What a way to end fall break!

The kids and I headed out to my parents farm on Friday morning to spend the weekend. My nephew, Austin, was baptized on Saturday night, and we wanted to be there for that. I also wanted the kids to be able to get outside and just enjoy the great weather. We had a fun visit; we stopped by Kristi's shop for some yummy ice cream, Austin's baptism was great, and we even all went to Shoney's together afterwards for dinner. We were invited over to my nephew's house for dinner on Sunday evening. Before we left to go to Troy's, the kids had been riding in what Josh is calling a "cart" down the hill in front of the house. I had warned them to stay away from the sharp drop-off on one side of the yard. They listened pretty well, until I walked in the house! Soon Kyle was running in to tell me that Josh was hurt. I ran out the front door, and seeing Josh in the middle of the road, I have to admit that I did not have a very good "mommy moment". The first thought that went through my head was that he was joking. I even turned to Kyle and warned him that this had better not be a trick or else they would both be in big trouble. (Just a side note... both their father and their grandmother have, in their younger days, pulled similar stunts, so they definitely have the "mischief gene" in them!)

As it turned out, they were not kidding around. Josh had landed on his knee in the gravel road and cut his knee open. I knew as soon as I saw it that we were headed for the hospital. Josh was a trooper. This is his third go-around getting stitches, and he knew what was coming. He was not looking forward to the BIG needle that would inject the medicine to deaded the wound. He covered his eyes with one hand, and used his other hand to squeeze mine. I don't think the doctor waited long enough for it to work, though, because Josh said he felt both pain and pressure with every stitch. He got 5 stitches, and instructions that he was not to bend his knee at all until the stitches are out. That meant that any hopes he had of playing in the last football game of the season went flying out the window. He was a little disappointed with that news, and honestly, so was I. His coach told him that he could still be on the side-line during the game, so that was of some comfort to him.

The past couple of days of school have been pretty funny. He came down to see me in the office yesterday because his leg was hurting. I took him back to see the school nurse, and she checked him out for me. His knee looked fine, and she had some crutches that she is letting him borrow to help him get around. Several of the boys at school have told him that his crutches are "chick magnets" and he should take advantage of that. He is fast discovering, though, the drawback of crutches... they kill your armpits!

Here are some of the pictures for the weekend:

This is the kids outside eating their ice cream.

Kristi's family at Austin's baptism.

This is Josh's cart! He just couldn't tell his football coach that he was actually in a baby stroller!

Josh on his crutches... notice the faint green line below his shorts. That is his "cool" bandage.