Poker with Grandma...

When my children were very small, they learned how to play poker...

Poker is something that has always been played in our family. I remember spending Friday and Saturday nights at my grandparents house watching my mom, dad, grandma and grandpa playing poker when I was younger. I would sit with them and watch, mostly because that's where the good snacks were! You'd think I'd be a professional poker player with as much as I've watched it, but it didn't interest me enough to remember the rules to the game. So, each time I'd ask again what they were playing and how to play. Now, every time we see grandma , the poker chips and playing cards come out! Ayodele was the first to ask this time, and too bad he's only 7, he was HOT! Every hand was either two pair or three of a kind... he even got a full house. Sade joined in after completing some of her homework, Derek decided to play as long as he could play in the chair without chips and Kayode even started learning how to play this visit! I helped him while I made dinner, he wasn't doing too bad himself! Ayodele can't get enough poker... first thing Saturday morning, before anyone was dressed, he had grandma playing again! It really is much too cute!

My funny kids...

Okay... I'm so thankful for my kids!

They put a smile on my face every day!

Here are a few pictures that the kids took of each other being silly!

I praise God everyday that they are happy and healthy!

Happy Birthday, Derek!

Happy 15th Birthday!

Derek turned 15 today! It seems like just yesterday he was born... 9lbs 10oz and 22 1/2 inches long. Now he's 130lbs and 6'1-1/2" tall. I'm so proud of him... he works hard, gets good grades, has high ambitions and works hard to achieve his goals. I just can't get over him being 15... am I really that old?

His birthday was quite eventful! Friday night he and several friends went to the local Italian food festival and rode carnival rides until 11pm. They had a terrific time! Then, Saturday, I took him and 3 friends to a huge skatepark in Henderson... they skated for about 2 hours before pizza showed up. After eating, they skated another hour before we left and I dropped them off at their "home" skatepark, "Breeze."

Today, Derek slept in, opened his cards in bed and when we got home from church, he got a ride back to Breeze so he could skate again. He arrived home at 6pm on the dot (like I asked) and then we ate dinner. He requested home made chicken noodle soup. Thank goodness... since I'm sick, it tasted so good! :)

Around 7pm we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate birthday cake! Again... I can't believe he's 15! He was so cute putting his candles on the cake and lighting the candles... I had to help him with the lighting... he started to burn himself... I guess they'll always need their mom!

I love you, Derek! Happy Birthday!

I knew she would...

Sade auditioned for a part in the school musical yesterday and found out today she got a part! Sade will be performing the part of Mayzie La Bird in the upcoming production of Seussical, Jr. at her school the first week of December. She called me just to tell me... she's very excited! I'm so proud of you, Sade!!!

Poor little guy...

sprained his foot yesterday playing football in PE. Ayodele came home from school yesterday limping and complaining that his foot hurt. We iced it and tried to keep him off of it. This morning when he woke up he immediately started complaining again that it was bothering him and that it hurt to walk. I tried to get him to go to school and just "walk it off." Then he complained that he couldn't even put his socks on without it hurting too badly. Finally I decided we'd better go see a doctor...especially since a few years ago we had Sade "walk off" her painful foot then found out she'd fractured it and was in a boot for 6 months. The nurse took Ayodele back for X-rays and the Doctor found no fracture... Yeah... but he said he probably sprained it really good and to keep off of it as much as possible, and no PE for 2 weeks. So, here's Ayodele today, keeping off his foot and icing it like the doctor said! Poor little guy! He'll be fine, and I think once he gets over the extra attention, he'll probably forget about the pain! Back to school tomorrow, but for today, he enjoyed a day off relaxing and healing his foot!

First Football Game

Well, Thursday, September 4 was Derek's first football game. On Wednesday, he left for school in a dress shirt, tie and slacks... WOW! I couldn't get to my camera in time before he skated off to school. Yes, he rode his skateboard to school all dressed up... that would have been a great picture! Maybe one of these days I'll be able to catch him! Anyway, once I got through the gates for the game, the score was Home 7 - Visitors 8. Unfortunately I have rehearsal on Thursday nights so I was only able to stay through the end of the third quarter. Derek didn't play until the fourth, of course! So the video is just of his back to show he's part of the team! He wears number 94 for games. I'm so proud of him. His team lost 33-14, but he's ready to go out and get the next team. Hopefully his teammates are ready too!

Labor Day 2008

Labor Day

Gosh... where did the summer go? We officially did NOTHING!!!! The kids did survive the heat and small condo and we tried to find things to keep busy. (Free movies, Library, park, church activities) Thank goodness school's back in session! On Labor Day Sade, Ayodele, Kayode & I went to a new water park by our house to try and stay cool. It's times like this that family and friends are truly missed. The kids got really wet and then they played football for a while before we headed back home for dinner and prep for school. I've definitely got the greatest kids!

Football Scrimmage on August 30

Well... it took me a while, but here's a little footage from the first scrimmage Derek let me attend. His practice jersey is number 96 for Durango. He's standing center field and shortly after the clip starts, you'll see him talking to the coach. What a great tackle!!! Hopefully the Huskies will be watching for him in a few years!