tired lately that I can hardly make it through the day. I can't quite figure out why. The kids seem to have adjusted to the school schedule, but I seem to be having a hard time. Part of the problem is that most nights, I dream about brick, stucco, paint colors, furniture I need for the new house, etc, etc.... The list goes on and on. I wake up frantic the next morning, stressed about everything that needs to be done. Actually, I seem to have a pretty good handle on the house stuff. I just want to make sure that I have window treatments when I move in. That has been the biggest stresser. Not to worry though, move in day looks like it won't be as soon as expected, so I have more time - to dream about brick, stucco, paint colors..........

One Week At a Time

I know that ALL of you can relate to this phenomenon: As soon as you wash the clothes, they get dirty again!!! I decided a couple of weeks ago that I was changing the way I attacked the laundry. I used to do a couple of loads every few days so I wouldn't have to do it all at once, but there was a problem. While washing the clothes does not bother me too much, picking everything up does. So I always had little piles of folded clothes all over the living room. I have now decided to do ALL the clothes in one day over the weekend. This takes longer to do the laundry, but we only have to pick up our clothes once (we all pick up our own clothes). Works for me. This new way, however, shows just how much laundry we go through in one week. I think this took 7 or 8 loads this week. The stack of khaki shorts alone cracks me up. 3 boys X 5 days = 15 pair of khaki shorts. Same for their school shirts. That doesn't even account for underwear, T shirts, football practice, etc., etc., etc...

Richard has actually run out of boxers on the last day of the week since I have been doing this. When he picked up his clothes, I told him he'd better count how many he had and ration them out! lol!!

I know you can all relate. I wanted proof of just how much it is. One day, it will only be Richard and me (so they say), I want to be able to remember what I used to do with my time!

First Dove Hunt

Labor Day weekend, Richard wanted to go to the camp and let the boys try to shoot some dove. Yeah, well, that's what he says anyway. We all know that he's the boy that wants to shoot the dove!! Of course, the boys were happy to oblige. It was actually alot of fun. You don't have to be quiet or still, so it suited me just fine. I sat in the buggy and watched them have a blast. My parents came with us, so this is some of the group just hanging out.

Here are a couple of them waiting for the birds to fly.

All the hunters. Richard's cousin and his son were there too.

It is alot of fun to see the boys having so much fun.

We decided to skip playing basketball this year because Richard wants to be able to bring the boys hunting more this year, which they will LOVE. I reminded them today that we weren't going to be playing, and Bryce said, "Oh, good!". I asked why, and he said, "Because I stink!". It was pretty funny. And to be honest, very true! Last year, they all played on different teams and it caused us to have either a game or practice every night of the week, and some on Sat. It was exhausting. Football just started, and I am already so looking forward to our non-basketball season!!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Braden and Cade started football last week. We have never played football, so this is a new experience for us. Well, do you see the splint on Braden's finger? That's because his knuckle is cracked! Do you think he did it at tackle football practice? Of course not, it was at recess at school!!! Just another chapter in a life with all boys. We happen to own a few diagnostic centers (Xray, CT, MRI). I'm thinking that was a good field to go into. We're saving all kinds of money on all these Xrays! We find out today if he can still play football.

We Have Brick!

My brick arches are in the house!! I am so excited that I have to pinch myself. I still can't believe that they are there. The big one will eventually have an old beam above it, that's why it's not all the way up.
This is looking from the keeping room to the living room:

This is the same arch but from the other side:

Here is the second arch. This picture is taken right inside the front door. You'll have to excuse the finger.

They also finished the fireplace outside, but I haven't taken pictures of that yet. I'll add those later.

Geaux Tigers!

We went to the LSU football game this weekend. We have had season ticket for the last few years, but this year we go some new seats. This is the view! They were awesome. The game didn't start until 8:15, so by half time, it was 10:30 and we were up 24-0. We decided to leave so we wouldn't be in all the traffic. My brother left at the end of the third quarter and it took him 2 hours to get home! Richard and I both went to LSU. He played baseball there. All of our parents went to LSU and his grandfather played basketball at LSU back in the 40's. Richard calls him Shaquile Doughty. Speaking of Shaquile, he was at the game. Check out his bus.

I don't know if you can see the painted side or not, but it is Shaq in the middle of all the "godfather" people. Only a little flamboyant! Shaq and I went to LSU at the same time. One semester, we had a class on the same hall. I would walk past him every day and try to see how much taller he was than me. I came up to about his elbow. No lie! He is HUGE.

Anyway, here's one more picture of the Braden and his tiger tattoo.

Crazy Cade

This is how Cade wanted his hair for school today. It's a "fauxhawk". They are kind of popular here, but I think it's hysterical. If the teachers didn't know me (and him) so well at the school, I would have never done it for him, but they'll think it's hysterical. I just love that he's not afraid to do something different than the other kids.

More About the Fire

I have gotten so many wonderful comments from all of you on the post of our house fire. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes. There were also alot of questions, so I thought I'd elaborate a little more. I was asked, "who knocked on the door?" This was a miracle all in itself. Our neighbor across the street and over a little ways heard their dog barking this strange bark. They were watching TV in their bedroom. They got up to see what the dog was barking at and could see an orange glow under their carport. He went outside and saw it was our house.

The fire truck were already on the way when I came out of the house, but it took a little while (seemed like an hour) because it is a volunteer fire dept. It took about 5 minutes, I think. When they arrived, the fire had already spread to the kids side of the house and was melting the siding off the house next door. All the men were out there with a hose trying to keep that house from catching fire. I was amazed at how fast it spread - very scary. You always plan what you'll grab if that were to happen, but there REALLY is not time! There are times when I think, "why didn't you grab that one more thing?" But when I think about it, I made a conscious decision to focus on the boys and making sure they were safe. Cade was SCREAMING and wanted to be picked up, but my arms were full of scrapbooks. I wasn't dropping them at that point, so I made him follow me screaming the whole way. Days later, when I went back to the neighbors to pick those books up, they were so heavy that I could only carry a couple at a time. It was pure adrenaline pumping in the moment. I was trying to stay calm because I didn't want to upset the kids more, but I finally figured that if I couldn't scream now, when could I. I started screaming to my neighbor, making sure she had called 911.

The fire was compounded by the fact that I had just filled up my 30 gallen tank of my truck that night, and the fact that all of Richard's shotgun shells were it the storeroom going off, it was crazy.

Right after they put the fire out, the firemen started bringing things out that they thought we might want. We started stacking things under this neighbor's carport (can you tell that they are very special people to me?) Bryce's friend, Lyle, who has been in posts before, is their son. We love them. They brought out dresser drawers, my charred jewelery box (I found one diamond earing). They found my brand new studded leather Coach purse! Of course, it was ruined, but my wallet was fine. That was very exciting because we both had our credit cards, licenses, and all that stuff you don't want to have to collect again (he got his when he ran back in).

I still get frustrated when the kids come home with a project that they need baby pictures for. The only snapshots I have are some that my mom put together for me. It's a good bit, but every once in a while I can remember a special page in a scrapbook that I worked so hard on. That is very depressing, I just can't focus on it. I had ALOT of scrapbooks that burned. All my honeymoon pictures are gone. To this day, I still have a bad attitude toward scrapbooking. To have spent SO much time doing those great pages only to have them burn up. I don't think I'll ever pick it up again. That's alright. I am thankful that my kids were young enough that I was able to replace some of their photographer's pictures because they still had the negatives. That is a big blessing. Another blow was that anything in the attic was completely destroyed. Richard had a trunk full of all his high school memories. It also had all of his stuff from when he played ball at LSU. That was really sad.

I thing that is funny and frustrating at the same time, is that you constantly look for things that you don't own anymore. It's usually the stupid stuff like a tupperware bowl or a serving tray. I have to sit and think, when did I buy that. Everything is divided in Pre-fire/post-fire.

Anyway, I was asked about the heat detectors. Heat detectors are installed by the people who install security systems. They are connected through the security system, so they are monitored, and the whole house will be screaming if they go off. They are not fool proof, the fire pretty much has to be right by it to set if off, but we have them by the hot water heater, electric boxes, things like that. I would have just put regular smoke detectors in the attic, but they say with all the dust, they will go off for no reason. I will never live in a house again without heat detectors. I even have all of my smoke detectors through the security system as well. I am pretty much a freak about it! Go figure!

Oh well, hope I didn't bore you. I really appreciate all of the kind words that were shared with me. They really helped.

Good Thing We Have Brothers

Braden was such a hard one to buy a birthday gift for this year. He is just so easy going that he really didn't have anything he wanted. At the last minute I picked up this little pool table for him and wrapped it up. Turns out, it's the best gift ever. It has sat right here on the coffee table since he opened it this weekend. They all play it every chance they get. And the best part: they haven't fought over it - not 1 time!

Yesterday, Braden came in the kitchen and said, "It's a good thing we have brothers, because I would get tired of playing this all by myself".

Cade: Yep, good thing, 2 of them.

Braden: Yeah, so if I get tired of playing with one, I can play with the other.

Now we know why God gave the Doughty's 3 boys: Braden needed a spare!!!

Happy Birthday Braden!

Braden is 9!!!
He is such a little cutie pie. Braden has always been my cuddle bug. From the time he was born, he has loved to snuggle up next to someone he loves and "get cozy". I remember being so surprised that he was a boy. We hadn't found out, but I just knew he was a girl! I saw his parts before anyone said anything and thought, "No, that's not supposed to be there!" Of course, I wouldn't change a thing. He and Bryce are almost exactly 2 years apart and have been best buds from the beginning. Braden looks different than the other two. He is the spitting image of his dad when he was young. He also acts exactly like his dad. Anything dad likes to do, Braden is right there beside him. He loves to hunt, fish, play baseball, football, watch sport center. He is super smart in math, and is such a blessing to his teachers. He is such an important part of our family. Here are some pictures of Braden through the years:
Here he is playing with his Daddy. He's always been a Daddy's boy.

Here he is at 6 months, he was quite the chunk:

He's about 2 here with his best friend, his brother:

This is Richard's favorite picture, he was SO proud of these fish!:

Here he is during Western Day at Preschool. This is one of my favorites.:

Here's his kindergarten picture:

And here he is just a few months ago. This is one of my favorites. Dad was coaching him as he was catching (Dad's old position):

We are so proud of you, Braden. Happy Birthday! You make this a GREAT day!!

We love you!!!

Mom

One Terrible Night

I wanted to share with you a life experience that happened to our family two years ago today. We lived in a very small, but very cute little house. We had built it about 7 years before, so it was fairly new. It wasn't anything great, but I loved that house, and had filled it with all the special memories of bringing two of my children home there. That is the house that I spent so much of my time raising those little boys when we were all home all day together. This is a picture of our house when it was almost finished.

At about 11:00 pm, we were all asleep and I heard someone knocking on the door. I woke Richard up, and he went to the back door to check it out. When he did, he saw the entire carport engulfed in flames. He screamed "We're on fire" in this horrific voice that I hope to never hear again. We both ran to the other end of the house where the kids were. He went and got the kids out of bed, and me being the mother that I am, grabbed five of my scrapbooks. Richard went back in to get the keys to his truck, and his cell phone. He tried to grab some pictures off the wall because he knew how much I loved every single picture. He made it out, and was able to back his truck out and save the dog. Then, the only thing to do was wait for the fire truck, and then watch my entire house,with all those precious memories, burn down. Here is a picture of what my cute little house looked like the morning after:

Here's my brand new Suburban:

Here's one more. It is the saddest to me because you can see Cade's little Pooh backpack hanging on his closet door.

I could go on and on, each picture just as important to me as the others. Richard's partner took these, and I am so grateful. I obviously didn't even own a camera (I didn't even own a bra!!), and even if I did, my brain was so shot that I wouldn't have thought to document it. I wish that I had more pictures of us through the next few weeks. We went home with my brother and SIL, and lived with them for the next 5 weeks. The morning after, I called my best friend who lives about an hour away, and asked her if she would bring me some clothes (underwear and all). Thank God, we're the same size. When she got there, we went to start collecting things that we woke up without: toothbrushes, shoes, clothes, uniforms for school, backpacks, etc, etc,. The list goes on and on. We walked out the house in our pj's. The neighbors came through, and dressed us and the kids (after Richard had paced the street in his boxers for about an hour). But that is all we had the next morning. So many people came through for us, giving us clothes, food, etc. It is amazing to literally have nothing. I felt very connected to the people who had just gone through hurricane Katrina. We were all homeless, walking through Target, buying toothbrushes!

Here are a few things I have learned from this experience:

Things that you think you "could never live without" - you can.

Yes, pictures ARE that important.

Even if you have smoke detectors, if there is a fire in the attic, they might not go off. Ours didn't start beeping until the roof had fallen in. We were about 5 minutes from all dying. We now have heat detectors installed in the attic.

As long as your family is together, you can survive anything. A couple weeks after this, a family we know lost a baby to SIDS. It put everything into perspective. All my babies were safe.

I could go on and on, with details of the fire, the aftermath, how we found a place to live in the wake of Katrina, how God has healed us emotionally (I'm still a basket case at certain times, tonight for example). He has been faithful. My children still talk about it, but don't seem to be scarred from it. I can't hear a siren without almost having a heart attack, but it is getting better and better.

Tomorrow is my Braden's 9th birthday. Poor thing, his presents burned in the fire two years ago. He now associates his birthday with our house burning down, which I hate. I think that will pass with time.

Well, go be safe, and give those babies an extra kiss tonight. I know I will.