Shoebox of Love

One of the women in our neighborhood was collecting shoeboxes to fill for Operation Christmas Child.  Her goal was to collect 150 shoeboxes to fill and send to children in other countries who have very little. We collected some boxes and left them on her porch.  After she collected the boxes she invited everyone to attend a party and help her fill the boxes.  You could shop for items on your own or use the items she was collecting.  We decided that we wanted to shop and buy items to fill three boxes.  
The kids and I had a fun time visiting Dollar Tree and Walmart to find things for a child their age in another country.  We bought toys, school supplies, and a toothbrush for each box.  The kids then wrote letters and added a picture to the recipient.  We took our boxes to the party where they were wrapped and collected.  While there the kids helped Miss Stephanie stuff some of the boxes and items she had collected too.  It was a great experience and I think it is something we will definitely do in the future.  

A Spook-tacular Night

Since we were in Kansas City for Ella's soccer tournament, that is where we went trick or treating.  After her last game the kids put on their costumes and headed to Scott and Becky's house.  AC and Al brought pizza for dinner, the kids were so anxious to trick or treat though I am not sure they ate that much.  All four of them headed out at first to trick or treat on Emma and Aiden's block.  Then they came back to the house where AC and I went back out with Ella and Aiden while Emma and Sam went trick or treating on their own with some of Emma's friends.  
The neighborhood was packed with kids and many adults had televisions set up outside or in their garages to watch the Royals World Series game while they handed out candy.  Ella and Aiden did a lot of trick or treating. Their favorite house was on a quiet cul-de-sac that not many kids were taking the time to visit.  They had a lot of games set up and many chances to get candy.  Ella and Aiden played all the games and I think would have liked to stay there even longer.  Sam and Emma got back to the house about a half an hour after we did.  Sam had urged the girls to come home, I think they wore him out.  Then it was back to Grandma and Grandpa's to watch the end of Royals game and sort candy.  Both kids got a lot of wonderful treats, the Royals won game four and we all had a fun evening.  

Ella as Anger

Colonel Sanders! 

Autumn Bash

Ella's team played in a soccer tournament over Halloween weekend in Kansas City.  They didn't come away with any wins but I think their team is improving.  Ella played goalie half of the time and midfield the other half.  She really enjoyed herself, she loves soccer and spending time with her teammates.  

The other big perk of playing in Kansas City is that you get a lot of people to cheer for you.  Grandma and AC were at all three games, Uncle Al made it two games and Grandpa, Scott and Aiden came to one.  It was fun to have such amazing support to watch Ella play! 

Carving Creations

We were going to Kansas City for Halloween so our jack o' lanterns would not be on display Halloween night, but we wanted to make them anyway.  We decided we would just display ours a night early.  It is nice that the kids are old enough now to clean the pumpkins themselves.  That is definitely the worst part of the job.  
Sam did his pumpkin all on his own this year.  He decided to make a Minecraft inspired jack o' lantern and I think it turned out well.  He took his time making the design and then cutting it all out carefully.  Ella and I worked on her pumpkin together.  She and Sam found a soccer ball design on line and that is what we used to make her jack o'lantern.  It was my first time doing some scraping and I think it made the soccer ball look great!  We were all pleased with our creations and really enjoyed making them.  

Mummy Mayhem

Ella's class had a mummy theme for their fall party this year.  My friend Christi was the party planner and she did an amazing job.  Everyone is always excited when she is in charge of parties because they are always so fun and well done.  Christi was also in charge of her daughter Whitney's fifth grade party though so that left me to run the mummy party.  
We ate mummy themed snacks, made mummy chocolate bars, played mummy bowling and wrapped the kids up like mummies.  Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the theme!  I would say wrapping everyone up in toilet paper was probably the class favorite. I enjoyed getting to spend the time with Ella, her classmates, her teacher and other parents.  

Volley Zou!

Ella is taking volleyball lessons with a few of the Mizzou volleyball players after school this year.  Sam did this when he was in fourth and fifth grade and really enjoyed it.  Ella is enjoying it too, although she says her arms hurt at the end of the hour.  Last Friday night the volleyball team had their youth night.  The kids that participate all go and get volleyball t-shirts, get to walk in a parade on the court in-between the second and third sets and they get autographs from all the Mizzou players after the game.  
John decided to stay home and Sam was going to a haunted house with one of his friends so it was a girls night for Ella and me.  Ella chose to start the night with dinner at Cheddar's.  After dinner we headed to the match.  She sat with me for the first set then wanted to go and sit with her friend Emma.  They had a fun time watching, cheering, and especially walking in the parade.  They found Jocelyn during the parade and she came and sat with them in the first row for the third set.  They had a great time as one of the cheerleaders taught them the cheer for "Point Mizzou" that they do each time Mizzou scores a point.  She would come over to the girls each time and do the cheer with them.  They thought that was pretty special.  The had a good time and I enjoyed watching Mizzou win 3-1.  We had not been to a volleyball match all season and it was something we should do more often because they are exciting to watch.  

Twas the Weekend Before State...

Sarah's softball team won their sectionals and were headed to Jefferson City to play Helias in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.  She texted me to see if we wanted to come and watch her play.  There were seven senior girls on her team and they were so excited that their last four years of hard work had paid off.  We headed to Jefferson City that morning and met Dana, Hannah and Caleb for an early lunch then it was time to head to the softball field.  
The girls got off to a good start but one bad inning and they got a little down and the game went downhill from there.  Sarah had some good at bats and a good catch in left field but it was not enough for a victory.  There were some tears as their season came to an end.  They went farther than any Rogersville team ever has though and should be proud of all they accomplished.  

All smiles before the game! 

Running onto the field for introductions.