Soccer Shots!

Payton began soccer yesterday.  It's a nationwide after-school program, called Soccer Shots, that's geared for kids aged 3-5.  Coach Stephen and Coach Brett are awesome with the kids, and do age-appropriate activities.  For example, they were to dribble their ball around the field area, missing the "volcanoes," also known as orange cones.  Payton and her friend, Anna, were the only kids from her 3 year old class, who were participating.  The rest of the gang is from the 4's class.  Payton did really well, listened (yet still asked a million questions), handled the ball surprisingly well (a little athlete, no doubt), and LOVES it!  YAY!

So, what was Griffin doing while we watched? Swinging, climbing, sliding, watching, and cheering on big sissy...needless to say, the kids were more than ready for naps when we arrived home!

Griffin will be joining in the fun next fall, when he's 3!!  For now, he's content watching, cheering, and playing on the playground.

2 Down, 10 To Go

Dad has 2 rounds of chemotherapy under his belt.  The first one was rough.  They had problems with the port.  What should have taken 3 hours turned out to be an all-day ordeal.  But Dad was positive.  Patient.  Followed all the rules.  The infusion...no problem!  Then came the days after.  He has to wear a "fanny pack," we're calling it, for 46 hours after his infusion at the oncologist's office.  This pack pumps the final, 4th, drug into his system through his chest port.  He tries to sleep, but fights the pump for those two nights, and the pump wins.  Without going into all the details, I'll just say his first experience sucked.  It had to get better, right? 

Wrong.  Wednesday, of this week, was infusion #2.  Again, the port had some problems, but were remedied pretty quickly.  His question and answer session with the nurse took a bit longer than was expected, but all and all, things went more smoothly this round.  Wednesday night, again, no sleep.  Dad came into the office Thursday...a trooper.  He was tired, and the chemo is showing some ugly side effects.  Nausea has been pretty much non-existent this time, yay!  But his body aches.  His neck is so stiff he can't turn his head.  He can't take deep breaths because his chest is tight and heavy.  He can't drink anything that is colder than room temperature, and if he does, he says it feels like swallowing tree bark, or broken glass.  He's having some really strange food cravings.  His short-term memory has been affected...they call that "chemo brain."  Probably much like pregnancy brain, as I definitely experienced when pregnant!  Add all that together with two nights of no sleep...sorry, he said he did sleep from 4-5am this morning...and that equals one miserable Grumps :(  I wish I could make it better for him.  I wish I could tell him it's going to get easier.  But I can't.  It's part of the "game."  One that has to be played to live.  So, dammit.  He's going to muscle through it.  And I know he will be okay. 

And thank you to those of you I'm lucky enough to call friends...those who have been consistent checking in on my Dad.  With me.  Asking about his treatments, and how we're all doing.  It means a lot, and I appreciate the support.  It's a tough time.  One I don't wish on anyone.  Keep those prayers rolling in!  We're looking forward to celebrating BIG TIME in February, when this shit, and I do mean shit, is over. 

Greek Fest, Carter's Bday Party, and the Lake!

It's finally been REALLY pretty in Charlotte.  No rain, low humidity, and sunny skies.  YAY!  The crispness of fall is definitely in the air, football season has begun, and I'm looking forward to bonfires, mountain trips, and Halloween!  We've been spending a lot of time outdoors lately.  Missy and I took the kids to Latta Park one morning....Payton is getting really good at "pumping" the swing by herself, and Griffin is getting better and more confident in climbing ladders.

Sam and Griffin...always a car in one hand!

We kept up our annual tradition of going to the Greek Festival.  The kids rode (very expensive) "fair" rides, we ate awesome Greek food, and the kids danced on the stage.  Nothing super exciting, but the kids had fun!

Brian and I, after the ride was in full "swing," decided it was not a smart idea to have Griffin on this, especially on the outside.  We were scared to death he was going to fall out!!  The kids, however, were all smiles :)

DANCE PAR-TAY!

Payton with our friends, Jace and Audrey

So, Carter Kennington turned SEVEN on September the 6th.  Granby turned, um, well, Granby also had a birthday on September the 6th.  We gave Granby her cards, hugs, kisses, and presents on Thursday, since we were not going to see her over the weekend.  Carter's birthday party was on Saturday afternoon.  A really awesome camping theme.  Stonie, as usual, went all out.  Carter's big surprise....he got a ZIPLINE!  The kids LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it.  Everything was super cute, the weather couldn't have been more perfect, and although Daddy is in Florida, and I'm a single mommy for the week, I managed to keep up with both kiddos just fine.  They all had a blast!

All dressed up and ready to goooooooo!

Carter, the birthday boy, on his new toy

Payton enjoying a turn...Griffin was too small to hold himself up, but I ran back and forth with him :)

The snaggle-toothed birthday boy!

Carter's sweet little sissy, Juliet...who will soon be ONE!

Payton, Rankin, Kate, and Shelby waiting to paint birdhouses

Yes, I stripped them down...no paint on those clothes :)

Inside:  flashlights, jars for fireflies, a can of silly string, and a blow pop.  All the necessities :)

Look at all this hair!!  Payton wants hair like Rae-Rae, unfortunately blonde hair grows much more slowly...

I'm fairly positive that Brian is going to get his "lefty" out of Griffin.  He's definitely showing that to be his dominant hand, and swings the bat lefty (like Mom :)

So much for keeping paint off Payton's shirt...looks like she may have helped herself to the "worms in dirt!"  Besties...Blow Pop Cheers!  (check out that silly Raegan!)

Carter had too much other cool stuff going on to blow out his candles.  Anyone care to guess who helped him out?

Camryn and Griffin

So, I was talking with some friends, and look up to see this!  OMG!  Payton at the top of a ladder, getting ready to zipline.  Whew.  Close call, but I saved her :)

Payton and MaTTie

Griffin and Sutton...trying to sail away

Sometimes they can be really sweet :)  (and this was way past their bedtimes!)

Sunday, the kids and I spent some time on the tennis courts.  I tried to teach Payton how to hit the tennis ball, and she did pretty well.  Griffin, not so much, but he tried.  We also kicked the soccer ball around, and Payton, without prompting, did some crunches.  Hilarious.  I'm glad my girl is into exercise!  She loves it!  Payton starts soccer on September 26th, and she's so excited!

                                         

And Callie stuck her head out of the door when we got home...and grabbed her collar.  Perhaps she was trying to tell us something?  Yes, we took her on a long walk :)

Later, we went on Rob's boat, and did a little wakeboarding.  Payton just loves it.  And Rob, well, check him out.  He's not bad himself!

Very sleepy kiddos

LEFT:  Where Payton fell asleep  RIGHT:  Where she was moved...she took a nice, long nap on the boat!  Griffin...no nap.

SOME MORE "PAYTONISMS" and STORIES I WANTED TO SHARE:

-Payton said, out of the blue, she wanted to go to Nick, Jr and have a sleepover with Mickey Mouse.  She said we'd have to watch a LOT of movies to get there.  She could sleep on her blow up mattress, and she could meet all of Mickey's pals...they would be at the sleepover also.  She said it's a long way away, and that I would have to bring everyone breakfast.

-(After cleaning her plate one night)..."This dinner was so good, there's a party in my belly!"  What was dinner, you may ask?  Nothing spectacular...chicken, pasta, and broccoli.  Seriously, where does she get this stuff?

-"If I got in an accident, an ambulance and fire truck would come and give me lots and lots and lots of band aids." -Payton

-Griffin takes a piece of his cereal, pulls up his shirt, and says "Put cereal in my belly!" and laughs.  He's certainly following in his sister's footsteps with his sense of humor.

And, the moment some of you have been waiting for, and some, like myself, have been dreading........I gave in and said goodbye to most of Griffin's curls.  We left all of the "baby" at Clipper Doodles, and took home, with us, a little boy.  Say hello to Mr. Handsome!  (His 3rd haircut...ever!)

The highlights...playing with the train table, sitting in a car that looked like Lightning McQueen, watching Mickey Mouse during the cut, and getting a RED lollipop for good behavior :)

He LOVES to stack blocks. Hint...for Christmas?

Our handsome little boy.  Not much "baby" left here.  Time flies when you're having fun!