Houlka has hit the BIG TIME!!

Well, after I don't even know how many years (about 12 for me), Houlka finally has a football team!  It is the single most exciting thing that has happened in this community in years.  We have 2 teams--Varsity and Junior High.  We played our first "game" last Friday night against New Site.  They are a new team also, but I think at least some of their players had some junior high experience.  I can only think of ONE of our players that had ever even stepped foot onto a football field.  We are overflowing with inexperience.  But I tell you what--those guys played like they had been playing forever.  Sure they made some mistakes, but it was the most exciting thing I think I have ever witnessed!  It all started with a farewell parade when the fire trucks and police cars, cheerleaders, and supporting fans all came out to the field house to watch them leave.  We left behind the bus and all along the highway going out of town, people were parked in their driveways and sitting in their yards waving and chanting with the cheerleaders.  Everyone of those guys had incredible smiles on their faces the entire time.  And they definitely proved themselves worthy of a team by their actions on the field.  Of course they have a lot to learn.  But I promise, in a few years, the sports gurus around here are going to wonder where this incredible group of athletes came from!  I promise to get some pictures and videos up and running.  If any of you get a chance to come see history in the making, our jr. high team plays Tuesday night (depending on Gustav) at Houston, then the Varsity team plays Friday, the 5th at Tupelo Christian Prep @ 7:30.  Looks like we're gonna need some hefty ponchos, but I'm ready!  Hope everyone has a great LONG weekend!

Birthdays & First Days of School

Whew!!  It has been a busy few weeks.  Things never really slow down around here, but since a week before school started, we have been in high gear!  Ethan's birthday was August 2nd, so we took a group of kids to Chuck E. Cheese a few days before.  It was one of the easiest birthday parties we've ever done.  Lauren made the cake (it was a 4-wheeler stuck in mud---one of the cutest she's ever done!) and we bought 1200 tokens for the kids to use.  We stayed most of the afternoon and they had a blast! 

 The next morning, we all had back-to-school hair appointments and then we went to Houlka so I could work in my room.  I changed rooms this year and the room I am in was more of a junk room last year so I had a LOT of cleaning to do.  Then Thursday, I was in Oxford all day at a workshop and we started school on Friday, the 1st.  Our students started on the 5th and it has been hectic since.  It usually takes me a few weeks to get back into the swing of things, but we're gradually easing back in to our school schedule.  The biggest difference this year is having two backpacks to check, two lunch boxes to fix, etc. It is a ton of work, but Jack absolutely LOVES school!  He asked on Friday if we had to go to school tomorrow.  When I told him that tomorrow was Saturday and we got to stay at home, he almost cried!  He comes in with something new to tell every day!  Ethan loves 1st grade, too.  I can't wait to see what he learns this year.  We have the best elementary teachers at Houlka and they do an amazing job with our kids.  

I have several pictures that I'll get on later.  We also had pictures made at Olan Mills on Saturday and they turned out to be some of the best pictures I have ever seen.  I can't wait to get them in!  I'll share those, too.  We have a pretty light weekend ahead so I plan on getting some much needed rest.  Hope everyone has a great night!