Fun Fair

One of our favorite activities is the annual Fun Fair. We have an amazing PTA and my sweet friends work their hearts out for our school. Jalen "helped" sell tickets one day before school. One student came in and asked me if I was aware that he was screaming outside.

Ava, Jalen, Alexa and Addi

Jalen got his face painted. It took a LONG time.

He chose a dinosaur face.

David and Baylie didn't come and Jalen and I weren't together most of the day, but we did have a ping pong battle before everything got going.

I love my little man.

Batchelor's Got Talent

This week was full of Batchelor talent. On Tuesday, Jalen joined his third grade classmates for their "under the sea" performance. Jalen was a clown fish and did an amazing job.

He definitely hammed it up.

It was his first time having a speaking part and he did great.

On Thursday, Baylie particiated in her school's coffee house.

She was so brave and did an amazing job.

We were so proud of both of them.

You can see their full performances on YouTube.
Jalen #1, #2
Baylie

Flag Football - Stage 2

Jalen decided that he wanted to play flag football again this fall. Sports are challenging because while I think he has some ability, his ADHD medicine has worn off by the time he needs to play and his focus is not there. He had a lot of fun this year, but was frustrated that he didn't get to run the ball very much. He played a lot of center so I told him that meant he got to touch the ball more than anyone, plus his Granddad was a center. He wasn't convinced. 

Whoops!

 Erkle

Speed demon

His coach said he was much improved over the last time he played. I agree!

The team.

I loved watching him play and only lost my cool once (when he got tackled in the back when chasing a quarterback).

Go Gamecocks!

We were super excited when our neighbors gave us their tickets to see the Gamecocks play football. I had been to a game with Granddad nine years ago, but no one else had been and it had been a long time for me. 

Our seats were up high - half way up.

View from our seats. We were about as high as in Tennessee, but the stadium isn't as big and the seats aren't as steep. It didn't feel as high.

It was homecoming and we all got growl towels.

It really is a beautiful stadium. I love seeing it from far away.

The Gamecocks have the best entrance in college football. The video is too long to post on the blog, but you can view it at YouTube here. Or, I'm sure there are better versions that can be Googled.

I would much rather listen to a Cougar than this rooster crowing. It about drove me crazy.

We were cold and tired, but it was such a fun night.

It's Always Fun When Grammy Comes - and Granddad

It's hard to believe that just last week my parents were here. It feels like so long ago. I miss them so much. I love living in South Carolina, but I miss my family like crazy. I am so happy when my parents or sister come to visit. I was glad the weather held out and was nice for them. Last time they came it rained and I was afraid it would happen again.  

We picked them up at the airport Thursday after school. I was prepping for a colonoscopy (awful) and couldn't eat anything, so everyone else went out for dinner. On Friday, I spent the morning having said colonoscopy. Fortunately my dad could stay with the kids while my mom went with me for the procedure. They found four polyps, but fortunately they all ended up being benign. Because of the procedure, we couldn't do much that day. We just ran errands. I probably did too much because it made me really tired.

The next day  we decided to go to Soda City Market. It's a fun place to spend the morning.

There was lots of produce. I love the colors and feel of an outdoor produce market.

One of my favorite things at Soda City are the fresh flowers. You can get a beautiful boquet for $10.

Someday I really need to start canning.

My favorite people.

My dad and I both grew up in a town called Blanding. I love that there's a Blanding street here.

There was a chemistry display. The kids made a battery.

This truck was cool, but I didn't like the flowers as well.

My purchases - pill dish and spoon rest. I love them.

I forgot to take a picture of my beautiful flowers. Soda City is also a great place to eat. I should have taken a picture of that too. My dad had an amazing barbecue sandwich, Baylie had a humongous burrito and everyone (but me) had fruit smoothies. I ate one of my Optavia protein bars.

Afterwards we drove to some nearby cotton fields so my parents could see them. I love fields of cotton. It reminds me of snow. It also reminds me of how grateful I am that my children live in South Carolina now and not centuries ago.

We "stole" some cotton...

That afternoon, Jalen, my mom, and I went to the park for the birthday of one of my students. Her mom had posted on social media that no one was coming to the party. The same thing had happened the year before and she was heart broken.

I was surprised when we got there to see cars were lined up clear down the road. I've only seen it like that for a town festival.

I asked a police officer what was going on and when he said it was an eight year old's birthday, I realized that it was all for her. I started to cry. What an amazing response from the community.

The police, military and firemen were there.

There was an amazing pile of presents.

Food had been donated by a local restaurant.

She was surrounded by friends she knew and didn't know.

With some officers.

Lots of kids playing.

Jalen in the fire truck.

He also found his dream car.

Grammy and Granddad were flying home on Monday, but we decided to spend the morning at the zoo. Columbia has such a great zoo.

We tried to feed the lorakeets, but they weren't very hungry.

One did poop in Grammy's hair though. So gross!

We all rode the carousel. I love that our membership includes these fun activities.

I love my mom. People say I look like her, but I've never been able to see it.

This is what it looks like when my dad tries to take our picture from the back of a merry go round animal.

The elephants will soon be leaving our zoo. They will be replaced with rhinocerous.

One of my favorite things at the zoo is feeding the giraffes. We haven't done it in a while.

Check out that tongue!

The baby gorillas are so cute. They usually put on quite a show.

Meercats are always fun.

I have always loved snakes. The camoflage on these is awesome.

Green mamba.

The green pythons are some of my favorites.

Tree frogs are so cute!

This new eyelash viper is pretty.

The lion fish are so pretty, but poisonous.

Teeny-tiny jellyfish.

Under the sea.

I stole this idea from Mary Chorey.

We went straight from the zoo to the airport. It was so sad to say goodbye to Grammy and Granddad. The kids cried and demanded to know why we live so far away. I always ask myself the same question when family comes to visit. We probably won't see them again until next summer.

I'm grateful to be from a family that is so close knit. I love them so much. I hope the time my children have with them is enough to build strong bonds.