Rams Hot dog day

Today was the annual Ram football hot dog day and scrimmage put on by the Booster club. We had hot dogs donated by our local "Johnny's Hot dogs", fruit and treats were donated by the parents. I dropped TJ at practice at 7:30am then headed to the concession stand to set up

The schedule went like this

Freshman A vs B at 9am- Lunch 10 am

Sophomore vs 1/2 JV at 10 -lunch at 11am

11am other 1/2 JV vs Varsity- lunch at noon

My TJ holding football awaiting start of game

After an almost 2 hr practice TJ's team was ready to start, no sooner do they huddle and a giant bolt of lightening cracks across the sky

All players must leave the field. We have to move all the stuff from the concession stand into the cafeteria at the other end of the campus

I have met more football players through my photography. This year TJ has been bombarded with "TJ is your mama going to take our pictures this year?" I did capture some incredible action shots last year. This year I am the official Sophomore photographer and have been cleared to hang on the sidelines....So exciting for me!

  

While the team was leaving the field I stood by the gate snapping away. These boys are not shy and love to pose

This is a shot of the concession stand and the freshman field behind it . Below is the varsity field and a radar picture that ended the game before it even started

  

My TJ ate 4....4 hotdogs plus chips, fruit and treats. He wasn't home an hour before he said "I'm hungry" 

It really was a fun day, I love being part of the booster club. It is a great way to meet the coaches and players. All the players call every mom "mom"....so cute!

Karrick trying on TJ's pads and helmet that have a combined weight of 11 lbs 1 oz

We have our 1st non-conference cross town (fun rival) game against Willowbrook on Friday 5pm. We feed the players a pasta dinner at 3pm donated by Roundheads...done before every home game. The village support is amazing...All bread is donated by Jimmy Johns and Gatorade by Caputo's  in addition to pasta from Roundheads

On a sad note,

One of the sophomore players mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer out of the blue  at the end of last football season. Sadly she lost her battle this week and in the true spirit of teamwork and family the entire Sophomore team will take the Ram bus to wake wearing their team jerseys after Monday's practice.

The support that the Rams have for each other is second to none!

I AM PROUD TO BE A RAM MOM!

Happy 15th Birthday to my first born child

 My 1st born son is 15........15!

Happy Birthday to an amazing boy!

 Karrick made a card all by himself and it is a winner!

"Happy Birthday TJ!!

"we Love you"

all the bugs are flocking to TJ

 "you change my life"

If that isn't the biggest compliment, I don't know what is. What 7 year old recognizes that?

"You made my life better" 

 

For TJ's birthday dinner we took him and Alexis to "The Capital Grille"

Did we really just double date with our son and his longtime girlfriend? Time needs to just slow down a bit. Im afraid if I blink he'll be in college.

this is actually the worlds cutest dress that has an amazing fit. It's a cream eyelet dress by Lily...just love it. I need a better pose of myself

all ready for school

Karrick got all his hair cut off...finally! I was done with the shaggy look and tell me

How much older does my baby look?

:(

survived week 1

 Tj officially survived week 1 of "2 a days" (Mon-Sat, 8am- 2 pm).   He wasn't real sore due to a prior 3 week conditioning camp , but was thoroughly exhausted at the end of each day.

A freshman player was taken off the field yesterday via Lombard Fire dept ambulance with a suspected broken leg. That is every mothers nightmare...I am terrified as it can be any one of our boys.

I do like football...never thought those words would pass my lips and can't wait for game one in 2 weeks. There is a renewed excitement in the air at GEHS. We have a new head football coach that is working hard to turn the Rams around (20 year losing streak). The Rams also have new football uniforms this year

Friday Night lights

I am now the Glenbard East Rams, Sophomore football teams official photographer.

 YAY ME!

TJ being a sophomore player, plays on Friday nights at 5:00 (as opposed to 11 am Sat. mornings freshman year) He also gets to play on the varsity field (varsity game follows at 7:30)...stands, lights...ahhhh!

I am still waiting for official clearance from the varsity head coach to be allowed on the sidelines during the games. Maybe I'll get a cool pass to wear around my neck.

It's my dream to be even closer to the pack of wolves, hungry giant grizzly bears that view the football as an appetizer and my TJ as the main course.

All kidding aside, I am thrilled to death! This, along with being Pleasant Lane's official yearbook photographer (karrick's school) I think i'll be pretty busy

whitewater WI, photography

 we are nestled in the Kettle Moraine State Forest so we are surrounded by beautiful nature

Whitewater Wisconsin ...part 1 "People"

 Well we headed north once again to spend 4 relaxing days up at the lake. Unfortunately TJ chose to stay home...his only free weekend as football officially begins on Wednesday . He was dearly missed, but it gave Tim and I time to just hang with Karrick and Callahan. Callahan has made some good friends that all have places with us at Bayside. We try to coordinate our visits together. Amazing childhood memories are being made as they swim, boat, tube, roast marshmallows on the bonfire and play Ghost in the Graveyard.

I took some of the most amazing photos! Today I will share the "people"  shots 

 Nate, in the red trunks is my Tim's best friends nephew. Tim and Tim Sheahan grew up in the same campers running around the same bonfire....it only seem fitting that the next generation of Sheahan's and Mcginty's follow in their footsteps. 

There are probably 12 trailers on the grounds all privately owned. The land is owned by Tim Sheahan's parents that are best friends with Mr and Mrs McGinty..my Tim's parents. Tim and Tim Sheahan went to school together since 3rd grade

We are on the 3rd generation

 Yes, they got me on the tube.

 Karrick was so sweet

"mommy, you just tell me what you want and I will do all the signs cause I am almost a professional tuber for my age ya know"

It was actually pretty fun and I'm sure the entire lake heard me screaming

 Best buds

 daddy and his little boy

 tubing at sunset just set the stage for some beautiful pictures

 friends

 My Tim

brothers