Camp with Kimmie!

Last week Sam participated in a basketball camp run by former Mizzou player and current Detroit Piston, Kim English.  Our family has been a long time fan of Kimmie's so I knew this was a camp that Sam would not want to miss.  It was held for two mornings at one of the local high schools.  Kim English was great with the kids!

Sam in line to shoot while Kim English watches. 

Campers and coaches photo

Ella and Sam with Kimmie!

 He talked to them about the value of hard work and worked on some skills and drills to improve their games.  He also brought in some former and current Missouri players to assist him.  Sam had a great time. The camp ended with a chance for autographs and photos.  Let's just say the Kim English basketball will going in a place of prominence in Sam's bedroom. 

Don't Catch the Pizza!

We decided to hit up our favorite pizza place for lunch since John got off work early.  At lunch time they make a variety of pizzas and sell them by the slice.  John and Sam wanted two slices of pizza.  They also wanted pepperoni which was coming out of the oven just after we ordered.  The problem with two slices of pizza is they are large and don't entirely fit on the plate.  As we stood in line waiting to pay I saw Sam's pizza sliding off of his plate as he looked around the restaurant oblivious to what was happening with his pizza.  I said, "Sam!" and reached towards his plate to make it level.  His reaction was to jerk, flipping the just out of the oven pizza into the air and onto my hand.  While most of the pizza went crashing to the floor some very hot cheese and sauce stuck to my finger burning it.  I licked it off quickly and went for napkins.  

Believe it or not, it actually looked worse in person.  

Meanwhile, I still needed to help clean up this mess, pay for our order and get more pizza for Sam.  Sam got upset and took off, John helped pick up the pizza then to find Sam.  As soon as I paid and got everything to our table I went to the bathroom to run cold water on my hand.  That didn't help much so I ate the meal with ice on my fingers.  On the drive home (without ice) it really began to throb.  Three Advils later and an hour of ice seemed to do little to help.  I now had a huge blister and two smaller blisters.  I kept my hands in cool water all evening.  I have never had a burn cause pain that lasted that long.  When I tried to sleep that night it was still painful.  I had to rig up a tv tray next to the bed with a casserole dish of cold water on top that I slept with my hand in most of the night.  Luckily, it quit hurting by morning but has caused lots of other fun problems as the skin peels and heals.  At least I am on the mend and I know next time to just let the pizza hit the floor! 

Back Down to Springfield

John was needing some golf in his life.  He hasn't really found any playing partners here in Columbia (not that he has tried too much) so we headed down to Springfield for the weekend.  He, Kevin and Kelly got in two full days of golf and I think enjoyed themselves.  The kids and I enjoyed ourselves getting to hang out with Dana and the kids.  We walked at the Nature Center, watched Caleb's baseball game, went to the movies, spent some time at the pool and just hung out together.  The kids even got one last chance to see Dawn and Ellie before they headed out to North Carolina. It was a nice way to spend the weekend. 

Surprise Visit

Sam's best friend, Lucas, from Springfield came up a few weeks ago for a surprise visit.  His mom had called and said Lucas was wanting to come see Sam.  We set a meet up point about half way between Columbia and Springfield.  Lucas wanted this to all be a surprise for Sam.  We decided to meet at the outlet mall in Osage Beach.  I told Sam we were headed there to visit the Nike outlet and get him some high tops for his upcoming basketball camp.  While we were looking at shoes his friend walked up to him.  I was expecting a lot of excitement but I think Sam was kind of in shock he said hi, but didn't know what else to do.  I told him Lucas was coming home with us to spend the night then he got really excited. 
The boys had a good time together.  They played video games, basketball and catch.  They stayed up too late watching movies on television.  They went to the pool and to play laser tag.  It was a fun visit and nice to catch up on what Lucas has been doing.  We certainly miss seeing him more often but hopefully we can continue the short visits. 

Soccer Camp!

Ella was upset that Sam was signed up for a lot of camps this summer and the only thing she had was gymnastics.  So we set out to find a camp for her too.  We decided upon Mizzou soccer camp.  Camp took place on the Mizzou field which she thought was pretty cool and was led by two of their assistant coaches and one of the players.  She had fun running around, scrimmaging, and working on her skills.  I think she would be an awesome little soccer player but I'm not sure that is what she wants to do.  
Her other favorite part of the camp was getting to tour the soccer players locker room and see where they watch game film.  She got to watch their recruiting video and "sit in the awesome Mizzou chairs!"  I think it was a good camp choice. 

Doing a drill with one of the Mizzou players.

DEFENSE

Leaping over a ball during a drill.

Look who is anxious to answer the question! 

Mizzou Football Camp

Sam attended the Mizzou Football Camp again this year.  This time some of his friends were going along which would have made it even more fun except that when I signed him in I said he was in fifth grade (which he will be) but they were grouping kids by the grade they just completed.  So, Sam spent the first night without his friends but made a new friend along the way and was in a smaller group so got a little more activity time.  
We met up with his friends later when the whole group came together and the next day he knew where to go to be with his age group.  
The camp was a little crowded so Sam was disappointed that there was a little too much standing around.  We may skip this one next year and just do the Maclin and Fr. Tolton Camps.  He did enjoy being down on Faurot Field and the kids got to sit in the helmet car despite the fact that it needed a serious washing. 

Sam and Matthew in the helmet car

Sam doing a tackling drill.

Sam with his friends Hayden and Matthew. 

Dawn and Ellie's Farewell Visit

Dawn and Ellie made a couple of trips to our house this week.  Next weekend they start their big move to Asheville, North Carolina so we had to get in some family time.  They spent most of the day with us yesterday (Saturday).  We went out to lunch, for a walk around Shelter Gardens, and then they hung out at our house and did some fishing at the pond.  Sam had Mizzou Football Camp (the next post) so he and I were not there for all of the evening festivities but still got in a good visit.  We wish them a safe trip and hope they enjoy their new surroundings.  Having been to Asheville I am sure that they will.  We might just have to plan a fall visit.  

The kids at Shelter Gardens