Another chapter closed…

…as a new one begins. We ended our summer session of B12 with a pool party.

Thanks to the Bratton's for allowing us to use their neighborhood pool. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was no this almost water park experience. Everyone had a blast, got to hang out, fellowship, and relax as a new school year has already started.

Here is to ending a great summer session of B12 as we look forward to kick it back up in the fall after we all get situated with our schedules. As the teens get older we have some working, driving, playing sports and all that comes along with being 16something. I have been blessed to be a part of their young lives and I pray that we are making a difference if only in one of their lives.

I'm so grateful & privileged that they have entrusted Mrs. Lori, Mrs. Stacy and I with their stories, daily lives, and struggles they face. They say it takes a community to raise a child and I am grateful for the opportunity that I have been give if only to make a small difference in this big world of ours. Here is to creating memories and taking advantage of one of God's many blessings.

Good friends, Good timesHave a football and HE will come...we so love ScottyRob & Ty...brotherly love :Dwaiting to slide
em joined in on the funfriendscan't buy moments like theseDevonte, Jon, & BrattonRob, Kodi, & Lindseyready to have some sliding funwe just wanna have fun too...Mrs. Stacy on the slidehere I gohalf of the groupthe other half of the group

Here is to our last first…

…day of Kindergarten as parents that is. These past few weeks we have been so busy with football, and I have been busy at work getting ready for a new school year. I don't think it has really hit me that these past 4 days came and went so quickly.

It all started Tuesday, we went to open house, met Em's teacher Mrs. Fitch. We took time to get Em re-connected with BES, since she has been gone for a year. She first step foot or should I say car seat into that building at 8 weeks old, where she was part of the child care center, where she grew like a weed and five years came and went. Last year we enrolled her at Lanier Academy to attend Pre-K and now we are back at BES for another 2 years.

Ist day of Kindergarten was probably just as fun for me and Raymond as it was for her. We took more time with Em than we did with either one of the boys. It's probably due to a combination of things, like she's a girl, she our last child, she's our princess. None the less this past week's experience has been a blast. I had lunch with her the first day and had so much fun, I did it again today. Today dad joined us and it was even more fun. Here is too many more lunch dates as we look forward to a new and exciting year…oh by the way, Robert started his junior year :D

Heather & Em at open house...yeah it was a family affairEm and lil Ray taking time for a pic before that all important first day of schoolEm and Mrs. Sazera (she was Robert's Kindergarten teacher). Raymond tought it was funny to park the car at my office across the street only to walk her to car rider drop off.Okay mom, I'm fine you guys can leave now, I will just wait here like everyone else...Em & me a.k.a. "smother mother", that's my new name and I think I like it...first day of school lunchEm and her "Glad Dad", yeah the front office girls gave him a name too...2nd day of lunch with Em

Camp Buford really means…

…the beginning of another season of Buford Football! To me Camp Buford not only signifies the true beginning of another season, but also the beginning of another school year.

The boys had a great time at FCA camp and even though they had football drills and workouts, I can only imagine it is not the same as coming back to town and starting Camp Buford.

These are the first several days of football that will separate the "wanna" be football players to those that are truly "committed" to the program as a whole. During Camp Buford the Varsity players go at it from 1:00-10:00. As you can imagine it makes for a "LONG" day, and as nice as it is to practice on the new turf, it only makes for a hotter surface to practice on. I keep telling myself it will help them in the long run.

As the boys work hard on the field, the moms from Mom's Huddle are in the kitchen working hard too. This is a great time to fellowship; meet other moms as we all work for a common goal…to nourish our boys.

Fresh Fruit served everyday, compliments of Dexter FarmsMaking homemade smoothies...this was intresting and funRick Tanners chicken...'nough saidEating it upServing CakeIce-Cream Cake, compliments of Buford own Dariy Queen - Chill and Grill
Boxed dinner...compliments of Chick-fil-AThis is good stuff

Who knew Picture Day was…

…this much work? Even though I helped last year, I guess I didn't really realize what all goes into getting 100 plus boys ready for Football pictures. I am so happy to be working with a group of moms who always step up to the challenge and help where and when needed.

First we had to make sure they were dress accordingly, so we had moms check them in. We had to note jersey numbers & spelling of names. We had to make sure they stopped to have their head shot taken for the matrix board, take individuals for the football program, take individual grade level group pics, plus all the other group shots like A honor roll, A-B honor roll, all the weight clubs, o-line, d-line, receivers, and so many more I can't remember.

As you can imagine this can become quite chaotic, but I do believe in the end it was a great day. Mom's Huddle volunteers were a HUGE help. The only thing that I was a bit disappointed with was that I didn't have a chance to take more pics of Rob, but oh well that is what happens when you are taking care of the whole team, sometimes we have to put our own personal wants aside. Here are some pics that I did get:

Big Rob...thanks to Kelli for getting these two for me :DSo serious

White ClubJuniorsB12'versIt's a line thingOffenseDefense

B12 gives…

…back too. Just this past Wednesday our football team did a community service project. As we wrap up B12 for the summer, we had our service project today. Some of these kids got a double dose of giving there self's away this week, I can't think of a better way to end the summer :D

B12 adopted a family last fall so it wasn't hard to decide what we were gonna do this summer. Ms Rachel and her brother Kurt house needed a "facelift" so we decided to have a "paint" party. They were so appreciative but I know in the end we got more out of it than they did.

Our B12'vers never stop amazing me, it's been fun to watch them grow this past year and can't wait to see what the next year will bring. Here are some pics of them hard at work today as they worked together and got-er-done.

feeding them breakfast before we put them to workStacy & BrandonRob has to work today :(, but he had time to join us for breakfastKatrina, representing the ladies...while most of the girls were on vacation, we are so proud of her for joining us todayMichael Lane...the only one small and brave enough to get on the roof :DThese boys don't need laddersClean up timeFeeling accomplished