Football

Yesterday we had two games.  Jack played at 10 and Thomas played at 5.  It was so cold at the 10 game I was covered from head to toe.  I looked like I was preparing for nuclear winter.  The kids even had on multiple layers under their pads.  Jack wore 2 under armor shirts and a t-shirt too. 
We had an injury to one of our better ball players.  He broke both bones in his wrist.  He had to have surgery and pins put in that day.  It was very sad.  We were wining by 2 points at that time.  Our kids really came together and worked  as a team to win that game.  The sad part about all this is the way the other team behaved.   You try to teach your kids good sportsmanship and general good Christian behavior and it is so difficult at times because you have to battle others that are supposed to be adults and role models for the kids.  After our player was hurt Jack came off the field almost in tears because he was so mad.  I could see him talking with his Dad on the field and Mark said you go tell them what he said.  I knew then someone had said something ugly on the field.   I had no idea who or how ugly it was.
While our player, with the broken wrist, was laying on the ground after the hit the other teams' coach stood over him and said, "Take that number 8".   That was what Jack heard and he was mad.  Now I ask you, what kind of example is that setting for his team?  Why would an adult say that to a child laying on his back screaming in pain?  Why?  None of our coaches would have done that and I can say that with complete certainty.  Our coaches would have been checking to see if he was ok.  Not taunting him.
I am saddened deeply by this display.

The Octagon House?

Went out to eat on our way to pick up pumpkins in Virgina.  While we were waiting on our food Mark and I were talking with the kids.  Thomas says, "Mom I really want to go to Washington, DC."  I asked him why he really wanted to go.  He replied, "I want to go see the Octagon House."   Jack pipes up and makes a comment thinking Thomas is really referring to the Pentagon.   Jack says, "it's the Pentagon not the Octagon."  Jack began laughing.  Thomas goes on to tell why he wants to see the Octagon house and explains what it is.  He said it was the most haunted place in Washington, DC.  Mark then takes out the trusty Blackberry and googles the Octagon house.  Mark begins, "the Octagon House located in Washington, DC is the most haunted place in Washington."  We all laugh of course because Thomas is correct.  He gives a big "SEE" to Jack and we laugh again. 
The Octagon House was built for the Tayloe family back in the 1800's.  The house was first used as a French Embassy and later in 1814 was used by President and Mrs. Dolley Madison as their Executive home after the British burned the White House.
Two of Tayloes' daughters are said to haunt the house as well as Dolley Madison.  They say at times you can smell lilacs.  That was Dolley Madisons' favorite flower.  The daughters both died in the house quarreling with their father over boys.  They both fell over the balcony of the spiral staircase.  One of the ghosts appears  a crumpled figure on the floor at the bottom of the staircase the other a light that goes up and down the staircase.
We found all of this information by Wikipedia.  Thomas had all of this information because he had  been reading about different things in history.  I am so glad my kids like to read.  If they didn't I might not learn anything cool.