A seven inning SHUT OUT!?!??! Tying goal with minutes to spare?!!? The LEAD in the Nutcracker?!?!?

Yup...that's right..."proud mama" coming at ya....

Connor Edward Wills, my very grown up teenager, pitched a seven inning shut-out last weekend!! He is playing 13U this fall and their games are seven innings. He had 87 pitches for the entire game...truly, he's my hero.

Jake Carey Wills, my very grown up TEN year old, is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field. He spends one half of the game in goal...I'm sure that comes as no surprise...goalies need to be FEARLESS! Last weekend, he played goalie the first half of the game. It was tied 1-1 at halftime. With only a few minutes to spare, Jake scored the tying goal, saving us from one in the L column!! He has an amazing left foot and definitely gives the goalie a workout!

Last, but never least, Kate Anastasi Wills, my very grown up baby tried out for the Nutcraker at her dance studio. She had to choreograph a number and perform it in front of the three dance teachers at her studio. She, Payton and one of Payton's friends made up a dance the day of the auditions...Kate got a letter in the mail a few days later stating that she had won the part of Clara...the part she wanted!! We are so excited for Kate and her upcoming December performance!

Other big news in the Wills' household?

Robert and Kim are coming in December!!!

We cannot wait to have them here, love on them, and spend time together!!

Speaking of family we love...last weekend one of the McGee cousins got married, so we spent time with extended family...Aunt Cora and George were in town for a week from Texas and we always love hanging out with them...because they stay with my parents, we got to see them quite a bit...what a treat!! And then on Saturday, all five of us were invited to the wedding and it was such a fun time...my cousin John and his wife, Barb, also traveled in from out of town...if only we all lived closer...we have such a good time every time we're together! Because my mom is one of six, I have fifteen first cousins and there are LOTS of cousins in Connor, Jake and Kate's generation, so we all had a great time! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the evening...

...oh yeah...one more thing...forgot to mention the newest member of our family...

Bernie got his first bath...Wills' style...this past weekend...

'til next time...

WHAT a weekend!!

Wanna take a guess what I'm doing in this picture?!?!

Read on and you'll find out!

I truly do not know where to begin...I guess I will just take you through it in order. We started off Saturday morning at Kate's first soccer game of the season...she had a great game! She scored a goal and was very aggressive! In the last quarter she played goalie...and I can truly say that having three brothers prepared her pretty darn well for this job...she wasn't planning on letting any soccer ball get past her....I will upload the video as soon as I get it from my sister...thank you, Lisa for filming!

Then we left there and went to Jake and Connor's basketball game. They are playing for BCWB in downtown Frederick. This league is the same league they played in this summer. And 5th-8th graders play on the same team...these are the only two seasons Jake and Connor will play together EVER...and we are all enjoying it. Their team, "The Average Joes" won 50 something to 12...they have a great team.

From there, Connor and Bob headed to the baseball field where Connor began his first of a double header, while Jake, Kate and I headed downtown to the "In the Streets" festival...where Kate and I participated in a "flash mob"...I have attended a few practices since this summer and I taught Kate the dance just this past week. About 60 people broke into dance unexpectedly in the middle of the streets of Frederick...take a look...

I am a HUGE "Glee" fan, so I LOVE the music...it was just SO much fun! I am hoping we do it again somewhere soon...now that a lot of people have seen it, they want to participate, too. The video is courtesy of Jake from his special perch...

Unfortunately I do not have good footage of Kate doing the dance because she was in the back of the crowd...but I have some other cute ones of her and her buddy, Emma!

Once that was over, Kate, Jake, Francis, Emma, and I headed to the end of the first baseball game. We stayed for both games. Connor's team played the same team twice and beat them both times...Connor pitched extremely well and had a line drive out to left field. It was a single, and then Logan hit a triple to bring Connor home. It was a very fun game!

Now, keep in mind, we left the house at 8:30 am and did not return until 7 pm...and we now own a DOG!!! However...we also have AWESOME neighbors who let him out a couple times Saturday and then we gave him tons of love upon our return!

So that's a day in the life...I know I'm blessed...but Lord, am I tired.

It's all worth it and...

it's all good...

'til next time...

Meet Bernie...

That's right...we are now dog owners...Lord, help me!

Bernie is 5 and 1/2 years old...he's part German Shepherd and part Chow and part Lab and part Akita...otherwise known as a mutt! He is very well trained and great with our kids. He was previously owned by one of the guys I teach with, and Bernie needed a new home. We've been "dog sitting" for a week and we all LOVE Bernie...so he's going to become the newest member of the Wills family. I was informed tonight by Kate that he needs to be in our Christmas picture...that girl is always planning...wonder where she gets that?!