The boys of fall

I should say it is football time in the Kudlas house...but it has been all football since July. We are just finishing our last regular season week of practice with our 8th game coming up on Saturday. 7-0 going into the last game which guarantees another 1-3 more weeks of playoffs.

This boy amazes me everyday. He lives and breaths this game. I can tell you that he has a football in his hand all day except for school, but you might not believe me. The truth is he does have a ball in his hand everyday, all day, except while in class at school. At recess, you will find him with a ball in his hand.

When you spend 4 days a week with these boys, they start to become our other family. Some of these boys he played with last year, some he played against. Many he played baseball with all summer. To tell you these boys play well together would be an understatement. You would have to just see it to believe it. To see them playing on a football field, you wouldn't believe that they were still just 7/8 year old boys. The second they walk off that field, that are giggling, laughing and acting like those typical 7/8 year old boys. It really is a joy to watch them play. These boys are Aidan's best buddies. Their families are our family!
We have had some wonderful supporters come out to the games. One of Aidan's favorite people is his small group leader (now off at college at GCSU), Cailen. She and her boyfriend (who is a football player) came to watch a game.

Huddling around the team after a game.

Praying before an early morning, foggy game in Pickens Co.

Our other huge fans...

Papa and Grammie.

And of course, Uncle Drew!

At North Hall, Aidan walking out with 3 of his linemen. You think Aidan is tall, you just come out to one of our football practices/games and you will see that he is the middle of the pack.

After the toughest game this season against Jefferson at Jefferson..both teams were undefeated...nobody had scored on either team and we came out with the WIN. Aidan got offensive all star of the game.

What a season boys! We can't wait to see what the post season brings!

(If we are friends on facebook..please check out some of the photography from this season taken by 3 of our moms. 1 word-AWESOME!)

Also, we have one last regular season game and it is this Saturday, Oct. 15th at 10:30 am at Veterans Memorial Park in Dawsonville. We would love to see you come out and cheer these boys on!

Apple time

One of the best things about living in Georgia in the fall driving up to the mountains to pick apples. Off to my favorite apple orchard Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. Our friends the Jarrard's went along with us to check it out. I am sure more apples were eaten between the 7 kids, but I did manage to pick 3 bags full and I plan to head back in the next couple weeks for some "Pink Ladies."

The girls

The boys

On the baking agenda... apple pies, apple sauce, apple bread....

And we are off....

The kids and I (yes I competed) in another sprint triathlon on September 11th.
An emotional day for so many people. I remember everything about that day 10 years ago. I was a newly wed in our first apartment. I remember what I was doing, what I was wearing, the smells in the room and what the weather was like. It truly feels like it was yesterday...but how the years have changed. Being with family and being outside was our way of remembering.

Aidan and Brenna did awsome once again! Here is Aidan finishing the race. He placed 2nd only by 15 seconds. Awesome job!

Brenna is the one in the blue suit with googles. She finished 1st!

At transistion Brad was able to help with her shoes.

Here she is finishing!

My team was awesome. I was originally training to do the whole triathlon by myself, but trying to get in a full bike and running everyday got to be a bit much. My friend Kristy asked if I would help out in a team and I said absolutely! I did the swim part and ran to the transition and tagged Lowell (his kids do swim team with my kiddos and he is a seasoned biker) who did the biking and then he tagged Kristy (her son played football with Aidan last year and baseball over the summer with Aidan) and she ran. We finished 2nd behind an all male team. I think we did pretty darn good. I personally had my best swim time!

Two chicks and a rooster at the finish line.

The kids and I at the finish line.

Besides my wonderful husband...this sweet girl was our biggest cheerleader!

Minus 1

Look what happened Labor Day when we met my grandparents for lunch.....

Over the summer Carsyn had hit her tooth 2 times. One time while we were in Florida on vacation and then when we were at the basketball gym watching practice, she was running around and fell straight into the floor. She was due to have her first cleaning at the dentist, so off we went (I was more nervous than Carsyn because you 1. just don't know how they will react to the dentist with x-rays..cleaning etc. and 2. I didn't know what he would say about the VERY loose tooth). Carsyn was a pro. She let them do a full set of x-rays, cleaning and fluoride treatment (yuck). Our wonderful dentist said not to worry and that even though it is completely detached from the root and will fall out, he didn't know when it would. Well, luckily she didn't swallow it while eating, but instead was elated that the tooth fairy was going to visit. So it 4-5 years we will see a full tooth smile. For now we like to call her our Georgia hillbilly.

My grandparents and 3 of their 12 great grandchildren. They loved being there for the momentous event!

Our sweet Carsyn started school the day after Labor Day minus 1 tooth. It sure does make for a great story!