We Knew it Was Coming, Just Hoped Not Yet

Well, our Tigers suffered their first loss of the season.  Things were looking pretty good with a 17-0 lead at the start of the fourth quarter but our luck wore out quickly.  We had not really played well all day and ended up losing to South Carolina in the second overtime.  
There were some good points to the weekend though.  Scott came to tailgate and go to the game with us, we got to see some old friends from our college and John's medical school days, and we had some good weather.  I guess we can not be too disappointed with all of the fun that we had.  

Cousin bonding!

The girls playing in the car.

Sam enjoying some tailgate goodies. 

House Decs

We learned a valuable lesson about house decorations this year...go early.  We left the basketball game at half time because there would still be an hour left of house decs.  Well, we got to see a lot of the scenes but did not see one skit.  Poor Ella, she had really been looking forward to it.  We waited at one skit for over twenty minutes while they waited on the judges before deciding to move on to a new location.  The problem was we kept missing the skits everywhere we would go.  We did manage to still get a few cute pictures.  

Ella did get to fish for a duck and win a piece of candy. 

Waiting for the house dec that would never start. 

Next year I promised we would do house decs before any other activity.  

Return to the Hearnes

So, I know we have had a lot of Mizzou on this blog lately and that trend is likely to continue since this is a busy time of the year for sports fans.  Last Friday was the "Return to the Hearnes" and the start of the Missouri Tigers basketball season.  The game was held in the Hearnes Center where old people like me used to watch basketball.  My kids had never been to a basketball game there and were amazed at how big it looked when they opened up the top sections that are usually covered during volleyball matches. 

The purpose of the night was to honor the 1993-1994 Tigers who went undefeated in the Big 8.  Yes, that was when I was in college when we had an old arena and Missouri played in the Big 8.  It was fun seeing the old players that I used to root for as a student.  The crowd was great despite so many other events occurring around campus since it was Homecoming weekend. 

The current Missouri Tigers started their season with an exhibition game against Oklahoma City.  There were a few rough spots for the Tigers with all of the new faces on the court but they should have a good season.  We were only able to stay for the first half but I am looking forward to getting back into Mizzou Arena and nights filled with basketball.  

Truman repelling from the ceiling.  He used to do this at every game at The Hearnes Center.

Game Time

Ready to cheer on his Tigers. 

GO Tigers!

We have become big fans of the volleyball team this year!  They are having an amazing season, and after the football loss yesterday, they are our only undefeated team.  Last Friday we headed over to the Hearnes Center for their match against Georgia.  They have a kids' carnival before hand so we went early to participate in the activities.  Ella and Sam made posters to hold up during the match.  Then, Ella played in the bouncy house while Sam played basketball on a hoop they had set up in the field house.  
The match was a good one.  The Tigers won 3-1.  It was fun cheering them on to victory! I think we are heading to watch them play again this Friday night. 

An A"Maze"-ing Adventure

Last Friday night we headed out to Shryock's Corn Maze.  It is owned by my friend Debbie, that I used to work with in Auxvasse, and her family.  I had taken my classes there on field trips when I used to teach and they loved it! I had wanted to take the kids last year but we were just too busy.  Our church was having a campfire at Shryock's Friday night and we were free! So, everything worked out perfectly for us to go.  
We arrived early because I wanted to do the maze during daylight.  The kids had fun inside playing in the corn box while I talked to one of their teachers who happens to work there in the evenings.  They also loved the gum ball maze.  I had been telling them about it on the way out and was so glad it didn't disappoint.  It is a really cool thing to watch.  

Outside the big,red barn

Sam is burying Ella in the corn kernels. 

The gum ball coaster.

After the tour of the barn we headed outside to the maze.  The maze is huge and takes quite a while to navigate.  There are check points along the way where you stop and answer questions and get a hole punch.  We only found 5 of the 8 checkpoints before it got dark but had fun searching.  Then it was back outside the maze and to the fire pit with our church group.  They provided hotdogs and the makings for s'mores.  Sam loved cooking over the fire.  Ella wasn't a fan of the smoke but loved the chocolate bars and ate way too many! It was a fun time and I'm sure they will be begging to return next year. 

Racing through the maze

Found a checkpoint! 

Sam is going for two at a time! 

Pumpkin Picking!

This year's annual pumpkin patch was weather perfect!  We took jackets but most of the kids had them off before we even made it out to the pumpkin patch.  It was a great fall day.  We started our trip with what has become a traditional lunch at Winstead's.  Then it was time to head to Suburban.  
They had both face painting and Cowboy Kate in the barn making balloon animals so that was our first stop.  Sam was a little annoyed by Cowboy Kate and decided to wait outside.  Kylie wasn't too sure about her either but wanted a balloon so she waited while AC and I took turns holding her or else kept her distance.  
Then it was a ride in the army truck to the pumpkin patch.  We did the traditional pictures and the kids had definite ideas over which pumpkin they wanted to choose.  I will say they are getting good and finding excellent pumpkins.  They liked just walking or running around then were ready to head back and to the swing sets.  Some rode back in golf carts, others in the army truck and Ella and Emma wanted to wait for the hay wagon.  That was a first for us this year and while bumpy had a good traditional pumpkin patch feel.  It was a nice day and we enjoyed time together and keeping the tradition alive! 

Look at these two all grown up!  What happened to those little baby faces from the picture below in 2009?

Loved Emma's spider!

Love these two! 

I also love the way Kylie is looking at Ella in this pic. 

All on the army truck heading to the pumpkin patch. 

Sam was all too happy to let Kylie take his place in this picture tradition.  

Down, Set, Practice!

Continuing with our look at our day to day schedule we come to football.  Football is a full time commitment.  Sam practices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  He or we (if it's my turn to drive) must leave the house before 5:00 to make it across town to practice by 5:30.  We do not return home until around 8:00 so three hours of the night are football.  After football it is a rush to get dinner cooked and get to bed.  Crazy huh?

Sam is playing for the Cowboys again this year.  A lot of the same boys are back again but they lost three of their best players to the try out team for the city.  Unfortunately, those three being gone has really hurt them and they are 1-5 this season.  The boys continue to work hard though and hopefully will get another victory soon.  

Our silver lining is that Sam was picked to be a team captain this year.  He gets a special patch on his uniform that he is very proud to wear.  He was so excited when he was picked!  I think he smiled the rest of the night and all of the next day.  

Posing before his first game of the season.

Smiles after the game

Out for the coin toss at the game in Boonville.

Mondays are for Ella

I thought this week on the blog we would take a little look at what our days look like around the Medley house.  I post a lot about our special activities but not much about our day to day routines.  At the Medley house John and I are up around 5:45 to shower and get ready for our days.  I wake the kids after I am ready and by 7:00 we are out the door. I am still not a fan of their school's early start time but we are getting used to it.  

Mondays are where we have packed Ella's activities due to Sam's crazy football schedule (more on that tomorrow).  The kids arrive home from school at 2:50.  They usually have a snack and some down time for about half an hour before we start homework.  Then at 4:00 Ella starts gymnastics.  She likes gymnastics still but dance has taken over as her new favorite. 

Gymnastics ends at 5:30 and we rush over to dance which starts at 5:45.  Luckily, dance is close by and after a quick leotard change in the car she heads into dance class.   She is absolutely loving dance!  Her class lasts an hour and the first half is tap and the second half is ballet.  You can see into her classroom and she is all smiles whenever she is dancing.   

Then at 6:45 it is home to cook dinner, finish any homework and bed by nine.  

Our calendar I took a picture of at the beginning of September.  Of course more things were added along the way.  It is color coded by person to help us stay organized.  

Ella practicing ballet with one of her teachers .

Ready to head to gymnastics.

A close up in her dance outfit.