I learned something this weekend. Sometimes the best celebrations and outings aren’t planned. Saturday was Chase’s 8th birthday. Between a busy day with two soccer games and dance and all I’ve been through this year, planning a party was the last thing I wanted to take on. That and I’m still nervous about gatherings even though Covid is ending and we would keep his party small. Even trying to gather all family members was going to be difficult so we didn’t plan anything.
The boys had soccer games in the late morning. Chase had a great game and got to take a penalty kick, just missing a goal when the goalie guessed right and made a great save. Shane had his best game yet, continuing to get more aggressive and confident. So far so good.
I didn’t realize my dad was planning to come over after the soccer games so it was a good time to have some of Chase’s soccer ball donut cake. Then my aunt and uncle stopped over to drop off Chase’s gift and play with the kids. Another unplanned visit that worked out perfectly.
Since Chase loves sports and is also very competitive I decided to have a sports skills contest in our backyard between him and Shane. I set up different skill games in soccer, basketball, baseball and football and the “winner” got $1 sports trophies I picked up from the party store. It worked out great with Chase and Shane each winning two games. And we also avoided too much fighting between the two. (Both are super competitive like me so this way more intense than it should have been!)
After dinner the kids decorated sports cookies from a kit I got. As it so fitting for Alice, she jumped right to the chase and just started eating her cookie without decorating it.
And then we ended the weekend going to a farm we had never been. I debated doing this but Chris and I realized we have so few weekend days without sports games, family events or activities that we should go do this together.
We had a great time and loved this farm. We didn’t even realize pumpkin picking was included! The farm was also having an event called “Saucetoberfest” where you could sample hot sauces from about 10 different vendors which were all very good. I thought your taste got more bland after chemo but I seemed to be the opposite and have a greater tolerance for hot sauce than I ever have!
The kids got to see emus up close, shoot corn out of a cannon and do a hay maze and hay ride. We all had a great time.
We wrapped up our outing with a trip to Sonic which was down the road from the farm. Even as adults, Chris and I love the slushes with nerds!
I usually have my weekend all planned out heading into it but this weekend, nothing was planned other than the boys soccer games and Reese’s dance class. Everything else was spontaneous but worked out perfectly. And I learned that sometimes unplanned parties and outings are the best…or at least they were for one weekend!
#momoffive #familyouting #fallfun #weekendsoccer #pumpkinpicking #saucetoberfest #hotsauce #schaeferfarms #sonicslushes #hayride #haymaze #emus #onetoughmother
