Our last kindergarten pumpkin patch. I remember vividly going with Wyatt. It poured and I was pregnant with Evie and couldn't get my coat to wrap around my baby bump. I remember the boys sitting at the bottom of the slide just pouring water from their rain boots. Time really does fly. This on the other hand was a beautiful day. Daddy joined us and we had such a nice time watching the twins pick their pumpkins and play with their friends.
Last but not least was our family trip to the pumpkin patch. The weather for this one was less than cooperative and I honestly wasn't a big fan of going. We'd waited and waited for a day when Sadie was free and the only time that worked was a Sunday morning in the rain. This irritated me. Probably shouldn't have but ugh...why is life sooooo busy ALL THE TIME. But Brandon has turned into a die hard pumpkin patcher and I don't think we've missed many years so in the end I was glad we went.
This family really is pretty fun. Are they A LOT at times? Definitively!!! But they're also really good sports most of the time and up for an adventure and just generally a lot of fun.
I really do love the pumpkins although the dogs have taken some of the fun out of decorating around the house with them as they eat them.
And just like that she turned 16 as if it was no big deal just squeezed into the middle of a crazy month. She feel all grown up and at the same time little, ready for the added freedom and still in need of a lot of guidance. We as the parents are pretty unsure of what this next season is going to feel like but we LOVE her, this we know, and we're going to do our best to keep her grounded and close and FED, even as we more and more start letting go and watching her launch.
Volleyball continues. These girls and coach have their eyes on State for sure. We tease Sadie regularly as she comes home exhausted and sometimes overwhelmed by how hard she's being pushed "Road to State!" Everyone knows it and it's exciting and it's A LOT of pressure especially for the 3 who are new to the team, 2 of which we're related to.
This is an article that was recently written about the team.
Quinn and Sadie
October included 9 regular season games, 11 practices, 2 Saturday tournaments (one an overnight), league playoffs on a Saturday, and lots and lots of emotions as the girls and I'd say parents or at least these parents were pushed to their limit. At one point we had an injured and irrational teenager on our hand refusing to tell her coach, at one point we had a very frustrated teenager who was being told she'd be pulled and they'd run a 5:1 if she didn't push harder, at one point we had a text saying that "luckily" our daughter could be home for dinner on her 16th birthday because they'd already decided not to practice that day but that's not always an accommodation that can be made, and in league playoffs we had a very sad teenager as she was pulled for the last 3 points of the match and a player who'd been pulled up finished serving and setting the last 3 points. Crushing.....but I guess what doesn't break you makes you stronger and each time after a momentary "set back" she'd return to the court ready to prove she'd earned her spot and wasn't about to give it up and we'd see a new level of play from her. Not sure about this method honestly but I'm mom and it's a lot to walk with them through this kind of pressure and disappointment. I will say Sadie gained a lot of grit this season and I pray she'll carry that with her as she faces other difficult things in life.
What have we learned?
1. Keep her fed.
2. Give her time to make the right decision "on her own" even though it makes you feel crazy to wait.
3. Don't jump on the roller coaster with her.
What's high school coaches don't understand or seem to appreciate is that while sports are great we're also trying to raise littles and trying hard not to loose time with them in the midst of it all. It's hard to navigate but we know they still need their bedtime stories and dinner before 9 p.m. and all the things that we didn't have to work so hard for with the older kids.
I love watching little girls be little. Soaking it in these days.
Brandon loves it too but he more loves the making them squeal and giggle part.
Jog-A-Thon
The school hosted a jog-a-thon to raise money to buy equipment for the new turf field. Hazel practiced at home and ran her heart out the day off. There was a prize for whoever ran the most laps in each class and she won for her class!! Hazel works really hard, maybe harder than any of our other kids, and it isn't always recognized. We're really proud of her!!!
Hazel
Evie
Carter
Wyatt
The highschoolers didn't run but they got out and supported the kids running with them between classes and I'm pretty sure during some classes :) It was fun to see the school community participating together.
Jog-A-Thon Awards
Helpful Hero Day
Aubrey
Maddie
When you're #6 and #7 you just take matters into your own hands I guess. They wanted the training wheels off so I took them off and said they could try with Hazel and I'd be out in a minute and I came out to this. They've go this.
