First Day of School 2011

The first day of school went smoothly for the Stotts family!

As you can see we were all smiles!

Jacen is now a Freshman in High School.  He's playing football this year and is so athletic.

I had a story I meant to post a few weeks ago about our church softball game and never got around to it... so I"m posting it now so I don't ever forget that day!

Church softball is co-ed... and honestly, pretty competitive!  Our church plays just for fun, but it feels good to win on occasion to.  But we let everyone who wants to play have a turn at playing. 

We were down by 4 when the last inning started.  Jacen was playing catcher.  The entire game was very tight.  3 up, 3 down for both teams.  We were evenly matched and nothing was getting by either team.

Thanks to me, Jacen has developed a love for Mocha Java Chillers from Sonic.  This summer he was on a serious Sonic kick and the night of this game, he had Sonic the night before and for lunch earlier this day.

He walked by me and asked if we could have Sonic after the game... it's going on 10 PM already!

I told him if he caught a pop fly I would take him to Sonic for a Mocha Java Chiller. 

Well, 3 up and 3 down, but no pop fly's for Jacen.

I told him as they come in to bat that if he hit a home run I'd buy him a Mocha Java Chiller.

Jacen certainly has the potential to hit a home run.  Some of the bigger guys hit it to the fence.  I"m always in 'awe' of how hard some of the guys hit.  But remember tonight... both teams were catching everything.  A homerun was a long shot.

As he comes up to bat with 2 outs... a girl a year older than him on first.... I reminded him of our deal.  Jacen had told everyone in the dug out about it as well, so they were all cheering him on.

He gets up to the plate... totally laid back.  Acting like he's not even trying.  The first pitch.... (it's slow pitch... so it has that arch to it).... he upper cuts it and sends it sailing to the fence. 

And this kid can RUN!  Fast.  He was yelling at Beckah in front of him, "I'm not stopping!"  Poor girl!  Jacen was rounding 3rd before the other team had the ball picked up and was throwing it in!  Everyone was screaming and this momma was so proud!  He came over and gave me a high five through the fence.  It was so fabulous that I told him I was gonna buy him a MJC every night that week!

He just shrugged and acted like it was no big deal.  All a day in the life of being "Racin' Jacen"

Man I love this kid!  I can't wait to see what he does in football!

Jory is going into 3rd Grade.  He is so easy going and generally happy.  Not much gets him down.  Let him play outside and he's good to go!  It hasn't been easy on him getting booted out of the baby spot of the family. But he has taken it all in stride and most times is a really good big brother.  He has his moments of tormenting, but he was taught well by his big brothers.

This summer he has become quite brave on his 4 wheeler, figured out why his momma doesn't eat much meat, and was quite a little baseball/soccer star himself.  Oh, and most importantly... this summer he went forward at a Strength Team event on his own and asked Jesus into his heart.

He sure knows how to make a girl happy!

Jia began Kindergarten this year.  She has been such a joy to have in our lives.  She is so completely prissy and girly, but also independent.  The first day of school was no problem for her!  No hanging on my leg, no tears...

Today when I walked her to the door... her Elementary Principal, Elementary Counselor and the district Superintendent were all outside welcoming students as they entered.  When we walked up, her principal said "Oh I remember you from Preschool Graduation.  You want to be a doctor when you grow up!"

Yep, that our girl!

She is beginning dance next week and is growing up too quickly!

We love her so much and can't imagine our lives without her.

This is the door into Jia's classroom.

I would say we're all off to a good start this year!  I pray it continues!