the rogers family life as 3 ...: end-of-the-season football party ...

This beautiful fall weekend was a bit busy ... with football, football, and more football!

We went to Ashley's football game (the 3rd graders that he coaches), and then threw our End-of-the-Season Football pizza party, and then headed back to the football fields for "the Coaches game" ... it was perfect weather outside (even for Kendall) and we had a great day with all of the kids and their families!

We've had another great season of football with the Upwards league and can't believe it's already nearly over ... this year the team has a total of 8 players ... 6 boys and 2 girls ... don't worry, these girls definitely hold their own and mean business!

At the party, we had a few games and relay races for everyone, and yes, the parents participated, too! We did the "football toss" (like the egg toss game) ... we also had an "Over, Under" relay race with kids and parents ... and, my personal favorite, "the Longest Throw" contest ... first between all the kids, then between all the Dads, and then between all the Moms! I'm happy to report that Kendall's Daddy won the "Dads" contest (just barely inching out Logan's Dad, Hodge) and that I (the reigning champion of the "Moms" last year) was de-throned by Jasmine's Mom, Vera ... (I came in 2nd place this year.)

The Coaches game went really well ... all of the coaches, a bunch of 30-something and 40-something year olds, running around playing football, while the wives are praying that no one gets hurt ... and no one did this year ... although there was one almost-incident when Ashley threw an amazing pass to one of his teammates ... the guy caught the ball and took 2 steps just before running out of bounds but couldn't stop himself ... there was a kid and a grandmother sitting right there on the sideline ... and the guy jumped over them (like he was doing a hurdle) ... he barely cleared them, but his shorts caught the grandmother's glasses and flung them off of her face as he landed on the ground just behind her chair! Amazingly enough, he, nor the grandmother, were injured ... there was quite a pause in the game, though, for everyone to assess them! It was quite a sight! After that play, they asked all the folks on the sidelines to move back away from the field a bit! The team Ashley was on won the game again this year ... he was the Quarterback during most of the game and did a great job ... I soooooo wish I could have seen him play back in his high school days or even at ACU in the intramural league ... he really is good ... we are really hoping that Kendall will get his athletic abilities, and NOT my lack-of-athletic abilities!

I really hate to have to mention that today, Sunday, there was more football to be had this afternoon as we cheered on the pros in the NFL (and hoped our players on our fantasy football teams were victorious this week) ... sad, I know! Today was the Upwards awards ceremony ... where all the teams in the league that Ashley coaches in get together and this year included a viewing of "Facing the Giants" movie ... yes, it's a football movie, but a great one! We didn't make it through the movie, as we had our Care Group meeting that evening as well ... a little break from all the football!

Here are some pictures of Ashley's team "the Colts" and our party (note: I told the team that their picture would be on our blog and they were excited about that, so there are quite a few pictures to scroll through here):

Erin and Leesa with Kendall at the football game

Erin holding Kendall ... we've known Erin since she was 3 ... she and I have watched her brother, Luke, play football, soccer, and basketball for 4 years now and she LOVES to help me with Cassie (when she used to come to the games) and now with Kendall ... and Kendall loves her holding her and helping her too ... she is always happy when Erin is talking to her or holding her ... Erin is sooo adorable and is such a great helper! She makes the games all the more exciting ... we always have such a fun time watching the games and cheering for her brother (and "Coach" - as she calls Ashley) and the rest of the team!

Luke eating pizza at the party ... Luke is a very talented and fast athlete and are happy to have him on all of our teams! It's been lots of fun to watch him grow over the past 4 years!

Logan's parents, Lisa & Hodge, and Louann, Brittany's mom eating pizza at the party

Brittany, Jasmine and Nathaniel enjoying their pizza ... This was the first season to play football for Brittany and Nathaniel ... and they did great! Brittany and Jasmine were our 2 girls on the team and they can hold their own, that is for sure! Ashley asked me if I would be okay with Kendall playing football when she is old enough ... I told him, yes, if SHE (not just HIM) wanted to (and if it was flag football, not tackle)! Jasmine's dad, Travis assisted Ashley in coaching again this year ... and filled in for Ashley for a couple of games while we were out of town ... he was a big help again this season!

Dylan and his Mom, Thuy ... this was Dylan's first year to play football and he did great! They are such a sweet family and he has been so much fun to have on the team.

Peyton and Logan (in the purple jerseys), Parker (Peyton's old brother) and Josh (in the back) in the white jerseys. This was Josh's first year to play football ... we had 5 out of 8 players on the team who had never played before this season. He did a great job and had a lot of fun! This was Logan's first year to play football, as well ... he did great playing different positions during the season!

We've had Peyton on a past football team and basketball team ... and we LOVE to call him Peyton Manning (which just happens to be a favorite football player of Alexis and the Quarterback of the team Colts ... Peyton also loves the Indi Colts and Peyton Manning himself, so it fits just perfectly) ... he is lots of fun to have on the team and is another great athlete with a great attitude ... he played quarterback for the team this year! Parker, his older brother, is our "adopted player" ... we just LOVE him, too ... he is such a sweet big brother and helper and plays on a 6th grade team ... he is a very talented athlete as well and being in 6th grade this year, Ashley really used him to help show the different plays he was teaching them.

Kelly (Peyton and Parker's mom) baked and decorated this great football cake ... it was so yummy and looked awesome! If you need a cake for any occasion, visit her website: http://www.kutiekakes.com/. Thanks, Kelly ... your cakes ROCK and so do your sweet sons!