Sledding!!

Finally got to play in the sled that Gramma and Papa got me for Christmas!

Ready for the Race

We took a couple of kids to an indoor track meet on Saturday.  This was Gus' first track meet and he was dressed instyle with his track jacket and running shoes on.

Possible future?!?

While attending his cousin, Hannah's, gymnastics birthday party, Gus decided to test out his skills.  He did a pretty good job on the uneven bars and the balance beam.

Later that night Gus helped Hannah test out her new toys, including Gator Golf.  Perhaps he will end up a professional golfer.  (Just hope he isn't like Tiger Woods!)

Bipolar Wednesday

Today was such a weird day.  We had our cheerleading tryouts today.  It is a day full of emotion for all involved.  The girls are nervous when coming into their tryout, the coaches are stressed out making sure that everything is just right and it all collides at the end of the night.  At the end of the night we tally up the scores and write up our rosters.  We then invite the girls to come back into the room.  When they enter they see that the floor is covered in paper lunch bags and each one has their name on it.  Inside their bag is some candy and a little note that tells them that they either made the team or that they should try again next time.  It is fun to watch the girls run into the room with so much excitement.  For some, that excitement continues.  For others, it is crushed and they leave the room in tears.  My heart leaps for those who made the team are so excited and my heart drops for those who didn't make the team.  It is just such a strange day to experience. 

I came home tonight and collapsed on the couch and snagged up my little boy to cuddle with.  And for only a few more hours I am care free.  I get to relax and take a deep breath before my season begins.

The end...

Last night marked the end of the Flat Rock football season.  (Above is Joel and fellow coach, John Lawson.)  I would be lying if I said that I wasn't jumping up and down about it!  We had some of the yuckiest weather for football games this year.  I sat through a handful of games in the rain this year looking like a drowned rat. 

For some reason though, this was an emotional evening for me.  We had "parents night" where the parents walk their kids out onto the field and all I could think about was how someday I would be walking my kid out onto a field and he would be playing his last football game and then he would leave the field in tears like many of our seniors did last night.  But I suppose if Gus wants to be a tap dancer instead of a football player then he won't have that problem.  One more reason for him to be a tap dancer...

I was surprised to see that my husband had a tough time last night.  Joe Conner even got a few tears out of Joel when he hugged him (above).  Joel can identify so much with how these boys were feeling.  He felt that way when he finished playing football in high school and then again when he finished in college.  But for some reason, this group of seniors was special to Joel and he had a strong bond with a couple of them.  Joel has coached most of the seniors since they were pint-sized little 7th graders and has been with them ever since.  He is extemely proud of them and how hard they have worked since they first suited up for him in 7th grade.  It made me laugh last night when one of the seniors said to Joel, "Thanks for everything Coach!  Your the one who taught me how to put the pads into these pants."  It makes me chuckle because I remember when Joel quit coaching Varsity and went to coach at the middle school.  He talked about how funny it was that there was such a big difference between the two levels...at the middle school, he had to teach kids how to put the uniform on!!  It is hilarious to me that it has come full circle and one of the kids remembered that!  "Football season is over....time to get ready for your winter sports, boys!"

Topo, Danny, Koby, Vroman, Stape, Joe and Jake

We interrupt this life for football season...

It has been a crazy time here in the Stapleton household.  Football season is always super crazy around here.  In addition to football and cheerleading practices, we had something going on every night this past week.  Monday- cheer stunt clinic.  Tuesday- dinner with Sara Griffin. Wednesday- dinner with my parents.  Thursday- JV football game.  Friday- Varsity football game.  Saturday- coaching clinic.  And this is what most of our weeks are like.  Gus has been going with me to cheerleading practice and is quite spoiled by all of those crazy cheerleaders. He also goes to most of the football games...if it isn't too cold or rainy.  He has been wearing his dinosaur hat to all of the games.  We have decided that his hat is good luck for the team and therefore needs to wear it.  Every game that he has gone to where he had his dino hat on, the Rams have won!!  We are hoping that it continues to be lucky for the rest of the season and we hope the weather is nice so that Gus can go to the game.  (He didn't go on Friday and we lost...bummer...)

Luckily Gus travels well right now and seems to be okay with the chaos.  So until he isn't okay with it, we will continue to enjoy the chaos.  We only have a few more weeks of football so life will get back to normal soon.

Gus has started to roll over a lot more now.  It has been a lot of fun to watch and he has been scooching on the floor and in his crib.  But watch out!  That means he is going to be starting to move earlier than we thought.  Regardless, it is fun to watch how much he learns everyday!!

Another first for Daddy and Gus

GO BLUE!!
Gus got all dressed and ready to watch his first U of M football game with Daddy. And to top it all off...they won!! What a fun day!

READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!

Some MAN TIME on the first football Saturday of the season. Fire Up!!

Gus Goes to the Game

Gus went to his very first football game. His daddy was coaching and they even won. Flat Rock beat Ida 40-6. It was a great game to watch and it was fun for Gus to meet so many new people. It was his first game of many, many more to come!!

Gus hanging with some of his Varsity football buddies at his first game!

"A.J." and his buddy Joey. When we introduced Joe to our son and told him the full name (Augustus John Martin Stapleton), Joe decided to call him "A.J."

(They even have a secret hand shake!!)
Chatting it up before the first JV game. Gus got to hang out on the field with some of the Varsity players.