Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!!

And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight."  From my family to yours, "have yourself a merry little Christmas."

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I'm so far behind on posting that I'm not even going to try to attempt to catch up. I thought I would just pick things back up with Thanksgiving gatherings and go from there. On this Thanksgiving night, I hope that all out there have had a wonderful day spending time with family. Life gets so crazy at times that we sometimes get lost in all the day to day business and forget to count our blessings. Today, I'm thankful that I got to spend the day at my mother and father-in-laws house. I'm also thankful that on Sunday, we got to celebrate Thanksgiving a little early at my moms house. It is always nice to get all the family together to eat, watch tv, eat dessert, discuss what has been going on with all the kids, talk about when we can all find a date that works to plan our Family Christmas, eat again, watch the kiddos play outsides and so on. Below are some pictures taken at my mom's house on Sunday:

Nephew Chase, Great Niece Cailyn, Courtney holding Great Nephew Colton, Makenna, Damon and Nephew Zhenya
Colton showing off his new sunglasses......such a cute little man

Zhenya and Damon spending some quality cousin time together

The little ones outside "finding mischief" in grandmas bird bath!

Now as one holiday comes to an end, time goes on and finds us busy with all the things to come with the Christmas season. The month of December always seems to go by in the blink of an eye with so many things to do in what seems like such little time.

Until next time........Maria

Monster Mash 2009

Boy has it been a busy weekend! Courtney played in the Monster Mash Softball Tourney in Indianapolis Friday-Sunday with her new Indiana Mojo travel team and boy was it FREEZING in Indy! We played at 6:00 and 11:30 p.m. Friday night, 2 and 8 pm on Saturday and our final game on Sunday morning at 11. That late game on Friday was the coldest I think I've been since I was a kid outside playing in the cold and loving it at that time in my life. The girls did a good job for only having practiced together about 3 times before going to this tourney. It by far was good for them to get their "feet wet" before the season starts next spring. I believe we are going to get in a couple indoor tourneys over the winter to get us ready for season play come April. Here are some pictures I managed to get when it wasn't so cold!

Introducing Indiana Mojo Fastpitch
We were officially voted best looking team by several of the umpires. They just loved the colorful hoodies and pink toboggans!!

They all have nicknames which is so cute. In this picture is Kit Kat, Jenna Bug and Corky

Eating at MCL on Saturday between games to celebrate Emily's birthday

So ready for this

A little action out here please

Waiting on the pitch

Ready for the game

This weekend also ended cross country season for Damon. The team went to semi-state on Saturday morning at Brown County and came up short in order to advance to state. We are all so proud of this group of boys and look forward to making a return to semi-state next season. Below are some pictures I got at Regional two weekends ago where we had a 3rd place finish in order to advance to semi-state.

After the race at Prides Creek

Connor and Damon

Damon and Briona

Damon in the chute at the finish catching his breath

I would also like to congratulate the Lady Vikings Volleyball Team on their Sectional Victory Saturday. We didn't get a chance to see them play due to being out of town for the softball tourney, but will catch them in Regional this Saturday and hopefully be making that trip to state again this year in 2 weeks. Good Luck Lady Vikings!

Until next time......Maria

2009 Cross Country Sectional Champs!!!

Last night our boys won the cross country sectional at South Knox. We are regional bound!!!! This Saturday morning at 10:00 the boys will be running at Prides Creek in Petersburg to bring home a regional title!! Congratulations boys on a job well done. All the parents and community are so proud and backing you all the way.

Makenna & Karlye waiting on the bus to get to Viking Mart & also on the fire truck
The bus arrives

Ready to get on the fire truck

Making lap around town

Damon came in 9th out of 63 runners and Connor came in 1st. Not bad for a couple Freshman!

The Team holding up 4 fingers as this is the 4th year in a row that BR has won cross country sectional!

Having a little pizza with Coach Perkins and talking about what is to come on Saturday

It is all worthwhile!

Until next time from this one proud momma........

September Wrap-Up

I know it is a couple days early but at the rate my blogging has been going, I thought I would try to wrap-up this month while I have the chance. I think I'll just bullet some of the things that we have been up to as that might make this a littler easier.

*Second weekend in September we got to enjoy time with friends at the annual Turkey Trot. Needless to say it was nice to relax and have a little fun! We also got to enjoy the annual trip to Holiday World which Jana and John got to come along this year. We all had a blast riding rides and at the water park too. Makenna was tall enough this year to enjoy the water slides so it was fun to go on some of them with her!

*The third weekend in September I got to celebrate yet another birthday.....#36! Wow, I'm climbing that hill to 40 and the way the years go, I'll be at the top in the blink of an eye. The weekend was great as I got to enjoy breakfast with my mom on Friday morning, Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night with Mike and Court (Damon & Makenna were at Grandma & Grandpa Pruett's house), and dinner again Sunday evening with Mike's mom and dad.....not bad for one weekend!

*Volleyball has been going great for Court. She has been doing a really good job and will be in good shape next year for 7th grade. She has a two games this week, one next and yet another the following week to wrap things up for the year. Hard to believe only 4 games left and we roll on to basketball time!

*What can I say about Cross Country......well it has been going AWESOME.....that's what I've got to say about that! The team overall have been such fun to watch this year and Damon.....well he continues to amaze me with this talent he has been blessed with. Despite a little set-back due to strep throat, he is going strong. Ninth grade year has proved to be a good one and all I can say is I'm glad I'm along for the ride! Sure can't wait to see what is to come over the next few years.....well I can wait but you get my point!

*Makenna started dance class this month and it is off to a good start. Her class meets every Thursday for half hour which is long enough to hold the attention of not only her but some of the other little ones in the class. She really is enjoying herself and as I watch her I see Courtney all over again.......amazing!

*Last but not least is Court's new travel softball team.....offically named "Indiana Mojo Fastpitch"......kind of catchy isn't it! We are all very pumped up about this team. Sunday we went to Bloomington for a team meeting and I think we are in for something good! More to come on that later as I'm sure there will be lots to share.

*As for this blogger....well today was spent at the eye doctor as I've managed to get some kind of infection in my left eye. I'm on drops 4 times a day and the worst part....no contacts until Friday!!!! People that know me know I NEVER wear my glasses unless there is an extreme situation.....well I'm at that point until I go back on Friday and get the ok to start wearing my contacts again.

This pretty much sums up September......can't wait to see what October has in store! Enjoy the nice cool weather......Fall is in the air!

Until next time.......Maria

Volleyball & Catching Up

Wow how time gets away from me. Sure doesn't seem like it but it has almost been 3 weeks since my last post. During that time volleyball has come around and we are in the full swing of things. There are three 6th grade girls that play on the jr. high team. It sure is good experience for the girls so next year when they hit 7th grade (I'm not rushing it at all) they are prepared for what is to come. Below are some pictures from a few of the games:

My little #1 Court.

Up it goes.....

Smack......here it comes!

little rest between games

I have some other news in regards to Courtney I would like to share for those who haven't heard already. Mike took Courtney to Terre Haute a few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon to try out for the Wabash Valley Sharks 12u travel softball team. They were having try-outs for two Sundays in August and from there selecting the girls to make up the travel team. When they got home, Mike said it went great and Court did a good job doing what she was asked. Mike and I have been talking all summer about taking Court to the next level and finding a travel team for her. In the meantime, we found out about another travel team in Bloomington that was having try-outs too for a 12u travel team. We were told it would be 2-weeks before we heard anything from the Sharks so we decided to take her to Bloomington to check that team out as it is closer to home at an hour away while Terre Haute is an hour forty-five minutes from our house. Last Sunday, we find out she has been selected to play on both teams! What an honor to be asked to play for the Sharks as they recently took 2nd place in the Nationals. The Bloomington Lightening team I believe came in 6th in the Nationals so they did a great job too. After much discussion, we decided to go with the Bloomington team due to it being a closer drive and thought it would be a good place for Court to start. She is so pumped up about this opportunity. They will play in some fall tourneys and also in a couple indoor tourneys this winter in Indy. Please keep Court in your prayers as she soon begins this new opportunity she has been blessed with.

Damon ran the State Preview on Saturday in Terre Haute for Cross Country. I'm happy to say that Barr-Reeve came home with the 1st place honors in 1A for small schools......way to go boys!

Last night, Mike, Makenna and I went to Dave and Tracy's house for a cookout and a boat ride on Boggs Lake followed by roasting marshmellows at Tracy's moms house on the lake. Damon and Court had birthday parties to go to so it was just the three of us. We had so much fun and it was nice to meet Brooke and Neil and their three very sweet kids. They have a boy in kindergarten so it was neat to listen to he and Makenna talk about school stuff.

This week finds us with school pictures tomorrow, Makenna beginning dance class on Thursday, Courtney with a volleyball game on Thursday at Washington Catholic, and Damon running Saturday morning at the Washington Invitational. Also in store later this week is Court going to Bloomington Saturday and Sunday for softball, annual trip to Holiday World and Turkey Trot begins. My oh my.....there is never a dull day in the Pruett Family! Hope everyone is having a great extended weekend!!

Until next time.......Maria

Born To Run

Well last night was the night.........Damon's first high school cross country meet. It was the Forest Park Invitational and my son, a freshman, ran the varsity boys race!! There was my little Damon out there running against a few other kids his age and grade but for the most part, running against juniors and seniors. Let me just say I was a nervous mess not only for myself, but also for Damon who appeared to be very calm, cool and collected. He was so pumped up for this meet as it was his chance to proove that he deserved to be running on the varsity team and HE DID IT! The race was a 5k or a little over 3 miles and he finished with a time of 18:57 good enough for a 10th place individual finish!!!!! I believe there were 10 teams there last night with boys running in that varsity race and for Damon to be the 10th runner to finish was awesome!! Barr-Reeve as a team received the runner-up trophy falling a little short to Memorial High School. After the race I told Damon how proud I was of him and he told me that he was so nervous during 7th period Algebra mentally preparing for the race. I told him I had know idea how nervous he was as he did a very good job of hiding it from his mom. I think we are in for a great cross country season this year! Below are some pictures from the meet.

The team and Coach Perkins before the race
Damon and Dan warming up before the race

On your marks......get set.......GO!

Heading in the woods

Coming out of the woods

Catch him Damon!

Right after the race waiting on results

Damon receiving his ribbon and medallion, top 10 received medallions so 10th place finish was good!!

Individual ribbon, medallion and team ribbon

Until next time.....Maria

First Day of School

Well the first day of school has come and gone along with the second and third days. My kids are glad tomorrow is Friday as they are wearing down. It is so hard to get back in the routine of getting to bed early and getting up early and not to mention having to stay after school for cross country and volleyball practice every night for Damon and Court. Makenna is so tired tonight that she asked to go to bed at 8:30....it was still daylight out so I know she is exhausted! This morning she asked me if she was done for the week and I told her one more day to go and she could sleep in on Saturday. All in all I think she is going to be ok. It is a huge adjustment going from precschool which was 2 1/2 hours 3 days a week to all day every day. I remember when Damon and Courtney went to kindergarten it was all day every other day and they were both so tired on that off day. Poor little Makenna doesn't get that break. Tonight was Open House night so we got to go in and see some of the things she has been doing this week and to meet parents of some of the other kids in the class. Here are some pictures I took on Tuesday morning before they all headed out the door.

My big girl......although she will always be my baby
My 6th grader Courtney

Sisters are forever and I'm so glad your mine!

Showing off backpacks

My Freshman.......ugh.......I'm not liking him going to high school at all :(

Momma and her baby girl

Makenna wanted to ride the bus the first day so Court said she was going with her as she didn't want her to go on the bus by herself. How sweet and overprotective is that?? Damon had me take him to school and I went to the primary building to wait on Makenna to get there.

First photo in Mrs. Jacob's Class

Until next time......

Maria

Good Times

Damon received 2nd place in the 14u Bring the Heat XC race on 7/25 and 6th place overall

Barr-Reeve 10u girls softball team 1st place at the Odon Tourney on 7/26

Mike, Court and I

Damon, Court and Makenna at Six Flags St. Louis on 7/31

Court, Makenna & Damon at St. Louis Zoo on 7/30

This picture taken at Six Flags on 7/31 after riding the Scooby Doo Ride

These swings are going to be so much fun!

Courtney feeding a bottle of milk to a little goat at Grant's Farm in St. Louis on 8/1

Makenna being attacked by a herd of goats at Grant's Farm.........I think she needs more bottles!

Damon has a friend for life

Wow! Where has the summer gone?? As I type this at 9:50 on 8/10 my kids are in bed waiting for tomorrow morning......the first day of school! I still can't believe how it can possibly be that time again. As I tucked my baby in bed I felt such emotion overcome me. She however is so excited about her first day of kindergarten and for that I'm excited for her too. It will be different tomorrow not having a child at home.....they really do grow up so fast. As Makenna starts her big day of kindergarten, Courtney moves on to 6th grade; the last of her elementary years, while Damon begins his Freshman year......the start of his high school journey. I pray that each day is full of happiness for them and that God protects them each step of the way. I'm sure I'll have more to post tomorrow and pictures too! I do want to mention one more thing before ending this post and that is Mike and I celebrated our 17th anniversary on August 8th. I'm so blessed to be married to such a wonderful husband and father. I love you very much Mike and thank-you for everything you do for our family. You always put us first above anything else and I'm looking forward to the many more years with you to come.

Until next time.......Maria