Ashton plays basketball

This fall a friend of Ashton's convinced her to try out for basketball.  Although Ashton had never played the sport before and knew little of the rules, she was willing to give it a try.   There is only one other girl taller than Ashton, and only by an inch.  Ashton towers over most of her teammates!  At this week's game Ashton scored the first points of the game.  It happened so fast I didn't have my camera ready!  (I'm still mad at myself for that!)  I did manage however, to get her making one of two foul shots.  I have tried several times to upload the video, but to no avail!  I'll try again another time. 

Ashton turns 14

Yesterday my third born turned fourteen!  Ashton chose Kentucky Fried Chicken for her special meal and cherry cheese pie for dessert.

 Kaden gave her his toy snake!  She also received silly bands, candy, gum, a beef jerky stick, a water gun and some Halloween make up from her siblings.

 Ashton also received Goldfish crackers in her favorite flavor... vanilla!

I also wrapped up her favorite candy bars... Fast Break and PB Twix!  We have yet to go shopping for her "big" gift.

Happy Birthday Ashton Girl!

First five before seven

There was a sudden silence in the house after the first five of my seven children got on the bus this morning shortly before 7 am. I'll be thinking of them throughout the day, hoping all is well. Avery and Bryson both woke up in tears claiming to have not slept all night! I told them that was normal first-day-of-school jitters. After breakfast and showers, they seemed fine.
Avery

Bryson

Ashton and I found this skirt for Kassie yesterday at Kohl's while school shopping. (On clearance for $8.00) She loved it, and had to wear it on the first day!

Brady refused to take a lunch today, saying he didn't know anyone in his lunch period. Last year he didn't eat lunch for two weeks before becoming comfortable with the new school year. I couldn't even convince him to take a protein bar.

Here's Ashton sporting one of her "new" outfits from a yard sale! I actually found seven shirts to match this one pair of shorts, and she loved all of them! Her "new" Billa Bong back pack was a bargain too for only .50 cents! The Converse sneakers were something she just had to have when she saw them at Kohl's. They were on sale for $30. Not a bargain in my book, and she didn't need them, so she had to help pay for them.

Here they are, my first five before seven.

Waiting for the bus.

Couldn't help but take this embarrassing picture!! Aren't pictures of your children getting on the bus only for the elementary grades? LOL! I'm sure I'll hear about this when they get home this afternoon. It didn't help that this was also garbage day, so that's in the picture too!

Time to get Kenzie up and ready for her bus coming around 8:15 am. Look for pictures of her later!

Pictures of Ashton playing volleyball

Ashton is second tallest on the team.
She plays front center where she blocks and hits the ball at the net. She also serves.

I tried getting video of Ashton in action, but my camera batteries died before getting anything worth sharing! Maybe next time!

Volleyball scrimmage

This afternoon Ashton had a volleyball scrimmage against Gettysburg. Avery also had his follow up appointment with the surgeon who did his appendectomy. (BTW: all is well, he can resume normal activities.) I wasn't expecting to see Ashton's game. I thought I would get there just in time to pick her up after it was over. As it turned out, I got there before it even started! Had I known, I would have brought my camera. All I had was the camera on Dale's cell phone... better than nothing! Ashton is serving.
Ashton in blue and white, closest to the net. White blur overhead is the ball.

Ashton, number 20.

Ashton, running for the ball.

It was obvious from the game that Ashton's team still needs lots of practice, but I thought Ashton did well! Can't wait for the next game!

Volleyball

On Wednesday of last week Ashton brought papers home to try out for volleyball. I didn't get around to looking at them until the next day. I started filling them out, but got sidetracked. Later I asked Ashton when she had to have them completed by, including the physical examination. She informed me it had to be done by that coming Monday! AHH! Thanks for plenty of notice... NOT! Our doctor wasn't even in his office that Friday. I called Monday morning and the soonest they could get her in would be 4:30 that afternoon. I then had to call the school to explain. I was told that Ashton wasn't the only girl in this predicament. They suggested she go to try outs anyway, explain to the coach that she will get her physical later that day, and then just stay and watch. Fortunately there would be more try outs on Tuesday too. She got her physical, tried out on Tuesday and MADE THE TEAM! She was so happy! I was then informed she had to have the right kind of shoes, shorts and knee pads by Thursday. Tuesday night we have church, so Wednesday we went shopping. We were blessed to find a really nice pair of basketball shoes (basketball shoes were recommended) on clearance! Of course, we had to buy men's shoes because they didn't carry her size in ladies! (She and Kassie are both a size 11 shoe!!) We found the knee pads and shorts as well, all at the same store. On Friday Ashton got her volleyball uniform top. Let's just say... it's tight! Ashton thinks they only come in one size. Doesn't the coach realize that all girls are not the same size? I felt bad for Ashton, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. We're hoping with all the exercising she's getting, she'll be able to lose a few pounds, then maybe the top won't be so tight! We'll see! I love volleyball and can't wait to see her play!

Ashton becomes a teenager!

Monday, October 12th was Ashton's 13th birthday. She still hasn't told me what she wants as a gift. Once she decides, we'll have some shopping to do. The only thing I had wrapped to give her was her favorite gum!

Ashton is a straight A student, she loves sports, (especially softball), is artistic like her Nan Nan and is very good in dealing with young children. She would one day like to be a child psychiatrist.
Ashton requested LaBella's pizza, chips, cherry cheese pie and vanilla ice cream for her meal.

Her six siblings each had a gift for her, starting with Kaden -- a box of candy Dots!

Avery and Ashton

Bryson with Ashton

Brady's gift was time on his Mylo.

Gum from Kenzie.

Extra lovin' from Kassie!

I didn't tell the children ahead of time that Pappy would be coming to help celebrate. What a nice surprise!

Happy Birthday my little Ashton Annie!

Shell, you missed it!

(Photograph taken last year.)

Shelley and I recently had a conversation about how the catcher and pitcher need to work together as a team within the team. Her daughter Allyssa and Ashton are on the same softball team. We get together after each game and complain about what the coaches did wrong! LOL! As if I could do any better! At last night's game the pitcher that walked in run after run at Saturday's game was at it again! She's got a fast pitch, but she's all over the place! Why is she pitching? The game is close, we can't afford her walking in any more runs! Ashton was playing right field. I got as close as I could and whisper-yelled, "Ashton, does the coach know you can pitch?" She shook her head no. (I had told her before she needed to let the coaches know.) Anyway, when the inning was over one of the coaches pulled Ashton aside. She then turned to me and said, "Did you say something?" No, I hadn't, but maybe he heard me ask Ashton about pitching when she was playing right field. Ashton told me later that one of the fathers that practiced with the girls on a night that the regular coaches couldn't be there, had her pitching. Maybe he said something to the coach. Anyway, coach had Ashton warm up. He seemed impressed. I told the coaches, "She isn't fast, but she gets them in there." They both said that's what we want, accuracy. During the last inning we got enough runs to put us on top. It's bottom of the last inning and all we have to do is hold them. Ashton is put in as pitcher, Allyssa is catching. Yes, she pitched some balls, but not bad for the first time pitching since last year. All three outs were made by Ashton stopping grounders hit in or around the pitcher's mound, and then she threw them out at first. End of game. We won! Coach was so proud, so excited, told Ashton she was team player of the night! What a self esteem boost for Ashton. She was not enjoying ball this year. Maybe now if the coaches let her pitch some, she'll enjoy the games more. Allyssa and Ashton were awesome together! Wish you could have seen it Shell!

Ashton's weekend

Softball season is in full swing again for Ashton. They lost their first game thanks to some bad coaching, (how 'bout it Shell?), but managed to squeeze in a win this past weekend by only one run. This swing by Ashton led to a single and one RBI, enough to end the inning. After five runs in they stop the inning, except for the very last inning, then it's unlimited runs. Also this weekend, Ashton's friend Marissa was baptized! We have a picture of Marissa at Ashton's baptism, so we had to get another picture of them together on Marissa's special day. Ashton also gave a talk on baptism, as requested by Marissa.
My mother is still in the York Hospital, still in the ICU, just waiting for the bad bacteria to leave her body. This battle with her health has been dragging on and on. Dad continues to do much better. Every one's prayers on behalf of my family are greatly appreciated.

Oh, those crazy kids!

It was all Ashton's idea. I suppose it started with a thought of "Wonder what would happen if I scanned my face?" The first time was funny enough to try it again, just with a different look the second time. Ashton then got Kenzie, Kassie and Brady to give it a try.

I wonder if Brady could see afterward from leaving his eyes open during the scanning process!

Oh, those crazy kids!

What happens when you French braid curly hair?

This happens!

It's true what they say!

Everything IS better with Blue Bonnet on it!During Sunday morning pancakes I started singing the Blue Bonnet motto/slogan, "Everything's better with Blue Bonnet on it!" I decided to put it to the test. Ashton was sitting there with bed head, no shower, and still wearing the dirty clothes she slept in. (She was out late with the band and just fell into bed when she got home.) I took the butter knife and smeared Blue Bonnet on Ashton's cheeks! Wow! It brought a smile to her face and a giggle from everyone else. Everything IS better with Blue Bonnet on it!

Family Politics

A few weeks ago Ashton ran for Mayor of "Biz Town". Each year the fifth grade class runs Biz Town for a day from Mayor to grocery clerk. Ashton did not win the election, but she won for best campaign posters! I love the second one! It still makes me laugh every time I look at it!
Brady was Ashton's campaign manager and made the posters for her. Although she didn't win, they had a great time campaigning!

BTW: Ashton's job for the day was CFO (Chief Financial Officer)!!

Tonight's game

Ashton had a game in Hanover this evening. Avery, Kenzie and Kaden went along. Needless to say, I didn't see as much of the game as I would have liked to! I'm going alone to the next game!Ashton hits a single.
Another single. See the ball in the lower left hand corner?
Ashton runs home.

Let's scrimmage!

What's this? A snow storm in mid April? No, just the wind blowing blossoms off the trees! This was the scene at the ball park while Ashton had her first scrimmage game this afternoon.

Bryson, Kenzie and Kaden spent some time on the playground before watching Ashton play.

Kassie, reading her book through osmosis.

Batter up! This time Ashton walked to first.

She's getting ready to run!
There she goes! She's stealing second base! Soon after she also stole third.
Another batter was walked and Ashton came home.

Now her team is in the field and Ashton is pitching.

Ashton's turn at bat again. It's a hit, a single! She then stole second. I love to watch her play! She's a good little ball player, my little Ashton Annie!