September was another sport filled month for the Heflin kids. That meant a lot of time spent at the ball parks after work and virtual learning classes.
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| We played our second round game of the t-ball tournament. Unfortunately we had to play the top ranked team in the league. Landon actually hit his first ever home run! I could not have been more proud. He even played great at second base and got a few kids out. Brinley actually got the home run on video, but it is broken in two videos. Landon had hit a double but the outfielder over threw the second baseman so he got to keep running and he made it home safe. T-ball was a lot of fun this year and I am so glad that we were able to get to play. Landon became a much better player and really helped him get ready for coach pitch. |
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| The kid's school had a scavenger hunt for all the kids in the community. The kids were excited to find it from just the first clue that they gave out. |
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| We have never had the best of luck with growing pumpkins at home. This year our vines started to die and we were left with only this little pumpkin. Too bad that it was ready at the beginning of September. It was only 2 months early. Last time I planted pumpkins they were ready in July. So, I guess I am getting closer to the right time. |
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| Landon had started soccer and when we went to his practice Brinley got upset that she wasn't playing. I luckily was able to get Brinley onto a team and even better her practice is on the same night as Landon's. We started having our own practices, at both the fields and in our backyard. If I am going to do something I am going all out, which is what I am trying to teach the kids. You have to give all your effort in anything that you do. |
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| After practicing soccer we also started working on our coach pitch batting. The kids both said that they were interested in playing fall ball. Again we have to get to work! |
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| The kids had to get up early one Saturday morning because I had to take the car in to get the oil changed. I stopped by to get the kids a little donut treat for being good sports which made them happy! |
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| Randomly but I was so impressed to find this 6 frosted mini wheat family. I don't know why I thought it was so cool, but I had to take a picture. |
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| Uncle McKinley came to town to celebrate with his girlfriend Taylor so we had to go over and see them too. The kids were happy to meet her cat Lexi. Uncle McKinley was happy to try out the kids Nintendo Switch. |
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| I have been getting up early and walking or running around the neighborhood. A new friend has started to appear around in the early mornings, a little fox. I have seen him about 5 times now. Thankfully the fox runs away as soon as it spots me. |
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| September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is only fitting that it is also the month where we celebrate pediatric oncology nurses too. We were given masks at work and I decided to make some cookies for my co-workers. It was my first time working with royal icing so I thought it turned out pretty good for a first time attempt. The top right corner picture is some of the cookies that the kids did, except for the football helmet with the cat paw (I did that one too). |
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| Brinley's first soccer game was an early game and the fog was thick. The Cyberrays are a very inexperienced team. Only 3 of the girls have ever played soccer before. It was very difficult for them to get the ball across mid-field, which made the game very difficult to watch. Brinley said that she had fun. She actually took the ball all the way up the field twice. I was very proud of her. |
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| Brinley loves animals, especially bunnies. I personally am not a animal person at all, but an opportunity came about with a co-worker who just so happened to have a bunny that she was having to give up. It was a perfect scenario for us and I knew that Brinley would be completely ecstatic about having her very first pet. We set up a date for my friend to bring to bring the bunny to the house. We met Sydney out in the driveway where Brinley first met Biscuit. The kids didn't believe me when I told them that they got to keep him. Brinley had the biggest smile when she was holding her first pet! |
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| With virtual school Landon has to fill out this form every day to show the teacher what emotion he is feeling. We had planned a weekend trip to go down and see my brother in Nashville. This made Landon very happy because he knew that we would play lots of board games. |
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| Uncle McKinley took us out to try a new spot called Biscuit Love. The top left was my lunch - a hot chicken breast with gravy biscuit. It was good, but it is really weird to eat a square biscuit. We also tried out another spot that he wanted to try called Peace Love & Little Donuts. They were all very uniquely flavored donuts. We had fun playing board games and just enjoying some time together. The only people missing were the Columbus crew and Taylor. Hopefully we will all be able to get together soon. |
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| We also took Uncle McKinley to our favorite spot of the quarantine, Top Golf. We had the summer pass so we got another opportunity to get a couple hours of hitting some golf balls for basically free since we have gone so much. The kids really enjoy it. Hopefully I can get them to go play a real round of golf with me now that they have gotten better with hitting golf balls. |
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| As with becoming pet parents also comes the joys of taking care of the animals. Jennifer has fallen mostly into taking care of the everyday up keep of Biscuit. Brinley spends most of her day holding the little guy. |
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| Another Saturday can only mean one thing, soccer time in the Bluegrass! Both kids are working really hard. Brinley's team is relatively inexperienced and they struggle to even get the ball across mid field most of the game. Landon's team all played together last year and he is the new guy on the team. He is working hard on finding his place on the team. Both kids struggle with being aggressive during the games and don't try to go after the ball. It is such a struggle because minutes after the game they are fighting in the car about which kid gets to sit in which seat in the car. If they only used half of their aggression towards each other out on the field then I would be happy! |
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A local church was donating milk to all the kids in the area. You could come by and pick up a half gallon for each kid and they also gave you some cookies too! The kids were happy for some cookies and milk never lasts long at our house.
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| Biscuit has been a major success with Brinley. This little rabbit brings her so much joy and happiness. She tries to hold him all the time. At this rate he is going to be huge because Brinley doesn't even let him walk around much so he probably doesn't even get enough exercise. Landon had never picked him up before and he was too nervous to pick him up. So, Brinley picked him up and handed him to Landon. I am so happy to see the smile on Brinley when she is with her little rabbit. |
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| Grandma and Grandpa came up to see the kids play in a soccer game. We also were able to get in a game of Rook while they were here too. It turned out to be a pretty awesome day for some soccer. I haven't been able to get as many pictures of Brinley playing in the games because I have started to help as an assistant with her team. |
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| Landon has been slowly beginning to understand what he is trying to do during the soccer match. His team is no longer running around in a giant herd the entire game. Landon was so close to scoring his first goal in this bottom right picture, but he just couldn't get it in the goal. The kid on the ground in the red shirt is the other team's goalie so he just had to tap it in. Proud of him and his continual effort of trying to get better. |
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| Our first fall coach pitch baseball scrimmage was quite the experience. The kids were all still in t-ball mode. We had to ask multiple times for kids to stop playing in the dirt and to stand up in the outfield. I am helping out as an assistant coach again which my kids struggle with at times because I expect more from them compared to the other players on the team. Here Brinley is on first, which I coach while we are batting, and her cousin Thomas is playing on first. |
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| The thing I hate most about virtual learning is that the kids are stuck all day watching the computer screen and then when they have free time they want to watch TV or play video games. Well, they don't get enough movement and activity in their day. When I get home from work that is not the case. I found a dirt hill in the neighborhood where they are doing some construction work. I went out with the kids and we ran the hill a couple of times. Landon really liked it and wanted to do it more. I just wanted to wear the two of them out and get their legs a little stronger. |
September was filled with sports for the Heflin children and a surprise addition to our family in the form of a little bunny named Biscuit. In the middle of a global pandemic we have tried to look for the best in everything. As much as this time in our life is difficult and different than our normal it has been nice to spend more time with the ones that I love on a normal basis. None of us are guaranteed another day on this Earth. If tomorrow one of your loved ones was taken from you then another moment is all you would wish for. So, even when its difficult just enjoy being around your loved ones! Thanks for reading and God bless!
