Convention Time!

Okay, so this post may be a little behind....Christmas managed to get in the way of alot of  little things like posting on the blog. But it is December 28th, and now I am free to catch up!  Abby went to Union Station for her first dance convention in November. It is 2 grueling days of nonstop dance. (She loves it, don't let her kid you) This year 2 reality shows were being filmed during the convention. One called "Dance Moms", (Admit it, I know you've seen it) and the other was MTV's "Made". There is a very good possibility Abby will appear on one or both of these shows in upcoming episodes! We had to sign waivers, take pics the whole works~ crazy! above is a picture Abby took with Abby Lee Miller, star of Dance Moms. She and her dancers even came to Abby's studio to visit following the convention. How cool is that.

Here's What...

Here's what has been on my mind this week.
Parents love their children individually. Not equally. Not comparatively. A child is loved for the characteristics they alone posess. Not the qualities of their siblings, that they might not share. A parent loves their child based soley on the fact that they are their child. We love them for who they are, just because they are ours. Every child deserves their own relationship with their parents. To judge one's self based on the the way a sibling is raised or loved, is selling yourself short. You are not that person, and therefore, will not be brought up exactly in the same manner. How can a parent raise one child exactly like the other? Each child has their own special identity and deserves to be raised to compliment that personality. So, if you tend to compare yourself to your sibling(s), maybe you have some unresolved insecurities in your own mind that need to be addressed. The other sibling(s)should never be blamed for their own positive characteristics. No one is perfect, we all have our own insecurities, flaws, and traits we need to improve upon. It is a parents job to highlight the positive so a child gains confidence and feels loved. That is a very personal thing. If you believe you are not as loved/liked as one of your siblings, than you are only misguiding yourself. So, you might want to ask yourself, "why do I really feel this way?" Because I believe if you seek honest answers, you will find that you are loved exactly for who you are, and no more or less than another. To believe a parent might love one child more than another is a horrible insult to the sacred role of parenting, and I have a very strong feeling Our Heavenly Father feels the very same way. He loves us individually, and judges our own progression in this life and would never compare us to the person beside us and the path they are on. I love each of my children for the individuals that they are, for their own character traits that compliment who they are, and who they will become. I also love their shortcomings, because I am their mom and everything they do is a wonder to me. Nobody else will EVER feel that way about you!(Dad excluded) I am inspired by each one of them every single day. I am fully aware that it is not the work of myself that created such amazing people. They get the credit for who they are, along with the mercy of a Heavenly Father, who has blessed them for their faith and diligence. And I pray I can be the mother they deserve.

The End of an Era

                                                       Liz-E and A-Liz~ then and now

Last night was Abby's 8th grade cheer banquet. Those things are always brutally long with bad food and rowdy kids. But knowing that her junior cheer days are over was very sad. Next step...high school. Oh boy.

Picture of the week

                                                     District Champions 3 hours later

Powder Puff Football...Abby style

                                             And they call themselves the "Epic 8"!

                                                                    pretty cute, huh?

                  oh, and by the way....Abby got her braces off.  Beauuutiful!

                                                                     silly cheer girls

"There's no place like Homecoming"

                                             Mitch and Rachel

                                            Mitch and Taylor

                                            Blake, Mitch and Oliver

                                            Mitch and Allie

                                               The Guys

                                             Crowning

Homecoming 2011~ The girls looked beautiful and the boys looked handsome. Mitch had a great time. He was chosen as the sophomore representative on the court so we were able to sneak in to the dance, 'eavesdrop" a little and snap some pictures. Abby got a preview of what she would get to experience next year...not sure she was all that impressed! For further details, please call Lisa, as I am not permitted to divulge any more than this on the blog! (and if you are confused about which girl was Mitch's date, join the club!)

Mitch turned 16

                                                                     Happy Birthday Mitch!

Mitch had a very low key 16th birthday. He (and Abby) had a football game on his birthday and practice/games every other night during the week, so a few days before the actual day, we took him to Charlie Ghitto's to watch him carbload on all his favorites! Then, thursday after his birthday, I took him out of school early to get his license. He passed his driving test after being gone for approx 10-15min. Does this concern anyone? :)

The Wildcats played at the Dome...no big deal

                                                          Oh my gosh...what a hunk

                                                                     the cutest

                                                       cheering on our beloved Wildcats

September 10, the football team had the opportunity to play at the Edward Jones Dome (home of the Rams) in "The Great High School Football Rivalry". We played one of our rivals, Marquette High School. Not only did we beat them 49-0 (ouch), our fans outnumbered them at least 5-1. We have spirit, yes we do! And, Abby got to stand in the tunnel with her cheer squad to welcome in the team. It was a family affair! Go Cats...and a message to our competition...you can't fight the purple! To watch the game in it's entirety go to http://www.ihigh.com/.  You know you want to!  ;)

Abby's Birthday: Part 2

                                                                      "the birthday girl"

                                                                           "carefree"

                                    trying to get the sea doo off the ramp...it takes lots of muscle!

                                                                  "Hunks on the lake"

After the football game we headed straight to the lake for the rest of Abby's birthday/Labor Day weekend. Abby brought Julia and Mitch brought Kyle. We had some quality lake time at Nannie and Poppie's lakehouse. It's sad to think another lake trip is probably a year away. It can't be true!

Abby's Birthday: Part 1

                                                        passing out birthday treats

                                                               getting birthday hugs

                                                       Are they awesome or what?!

                                                                  half time dance

Abby turned 14 this weekend. She started off the day by cheering her first game of the season in 105 degree heat! What a trooper. The entire football team and cheer squad sang to her. How cute is that! Happy Birthday Abby! We love you!

Happy Birthday to My Boy

                                                       Carson is 11 today...love you

You had to be there!

 #1 fans

Our 1st game of the year was against our biggest rivals, the Lafayette Lancers. And wow, was it a game. The Cats fought to the very last second of the game. I am no sportscaster, but we literally had two seconds on the clock and Eureka threw a long pass to the endzone and the crowd went crazy! We thought we had tied up the game. The crowd went INSANE! But his foot was out of bounds. What? It couldn't be. Wildcats, you have HEART! Your fans love you. And I must add, Eureka fans outnumbered the Lafayette fans in their own home stadium! Way to represent, Eureka.

Mitch made "the news"

The Varsity Football team had their "kick off" to the season Friday night by playing in the Fort Zumwalt West Jamboree. Mitch actually got about 6 reps in and got his photo published in the Eureka/Wildwood Patch online magazine. I know... your'e saying "What's that? I've never heard of the Patch". Well, if you live in Eureka, you do!  Mitch is #73!     
http://link.patch.com/view/6kbj.fw/917e0733

Back to School...

Today was the first day of school. I really can't believe it. Summer, I miss you already. Mitch's Six Flags pass is still sitting on my desk, unvalidated. We went to the lake once, and the pool twice. What the heck... please don't go! Abby started 8th grade today and is quite pleased to rule the halls of LaSalle Middle School. And Mitch is very comfortable being a sophomore this year. However, he left the house at 6:50am this morning and returned at 6:50pm tonite!  Now that's a long first day of school!  Oh well, I have a feeling its going to be a great year.

More Random Summer Events...

Cooler Races at the River City Rascals game. Mitch and Austin raced. Mitch won.

Mitch got his braces off. Gorgeoussss!

Gage turned 1!