soccer, football and tomatoes

Stewing tomatoes

 

It is a  Dittenber family tradition to stew tomatoes in the fall.  Darren and his mom have been doing it for years.  This year our friend Tracy wanted to help so she could have the "secret" recipe for the salsa.  Pay attention to the nice apron Darren wears...he has worn this apron every year!!

Darren and Tracy working in the kitchen.

 This is Grandma Dittenber helping teach Blake.  Blake got to help, nothing like passing traditions on to the next generation.

This is a great picture of Colleen and Darren, the tomato and salsa "specialists."

Oops, it happened again.  At 12:30 last night we were toilet-papered again,  I was a nice mother and let Blake clean it up at 8:00 this morning.  :)  :)

Here he is cleaning it up.

Yesterday Ben had his football game.  They didn't win but had fun!!  Here is Darren having a little chat with the referees.

Here is Ben with an awesome block!! He was in the plays that we got two of our touchdowns!!! Ben is number 87.

Look at these boys heading off the field, pretty intimidating, huh??

My football player!!

Blake's game was on Thursday so I thought I'd add a few pictures of him.  They won.  Blake got 2 goals.  Cool!!

I will always be his biggest fan!

   I will always be ALL of my kids biggest fan!!

Sports, sports, sports

I just edited this post because I forgot to add the picture of the grandmas watching Blake. Here is Grandma Mapes,  Grandma Dittenber, Bree and a little friend, Ellie.

Hi Nora

Here are a few pictures of the boys at the sporting events.  As you know in America, sports are very important.  Sometimes too important.  

Here is Blake and some friends at the varsity soccer game last night against one of our biggest rivals, Nouvel Catholic Central.

This is Blake trying to score on the goal keeper, he didn't score here but did another time.

Here is Ben waiting for his coach to put him in.  He is Darren's shadow.  That's Darren standing right in front of Ben.  

We have more games this weekend so if I get a good shot I'll post it.

School started on Tuesday.  Today is Friday, it seems like this week was much longer than just a four day work week.  Maybe because we're getting back into a routine?!  I have to have two big calendars at my back door just so I know what everyone is doing.  I only have 3 kids, each involved in just one sport this fall (so far) and I can't keep up.  Already Darren and I had 3 places to be at the same time???  We are sooooo out numbered!!!  But, you know what, that's what keeps me going!

Nora , we have to keep working on Darren, he isn't convinced still that I should come for spring break.  He thinks we should all wait until next summer.  You know how he listens to you, honey.  You better write him a few emails!!  :)  :)  :)

Blake had a great game on Wed. night.  It rained so hard for a while but he still scored two goals.  I'm so proud of him.  He played the whole game.  I had two pictures of him to show you but one disappeared???  Of course it was the better picture.  I'm not going to try to fix it because this is the second time I've had to do this post.  For some reason safari "unexpectedly quit" on me.   Ooooo I wasn't happy!!

Tomorrow we also have 3 things going on.  Blake has a tournament, his game are at 12 and 3.  Ben's game is at noon,  and I support our Arts in the Park Day, it supports our community sports complex and that is from 12-7.  Oh, and I have to work until 12.  So.... I'll work, go to Ben's game and miss Blake's first game and then travel to his second game, and we'll see if I make it to the art fair.  It's all good!!  It will be a fun day!!

I hope tennis is going well and your studies.  You are a busy girl.  I know your mom and dad are busy as well!!  Be sure to tell everyone hi from us...and we send our love

Nashville

Hi Nora

OK....these pictures are NOT in the right order.  I have such a hard time knowing how they are going to come up.  I tried to edit it and it just didn't work.  And I'm tired. Augh-h-h-h-h!!!!

As you know Bree and I drove to Nashville, TN this weekend to see Amy race in Nationals.  It is a 10 hour drive from our house.  It wasn't too bad going but coming home it felt a lot longer.  Maybe because we had 2 full days in very hot, humid weather?!  I think it was between 95-100 degrees.  hot, hot, hot!!

  It was loads of fun. Amy's mom and dad were there along with Amy's sister, Beth and her niece Hannah.  and of course Ernie.  It was nice to see them all.  They all asked how you are and what you are doing.  I filled them in.

  By the way Amy is our National Champion!!!!!

Amy gave Bree a ride on her back up boat.  Bree said it was fun to go so fast!  She doesn't remember when I used to ride.   I don't even remember if she was ever on my boat?!  I think by the time she was old enough, we didn't ride so much anymore.

Ernie and someone else holding Amy at the start line.  They hold her up to start the engine and then hold her back until the race starts.  It's tough work, I think it's pretty hard on the hands.  Look at their faces, they are the best holders!!!!! You can see the rubber line the stay behind until it snaps, then they can go!!!!

Bree, Amy and me with Amy's trophies.  We are soo proud of you Amy!!!!  And happy we were able to see her race again!!  Amy is an incredible competitor and wonderful role model for Bree and other young girls.  She races her hardest no matter what the circumstances are and always smiles at the end, no matter what the outcome is!!  She never, ever gives up!!  I told you she was hauled off the course on the back board to the ambulance after an accident.  She got checked over and was out racing her next race!  I called her "crazy"  I guess it doesn't hurt to be a little bit crazy!!!

Bree is almost as tall as Amy is...tee hee

Ok, here is Bree and I at the Grand Ole Opry House.  These are so out of order, but I'll just explain them as they are.  We decided to buy tickets to see the Grand Ole Opry, Luke Byran and Darryl Worley were there, although, Bree was soo tired that she was falling asleep during the show, so we only stayed through half of it.  It was OK because I was tired too, we were on the road about 4AM that morning.

Here is Luke Bryan performing..I thought he was so cute??  Bree just shrugged her shoulders, what do you think??

Amy in a lot of water..how do you think anyone can see behind her...that's why she always in front!!  Isn't this a really cool picture.  I hope you can make it big!  I hope I can center it a little bit when I go to develop it.

Hannah and Bree holding up their signs to cheer Amy on!!

Here's Amy racing.  She took the outside track and the girl in green took the inside, Amy came out first,  YEAH!!!!  That white boat was smokin' fast...when it was running right.  The announcers just kept saying how fast Amy was...she was running the fastest times of the day!!

Bree and I ate at a restaurant in Nashville called Aquarium,  It was really cool, and the food wasn't bad either.  The Aquarium you see behind us had the most amazing fish in it.  It felt like Atlantis in the Bahamas, only smaller.  A diver went in to feed the fish while we were there which was very cool!  It had 8 sharks, 4 sting ray and a green eel ( I can't remember the name)and a guitar fish and tons of other beautiful little fish. 

The under side of a sting ray.

Bree imitating the pretty blue fish.  :)

The guitar fish and two sting rays

the green eel, he was cool looking, but he just stayed there the whole time we were in the restaurant.  Just opening and closing his mouth.

Of course this is only a few photos, but at least you can see what we were doing.  Darren and the boys went to the University of Michigan game on Saturday, Darren is the biggest fan!!  He came home disappointed.  I think they just took it easy the rest of the weekend.  We had Monday off work and school for Labor Day, it's a day we celebrate for the working people of America?!

The kids start school in the morning, they are excited, everyone had to get to bed a little early so they could get up and be happy!

It will be a good day!

Love you