It's Football Time in Tennessee!

Cole is in his third week of Brentwood Blaze Football.  Practices have been 5 nights a week from 5:45 - 8:15 or so.  BUT, despite the time commitment, Cole can't wait to get out there every single night!  The first two weeks were evaluations which are quite an undertaking given that there are over 600 players in the Blaze organization.  The draft was last weekend and he landed on the B Red 2 team with Coach Bulla!  This looks like it is going to be a great team and Cole is already showing great skills in leadership, effort and determination.  Within a short time, the coaches picked Cole to be the starting Center and he is showing great potential.

The boys have had a scrimmage against another 9-10 team for the past two nights and it has given them the opportunity to see how it feels to get some "hits" in.  They are a tough group of guys and are beginning to pull together as a team and put their playbook into action.  We are impressed with the organization and coaching staff and look forward to seeing the boys develop as a team.

The "Pep Rally" is tonight (complete with cheerleaders and a run-through-the-tunnel onto the field.)  The Jamboree Kick-Off Game (scrimmage) tomorrow afternoon is against the Franklin Cowboys.  This will be a great opportunity to see how they do against a real competitor!  We can't wait!

If you are interested in seeing additional pictures, I've created a Facebook page for the Brentwood Blaze B Red 2 team.  Feel free to "like" this page if you want to stay up-to-date on the season.  

Way to go, Blaze!

Water Break

Cole at Center

Coach Bulla and the line

The line is ready to put on the smack-down!

The boy on the right is Cummings...The Destroyer!

Is my boy growing up on me?

You don't know good until...

...you've had Jason McAfee's stuffed banana peppers.

Say WHAT?  Pure goodness!

I just had to do a mid-meal blog post about Jason's amazing stuffed hot peppers.  Sausage, onion, cream cheese...some other stuff he threw in...and a little magic and this is what he served me!

Topped it on a plate with raw sweet onion.

Mouth-Watering Morsels of Madness!

Foaming Hand Soap

We all love the foaming-style hand soap.  It is easy, smells great and the kids can tell when the foam is all washed off.

But, I have yet to find a large "refill" bottle of the foaming soap.  I hate to add to the landfills by not reusing these great dispensers (and, if they can be reused, why not try before recycling.)  So, I decided to try to use the regular soap refill in the "foaming pump" dispenser to see if it worked.  It does not work when full strength, but if you add 1/2 soap and 1/2 water - IT WORKS PERFECTLY!

I've tried several brands of the foaming pump dispensers to find that some work well and some simply don't.  My favorite is Tone.  Any of the Tone Foaming Hand Wash dispensers work great, don't stick, etc.  Take my word for it, just choose Tone.

After this discovery, I bought one Tone for each household sink. 

When the Tone dispenser ran out (within a week), I bought the cheapest bottle of store-brand regular refill handsoap (this one is Kroger brand but anything works.)  Fill the dispenser about 1/2 full with soap.  Fill the rest of it up with water.  Shake.  Pump.

This is a total money saver!  The big bottle of Kroger Hand Soap is about $1.75 while one single pump of Foaming Hand Soap can run over $3.  The refill lasts us about 3 months!  Big savings.

Got peppers?

Yesterday was another successful and fun day for the veggie stand.  The weather was yucky so we were in and out with thunder and lightning.  But, it was fun to share the beautiful vegetables with our friends and neighbors.

okra, serrano peppers, jalapeno peppers, hot banana peppers

tomatoes, habanero peppers, cowhorn peppers (?), green bell peppers, mild banana peppers

green bell peppers & mild banana peppers

piles o' peppers

A table of tomatoes

I believe these are cowhorn peppers but I'm not positive

Aimee Valiquette nabs a 'mater

Carse and Aimee shopped and visited with us!

High school friend, Sarah Huddleston MacIntyre stopped by with her three beautiful kids

Sarah's son, George, loves okra

And then the Brentwood Po-Po came by...

...but thankfully it was our buddy, Rob Thomas! 

2011 Swim Team Party and Banquet

The Seven Hills swim team season has come to a close.  But here are some great pics from the recent team party and banquet.  Way to go, Barracudas!  What a great season!

With the TENTH consecutive City Meet win, the Seven Hills hillside reads: 7HX (Seven Hills 10)

As not to break tradition, the kids fill it in!

Cooper off the high board

Coach Amy gives her celebration speech after winning both the City and League Championships

Coach Amy's Retirement Gift: a quilt with every team and city meet shirt from the past 15 years

Cooper and his buddy Quinn with Coach Garner

The victory dance

Ivy and sweet Sydney at the banquet

Cooper gets his City Meet medal: 3rd place in the boys' 6 & Under Freestyle Relay

Ivy and her "feather" she got at the team party.  The older girls thought she just HAD to have one!

Cooper and the 6 & Under boys at the team banquet

A retirement cake for Coaches Amy and Garner

Cooper and one of his favorite junior coaches, Rocky