Soccer Shots

Lou, pumping the fist after a goal.

Benny in goal, Lou at halfback

Not sure what's going on here; they're too quick for my camera.

It seems like all the pictures I take at soccer games look the same, so these may be the only ones you see from this season.

This year started out rough. From practices it was easy to tell this team was young--mainly first graders, and the first time on a big field (read: lots of running). The first game was a disaster, as they all looked shell-shocked and not one goal was scored by the good guys, while the other team had quite a few balls make it into the net.

The second game and those thereafter have been much better. The boys are working together and although their passing game could use some work, it's been neat--and exciting--to watch. They haven't won every game, but they've played competitively and they are having so much fun. It's hilarious to see a goal score and the boys do chest bumps and pump their fists in the air. They deserve it. That's a lot of running around for only one goal!

A Fun Fall Weekend

The pictures are a little out of order (we went to the game on Sunday), but I didn't have the patience to rework the post. My apologies.

We have a collection of photos like this and I love them.

Our seats were in the bleachers, but this worked out just fine.

Once again this fall we went to Lake Lorelei and it was such a nice weekend for hanging out by the water. Too cool to sit outside the first night, we made up for it on Saturday by fishing, boating, and having a bonfire. Lou and Ben had a soccer game so Kevin and I left with them, but rushed back to get as much out of the lake as possible.

On Sunday was the boys first PSR class, so we had to leave right after breakfast. And later that day we went to Fan Appreciation Day down at the ballpark. After the game we celebrated Katie and Matt's engagement with dinner at my parents. An absolutely great (but busy) weekend!

We must have been having a great time at the lake--this is the only picture there that I took!

September Birthdays

My mom was just five days into being 22 when she gave birth to me, and although we are different astrological signs we get to share a birthday month. It's been nice to celebrate her special day with lunch and the kids while everyone else is at school or at work. She then returns the favor on my birthday.

This is the first year that Grandpa wasn't a part of the festivities. I was missing him a lot this year, although I don't think he even realized last year that it was Mom's birthday. We had a sign and balloons that we brought over, but it didn't click with him. I guess that should have been a sign that the days were short.

For my mom's birthday we had turkey salad and Busken's tea cookies for dessert (her favorite) and the kids had pirate/princess cupcakes. Mom got out the dress-ups for the girls to try out and Gracie tried it on, but it was Mere and Charlie who really got into it!

Sunday was the day before my birthday and Kevin and the kids surprised me with a special cake, my favorite ice cream, balloons and a great dinner! I am very blessed to have them all.

The Old West Festival

Last Saturday Louie and Benny had a soccer game way out on the east side of town. Friends of ours with sons on the team suggested that we go to the Old West Festival afterward because the field isn't far from it. Great idea!

We needed to wake the kids up earlier than usual to get them out the door because it's a good 35-40 minute drive and the team is supposed to be there before the game starts at 9am. The first couple of steps on our to-do list for the day were done when we get a call saying that the game was canceled because the field is under water.

It stinks because we all could have used some more sleep, but it ended up working for the best because we were able to get the kids there in time to be deputized by Dodge's sheriff. The festival has a permanent town built and the kids were impressed with all the buildings and the people in their costumes.

We first saw a cancan show which the kids did not like that much. Truth be told, the parents didn't like it too much. One by one we filtered out of the saloon. Some of the shows were canceled, including the horse shows, because of the soggy fields. But there was plenty for the kids to do and see, with their favorite being The Pickled Brothers show.

Erik and Travis juggled fire batons, swords, and some stick with spiky things on the end; ate fire multiple times and swallowed a sword at least three times; both took turns lying on a bed of nails and Travis had the largest man in the audience stand on his chest while doing so. Eric had the man jump up and down on the area below Travis's belt. This brought lots-o-laughs from our boys sitting front and center.

At high noon there was a shoot-out on Main St. I use "shoot-out" in the loosest terms possible. The men who put on the show were probably in their 70s and maybe they have been doing this for quite a while and at one time it was a really good show. However, when you leave the excitement of the Pickled Brothers show to see a shoot-out, what we got did not leave the kids wanting more. Eventually it got to the point where we had to slip away and go to a booth that sold wooden weapons. Each of the kids got a pistol and they were happy.

What happened a bit later was the highlight of the day for everyone, including those who we didn't even know. Our four kids, along with the five little ones we came with and a group of kids that just happened to be on Main St. with their weapons, started their own shoot-out. A couple of the kids acted as organizers, but it was so neat to see them make up their own teams and rules and they put on a show for all in attendance. No parents were telling them where to go or what to do; no fighting over who was being mean. It was just kids getting into the spirit of the old West and loving every minute of it.

Even my lil' Annie Oakley got into the spirit of things, although her gun sounded more like Han Solo's weapon than a cowgirl's (PEW!PEW!PEW!). We'll work on that.


*Feel free to share your spellings of a laser gun's sound.

My, Have the Tables Have Turned...

Today, on the way back from dropping Louie and Benny off at school, Charlie is flipping out because it is not a school day for him.

This is the same kid who pretty much cried every day right up until the Christmas break last year. The kid who Miss Sue had to peel off my leg to get him into the classroom.

One year makes quite a difference and Charlie is the happiest 4-year-old in preschool. He bounces out of bed in the morning. He thinks about what he's going to bring for show and tell for a whole week. He tells stories about his day for hours after he's home.

Charlie is making friends, making art, and showing us that he's more than who he was at 3-years-old. It's been a neat transformation to witness.

Zero Control

I have read that once a child leaves the womb, parents have zero control over what happens to him or her. With that in mind, I do not claim any influence over the fact that Meredith has been 98% successful today with potty training and has pooped without any ushering.

I can't figure it out. I rush Child #1, get less and less pushy with each kid on the start time of learning how to use the toilet on their own and...they teach themselves by Child #4. Amazing. The things I could write a book about...to myself, of course. There's no way that what worked for our house would work for anyone else, but then again whose to say that doing a hands-off approach would have done any good for Louie? The only thing it would have done is made me less crazy. I worried so much about him being potty trained for the sole reason he was two-years-old.

And I would be a fool to assume that the successes she's had today will be replicated tomorrow. I can dream, but I've learned that my job is to be the supporter and praiser. She is doing great and has just enough words in her vocabulary to call Daddy at work and tell him the good news!

Hooray for Candy!

A couple of weeks ago we bought Mere some Dora underwear and set out the little potty in the bathroom. She'd go, get candy, and then she pee her pants a few times.

Today she has gone multiple times, got multiple pieces of candy, and has not had one accident! In fact, I put her in a diaper after her bath because we'll be going out later and I didn't want to have her in underpants when we leave the house. She took off her diaper and then peed on the potty!

I'm not convinced that she is "potty trained" but I am convinced that for her, candy is a motivating factor!