Let the Games Begin....

I mean football games. It is finally football season. Real college football. I have had to wait since January to see a real college football game. And some Real games were played this past weekend.

My compliments to Coach Saban, John Parker Wilson, and the rest of the Crimson Tide who didn't read the Clemson press clippings. That was quite a game. Clemson didn't realize that the Tuscaloosa Team isn't a real big fan of orange, except during hunting season.

This should be an exciting season in the SEC. (The toughest football conference in America) As of this writing it appears that only one team didn't beat the opponent from outside of the conference.

My appreciation to the Chick-fil-a company for sponsoring the Kick Off Classic. We had the chance to have some sweet tea, and chicken with our Tiger.

Looking forward to more games. Let the games commence!

This little lady is 5

Today is a special day in our house. Below is the arrival of the youngest member of our family five years ago today. Here is how our Princess arrived.

This is the picture that appeared on the cake of the five year old. We celebrated this evening with cards, gifts, cake and candles.

Tomorrow is also the first day of school for this lady. Happy Birthday, beautiful.

What are your favorite Olympic Events?

Pierre de Coubertin would be very proud of the festivities that took place on Friday, August, 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. Coubertin, considered the father of the Modern Olympics games, would have also been in awe of the opening ceremonies.

What a beautiful mix of modern and historic blend of culture, art, music and a display of raw people power. According to the announcers over 15,000 performers participated in the event. It was very impressive.

It was interesting to see the world leaders in the stadium come together to watch the opening of a 16 day festival featuring sport. My kids and I enjoyed watching the stat on the number of athletes from each country and then trying to figure out where the country is on a map.

We are planning to watch. What is your favorite event? What is the most unusual event to you?
China is the center of World attention. Let’s see. One World, one dream.

The Jet Formerly known As Chad Pennington

I am thrilled the soap opera called Favre is finally over. There was enough whine in that process to supply all of the National Football League fans with beverages for oh, ten years. He is a good football player. But, man alive, the baggage that has been carried around on that ego. Unbelievable!!

Imagine what will happen in New York when the Madden Curse raises its ugly head. Oh what will the Jets do then?

Can you imagine Chad Pennington gets the boot. Then it appears he will have the chance to go to Miami? I believe he is getting the better part of the deal.

So pre-season football. Even thought it is not good football it is still football. I'm really glad we are actually getting to watch the sport without all the drama.

I am really ready for some football.

Update

Hey all. Hope all is well where ever this finds you.

We are just settling down from the travels of the summer, trips to camp, vacation time, and the regular summer activities.

K just completed three days of volleyball camp. She really enjoyed the experience. Her height and hand speed have been commented on by the volleyball coach and the basketball coach for the 8th grade at school. Try outs are the first two days of school. She has been walking, running, and riding her bike with a friend to be ready for the experience. There was a birthday party from 8 to 11 last night and a friend of hers spent the night upon return from the party. There were boys and girls at the party. From early reports it was like an eighth grade school dance. Boys on one side of the room and girls on the other. Thank goodness it remained that way throughout the event. K will be baby-sitting for friends this evening. She has also started watering plants, and odd jobs for income. (Dad needs new shoes!, just kidding!)

Dabba is getting ready for the big 5 birthday. As we occasionally talk about the approaching date, who she would like to have in attendance, the selection of potential gifts, what she will wear, and the location of the event, all serious topics, she is preparing. August 19th will soon be upon us. As she reminded me last night she only has 18 more days. She has accomplished the feat of jumping from the diving board at the community pool. She is usually the smallest person for sure one of the youngest people in line for the boards. It is great to see.

H is having a blast this summer. He is getting to hang out with some guys in the neighborhood. There has been lots of basketball, Wii, playing outside, riding bikes. The last couple of 100 degree days has kept him inside. But trips to the pool have been a big hit. H found out last week he will have Ms Anderson for his 3rd teacher. This was the same person that Rebecca had her first year here. Both Ms Anderson and H are excited.

Rebecca has returned from camp. She was gone for four days with her buddy Maria and Kennedy. They had a good time. Becca has done the have friends over to spend the night and gone to a couple of those events. She loves the pool and hanging out. She is continuing to read lots of books. She has also rediscovered the ZOO Tycoon game on the computer. A simulation of building your zoo infrastructure, staffing, maintenance, construction, and people management. The Becca, will be running big things based on how well she does with the game. She has also been known to consult with siblings on their zoos. Becca has a friends birthday party tonight and some baby-sitting work in the next few days. Book early with this one. The aspiring baker made a great batch of banana bread on Thursday. Three loaves! Man, Duncan Hines better watch out.

Jen whipped up an Italian dish for dinner last night with a recipe of her Aunt Polly and her assistant Abigale. Jen's blog has the pictures and the recipe.(http://wilson-six.blogspot.com/) It was really good. Dabba really liked the pasta, garlic. Once she was able to put "parzoon", parmesan, cheese on it...wow! Jen has been getting kids ready for school, taking the crew to the pool, events, doctor's appointments, running the house and putting up with me. That keeps one busy, huh?

We had a great trip to the Northeast for vacation and my dad's funeral at Arlington. It was wonderful to get to spend time with olde and new friends and family. The travel was lots of fun and provided some great experiences. We relaxed with family in Vermont and New Hampshire, spend the night with some Internet friends in Connecticut, and then had great time with family at dad burial. We were thrilled by Nick and Katie's news about the next newest member of the Wilson crew. We had a great time with the Kuhn's playing, swimming, eating, and just hanging out.

Talked with Jan Orrison the other day for an update. She is doing well in Alabama. She keeps promising that she will come out to the Midwest to visit. It would be wonderful to see her.

Marc Woodward, a great friend of mine made the trip from Atlanta to Washington for dad's funeral. Except for an event with some milk, the whole trip went like clockwork. He was able to fly into Reagan National walk out the door and right up to the car. We then dropped him off later that evening at the front door of the airport so he could fly home. It was really nice that Marc came all that way.

Anyway, hope all are doing well. If you get to the Midwest please plan to come see us.

New in Home game invented - Hand Soccer!

This week our eldest was attending a three day volleyball camp. It appears that this may be a new interest for her. The first night of camp she comes home with a bag, a new t-shirt and a volleyball. Mind you, this is not like any volleyball. This has school colors, the logo of the school, lots of customized stuff...pretty impressive to me the parental unit.

We discuss the first day of camp, the drills, and go through the experience. K is having a great time sharing her day and enjoying that at that time of the evening it was all about her.

The volleyball is tossed to the other family in the room to do the family version of show and tell. There are also the little things that get added to any family event, the poking, messing with each other, laughter, IPOD music, gameboys, a reader of a book or magazine, the cat. Hopefully, you get the picture with six people in a 10 foot by 16 foot space. Family time.

Princess Dabba is working on her numbers and letters. So, she will be all the fingers on one hand olde, very soon. (this is becoming a more frequent topic of discussion as the date gets closer!) This is humorous to someone that it takes all the fingers and toes of at least two plus people to determine my age. So the volleyball is getting passed from one person to the next with a count, 1, 2,3.....

It was amazing to watch the creation process in motion. The IPOD was put down so the ball was tossed to another member of the family in the room. The magazine was lowered and hands extended to be another number. Even dad, put down his laptop to have a catch and throw. Game on..5,6, 7

Princess announces that we are playing Hand Soccer! Game invented, 8.

As the ball is passed the number of the pass is counted, outloud by the person working on their number. Oh! Sneaking in educationaly...9..10. Once the ball is successfully caught the count increases. Again, doesn't sound like a big deal, but this is being played in the house. There are six people moving this volleyball around the room in a huge circle within feet of and sometimes inches of breakables. There are also kids and parental units playing.

The speed of the ball picks up from one to another. The stance or sit, position, of the players begin to change. The order of the players moves some to move people away from the really breakable stuff. Then the creativity of the throw and catch starts.

Remember, if the ball drops the count starts over. There is also some feedback to the thrower and/or catcher, dropper, should things not go well or said throw or catch gets to close to valuable items. There is also recognition for speed, creativity of throw, and catch.

We have a new game. Hand Soccer named by our youngest player.

This event has been played every night in the living room, I mean, game area, since Tuesday with increased speed, and catch. Our current record is 100 times to all of us without a drop. We have reached the milestone twice.

We did have one forced discontinuation of play when the dozing parental unit, Me, was suddenly awaken by the sound of a loud crash, and the ceiling fan banging. Game over for the night.

Friday night was an off night due to social events, dinner, and people just being worn out. But you can bet sometime today,or this evening, there will be a Hand Soccer event in an area close to breakables.

We will have to look up in the Guinness Book of World Records the record for straight catches without a broken item or injured person for Hand Soccer. My mother would be so proud.

Note: We believe the breakables are key to heighten the sense of attention. This helps to keep me focused. Outside it just falls to the ground. In the house, you never know what you are going to get. (Sorry Forrest) So far only a minor ceiling fan bump and a couple of table pictures moved slightly. There was one rug burn...but that should heal nicely.

Team sponsorships, marketing deals, agents, video games to follow!