Match Maker

This story just cracked me up. I hope I do it justice as I try to retell the tale ...

Tonight was the first home football game of the season at CAK ... vs. SEYMOUR (our alma mater) of all teams! There was a "new family welcome dinner" prior to kick-off, and I met Randy and the kids there so we could have dinner together. After dinner, we all went to the stands, and they sat near me (I was in the pressbox); them sitting still in one spot lasted the first half of the first quarter.

Our playgrounds are adjacent to our football stadium and are staffed so the children can play with some supervision while the adults visit & watch the game. Funny how a trip to the bathroom turned into me not seeing Randy and the kids until well after half-time! Yep, Hudson figured out the playground option. So, Randy checked the kids in at the gate and he found several of our Seymour friends to visit with along the fence line at the field.

Apparently, once in the playground area, Hudson found a friend from his class (Whitt, whom Hudson actually calls Went), and they were off and running. Olivia perched herself atop of some play equipment to scope out someone her age to play with. Most everyone, she noticed, already had a buddy. She was okay with that, but really wanted to connect with someone. She scaled down to the ground and found Hudson; she shared her dilemma with him. He said, "Don't worry, Sissy. I'll find someone just your size for you." Rememer, this is Mister Bashful we're talking about here.

Hudson has always tried to guess the age of other kids by "mentally measuring" them. If he can count to 10 as he scans them with his eyes from head to toe, then they must be 10 years old. If the scanning process ends in a count to 7, then the child must be 7 years old. Such logic! So, he scans Olivia to confirm her age (I'm serious), and he starts his search. After a few minutes, he comes back to her with this announcement: "Okay, I've found a girl who I think is your age and your grade and she looks like she'd like to play with you." He points out the girl to Olivia, and Olivia makes her move. She says: "This might sound crazy, but my brother thinks you and I might have fun playing together. My name is Olivia; I'm 10 and in the 5th grade." The girl replies, "Sure, let's play! My name is Rebecca; I'm 9 and in the 4th grade."

The little fella was just about right! Isn't that crazy? Well, it gets better. After a bit, Rebecca tells Olivia that two very nice 5th grade girls are in the playground area, and she thinks they'd like to meet her. Introductions are made, and a little 10-year-old-trio is born. The evening ends in hugs, the two CAK girls giving Olivia a balloon as a little gift, and all saying "see you at the next game" ... so sweet ... thanks to our miniature match-maker!

Kindergarten Kapers

Well, Hudson started school on Wednesday. He'll go half days through the end of this week before going all day starting next week. Here are a few tales from the back seat as we drive either to or from school:

1st Day
Me: So, what did you think of Kindergarten?
H: I can handle this, mom. All we did was color, have snack, go on the playground ... AND ... there's NO HOMEWORK!

2nd Day
H: This tucking in the shirt thing is killin' me!

3rd Day
H: Mom, there's this blue thing at the water fountain that "scans" people when they take a drink.
Me: Really? Are you sure? I can't think of what that would be for.
H: I think it's to check for villans.

4th Day
H: I had a good day, but I'm pretty sure I haven't learned to read yet.

5th Day
H: We're going to dress up as presidents one day.
Me: For President's Day?
H: Nope. Just for a regular day. My president costume will be green.
Me: Green? Why green?
H: That's the color of all the statues of the dead ones.

More to come. Stay tuned!

Softball Tournament

Look at my girl ... I love this picture! This is Olivia walking to take her position in left field in game #2 of the tournament her team played in at the end of June in Crossville, TN. She played pretty well ... made some plays, got some hits, stole two bases on one pass around the bags (2nd and home - SLIDING correctly both times!), and ... her crowning achievement: sliding HEAD FIRST into home to score during a different time on base. I just happened to have my camerea poised and ready, so I could capture every split second of it ...

It was an awesome moment for her ... for all of us, really. So proud!

Through Their Eyes ...

Two funnies from this week ... all because they see it like it is!

One from Hudson ...

Olivia went to softball camp at UT Monday - Wednesday. Hudson stayed with Nana on Monday and had this little conversation:

N: "I sure hope Olivia is having fun playing ball today."
H: "She's not playing ball; she's gone to COLLEGE to go CAMPIN'."


One from Olivia ...

A car passed us that had some sort of business advertised on it. Pretty sure it was with magnets, but it could have been those large cling things. Anyway, here's what she said (and she rambled just as I've typed it; and, yes, I had a difficult time responding with a straight face!):

O: "Mom, there's something I just don't get. You know sometimes when we're at South-Doyle High School for like basketball or something? Well, there are these cars there ... and I know it's a really big deal when you learn how to drive and that you're all about letting people know 'HEY, I'M DRIVING NOW' but I don't understand why kids would want to junk-up their cars by putting these HUGE stickers all over them that say "STUDENT DRIVER". I mean, wouldn't just one small one be enough, and do you really want people to know that you're still not a really good driver yet?"

Merry Maid

Earlier this month, Olivia was in a cleaning mood ... she took it quite seriously and decided to pretend she was a cleaning lady at Disney. She stocked her 'cart' with TP, paper towels, windex, Buzz Lightyear sheets, a Disney parks brochure (to put on your pillow), and other random cleaning supplies.

She started in her room and did a GREAT job! I was so impressed that I told her I'd pay her to do other rooms in the house ... mainly the master bath. I showed her what to use and where, and she went to town. She even took a hand towel and two wash cloths and made a Mickey head out of them similar to what was in our room at Disney!