Barbara's computer has been in the shop just over a week, so we have not been able to write on my blog. We were too tired to write it with paper and pen so we won't be able to write much.  We will try to think back and remember the high points.  Actually we may put this entire week on one day.   Right now we are busy with my 3D castle project, so my blog will have to wait a bit longer.

Sept 29, 2018

Papa and Grandma were ready for the OU football game!

Sept 30, 2018

 Keri Ford knocked on our door with a surprise for us.

 .  Our yard won Yard of the Month. 

 Besides the sign to post in the yard for a month, and a gift certificate to Lowe's which we gave to Papa!  Yea!  Thank you Wimbledon Country and thank you Papa.  Notice we still have my Husky sign from last school year.  I was the first child in my class to earn it the first month they were given out for good behavior.

This week I was a problem child a couple of times.  Once Barbara was going to take me to my baseball lesson and I decided I was not going because I wanted to stay and play with my friends.  Of course, she can't catch me.  Well, I changed my tune, when Daddy said he would come to my house and I was going.  I got in the car and Barbara took me.   I earned a consequence.   I don't think I should get a consequence when I end up doing what I was supposed to do.  Barbara gives me one for acting up in the first place.

I don't really know what I did today, but I can think of two things that happened one day this week.

80 people signed up for the coding club.  They only had room for 40 so they had a random drawing.  My name was not drawn.  Too bad!


I started reading a book called Stone Fox.  I read about 50 pages of it at school and at home one evening.  I had to take the book back the next day, so I didn't get to finish it.  I was enjoying it.  Barbara read the whole thing while I was playing outside.

 On Sept 26th a large package arrived from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It was a birthday gift from Lisa, filled with books and magic tricks and water toys, and sunglasses.   Barbara took four books in a series that she wants to read.

Most of these things were Austin's and he loved them, so so will I.  I need to write Lisa and Grammie and Bubba thank you notes.

Sept 27th, 2018
My birthday party had to be postponed again because of the rain.  The ground is totally soggy from so much rain.  And my baseball and football games were postponed this weekend also.

Sept 28th, 2018

I had baseball practice, first on the field and then we moved to the cages because of rain.


On Sept 28th, Papa started the job of power washing some of the house and sidewalk.  He accidentally hit the wooden fence... and guess what...... It really cleaned up the fence, so he continued that job.

In the middle of this picture you can see where he has gotten to on that job.  He came back the next day to finish the fence.  Thank you, Papa!

I've been reading a book about Roberto Clemente.  I enjoy reading about real people and am good about remembering what I have read.

My new spelling words.

 Somebody put a big wad of wet sticky bubble gum in my backpack... of course, it wasn't me.  It was a mess and got on my folders and books and several places in my backpack.

Barbara spent about 30 minutes putting an ice cube on my backpack to get tiny pieces of gum off of it and my books and folders.  I sort of thanked her after she reminded me.   Barbara is getting tired of my "couldn't care less" attitude.  Most of the time I'm a pretty respectful boy, but there are times that I am not.   It seems that I earn a consequence almost every day. 

Barbara's computer would not turn on.  Maury came to pick it up.  He thinks it will be a power supply gone bad.  We will be without a computer until he brings it back.

My two football games were canceled because of rain.

...as was my birthday party.  Bummer!

My birthday party had to be rescheduled because of the rain.  We are going to have a big water slide and we can't be outside if it is lightening and the party rental people can't set it up if it's lightening.  Mommy rescheduled my party for next Saturday.   Actully it is supposed to rain every day for the next week.  Fingers crossed that my party can happen.   I don't remember what I did all afternoon and evenng.

   I went to Julian's Nerf gun birthday party at the club house.

 We had to wear eye protection so Mommy got this mask for me.

We got to play for a couple of house before it started to rain.  We ate birthday cake in the club house and swam in the swimming pool for a short time before it started lightening and the party ended an hour early.

Today is my 9th birthday.   In third grade we don't sing Happy Birthday, but I did get a Happy Birthday spirit stick.  Mommy was waiting in the cafeteria with a Subway sandwich for me.  She needed to leave as soon as we finished eating.  She was on her lunch hour.

Daddy picked me up early from school.

We had cake and ice cream at Mimz...

... and I opened some birthday gifts.

 I was given a motorcycle outfit....

..and some Star Wars Legos, and a set of wireless headphone.

My baseball team and my neighborhood friends are invited to a party at my house tomorrow but it looks like it might be rained out.

The party's theme is baseball.  Mommy has made some decorations for the house and the fence.

And she made some centerpieces for the tables.


 

Papa and Grandma came over to get some things done for my part.  Papa wanted to clean up our grill and cook on it.  It hasn't been used in serveral years.  Andy made our grill when he was in high school. It works well.

While Papa worked on the grill, GGM, Grandma, and Barbara put Sonja's tent together.  Barbara figured out how the poles needed to be laid out. 

 They assembled the top poles and attached the top cover using bungee cords.

   After they finished that, Barbara left to get me from school.  I had early dismissal because I have a dentist-cleaning appointment at 4pm.

By the time we got home, Papa, GGM, and Brenda had managed to add the leg poles to the tent.  Papa added six stakes to tie the tent down, so the wind could not send it flying.  Papa and I played catch until I had to leave for my appointment.

 This is what the tent looked like when assembled....

 ...This is a picture of the same tent set up for my first birthday party.  Construction of a ditch was being done to help with flooding of some homes in the neighborhood.  

Carie, my dental hydentist told me I had no cavities.  It's easy to remember her name because Carie, means cavity.  I was told I need to do a better job brushing my front teeth, and brush longer, and twice a day.  And using my electric tooth brush is better than using a hand-held one.

I took extra bubble gum in my backpack to share with my friends on the bus.


I brought home the instructions for the first math project my classmates are supposed to make.  I am to build a 3D castle using the three dimensional shapes we have been studying in class.

Barbara had to babysit Grayson's two little sisters when we got off the school bus because their mom had to take the older sister to the hospital.  Barbara played with them in my bedroom.

Serena Barbara is in kindergarten and she and Barbara share a birthday, August 3rd.  Capris is in second grade.

They loved all of my toys.  I played with them for maybe five minutes while there were doing some flash card things.  There stayed at our house only for about an hour, because then their babysitter arrived to take care of them.

Mimz came to get me and take me to my baseball practice.  Mommy had Coach Bryan order my 29 inch AXE composite baseball bat because he could get a 10 percent discount.   It was a birthday present from my mom, so when Coach Bryan gave it to me, all the boys sang Happy Birthday to me.  They were all so very happy for me.  I didn't really want to use it but Coach told me it was practice time so I did.  I got one good hit out into center field.  All the boys are excited about my party.  

Normally I spend Wednesday night with Mimz, but Mommy was having her monthly neighborhood ladies Bingo party at our house and I wanted to be there, so Barbara met Mimz and me after practice and I came home.  Barbara fixed me a big bowl of taco salad.  I sat on the living room rug and ate it while the ladies finished eating and started playing Bingo.  Mommy was the first to get a bingo and I hollered "Bingo!" for her.    I wanted more taco salad, so Grandma fixed me another bowl.  I probably was stalling.... but when I finished,  I took my shower, brushed my teeth, and went downstairs to tell Mommy and Grandma goodnight.  I decided I wanted to lay down on the sofa, so I got a blanket and laid there and quickly fell asleep.  I didn't hear the ladies leave and slept on the sofa all night.

My teacher lets us have gum in class.  I took some bubble gum in my backpack.

I am so ready to go play the moment I get off the school bus, I am unwilling to talk about my day at school with Barbara.   I still have to come inside and talk about plans for the evening, like what time I must be home to eat and get dressed for baseball or football or whatever is on the docket.

Three times in the past five days, Alyssa and I have gotten mad at each other.  She ends up crying, (which she can stop as quickly as she can start) and she tells lies about me.  I generally get in trouble even though I say I am innocent.  When will I learn.  Well, yesterday we played nicely.  Our fingers are crossed that I can keep that up.

Tonight was my school's Open House for parents from 7 to 8pm.  The principal asked that children stay home if possible, but our teacher said we were all welcome to come.   I went with my mom and there were 15 out of 23 of my classmates there.

Barbara left a note on the breakfast table for me to get after school.  It said she had gone to the airport to pick up Grandma and Papa, so GGM was here for me.  The note said GGM would fix me a snack.  Also I was to make sure GGM knew where I was playing.  As it turns out I played at Alyssa's and we played nicely.

Papa said their vacation was amazing.  Everything was perfect except for two little glitches that turned out to be better for them.   They are both interesting stories.  I'll try to keep them brief:  Lubic, Maine is the fartherest east town on the east coast of the US.  It is a small town with very few places to lodge.  When they were checking into their lodging, Papa said, "Where is the TV?"  There were none at the hotel.  He told the owner that they stopped driving early so they could watch the Astro's baseball game.  The owner said, "Well, you can stay at my house."   She was serious.  She has an apartment that had a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean.  The view was beautiful and they did get to watch the baseball game.
 
The other story:   Papa leased a car at the airport and they were driving to the hotel when the low tire pressure light and the engine light came on.  It was 10pm.  Papa called back to the car rental place.  They said they would be open until 11pm.  So they went back to the airport.  A plane had arrived and there was a line that one person was trying to take care of it by himself.  There were several other employees there, so Papa said out loud., "Hey, why don't you guys come lend him a hand?"  They said something like not my job.   Anyway, when it was Papa's turn the guy wanted him to just keep the car he had.  Greg, said he was going to be doing a lot of driving (1600 miles as it turns out) and he was not going to drive a car that was telling him it could break down at any moment.   The guy gave Papa a Ford Explorer that had all the bells and whistles.   Much, much nicer car!

 One last thing about their trip:  They stayed in a hotel in a corner room on the ninth floor with a view of both falls at Niagara Falls.  Grandma face-timed Barbara and Barbara snapped this picture of the falls and river with her phone.  I'm sure Grandma has much better pictures but this is the only picture we have now.  Grandma had been to Niagara Falls once before... on Barbara's 16th birthday.  If Grandma would write a story about their trip, I would include in on my blog.  (Hint) 

It's Monday and I got up easily and was ready in plenty of time to catch the school bus.

Nothing interesting happened for me to talk about on my blog.

In my class each student gets to pick which words we want on our own personal spelling list.  I circled the words I chose to learn this week. 

I played Fortnight for a little while until Barbara told me to turn if off and go play.  I played with Alyssa and Cole and Julian.  I got mad at Alyssa.  That happens a lot.  Then she tells lies about me.  Barbara made me come inside.  She says if Alyssa is lying why would I want to play with her.  It doesn't make sense to her.

I had a private baseball lesson with Jimmy tonight.  Barbara took me so Mommy could do things to get ready for my party.    It was very hot in the building.  My hair and shirt were both still wet when I got home.

I wanted cereal for a bedtime snack, but I ate the last of the milk earlier, so I ate grits instead.  It was after 9:40 before I was asleep.  

I woke up about 9am.  I played all day with Alyssa and Cole and some with Anthony.  Mommy took us to Bahama Bucks.  Yummy.

My two football games were cancelled due to wet fields and rain in the forecast.

I woke up at 8:45am wanting to play with my PlayStation 4.  Daddy brought it over and I think Mommy, Barbara, and I  got the cords connected correctly but couldn't figure out the software.  Bummer.  I really wanted to play Fortnight.

Barbara wanted to fix me something different for breakfast, like eggs, bacon, and toast, but I wanted my usual oatmeal.  At 9:50am I went to see if Alyssa could play.

I played with Alyssa and Grayson and Julian.  Mommy and I went to a five dollar store to buy me eye protection to use when playing with Nerf guns.  I need it for Julian's birthday party next Saturday.

We were going to have a sleepover at Julian's but he had a friend over last night for a sleepover and they found out today that the friend had head lice, so our sleepover was canceled.  They want to make sure Julian and Xavier do get it and wash their bedding to make sure they don't have any of those little bugs.

******Pictures have been added today going back to Sept 2nd.*********

Fridays start out special because we wear our school spirit shirts and because I eat breakfast at school because cinnamon rolls are served.

I enjoyed my day at school.  I made a 97 on my Geometry test.  I know the answers to the two questions I missed.

My baseball field practice was held indoors because the fields were really muddy.   Mommy and Barbara were there to watch me.  I won the line-drive contest.  That is the second time I have won it.  Practice went on until 8:15pm. 

Mommy, Barbara, and I went to Sonic for some fast food.  GGM didn't want any.  I ate my hotdog with chili and cheese and then I ate half of Barbara's chicken tenders, gravy, and tater tots, and drank some of Mommy's shake.  

I was asleep by 9:15pm.

Mimz has a meeting this morning so she brought me home a little early.  I visiting with all my bus-stop friends before the bus took us off to school.

I jumped off the bus and would not stand still for one minute for Barbara to tell me something before I HAD to run off to play.  

I did willingly come home when Barbara said it was time for me to get ready for football practice.  Half way through practice it started raining and we got soaked. 

Wednesday  Sept 12, 2018
Happy 60th Birthday, Grandma! 
Grandma and Papa are in Vermont with Grammie and Bubba.  They will enjoy visiting and winterizing the cabin before taking Grammie and Bubba to the airport in a few days.  They are enjoying this vacation and will be home September 18th.

Today was the day my classmate's moved to our new classes.  I'm going to like Mrs. Garner and Mrs. Wright.

Barbara and I met Mimz at Sprout's and Mimz took me to baseball cage practice today.  I spent the night at Mimz' home.

  

I woke up at 4am and it took me awhile to get back to sleep.

I had a hard time waking up this morning.  That's what happens when the night before I am still awake at 9:30pm.

Big changes happened to my class today.  The enrollment for third grade is down at my school, so it was decided that Mrs. Yearwood would move to another school and the children in my class would be scattered amongst the other classes.   Two other students and I were assigned to Mrs. Gardener's class.   This summer I was hoping Mrs. Gardener would be my third grade teacher.  My switch teacher is Mrs. _______.

I had a private batting and pitching lesson with Jimmy from 5:20pm to 6:20pm.  Barbara, Mimz, and Mommy were there to watch.   I am supposed to practice my pitching technique many times a day, without a ball, just going through the motions.

I ate, showered, and was in bed by 8:30pm.

Mommy and I both woke up before Barbara did, so we got me dressed, fed, and out to the school bus and Barbara didn't even bother to get out of her bed.

I jumped off the bus, tossed my backpack to Barbara and ran off to play at Alyssa's.  We played at her house, then in my front yard until dark.  I got stung my a bee and so did Cole.  My sting was on my arm.  Cole's was on his bottom and he felt it sting through his shorts and his underwear.

We had spaghetti for dinner and a root beer float for dessert.  Cole stayed at my house until 8:40pm until his aunt got home from an appointment.

I called one of my friends.  Now I have his number in my phone. At 8:55pm I decided I was hungry and wanted cereal.  This was the first cereal I had all day.   It was 9:30pm before I was asleep.

Sunday, Sept 9, 2018

I had to be at Lindsay-Lyons Sports Complex at 7:15am this morning to get my new baseball uniform and for warmups.  We had games at 8 and at 11pm.    Both games I played left field and only was in on a play one time.  The first game I was at bat only once and I struck out. 

The second game I hit a good grounder out to right field.  I ran fast and made it to first base before the ball did.  I stole second and third.  And then the pitcher threw a ball, the catcher missed it and I ran as fast as my short legs could run to home plate.  I slide.... and I was safe!

We lost the first game 12-8 and the second game was tied.

I went to Mimz home until my dad brought me home around 7pm, I think.  I took a shower, and practiced my multiplication facts.

I watched a little of the Astro's game before falling asleep.

My football game started at 11am.  We lost big time, but we did score twice and I was the runner who carried the ball and made the two touchdowns.  I think I threw three passes.  I know one was almost complete and one was intercepted.  My ball throwing is good.  My running is good.  I sure enjoy playing football even though the temperature is high, like 90 degrees.

My team is the Dophins and we wear aqua and orange uniforms with orange socks.  I still want to keep my pink shoelaces on my shoes. I know pink represents breast cancer.  

In our team meeting after the game, my coach said we scored more against this team than any other team has so far.   The other team had some bigger boys on it.  He also talked about my two scores.

I went home with Mimz.  Both Texas and Oklahoma won their football games.

Later that afternoon, Mommy went to a wreath making class.  She made this wreath for Grandma.  Barbara went to the class but all she did was cut the ribbon.  Mommy actually added all the ribbon and mesh to the wreath base.

I wore my Metzler school spirit shirt, which is what we are supposed to wear on Friday.

There were 12 kids at our bus stop this morning.  Two were middle school kids who were just visiting with us.  There were three dogs there also.  One kid bouncing a basketball and three of us tossing a basketball.  Lots of noise and fun.

I ate a hamburger, french fries, pickle, white milk, and a cookie for lunch.

Barbara recorded a show called BattleBots about homemade robots fighting each other in a tournament.  I didn't want to watch it.  She enjoyed it but then she deleted it since I was not interested.

I had baseball field practice.  I played outfiled and did a good job catching fly balls.  Practice lasted until 8pm.

While we waited to meet Mimz at Sprouts we saw a blimp in the sky.  I snapped a picture of it but you can't tell it's a blimp.  There used to be a Good Year blimp base just a half mile from Mimz home and the blimp flew over their house all the time.  Mimz says there is a rope that hangs down from the blimp and it seemed that you could almost reach up and grab hold of it.    I was yawning so we knew I would be ready for bed as soon as I had a shower.

I did stay up a little later than my bedtime watching the Astro's but I didn't have to be up early so that was okay.

Mimz brought me home early because she had to attend a funeral.  I was ready to head outside to play with friends already at the bus stop. 

Here is a picture of some of the bus riders along with Alyssa's dog, Cloie, and Mr. Mark.  I like that little dog.  But one or two minutes with her and I was ready to play football with Julian and Matthew.
During our 45 minute recess I played 6 or 6 basketball.  I was soaking wet with sweat dripping from my head.  We had a substitute teacher and when she saw me she said, "Oh, my!" 

The school bus was about 20 minutes late getting us home because we had a substitute driver who didn't know what she was doing.   Cole got off at the wrong corner because he thought he could walk home faster than riding with her.   I thought about getting off but decided I better stay put.  Good thing I did because Cole might be written up by the bus driver.

Grayson came over to play and we went over to Alyssa's to play until 5pm.  I had to go home then to get ready to go to football practice.

Barbara took me to French Elementary school where we met my mom, who stayed to watch me practice. 

Mimz brought me home and stayed while we waited for the bus.

 Wednesday's we bring home our weeks work and or behavior report.  So far I'm having excellent behavior in class.

My "Me Bag" was a success.

I played over at Alyssa's with her new dog.  I like carrying her and she likes running after me when I put her down.

I played until 5pm.  I didn't want to eat but finally agreed to a bowl of cereal and part of a meatloaf sandwich.  Barbara and Mimz met at Strips gas station so Mimz could take me to my baseball practice at 5:30pm.

 Mimz and I worked on my twos and fives in multiplication.  I called out some problems for her to answer and she could do it very quickly.  She said is be because she memorized multiplication facts when she was my age.

I worked hard at practice and I was tired but I was a little late going to sleep because I wanted to watch a little of the Astor's baseball game. 

 Today was Anna Kate and Bradley's first day of preschool.  Well, AK has been to school for the past two years, but it was really Bradley's first day of any school.  He walked right in and started playing.  He didn't miss his mom until he woke up from his nap.  It was then that he noticed that these people were all strangers to him and he couldn't find his mom.  It was very soon after that that Kristan arrived to get her little children.

 It was also Anna Kate's first day of ballet.  She loved loved loved it! 

My backpack was at The Pond.  We left it there before we went to Oklahoma and then San Antonio so I didn't not have it to take to school today.  I wore my Faith Formation bag this morning.   Grandma will bring it to my home today when she comes to ProLawn to do her payroll job.

When I got off the school bus I saw Barbara and .... Mimz!  I wanted to play at Alyssa's home because she got a new little dog today.  But I needed to go inside and eat a meatloaf sandwich before Mimz and I left for my 5pm baseball private lesson.  I had a good lesson.

I ate a good dinner after Daddy got home from work.   Sometimes I don't eat much, but today I did so maybe I am in a growing stage.

I was asleep soon after 9pm.

Today is Labor Day.  It is a holiday for all of my Laplante family and we woke up at Bridget and Chris' home.

It rained part of the time we were driving.  We worked on my multiplication tables during this drive.  I know my 0s, 1s, 5s, and 10s.  I'm still working on my 2s.  I need to know these by Sept 14th.  If I practice them every day I should know them well.

We arrived home around 2:30pm.  None of the neighbors were home to play with me. 

I had a very bad attitude when I could not convince my mom to spend $170 to buy me football gear to wear for Halloween at school.  She she she didn't have money for that and I could wear my baseball uniform.  I ended up with a consequence of three days of no iPhone or iPad plus time out for 45 minutes, which had to be restarted because of some smart remark I made.   After 30 minutes of bad behavior, I turned it all around and was a perfectly nice boy. 

We woke up in Purcell, Oklahoma and drove to San Antonio.  On the trip I studied my multiplication tables and read... some.

 Grandma was totally surprised when she walked in the door at Bridget's home to discover that we were having a surprise birthday party for her.

Bridget asked Barbara to send her photos taken throughout Brenda's life.  Bridget cut out the pictures and made a big 60 poster.  That was a big hit.  

   Andy's family was there (minus Bradley who stayed at he maternal grandparent's home).

It was a baseball themed party.

The new things is having gender reveal parties.   Andy and Kristan knew the new baby's gender, but they let everyone else find out when Papa swung a golf club at a "fake" golf ball and it exploded into blue smoke.  Looks like Papa and Grandma are going to have a new grandson.  That makes their grandchildren's order be:   boy, girl, boy, girl, boy.   If the pattern continues, Bridget and Chris will have another girl.   The due date is March 17th.  I hope he waits to be born until March 18th because that is Bridget's birthday.  

The guys all played football with me outside.  We played some games in the evening.

 

Today is the first day of this college football season.

Papa drove us the 30 miles from Percell to Norman, Oklahoma.


Walked to stadium.

Outside the stadium with the OU band behind me.

Our tickets are part of the season tickets Uncle Danny has.  Papa bought them so he could treat me to an OU football game.  I have been to a Texas University football game, so this was not my first college game.   A rather new security thing is the rule that no purses or bags can be taken into the stadium unless they are clear-see thru bags.

We had breakfast at the Varsity O Club, because Bridget is in the O club.

Our seats were in the end-zone.  A neat thing happened: A field goal ball came into the stands very near me.  The man who got it handed it to me to throw back onto the field but I was too shy so I held it for a few seconds and then gave it back to him.

 Picture of Mommy, me, Grandma, and Papa.

 Picture of Papa and me outside the stadium.  OU won their game, 63 to 14.  They are seventh in the rankings.  I'm not normally an OU fan, but I really did have a great time.
********************************

Bridget dressed Catherine in her OU dress.