Friday Night Lights

The boys just finished up another season of flag football.  Since they aren’t able to play on the same team because of the age divisions, we end up spending LOTS of time every week at the football field.  Luckily, for the past two seasons all of our games have been on Friday nights.  There’s just something about playing football at night under the bright lights that makes it a little more fun and exciting.  We usually grab a couple bags of kettle corn from the snack bar and call it a family night.  I’ve never been much of a football fan, but when it comes to my boys, I’m right there cheering with everyone else (okay…screaming!).

Carter was able to play with several friends and teammates that he already knew.  This wasn’t their best season, but it’s all about how you play the game, right?  We’re so proud of Carter for always keeping a positive attitude and being a great team player.  His highlight of the season was receiving the MVP Award for most improvement after the first game.  Way to go, Carter!

Brady was put on a new team this season because several of his old teammates moved on to tackle football.  I am SO not ready for that yet!  This new team wasn’t quite as successful as his last team, but this allowed Brady the chance to step up as one of the star players.  He is especially good at defense because he is so quick, but he even scored a couple touchdowns and made some interceptions.  He was beaming at the awards ceremony when his coach said that, “Brady can do EVERYTHING.” 

Camryn and Sawyer look forward to our Friday nights at the football field, too!

By the end of the season I’m usually a little worn out and ready for a break.  Somehow my memory always fades, though, and we end up signing up for another season.  As long as they’re having fun!

Candy Makin’!!!

It’s official… the holidays are HERE!  Every year just before Thanksgiving all of the women in our family get together to make our traditional Date-Nut Candy.  It’s a SECRET recipe created by my Great Grandma that has been passed down through my Granny, and then my mom for the past 50+ years.  This is the first time we have made it since Granny’s passing.  We were thinking and talking about her all day.  I have many fond memories of gathering in her kitchen to make our special candy.  I love my Granny!

Although I’m not at liberty to share exact details of the recipe, I can say that it is a VERY involved process.  It all starts with locating someone with a mature date palm tree willing to sell/give them to us.  Granny usually did this for everyone.  She swore that store-bought dates just wouldn’t work.  Then we have to tend to our palm frond daily, plucking the ripe dates off so they can be peeled, pitted, and ground.  Next comes the chopping, cooking, stirring, pouring, cutting, and wrapping (LOTS of wrapping!).  Even with all of the work involved, this is a tradition that everyone happily participates in because it is just SO good!  All of my sister-in-laws that have married into the family are just as excited to be a part of the candy making. 

Part of the secret of this recipe is using Granny’s special pot, lovingly referred to by the husbands as the “magical pot”.   We don’t dare to try anything else.

 

The cousins love candy making day, too!

The finished product!  It’s so fun to give something at Christmas time that is unique and special to our family.   I may be partial, but I think it is DELICIOUS!  The kids in my house (hubby included!) can’t get enough.  There’s something about it that just tastes like Christmas.  Bring on the holidays!!!

Halloween 2010

I’m usually not a costume type of person, but this year we were invited to a couple different parties so I decided to put some effort into creating coordinating family costumes.  We dressed up as the entire Scooby Doo gang.   We had most of the clothes we needed already in our closets.  The costumes all turned out really cute and the kids were adorable!

Carter wanted to be a phantom so he could glide around on his Heely’s.

 

Cam was the perfect Daphne!

We were lucky to get Sawyer to leave his costume on long enough to get a picture.

Brady was HILARIOUS as Shaggy!

Orange is SO not my color.

We first went to show Grandma Hunt the kids’ costumes.

 

Then we went to a super fun party at the Muller’s house.  Alyssa throws the BEST parties!  The kids were so excited to spend some time with their best friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since Halloween fell on a Sunday this year, we let the kids decide what they thought we should do.  They came up with the idea of having Grandma, Grandpa and their cousins come over for chili and treats, and going from door-to-door inside our house to fill up on candy.  Their buckets were totally full, and there was not one complaint about missing out on the real trick-or-treating.  It ended up being a really great evening and we were proud of their choice.  We all agree it was a great holiday.