Box Tops and Playgrounds

This is the playground at the elementary school my children have attended for five years.

Shockingly much of the equipment came when they built the school - over 50 YEARS AGO!

Two years ago they removed the "merry-go-round", deeming it too dangerous. And last summer, someone burned the climbing turtle (?) so now we have a big gaping hole of nothing in the middle of the mulch.

My friend and I took over the collection of General Mills Box Tops for Education and Tyson Food labels this year and decided that whatever we collected would go to the purchase of new playground equipment. Unfortunately, none of my children will get to benefit, as this is Caeden's last year, but it will be nice to leave a legacy of having done something before we leave.

That's where we need help - we need LOTS and LOTS of labels. You may have a bunch of them in your cupboard and not even know it! We have asked the community for support and now I'm asking you too. The labels look like this - we need thousands and thousands.
Send them to:
Stadium Drive School
111 Stadium Drive,
Boardman, OH 44512
Attn: PTA Home, School & Community

I will keep you posted throughout the year as to our progress. Over the summer we collected 3,400 and that's without even pushing this initiative! Please help... :)

The One Game Season

How do you split yourself three ways when you have three children? You don't.

That is why I didn't see any of Jackson's flag football games this season, save for his last regular season game on Saturday. I was mostly at Cam's games and John would be with Jackson as his coach. And we would both miss some of Caeden's Saturday games but we could justify those as he was the only one who also played on Sunday's.

If you notice I'm using the past tense; that's because all the sports are finished (except for the Flag Football Pumpkin Bowl this weekend)

John had been sharing Jackson's exploits with me all season - how he was the best rusher in the league, how he could move up the field like no one else ; deaking left and right, how he carried the ball from his end zone all the way to the other end for a touchdown! I missed it all.

So on Saturday I took pictures - lots and lots of picture. My favorite are the following where he relentlessly pursued the quarterback.

For your viewing pleasure...Jackson (in yellow) and the one game season!

Unfinished Business

Cameron's football season is officially over.

The final game against our arch rival Austintown Fitch Falcons ended with the score 13 - 26. Three of our top players went down with injuries - including our quarterback. The Spartans were done like dinner.

Cam was on the field for every defensive play but was frustrated that the offense never played the right side - his side.

For us, there was still the hanging question as to whether he even wanted to play again next year. Neither of us ventured to ask but he provided the answer in this conversation:

Cam: I think I might go with some of the other guys to watch the varsity team tonight at Fitch (just on the other side of town).

Me: That might be nice as this may be the last time you guys are all together.

Cam: No it won't. We'll be together next year. Besides - I have unfinished business with Fitch...

Them there is fighting words! Spoken like a tried and true Spartan.

Changing Seasons

A friend of mine pointed out that my blog picture looked very summery (summery - it sounds right when you say it but not when you spell it...)

Anyway - change of seasons...change of photo...the autumn version of Sportsmum...