flag football - Bronco's

This season of flag football was the most fun season of any sport we've been a part of. Aaron was head coach of Dawson's 7 year old team. We had invited lots of Dawson's friends to play on the team. We knew most of the families before the season ever started. Which made it so much fun to be at the games and practices with friends. We all looked forward to it. The Bronco's had a great season and won many games. Dawson was awesome at QB and running back. He scored several touchdowns! And he pulled so many flags each game that he earned the Hershey Candy Bar given out at 7 of the games for pulling the most flags in those games. He is very proud of that! We ended the season with a fun team party. And, we were all sad for the season came to an end.

A trip to the ER, and some glue.

It turns out, scouting is more dangerous than tackle football. Dallon was playing wall ball at scouts, went after a ball and ran into face first into the wall. His scout leader is a doctor, and he told me that Dallon needed stitches and to take him to the ER. At the hospital they ended up gluing it, instead of stitching it. They said it was the perfect cut for glue and that they thought it would scar less with glue too. The next morning I took this picture. It's been almost 2 weeks since. The glue held up well. The cut is healing.

Pumpkin Patch

Here are our pictures from the pumpkin patch. We went and spent an afternoon there when Melissa and Cody were here to stay. It was fun to get out and do something together. We checked the kids out of school, and Aaron went with us too. I don't know why I don't have pictures of him. When we first arrived Dallon was pretty bummed at the size of the hay maze. It looked like a "little kid" maze. But I found a way to make it fun for him. I told him I'd time him as he ran thru the maze. Then it wasn't about finding his way thru the maze - it was about speed and he loved it. After a few runs I decided to race too. It was really fun. Yes, I did win. And no, he didn't let me. Dawson got his face painted and he loved it so much that he didn't want to wash his face that night before bed. After we got home I found him several times that evening looking at himself in the mirror. He loved the look! Easton and Cody loved playing in the hay and running around outside.

Good times with Melissa and Cody

Melissa and Cody came to stay with us for a week in October. It was so fun to have them here. Easton and I got to enjoy hanging out each day with them. Some of what we did was just regular life stuff, like running the boys around to all of the things they are involved with. But, it was fun to have her to go with me. We took the little boys to the park one day and picnicked, went to Dallon's band concert, football games, and Melissa and I got to go out and see a chick flick. That was fun. We carved pumpkins, ate out, played Just Dance, and made cookies. (Oh, by the way... you do not want to compete in Just Dance against Melissa. She rocks! The only one of us that could even compete any where near her level was Dallon, if you can believe that). One of my favorite things we did while she was here, was more something she did. I had asked her to bring some of her favorite recipes and we could cook them together. Our family is sick of eating the same things over and over and I was excited to try some new food. She made some delicious healthy meals. It was so fun to learn to cook new things, and find some new family favorites. We also checked the boys out of school one day and spent the day at a pumpkin patch. That was lots of fun. But the pictures for that will have to come in another post. Thanks for coming to see us Melissa and Cody. We love you, and we are so glad we got to spend that time with you.

determination

These are my favorite pictures of Dallon this year. This was one of his very first runs as a running back. I can't even begin to tell you how much joy it brought Aaron and I to watch him run the ball like that. Last year was Dallon's first year to play tackle. We had no idea there was a weight limit you had to be under just to run the ball. When Dallon weighed in, he was just a few pounds over it last year, and was unable to run the ball all season. He played line and still loved it, but every kid wants to run the ball. Last year coach had told him all season that he has amazing hands, and shared how much he wished Dallon could have run the ball. Coach encouraged him to make weight the next year. He set a goal at the beginning of the summer to be under the weight needed to be able to run the ball. He asked me for help to be able to reach that goal - as he knew I was already working on my own personal fitness goal too. We worked all summer on making healthy choices with food, and going to the gym together. Over the course of the summer he lost the 6 pounds necessary to make weight. That's quite a lot for an 11 year old. He has had the opportunity to play the running back position almost every game, along with another position he loves, defensive end. He has scored 2 touchdowns, and ran the ball in for the extra point too. It has been exciting to see Dallon work so hard to reach a goal. To see him experience a dream of his come to reality.

Dallon's team, the Bronco's, won their semi-final playoff game tuesday night. Which means they will be playing this saturday in the championship game for the first place title in their league. Go Bronco's! Go Dallon!