7QT: A New Field, A New Cemetery, A New Show, and A New Addiction

Happy Friday!  The weather has been glorious lately, sunny and in the 50s...just perfect!  Linking up with Kelly for the last time :(

1)

Andrew had his first playoff game last night and it was the first home game played all season!  His high school built a turf field and (of course) it took longer than expected, so all fall athletes can just now start using it in post season games.  It sure does look nice though!  Amazing what a few million dollars can do.

There's Andrew walking towards the 35 yard line...

And a closeup of him playing in a different game :)

They won 8 to 2 last night so the soccer season continues!

2)

Maggie, Declan and Brendan all have their last soccer games tomorrow morning!  Maggie has started CYO basketball practices, and her volleyball clinic begins in a few weeks.  Andrew and Eamon and Declan start basketball at the end of November and I am here for it all.  Watching basketball and volleyball games is soooooo much better than watching soccer games :)  

Indoors and quick and high-scoring!  I don't know how you baseball moms survive ;)

Free Gabb Phones!!

 Gabb Phones are giving away 2500 free phones today!  

This is the same phone we bought for Maggie as it keeps her safe, with the ability to text and call and take photos but does not have the app store or internet.  It's the perfect first phone, and we are all still so happy with it.  Use this link to get your free phone, and when those run out, you can still get a phone or watch for only $49! 

2,500 FREE Phone

Giveaway on NOV 3

• 10 AM to Noon MDT – Single Parents
• Noon MT – All Parents (Until Gone)

50% Off Sale starts after giveaway. Use referral code MARTIN for sale.

No Tricks, Just Treats

A Halloween and All Saints Day Poem,

Starting at my little sister's lovely home.

Where candy numbers were guessed,

And donut races, kids' faces messed.

7QT: Hosting Teenagers, Santa Lists with Little Boys, and God Really Loves Me

Happy LAST Friday in October!!

1)

Laura Pearl wrote such nice things about me on her blog, and how she likes to check in on my Friday posts, which I typically never miss...and then I had a really busy week and didn't write a Friday post last week.  Whoops!  Laura raised five sons, and all (most?) of them met their wife on Catholic Match which is so cool and proof it can work!  She has a gazillion grandkids, and has been posting about teaching her granddaughters to sew, which makes me wish I could go back in time to being a little girl and learn from her.  She seems so patient and joyful about crafting with kids, something which with the good Lord has not blessed me.  Anyway, check her out :)

2)

One of the reasons I was so busy last week was that Andrew (age 17) was playing his last soccer game of the regular season at the public school right around the corner from our house.  He asked if his team could come over after for a snack and to hang out.  You see, Andrew was a freshman when the pandemic hit, and then was hybrid most of last year, and when you add in social distance rules and masks... we feel like we just don't know his friends the same way we knew JP's friends.  He always hangs out with them at their houses, believing (like all of my teen boys) that our house is not cool because we have lots of littles hanging around.  Ummmm, I think that's exactly what makes our house cool!  But also, I get it.  So when he asked to have his friends over, I was like "YES!!!" and then I suggested an outdoor cookout...and then we invited the families, because they would be at the game too... and then some JV players asked to come with Eamon... and in the end we had about 50 people over for lunch.  We set up tables in our driveway and the rest of the families sat in camping chairs on the other side and served burgers, hot dogs, brats and pulled pork plus sides and drinks and desserts and it ended up being such a great time!

Eamon is #24 and Andrew is behind him in the glasses

Andrew has been playing so well this year (proud mom) and was called out on the school's social media last week for stepping into the role of goalie, which he has never played, when the team's goalie and backup goalie were both injured.  I'm happy he was a great keeper, but glad he's normally a midfielder because those goalie gloves STANK!!!

7QT: Riding a Bike, a Fr. Mike Schmitz Sighting, and A Fake Yeti

 Happy Friday in October that still feels like summer, but I'm not complaining!  Linking up with Kelly for Seven Quick Takes :)

1)

I keep forgetting to write about Brendan's big milestone - he can ride a bike!  Right after he turned five, Phil decided to teach him and it took a few days of practice (honestly he was so shaky in the beginning that I thought he was too young) before he could do it on his own.  

Then each day was something new - he learned to brake, he learned how to start pedaling on his own without a push, he rode in circles, etc.  Now he is a crazy daredevil who likes to ride on ramps and perform tricks like lifting up his feet as he goes flying by or putting his feet up on the handlebars. 

 Being a boy mom means walking a fine line between forbidding all the potentially dangerous things and letting them live and learn, growing confident and independent.  Yikes!  This is why I have gray hairs!! 

Phil, This Week's Birthday Guy

Mr. Martin Family Moments turned 41 this week!  

His actual birthday was on Monday, but since Andrew had to work a double shift, and Eamon had a soccer game on Monday, we celebrated on Sunday night instead.

I saw this pie on a tv show and had to recreate it.  Coffee Heath Bar Caramel Ice Cream Pie.  Mmmmm, so easy and so good!  I'll make it for you if you come over :)