This will be a fun filled day for me.

I had a baseball batting lesson with my head coach.  My batting should improve when I start implementing the techniques he recommended.

The next event was my first flag football practice and game this season.  We will play every Saturday for ten weeks.  I think the practice is for an hour at 1pm.

The game is for an hour at 2pm.  Mimz, Barbara, Mommy and Daddy all were there for my game.  Two of my baseball coaches are also my football coaches.

I did well.  I intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown.

After football, Mommy took me to my Cub Scouts bottle rocket day.  I build a rocket using a diet Dr. Pepper 2 liter bottle.

 I shot if off once and I was finished with that simple project.  The other boys kept shooting them off over and over.

I wanted to go out into the field and catch the bottles as they came down.  Now that was fun.  It was like catching footballs.  The other parents were impressed that I could run and and catch so well.  I don't think many of the scouts play sports.

I played with neighbor kids in the evening. 

 In case I haven't posted it...here is a picture of my new children's bible.

I went off to school happily wearing my school spirit shirt and "crazy socks":  one long green sock and one long red sock.  On Friday I always want to eat breakfast at school because they have cinnamon rolls.

Friday's are library day. I didn't bring home my last week's books, but I didn't have any new ones.  I will get new ones on Monday.

Daddy was at my home waiting for the bus.  That was a nice thing for me.  We took my baseball gear and went to his house.

Sept 28m 2017

Today was picture day at school so our running club is not meeting today.
Mimz helped me fix my hair and we went to the doughnut shop on our way home to meet the school bus.  Mimz gave her left over doughnut holes to GGM and I had some leftover doughnut for after school.

I wouldn't let Barbara take my picture before school.  She took pictures of the the other boys.  There parents like getting the pictures.  I ought to know by now that when I refuse to have my picture taken, later Barbara is not going to do something I want her to do, like play baseball with me.  She thinks turn-about is fair play.  She says it is so easy for me to stand still for a few seconds and smile that she is not asking too much of me.  One day she hopes I see the light.

After school I read while I ate a snack.  I played at Austin's for a short time, then I had to come home to get ready for a baseball scrimmage game in The Woodlands.   I made many great plays.
I started out playing third base.  I picked up a grounder and made a great throw to first base for an out.  And I caught a ball to put a stealer out at third base.

My first at bat I got four balls and walked.  Then I stole three bases to score.  My other at bat: one ball and then a ball was throw at my feet and I did a dance to avoid it but it still hit me, so I got to take a base.  I was put out staling third base.  Stealing bases is fun.

Playing first base, I caught several balls to put the runners out.  The last inning, I made all three outs: I caught a fly foul ball for one of them.  I caught a throw for the pitcher and from the right fielder for the other two outs.  Oh What Fun!

I'm still waiting the have a good hit!  My really reason for not having hits is the same as all the other boys: this is kid pitch and we are not very good pitchers yet.

At home I ate a snack and took a shower and was in bed by 8:30pm, but I wanted to tell Mommy about the scrimmage, so she laid down with me.  It was 9:10pm before I was asleep.

Today was wear a Houston sports team shirt to school.  I wore a Houston Texans shirt.

After school Mimz was waiting with Barbara my bus stop.  I wanted to play but Mimz convinced me that I needed to come in and show them my Wednesday folder which has all my work for the past week.  I made mostly very good grades.  One paper was a 60 something because I didn't have time to finish it.   My conduct was an S+.  First time I've not had a E for conduct.  I visit too much with my classmates.

Barbara made some banana muffins and I ate three of them before going to Chick-a-fil to get a sandwich before going to batting practice.  I did great at practice.  I had several good hits off of coaches.  It is different trying to hit a kid throw ball, than a coaches pitch.

I woke up easily.  When Barbara wakes me up, she wants to talk about the plans for the day and how it is going to be a good day.  We talked about Tuesday's special class being music, and about my early dismissal at 2:15 to go to an interview for Camp Longhorn.  We talked about the hat and sunglasses I choose to wear to school today and that I wanted oatmeal and bacon for breakfast.  She also sang two songs to me.  (You Are My Sunshine and Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning)  Generally that is the first thing she does to wake me up, but today I was already awake so we talked first.

I wore my Duck Commander hat and some sunglasses.

All of the gang of five remembered to wear a hat and sunglasses.

At 2:10pm the office called Mrs. Havemann and I went to the office where Barbara was waiting to pick me up.  We drove to Mimz home and after a quick washing of my hands and drinking an energy drink, Mimz drove us to the Camp Longhorn interview.

 It was about a 40 minute drive from Mimz home to the interview. 

 While I waited for my interview I played a game to earn camp mertis which can be used to buy things from the Camp store during my two weeks at camp.

My interview lasted just a few minutes.  A man asked me several questions:  Do you know how to make your bed?  How do you know about Camp Longhorn?  (My cousin Morgan has gone there for about ten summers!  He knew her.)  Can you go two weeks without watching TV or using electronics?  Do you know how to swim?  He probably asked other questions, but those are the only ones I can recall.

A part of Camp Longhorns goal is to help us be good citizens, helpful, respectful, and all the other good characteristics we need to have to be happy successful people in life.  They help promote this by giving merits.  I earned several merits playing a game.  I earned two merits by having a good strong handshake. I earned several during the interview.  I ended up with a total of 20 merits, plus several paper merits.  These can be used at the Camp Longhorn store when I go to camp next summer.

Camp Longhorn.

This is a review Mimz read about Camp Longhorn on line.

"As I drive down memory lane to my old stomping grounds, I reminisce about the spending my summers at one of the best places on earth. Growing up as a short, curly-haired, little whippersnapper in the middle of five children, I was always up for anything. Leaving home for three weeks and spending it with kids I didn't event know? Sure! I am sure other kids and parents struggle with leaving home for this long, but I always looked forward to it. Hell, I was always surrounded people anyway -I could adapt anywhere. I am pretty sure my parents had the same sentiment. In retrospect, I totally see their plan with sending their five kids away for three weeks away. Touche, Mom and Pops, touche.

Whether hesitant or excited, every child comes home with the best stories and friendships that last a lifetime. There is a chance you might never see that one 'best camp friend' again, but you always remember those bonds made at camp. Camp Longhorn does such a phenomenal job with fostering friendships and more importantly, respect. Although it is a summer camp, the camp is run by a somewhat, strict schedule of fun activities. Nonetheless, it keeps the campers busy and maintains a schedule of task orientation and focus during the summer months. The activities range from blob, canoeing to archery and horseback riding. I was never bored and always surrounded by warmth and encouragement. To avoid writing a novel, I won't go into detail with all of their wonderful methods of creating seamless coordination of hundreds of campers.

Just a little taste: they call the bathroom 'the library', the water fountains the 'old faceful,' and they actually have their own currency that campers had to earn with good manners and behavior. The currency is called merits and can be spent on actual items in the merit store. The experience with Camp Longhorn follows you forever."
We asked for the July 29th to August 11th sessions.  We should be able to get that session.  They tell us in October when I will go.

At Mimz home, she tossed my football for a few minutes,the Barbara drove us home.  We made it home by 7:15pm.  After dinner Mommy played catch with me until dark.

Because I was asleep at 7:45pm last night, I woke up at 6:30am on my own.  I was ready to eat breakfast, so I had oatmeal and 1/2 a piece of bacon and milk.  I wouldn't eat cantaloupe, even though I do like it.

I was the first child outside.  I tried tossing a football around with Barbara but she is really not a good football catcher or thrower.  Then Alyssa joined us.  She is as bad as Barbara with a football.

Alyssa and I both wore Superman shirts to school.  It was "wear a super hero shirt "to school day.

I jumped off the bus ready to play, but Barbara reminded me I had to read for 20 minutes first, then I could play.   I read Guess Who is on First Base, chapter 3 and part of 4.

I played at Austin's with all of my gang.

We were going to have an hour long baseball practice at French Ele. School but the field was already occupied and it looked like it could start raining at any moment so it was canceled.

I did a good job on my homework.  Barbara and I discussed each kind of math problem.  Then I did them without her watching, then she checked my work, and I had each problem correct.

We had a page or reading and then we had to answer questions about the reading.  I did well on that also.

I watched just a little of the Cowboy's football game, but mostly I was watching a baseball game on the iPad.  At 8:30pm I got in bed, while Mommy read to me for five minutes, then I was asleep.

My two baseball games were at 9 and 11.  Mommy got me to the field by 8am for warm ups.  I was using my new glove.  My old clove as a problem.  Papa thinks he can fix it.

We lost the first game by a lot.  We lost the second game 15 to 14, but our coach says we really won the game.  The umpires lost track of the runs.  Oh well, next game we might win.   In both games we only had one hit.  All of the scoring for both teams was from walks and stolen bases.  We are all still getting used to kid pitchers.  The pitchers are not consistent and the catchers are learning too.


I ate cashews for a snack between games.   Mimz had a sandwich and a couple of snacks ready for me after the games.

After the games our coaches always have a meeting with us.  They review how we did and how well we practiced teamwork.  They encourage us to swing bats at home and play ball at home and to come to practices.  

At home I played in the house with my birthday gifts, then I went down to Austin's house to play.

Mommy had to go to a parent meeting about my communion.  She brought home a notebook full of assignments that I have to work before my communion which will be in April.  Oh, joy, just what I want... more homework.  lol    Mommy had been given papers a couple of weeks ago about what all I needed to do this year.  One paper told about a Bible I needed.  It listed the price and where to get it.   So my Mommy ordered it and it arrived in the mail a couple of days ago.  Well, in the meeting tonight, they gave each family this Bible!  Now we need to see if we can return the one we bought. 
(In the bible there is something about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.)


I had to go to my Faith Formation class on the second floor.  I wore my shirt from VBS.  The teacher and some of the kids knew it was a VBS shirt.  We talked about the Bible.

I got to wait until the end of the first inning of the Astro's game before I had to take a shower and read.  Well, I took the shower grudgingly and then I refused to read because it is hard.

So I was in bed at 7:45pm trying to go to sleep.  New rule:  I am to read for 20 minutes as soon as I get home, before I can play.  If I don't read, I can't play.  And later in the evening, unless I have an activity to go to, I have to read again with my mom.  I'm not a happy camper.

At 8pm, Mommy came to check on me.  I was asleep.

A story:  On the drive to church tonight, Barbara noticed a bunch of flashing lights ahead.  She told me.  I glanced up from the baseball game I was watching, then went back to the game.   When we were closer, Barbara said there is a fire truck, ambulance, and three police cars.  I glanced up only for a second.  Then she told me there were working to get the driver out of the car and that there was a person on the street, that they were getting ready to put on a gurney.  I barely glanced up.  She was stunned that I was more interesting in a baseball game, than in seeing a real emergency taking place.





thank you notes

Mommy required meeting about my communion

Faith Formation

Saturday  Sept 23, 2017

Invitation to my 8th birthday party at Urban Air!

I was excited about my birthday party but was slow about getting up.  I finally got out of bed at 9am.
I had oatmeal and a piece of sausage and milk for breakfast.  I had a short period of time that I was being a real pill but I finally realized I had better straighten up and enjoy this day.  Then I took a shower and got dressed.

At about 10:45am, Mommy and I went to get my birthday cake.  I wanted a baseball theme on it.  I was pleased with the results.

We got to Urban Air around 11:30 and it was jammed packed with birthday parties.  We had party room number three upstairs.

 There were 8 rooms upstairs and probably that many downstairs, so there was lots of celebrating going on.

My friends who came were: Anthony and Alyssa Baltieri, Cole Whitworth, Xavier and Julian Davila (all neighbors), Knox (Mimz' neighbor), Jon Jon, Brody England, Maddox, Kelso, and Brady (all baseball or soccer friends.)

We spent most of our time playing Dodgeball, which is so much fun with a run full of my friends.  We also played on the American Ninja Warrior courses.  We didn't do the zip line because it the line was too long.

Knox was the youngest child at my party and he didn't know anyone else, so I kept an eye on him and made sure he was included.

The party was from 12 - 3.  We played the first hour, then we ate pizza (cheese or pepperoni).  We sang happy birthday, then all but three of the kids left to go play.  The three kids and the adults all ate cake.  I rarely want to eat store bought cake.  We only had the party room until 2pm, so Mommy and Cole's mom too my presents to the car.  Barbara took the leftover pizza and cake home in her car.  We kids played until 3pm.

I had two gift cards to Game Stop, so Mommy and I stopped there and I picked out some games for my Play Station.

At home, we wrote down a list of my gifts so I can write thank you notes.  I won't enjoy doing that, but I guess I have to.  I received two Nerf guns, an Unno game, and several gift cards and some cash.
Mommy gave me a Bible that I need for my first communion classes.

I played with Austin for a couple of hours.  I played with Alyssa and we ate some of my party pizza.  Then I watched a little football on TV, took a shower, and rested in my mom's room.  It was after 9:30pm before I went to sleep.

I used my inhaler at 7:15am, then I put in into my backpack to take to the nurse's office when I get off the school bus.  A note in the bag tells the nurse I had treatment at 7:15am and the next one should be six hours later around 1:15pm.

Today I wore my school spirit shirt which we are to do every Friday.  I found out at the bus stop that Cole was in trouble.  His mom fell asleep and Cole stayed up until 1am!  He was really tired this morning.

I love eating breakfast at school of Friday:  cinnamon rolls!  Breakfast and lunch are free this week.  I have my inhaler to the nurse and I went back to her office at 1;15pm to use it.  I stopped at her office to get it after school.  

I brought home some spelling words.  They are very simple words, but I bet they get harder as the year goes by.

Friday's are library day.  I selected two new books.  One of them is about the Titanic.   Barbara and I have had several discussions about the that ship.  I really enjoyed looking at the pictures.  I haven't started reading it yet.  Barbara read the entire book while I was outside playing.  Daddy said if I felt okay, I could play outside.  I just need to take it easy.  

I brought home lots of special things.  I brought home a certificate for meeting the Summer Reading Challenge.  I earned a spirit stick that said "Book Nerd" and a little blue whale.

I brought home an order form for a Huskies on the Run t-shirt.  Mommy ordered it for me and she signed up to be notified if there are any cancelations or announcements about my running club. (We looked up cancelations and found out it can be spelled with one "l" or two "l."  Both are correct.  Oh, they have changed the day from Friday to Thursday at 7:15am for running club.  They won't have the first meeting this coming Thursday because that is Picture-Taking day.  First day of running club is Oct 5th at 7:15am.

My progress report.  Good job!

I worked on a little bead project in Mommy's room and finished it.  I have made a little penguin and a peace sign.  Both are cute.

I used my inhaler at 7:15pm.  I won't use it again until 7:15am.  Tomorrow is my birthday party at Urban Air.

I watched the Astro's on TV.  Cole was going to spend the night, but he went home about 9pm.  Third time he has gone home when he was to spend the night. 

Happy Birthday to ME!

I was tired and sure didn't want to get up, but I also wanted to be at school on my birthday, so I got dressed and as usual I was the first child at the bus stop.  Our next door neighbor, Dan, was going for a walk and he wished me a happy birthday.  This is going to be a fun day.

Mommy drove to school to take my doctor's excuse and paper saying the nurse could administer my medicine with my inhaler.  She talked to the nurse.  I went to the nurses office twice to do the treatment.  And I went back after class to get the inhaler so I could us it at home tonight.

Only the kindergarten kids sing Happy Birthday to each other.  I did get a Happy Birthday spirit stick.  Barbara put in on my key ring on my backpack.  She has a trick that makes it easy to open those tight round rings.

On the return home bus trip, Alyssa shouted out that it was my birthday and most of the kids sang Happy Birthday to me.  That was fun.

Mommy let me open another birthday gift, some Pokemon cards.  I sure like getting presents.  I think there will be 14 kids at my party, including me.  Alyssa is the only girl.  She doesn't mind, she is used to being the only girl.

I played outside, but didn't run.  Barbara didn't know I was not supposed to play outside, but now we both know so I'll have to play inside until Sunday.

I got several phone calls, Daddy, Mimz, Uncle Scott, Grandma, and Papa, all wishing me a Happy Birthday.

Mommy took cupcakes to my Cub Scout meeting and my den sang Happy Birthday to me.

I couldn't go to baseball practice, so after the practice, some of the boys sang Happy Birthday and Coach videotaped it and sent it to my mom.  I've had a fun fun birthday.

It was almost 9:30am before I fell asleep.  

No school for me again today.  I should be able to go back to school tomorrow...yea!   And that is my birthday also...YEA!

I spent the day with Daddy and I'm starting to get a little bored staying home all day since there are no children to play with and since I can't run and play outside for a few days.

About 4:30pm Mimz picked me up and Daddy came over later for dinner.

Around 8:30pm Daddy and my mom met so Mommy could keep me tonight.  Daddy showed her the inhaler and how it works.

At home, I noticed Mommy had two presents wrapped for me and she let me open one of them.  It was some baseball cards and I LOVED them.  It had so many players that I know. 

I was not willing to go sleep, saying I been staying up late... What I don't seem to realize is that I can't sleep in in the morning.

  

Tuesday Sept 19, 2017

Daddy took me to the doctor.  I don't have strep throat, which is a good thing  I have an upper respiratory problem.  They thought about putting me back on breathing treatments but decided on inhalers instead.  I must use the inhaler every for hours through Saturday.  I will take one to the nurse when I go back to school which they think will be Thursday.

The doctor listened to my chest and immediately said I was wheezing and asked if I had this before, which I have had.  I did lots of coughing and wheezing at the doctor's office.  The doctor said there is something in the air and it has caused a lot of this stuff.  He said I need to stay inside and rest for a couple of days.

 I weighted 57 pounds and my height was 53 or 54 inches at the doctor's office. 

I can't go to baseball practice for the rest of the week.  I need to eat more protein, veggies, and fruit. That means less cereal, my first choice of what I want to eat.  Kids my age doing sports need to eat right and get plenty of sleep.

There is only one inhaler but two things I breathe into every four hours.  I will have to take the one inhaler back and forth to school on Thursday and Friday.  The doctor gave us a note from the doctor giving the nurse permission to administer medicines.  I don't have to take any other medicines.

I told Mimz I wanted a meatball sandwich from Subway so after she finished her work at the hospital she brought me one.  Daddy and I played baseball on the Play Station.  In the afternoon, I had a horrible cough and my eyes are very tired looking and droopy.  I slept for three hours this afternoon.

I wanted Mommy to come see me after she got off work.  She did.  She left to go to Open House at school which was from 6 to 6:50pm, but the traffic was horrible on Kuykendahl and she didn't get there in time.

About 9pm my fever was back.  Daddy gave me some Tylenol.  Daddy woke me up during the night so I could do the inhaler every four hours.

As usual I was the first child at the bus stop.  We all seem to arrive in almost the same order every morning.   After me Xavier and Julian arrive, then Cole, and finally Alyssa.

We have two PE classes on Monday and they are the highlight of my day.

I started coughing a bunch and had to go to the nurse.  She was very nice.  She gave me a mint and some water.  Soon I was not coughing and was on my way back to class.

I jumped off the bus and found out that I might have an extra baseball practice tonight.  I agreed to play with my friends until 4:30pm, then I would get dressed in baseball pants and my cleats.  As it turns out I didn't have practice... for two reasons.  1.  It was rained out and 2.  I have a fever.  And I kept coughing.

I got in bed about 5:45pm and stayed there watching baseball on Barbara's iPhone.  Mommy went to get me some medicine: Tylenol and Musinex.  I took the medicine at 6:45pm.

I fell asleep for a short time.  I don't know what woke me up, but I know I felt much better.  I got out of bed and went into Mommy room.  I laid down on the sofa and watched TV.  Mommy had a craft project for me to work on so I sat at the table and worked on that until it was decided that Daddy would come get me and keep me over night and take me to the doctor.

Sunday, Sept 17, 2017

My two baseball games today started at 11 and 3.  Mimz and Daddy got me to Rothwood baseball park at 10am.   It was going to be an entire day of baseball.

This is my first year to play kid pitch ball.  I've been practicing playing pitcher some but for now I'm going to mostly be playing short stop and third base.  The first game we lost 15 to 8 (I think).  It was very different from my previous baseball games.  In the first inning there was only one hit but the score was 5 to 4.  You ask how can that happen?  Lots of walks and lots of stealing bases by both teams.

In the first game, I only had one at bat.  I walked and then I stole second base and third base.  I tried to steal home but ended up being put out.   Oh boy!  All of that was fun.  What boy doesn't like to steal bases!  At short stop and third base I had a couple of very good plays.  Twice I stopped grounders and made good throws to first base but both times the batter barely stepped on the base before the first baseman caught the ball.

The second game was like the first game except it ended up tied at 8 all.  I again had only one at bat, walked, stole second and third base but this time I successful stole home.   And I had two great throws from third base to first base and to home plate to make outs!

Between the games the team had lunch under a tent in the park.  We had hamburgers and hot dogs.

Mimz, Daddy, and Barbara were at both games.  Mommy was at the second game until she had to leave to go to Faith Formation meeting for parents.

 Faith Formation information page 1

 Faith formation information page 2

Faith Formation calendar.

I missed my first Faith Formation class which is every Sunday at 4:15pm.  Mommy has talked to the coach and explained about the conflict we will have when the team plays 3pm games.  The coach said he knows the man who makes up the schedule and he requested that we not have 3pm games if at all possible.

Mommy found out what I have to do when I miss a class.  It is more complex this year that it was last year.  Last year we just had to work a page from our workbook and turn it in the next week.  This year we have to do that plus do some work on-line.

Barbara took me home.  I didn't want to take a shower that early because I still wanted to play with friends outside.  Mommy came out and played catch with me until Cub Scouts and their parents started arriving to return popcorn they didn't sale.  There were sales going on at four locations today.  They brought back over $6000 in cash and had lots of sales on credit cards also.  Lots of popcorn was sold.  We are running out of the least expensive popcorn, which is a good thing.  Now people will start buying the more costly corn.

A funny thing:  My entire team had eye black under their eyes.  Barbara didn't know what to use to get the black off, so she texted Mimz and asked her.  She made a typing mistake and said she thought she would try using "gasoline" to remove the eye black.  Mimz was concerned about our using "gasoline" on my face.  "Vasoline" is what Barbara meant to type.  Mimz thought soap and water in the shower would get rid of it.  She was right.  I put some soap on a washcloth and looking in a hand held mirror I easily got it off.

I was asleep before 9pm.

Today Andy and Kristan and their two babies moved to The Pond to live in the guest house until they find a new home to buy.   Grandma and Papa needed to be there to get a few last things moved out so Andy could move in. 

When one boy woke up, we all woke up... too much noise to sleep.

We ate pancakes and I had eggs with hot sauce.

We played upstairs until we decided we wanted to go play in the pool.  At 1pm some of Julian's extended family came to the party, so there were more boys and a few girls at the party.  Alyssa came to the party also.

I gave Julian $20 which he was very pleased to get.  He can put it with other birthday money and buy something big!  We had hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and dip, and watermelon for lunch.

We spent a lot of time playing football over, around, and in the pool.  At 3pm the party was over and I came home.  Mimz was there waiting for me. 

Friday, September 15, 2017

Daddy and I stopped at the doughnut shop for breakfast, then we drove to my home to catch the school bus.  We arrived with enough time for us to play catch.  We kids talked about Julian's birthday sleepover and birthday party.  What a fun way to end the week.

On Friday's they serve cinnamon rolls for breakfast and I sure enjoy it.  I had Asian chicken bites and rice bowl for lunch and I enjoyed that also.

We had stations today.  One of them was the Teacher's Table.  We did some math problems there and I knew how to do it.   Another station was another math station and it was harder.  After school Barbara and I went over that math page.  I ate my leftover kalachi and chocolate milk for a snack before I ran off to play with Austin.

At 5:15pm I came inside to get ready for the Julian's sleep over birthday party.  I quickly took a shower and put on nice clean clothes.  At 6pm I carried my sleeping bag and pillow to Julian's house.  I did come back home to get my swim trucks and a towel because we decided to go swimming.  I wouldn't take my goggles because something is wrong with them.  I didn't have time to explain the problem to Barbara.  My second pair was missing so I had to do without.

 Six boys had a fun time playing upstairs until Julian's dad so time for us to call it a day.  We laid down on mattresses on the floor and talked and laughed until we all fell asleep.