Game Day at Tuscaloosa: Roll Tide

I haven't been to a college football game in 19 years until just recently, and now I've had the privilege of attending two! As y'all know a few weeks ago my husband and I took our two Auburn fans to a live football game, and then this past weekend my oldest son invited me to go with him to an Alabama football game. 

My oldest son was given tickets by one of his bosses and after he asked a buddy who couldn't go, apparently I was next in line for him to invite. Can I just say I was floored that he would even think of me to take to a college football game, but still encouraged him to find someone else other than his dear old mom. But, he insisted he really wanted to go with me. And y'all when your 18 year old seriously invites you to go somewhere, you graciously clear your schedule and go!

I find marching bands fascinating with the formations they can make!

It was an eleven o'clock game so we had to leave super early to give enough time to get there before kick-off. Thankfully, my 16 year old son held down the 'fort' until my husband could get home from work. It was a fairly easy drive, even if it did take two hours. Once we got there it was a breeze to park and find our way into the stadium. Our seats were fairly high, but I was thrilled to discover they were at least on the end, making it fairly quick to get in and out and down to the bathroom (y'all remember, I am 28 weeks pregnant and this girl needs lots of bathroom breaks, lol!). 

The day was beautiful and the game was great. As in true Bama fashion by half time they were winning with a nice good lead. Due to the extreme heat and the fact that I forgot sunscreen {{ugh}} and we were both burnt to a crisp by this point, we decided to leave in the 4th quarter. We took our time getting back to the truck, stopping to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. It really was a fun time and I will treasure the memory always. I'm truly honored my son would invite me to a college football game when he could have invited anyone!

No trip to Tuscaloosa is complete without a picture with the famous Bear Bryant! The line to take a picture with the Nick Saban's statue was quite long so we skipped that photo op. 

While I'm not a huge fan of college football for a host of reasons, I must say it is a blast to watch a game live! The atmosphere is so much fun. I've also learned more about the game of football during my two visits to live games than I have in the past 19 years. I'm sorry y'all, but watching football on television is just plain annoying to me. But, up close and personal, it's down right fascinating!!

I'm still not swayed to one team or another, which is border-line sacrilege in the grand state of Alabama. You cannot physically be an Alabama fan and an Auburn fan, it just isn't kosher! To be honest both teams have their enticements, but neither one really wins me over, lol. If one of my family members is so inclined to invite me to a live college football game, I don't personal care who's playing. I would be delighted to attend and cheer for the team of their choosing. I guess that's not exactly the definition of a true fan, but I'm not sure I could ever be one really. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to BOTH football games and would gladly attend either one again!

With Love & Hope,
Jennifer

Back to School Weenie Roast & Campout

Due to life being super busy lately, I'm just now getting to the final post for our Friday the 13th family fun day. By now most of y'all have probably caught on that I love traditions. Well, one of my many crazy traditions that I implemented many moons ago has been our Back to School, Backyard Weenie Roast and Campout. 

Once we complete our first month of school we have a weenie roast and campout to celebrate all our hard work. As my fellow homeschool mama's know getting back into the swing of homeschooling and knocking out those first few weeks can be a major challenge ~ which is why I feel a celebration is  a must.

I grew up camping ~ in a tent! Sorry y'all I just don't believe it's camping if you're in a travel trailer or motor home. To me, true camping is in a tent. Tents have come a long way over the years and this one we have from CORE is amazing!! Once you get it staked, it's four poles and you're done other than attaching the rain fly. 

Everyone loves helping set up the tent, even the little bitty ones. 

Here's another one of those pictures I've taken for years and years and years. Ugh to watch my babies grow up (and our family grow) brings a mixed of wild emotions!

These two little rascals were the most excited, but they ended up going to bed inside after the weenie roast and roasting s'mores. Since my husband had to work the next day; he slept inside and we opted for the three little ones to sleep inside as well so that the big kids could have some 'big-kid' fun.

It was a very long day with the apple orchard, the covered bridge, and finally the weenie roast and campout, but my oldest daughter was a little energizer bunny helping set up all the food for our homeschool celebration. 

This year I opted to create a serving tray for the s'mores. This worked perfect for quick and easy assembly!

I love this picture!! My father-in-law has this cute little truck for piddling around the property. The kids used it to fill up with sticks for the bonfire. 

Yes, at one point our little bonfire turned into a massive flame, lol. No worries we were all safe and all weenies were salvaged.

Not all my kids love s'mores, but in my opinion no weenie roast is complete without the presence of s'mores! 

I mean what's not to love?? Char broiled gooey marshmallows, melted chocolate and crunchy graham crackers. Yeah I'm a sucker for nostalgia!

Okay y'all here's the nitty gritty of the conclusion of our Friday the 13th family fun adventures: it was ALL drama. and a story for the books! After our weenie roast and s'mores the kids played some after-dark tag while the older folks started cleaning up. Then we put the little bitty ones to bed and the big kids and I headed into the tent to enjoy our sleep outdoors in the backyard. 

Due to it being soooo hot I opted not to put the rain fly on the tent (BIG mistake ~ insert groan). I had checked multiple weather apps as well as t.v stations and radio stations for the overnight forecast and there was ZERO chance of rain!!!!!! When 11:45 pm rolled around, I was awakened to it feeling like someone was spitting in my ear. {{ugh}} Y'all I was literally about to get on to a child for pulling pranks and NOT sleeping. But, nope it was rain!! Insert massive eye roll!

Once I got my bearings, I frantically woke the kiddos up and told them to grab all the sleeping bags and pillows and to RUN! So our little backyard campout was cut half short due to an unexpected torrential downpour complete with straight-line winds. We all slept indoors that night and when we awoke the next morning our tent had about an inch of rain inside of it. {{sigh}} Thankfully, it was another scorcher of a day and the tent quickly dried out once we draped it over the swing set. 

And there y'all have it, another drama-filled fun day in the life of the Williams family. I really do try, and at this point all I can do is laugh about it. Oh, the stories my kids will have to tell their children one day, lol! Even though my grand plans rarely turn out the way I had envisioned, I'm still going to keep on keeping on, pushing through, making the plans and attempting to make special memories with my family.

With Love & Hope,

Jennifer

Kids in the Kitchen: Memories Not Messes

As mothers we want to make every moment we have with our children count. We often hear the old adage "Quality over Quantity"; which certainly seems applicable when raising children. Our attention is pulled in every direction. The demands of motherhood are extreme and nonstop. A mom is expected to be everywhere and do everything with a smile on her face, all the while never tiring. Well, we all know that just simply isn't going to be the case ALL the time. And so we find ourselves on a 'mommy mission' to find those little nuggets of time to create as many memory making opportunities as possible. One of my personal favorite ways to spend time with my children is while I am baking and cooking.

Let's face it, we have to eat. Kids have to eat. Okay actually they want to eat constantly, but typically not the food we are preparing, sigh. Why not incorporate them in the food prepping process? Yes, I know you can do it faster and with far less mess; but remember as mothers, we're looking for as many opportunities as possible to spend QUALITY time with our children. I find that when I'm cooking or baking with my kids, that they have more of my undivided attention than with any other activity we could do together. Which for me, makes the positives far outweigh the negatives of my children being in the kitchen.

Cooking and baking is fun for children. It's one of the best sensory learning activities a child can do AND it's a life skill they can take with them forever. Even if you can't cook or bake, there are simple meal prepping activities you can involve your children with as you work to get the meal ready for everyone to eat. I have found the following 5 simple steps to help me remain focused on purposing to include my children in our family's meal prep even when it isn't the easiest process.

1. Remember you're raising children who will become adults, and the art of preparing a meal is a huge asset for their future nutritional needs as well as budget.
2. When children are involved in the cooking process, they are more likely to eat the food.
3. As they get older they will be able to carry more of the workload of preparing family meals, therefore giving you an occasional break from kitchen duty.
4. Responsibility is a good thing, it gives children confidence and the encouragement to believe in themselves in many different aspects of their lives
5. Time in the kitchen with anyone, especially children, often leads to the best conversations which helps to further deepen a parent/child relationship.

While it may not be the easiest to cook or bake with a child 'underfoot', I can assure you the treasured memories you are creating deeply overshadow any inconveniences. Purpose NOT to look at the mess, they can always be cleaned up, but look at the sweet child who WANTS to be with you, gleaning from everything you have to share. There will come a time when they will no longer be in your home to create special memories and make those messes.

Even with all the demands of motherhood it is an awesome gift and one that shouldn't be taken for granted. While none of us will ever be the perfect mother, we can look for opportunities to spend quality time with our children. I challenge you to let your little ones bake and cook with you, relax, smile, and enjoy the journey. Make some messes but more importantly make some priceless memories.

With Love & Hope,
Jennifer