7QTs - Soccer, SwimJitsu, Shot

Linking up with Kelly and co... as I continue to be about 2 weeks behind the times 

---1---

Ms soccer season wrapped up with lot of success... 

I think she finished off with 6+ goals and we still owe her a trip to get ice cream!

A liked to hang with me but was always most interested in snack time 

Jibbe and Aunt Mary came to the rescue more than once to help corral kids

My fearless Assistant Coach / hang out at our goal to give the players a target

The goal scorer

My roll-around-in-the-grasser

---2---

Look at his hair?!?!?!?

I cannot believe we actually let it get that long / look like that. So weird looking back in retrospect. 

---3---

The weekend Lee was sick I took E and R to SwimJitsu...

More on that later?  Maybe... 

It was interesting to say the least. 

---4---

Sweet little C... 

My one and only resident thumbsucker... She so cute : ) She got quite the personality and can get super chatty when she realizes you aren't listening to her

Not a thumbsucker forever though because E already has an orthodontist referral?!?!? WOWZA... at age 7...  We'll see how that goes. At least that consult is FREE!

---5---

The weather has been beyond nice so we've had some time outside...

A likes to play with the weeds I've pulled

My shoeless little boy

These girls really do play quite well with each other

Twirling in the sun

---6---

Because I am such a nice mom I scheduled A's 2 yr check up the day after his birthday

He did okay with his shot but I still wanted to take him out for a treat anyways because I can and because C was with Lee so it was just us and because he's stinking cute. He kept on asking for KAY-K KAY-K so brownies was the closest topping I could find. 

Pretty sure he wasn't too disappointed

---7---

In other R randomness... 

This is how R wears her school headband... ALL THE TIME...

She had a pocket full of acorns from the playground and still more that didn't make it out until clothes were washed. 

Told you (about the headband)

It happened to be a little chilly at one of R's tee ball games so she ran home with her arms in her shirt and I was quite convinced she was going to fall flat on her face and not have her arms out to catch herself!

We're Going to Ride Bikes in the Morning

A few weeks ago our neighbors moved. Like the ones I have raved about because we live in a great neighborhood with awesome neighbors who take A to visit their chickens and then inside for snacks and dinner, who take the big girls to the pool just because, who come over and hang out and chat about all things life.

Ever since there was an inkling of a possibility of them moving I shoved it to the back of my head and didn't want to think about it because well who wants to think about stuff like that.

Well the move became a reality and it really made sense for them.

I cried. I cried alot and have cried more over them moving then I ever could have imagined.

Growing up none of my good friends moved. And when I went to college everyone was moving and going in a million directions so it didn't seem weird or sad - it was normal.

Now I am a creature of habit and I despise change. If everyone could stay put exactly where they are and if I could move a few friends into Rocky Top my circle of neighbors and friends would be over the top amazing. But that's not going to happen.

But that all changed.

I distinctly remember the first time we saw our neighbors when they moved into their house just 3 short years ago. Lee and I were out on the porch one July evening, drinking wine and chatting as we watched this massive truck pull up to the house with the realtor. We sat and wondered amongst ourselves who were these people? and what were they like? and please please please LET THEM HAVE KIDS! (the girl pickings were pretty slim at the time and we still love out neighbors up the street - you know who you are if you are reading this and PLEASE don't ever move because M would be lost without AB)

Well as it turns out our new across the street neighbors did have kids - 2 in fact. A boy to play with the up the street neighbors and a girl to play with our girls. Quickly the girls became great friends and I used to joke that I had five kids (when I had four) and six kids (when I had five) because their friend 'lived at our house'. Probably because my girls have an unhealthy fear of dogs. But also when I grew up, I used to 'live' over at my best friend's house and I was affectionately known at the fourth child. Our girls played for hours together whether it was Barbies or Legos or family or dress up or whatever; it didn't matter as long as they were together. They had a ball swimming at the pool and tons of fun sledding in the snow. One night this past summer I let E ride up the big hill on her bike with her friend - kind of a big deal because she can't go past the stop sign. But that Sunday night they rode until it was dark. The next morning they were out riding again by 8.

Not more than a few weeks after that night the move became a reality. E didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to think about it. Unfortunately that didn't stop the moving truck from coming. We had dinner a few more times together and lots and lots of playing. The afternoon before their departure E stayed home from M's soccer practice so they could play as long as humanly possible. When I got home I asked if she said bye to her friend. She said as a very matter-a-factly, "No, we're going to ride bikes in the morning".

Never mind that tomorrow was a school day.

Never mind that the bikes were loaded in the moving van.

Never mind it all because saying good-bye stinks.

Let's just relive the best moment of the summer one last time.

The next morning came without a bike ride. We said goodbye before school that day because they'd be leaving mid-morning.

IT WAS SO HARD.

Fortunately we were on our normal time crunch so there wasn't lingering with stories and tears.

When the preschoolers and I got back home for lunch they were still there! My heart was saying "Oh thank goodness, they've changed their minds and decided to stay". My mind knew better. If you've ever moved you know cleaning always takes way longer than you anticipate. M had one last lunch with her friend and then it was really time for them to load up. Our up the street neighbors came down for ONE LAST GOODBYE.

The last walk home

I was sitting on the front porch feeding C and M dutifully waved them off. And then that was it. They moved and we will forever miss them.

7QTs - Another week late

Linking up with Kelly and co... 

---1---

Last Friday (actually 2 Fridays ago)  R came home with the class pet

FIDGET!

Fidget has taken up residence here on several occasions. A few short weekend stints when E was in K and then somehow E was named (or self-named) Fidget summer vacation keeper so he's hung out here the past two summers. 

Fidget had a grand time complete with getting rubbed in purple chalk and rolling around in the mulch. All was documented in his journal complete with drawings and black and white pics - but R colored Fidget brown in the pics?!?!?!? because he's definitely brown. 

---2---

The moment

You realize... 

Your mother...

Is a terrible person because she is dutifully washing Ninis. 

---3---

E had a swim meet on Saturday and M wasn't sick so we went

There was lots of snacks involved

C hung out in the stroller on Saturday and helped me be a timer in the Beco on Sunday while the 3 middle kids stayed with Jibbe and Lee tended to deacon duties here in the Mount. 

Can't you tell this is E? She did well for her first meet of the year round season. Times in 25s didn't improve vastly nor did that pesky IM count because breaststroke kick BUT she's determined. 

With my mind on my cup and my cup on my mind... 

We shot over to do some grocery shopping right after the meet without too much ado. But somehow I always get conned into getting some cereal they want - this week it was baby pillows AKA Mini Frosted Mini-wheats - there's a difference. 

---4---

M had a soccer game Monday

Which did not end well but I have a really low bar set. E has been the assistant coach this year 

A is all about the NAK-NAK-NAK and crushed his up on the ride home

---5---

The weather has been beyond nice so we've had some time outside...

A likes to play with the weeds I've pulled

My shoeless little boy

These girls really do play quite well with each other

Twirling in the sun

---6---

School news: 

R brought her zebra for blessing of the pets at school. It is probably E's least favorite morning of school because there's a bunch of dogs and this year it was a full house 

This came home from school last week.... and even E looked at it and said, "Hey we don't have a cat." Also I don't know if M has actually watched an episode of Paw Patrol. 

Rewriting biblical history on the way to school: 

M - Mama, did you know Adam and Eve disobeyed God?

Me - Yes they did

M - Adam and Eve ate from the sycamore tree and disobeyed God

Me - Oh yeah

M - YES!

---7---

Last Friday (the one that started with Papa in the ER), the kids and I vacated for the afternoon to keep it quiet so where better else to go than swim practice: 

A tried unsuccessfully to scale the rock wall and was a screaming WRECK leaving - he was twisting and turning and laying down on the floor because he wasn't getting what he wanted. It was great, let me tell you. 

Let me tell you what else is great... Mom hearing you unbuckle your seatbelt before the van is parked. Know what that will earn you, a ticket out of the van to walk home. Of course E thought I was joking at first and then she thought it was fun but they when we passed her turning onto our street she was really annoyed. 

That night I baked them take and bake cookies for dessert... and then I got a few more batches at the store the next day

The Birthday Boy

Here's to the freshly crowned TWO year old!

Getting this balloon was no small feat, but I knew you'd love it. I'me guessing you will be popping it soon. 

I made banana chocolate chip muffins for breakfast because you can't quite tell me what you want yet but I know you love NANAS!!!!!!!!! so I ran with it. 

And they were a hit. With everyone

You and M could be two peas in a pod but she is way more independent than you, so you are often left in her dust

You adore C and love to lay on top of her while she's in the bouncy seat but thankfully it gives with you

And E who you happen to drive totally crazy sometimes because you get into her stuff

R is the most likely to go outside with you if I tell her you want to play outside (which is just about every waking moment of the day) 

On any given day...

You love to accessorize. If you see your sisters with a coat or umbrella, you want one too - though you are very frustrated by zippers. You also have a knack for finding hair bands and bracelets and commandeering them until your sisters figure out you have their stuff. 

You LOVE to be outside. Getting into stuff. I probably should have bought a broom for your birthday because you enjoy dragging one around the garage. You have dared to get on the bigger tricycle but your little legs can't quite reach the pedals. But I bet you are going to be a daredevil on it once you can work it. You have come to know the word - ANTS - and have started to be more cautious around ant hills due to your run ins with lots of ant hills. I think if I could get a fenced dog run for you and you could see into the house (to see me) you'd live outside with all your trucks and dirt. You also enjoy sitting on a (big kid) stand up swing and just swinging and passing the time. It's probably one of my favorite things to watch you do. 

You are not a great eater. I can count on you eating bananas, cheese sticks and grapes - anything else completely depends on your mood. I do have high hopes for you because I think once you can tell us what you would like you'll be a happier eater. We are just playing a guessing game at the moment. 

I decided to come to grips with your 2-year-old-dom by ripping of the bandaid and cutting your hair in the same day. 

You hopped right up into the chair but then I had to give you a lollipop (It might have been your first ever) so that you would sit still. 

You were mostly happy and totally drooled all over the drape thing - whatever those things are called 

And you left looking a million years older but no less cute than you started the day off, little boy. I think you might be a clone of your Uncle Kev. I hope you have an awesome year and I pray that it will be injury free because you scare me a lot with your fearlessness and I hope you'll always be my best snuggle-giver and just know you've stolen my heart in a way I never knew; I hate it when you cry for me and I take you to tee ball practice some nights not because I want to, but because I don't want you to cry when I leave - even though I know you are totally 'putting on' to get your way. 

All the best, little boy, you are taking us on quite a joy ride and we are all in for the wild ride.