Spring

Spring brings SO many activities...we STILL have soccer going on - (aka the sport that never ends) and now we have also added baseball.

 Jack's team is undefeated and he's LOVING playing machine pitch this year!

This picture is call "My Parents Won't Buy My Picture for $33 - So Mom Snapped This By a Tree...For FREE." Seriously. I need a time machine to go back, open a sports photography company in a HSE community and I'll be all set. Sorry, photogs - this mama ain't playing your game.

Spring also means approx. 3465 end of the year activities. Above was Jack's Author's Cafe. He wrote a book about Snakes. Not my favorite subject - but definitely my favorite author.

Nolan ended his 2's class on a FUN note...nothing like picking your nose in the class picture. This is SO Nolan. If you don't know him - this is just how he is... "Oh, you're going to take our picture? You want us to look cute? Hmmm - I'm not down with that. But I will stick my finger in my nostril for you."  Believe it or not - he's heading to PRESCHOOL next year! If I'm a bit obsessed with getting this kid potty trained - it's because I already have 26 of my 3 "free mornings"a week -  planned and he needs to get to school....

And then we have sweet Josephine. She ended her gymnastics career (perhaps permanently?!?) and is in the midst of her own soccer season. She is our free spirit - happy on the soccer field or picking flowers or painting a picture. In the above picture she was NOT happy that it started pouring rain as her game was starting. Dancing in the rain? YES. Playing soccer in the rain. No.

And today Josie celebrated the END OF PRESCHOOL with a picnic in the park. She had a super awesome, small class...and she LOVED everything about her school year. We are so lucky to send her off to such a fun and loving school.

I know I say I'll be a better blogger. But every time I sit down at my computer - I'm working and hoping to be done as fast as possible...because I'm probably late to a soccer practice.

Weekend Wrap

 If you need us on ANY Friday night from now until April - we'll be at soccer games. {insert eye roll} I love soccer and that Jack plays it, but I can think of about 45 others ways to spend a Friday night. Regardless - we are a soccer family...

 Josie and Nolan are good sports about giving up their movie night to watch Jack.

Saturday Tyson installed new light fixtures in our kitchen. He's handy. If you would like him to install some fixtures for you...no problem. It's just ONE year of college tuition. Let's just say - it was harder than it appeared and he will probably NEVER do it again.

Sunday we headed off to the BIG hill in Northville for some family sledding. Jack and Josie are seasoned pros...and Nolan decided it was one of his favorite things, too. Tyson was a good sport - hauling Nolan plus the sled up the giant hill a handful of times. Nolan screamed the WHOLE way down - in elation. I took him down the hill once, but I screamed in fear. Jack was being a daredevil - per usual - and smacked him face on the ground. He had a pretty nasty bloody nose...but definitely not his first, nor his last.

Sunday night we watched most of the Super Bowl game...Boo Brady. But the kids really enjoyed Lady Gaga's performance at half time. She killed it. Busy week ahead for us!

Soccer Mom

It's official. I'm a Soccer Mom. Jack is playing on the U7 Rush travel team this year. They travel around Metro Detroit playing other U7 teams. It's a big commitment - BUT he actually does LOVE it and it feeds his competitive nature. He's a pretty loud voice on the field (and from the sidelines). We've had to remind him to be more encouraging...but the kid HATES losing. Because of that - he's a pretty badass defender. Don't get me wrong...he also loves scoring. But his competitive nature makes him protective of the goal and coaches love kids who hate losing. He's aggressive and focused on the field. We've had fun watching him develop as a player. That being said - we will also continue baseball and possibly add basketball to his line-up. People can say what they want about kids being "over-scheduled" - I get it - but I also know that a BUSY kid stays out of trouble. We're keeping them busy.

And then there is Josephine.  She's playing on a U6 Rush Academy team this fall.  She practices once a week and plays a game every Saturday. She LOVES it and is really improving. The biggest positive for her is self-confidence. She is always following in Jack's footsteps - so having her moment to shine is really fun to watch. Here's a story from her first game:

Tyson took her to the field for the pre-game practice. Her coach (who is Jack's full-time coach) was on duty to coach the girls.  He asked is she wanted to be called Josephine, Josie, or a different name.  Tyson told him we call her Josie or Jojo. He was like "Great! I'll call her Jojo." So the ENTIRE game he's yelling "JOJO!" from the sidelines and she is totally oblivious that he's talking to her. Needless to say - we are switching her "soccer name" back to Josie for all future games.

Soccer Goals

Mid-June marked the end of Josie's 2nd soccer season. She played on Team Chile or as she said "GO TEAM CHILL-WE!" She must have picked up a lot from her older brother - because the girl is on a mission on the soccer field, beast-mode.

In her last game, with only a couple minutes left - she was working hard to get the ball in front of the goal so her teammates could score. She got the ball in scoring position...and a little boy kicked it away. Again, worked to get it to the goal - same boy (opposite team) kicked it away. Third time, gets it back toward the goal...the little boy comes up and Josie straight put him in a headlock and took him to the ground. She'd had enough of him. Obviously - I was SO embarrassed - but also SHOCKED. I called her off the field. Other parents were laughing, because, well, it was kind of funny...but just NOT when it's your child. I made her apologize to the boy and to his parents. His mom was very sweet and we shared a laugh together. Someday, when she's 17 and comes home talking about a cute boy named Ethan...I will be able to tell her she once took him to the ground in a headlock on a soccer field. Something tells me that this story - in 13 years - will still be 100% Josie.

Soccer Starlet

This weekend marks the end of the fall soccer season. Both Jack & Josie had a great season and played really well. They would both be best described as "aggressive minded" players. Last week Josie scored a goal and then turned around and yelled "IN YO FACE!" - it was a moment in parenting when you want to crawl under a rock...but it's also slightly humorous. Slightly. We DID have a long talk about sportsmanship. But you can't say she isn't driven to win.

Jack will move right into Fall Indoor. So soccer season continues...

Welcome Fall.

The skeletons have arrived in Downtown Northville. We haven't walked around to say HI to them yet - that will come...but we did snap a quick picture by Edgar Allan Poe for Uncle Devin.

Fall also means it's soccer season and we spend a few hours every weekend OUTSIDE watching kids kick a ball into a goal. Good thing they are both good at scoring goals. Nolan doesn't care. A few weekends ago - he weighed in on his attendance requirements: Nope. At least we haven't had to break out the snow pants. Yet.

Soccer Star{let}

We rushed back to Northville on Sunday to watch Josie play her FIRST soccer game. She was PUMPED. This summer I was ready to take her to ballet...and on the day of her first class - she threw a major fit. Wouldn't go. She told me "NO! I don't want to do ballet - I just want to play soccer." I was a little shocked...mainly because she's such a girlie girl, but I didn't push it. (Honestly - I may have been secretly happy about it.)

So Sunday she laced up and went out on the field like she owned it. And she sort of did. The girl has some serious determination. She scored 3 goals. And after the game - Jack asked her who won. I was about to tell him they don't keep score...but Josie piped up "My team won. We had 7 and they had 1." We call her "mini-Nancy"...who, once upon a time, got A LOT of penalties playing field hockey.

Soccer Season Wrap Up

Blogging has taken a backseat to pregnancy...which is sad. My apologies. Between heartburn, leg cramps, and some pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions...plus two kids and my Etsy shop...this mama is reaching her limit. If I make it to August, it will be a minor miracle.

My parents came a couple weekends ago for Jack's last soccer game. They brought these donuts with them...they're called Rise n Roll donuts. The are AMAZING. You can trust me, I know donuts. They literally melt in your mouth. My family refers to them as "crack." So, we may be under surveillance by the FBI... {NSA/FBI - again, just so we are clear, these donuts are addictive and unreal. I've never done crack - because Whitney told me it's whack... When I refer to "crack" it's either in reference to these donuts or my child's pants falling off}

 Moving on...Jack had his last soccer game and he was SO proud of his trophy. He had a great season and learned a lot about the game of soccer. He will play in a fall league starting in September.

Grandpa Jerry & Grandma Shirlee came for Jack's last game. He LOVES having an audience.

After soccer and the pool - we enjoyed lunch out in Northville, followed by ice cream.

Josie was just super pumped about her rainbow ice cream...because she's the girliest girlie girl I know.

Busy Saturday

Saturday morning was Jack's 2nd soccer game! We were all happy to have warmer temps this time around. Jack played well and had fun! {seriously, how awesome is the pink skirt on the soccer field?}

After soccer we decided to take an adventure with Grandma Nancy to a nearby farm. We got to see lots of animals!

Nancy made friends with a llama. They chatted. I still think she should have taken him home. Denny would love having a llama friend around.

Jack got into a "conversation" with a hen & a rooster. It was hilarious. The hen would cluck, the rooster would cock-a-doodle-doo, and Jack would talk to both of them.

After a nice lunch out in Northville, we treated ourselves to some Mother's Day ice cream. Definitely a fun, but busy day!

Bend it like Becker

Saturday was Jack's first soccer practice and game. He's on Team Argentina! Friday night he wasn't sure he wanted to play...despite MONTHS of prepping in the basement (thanks, winter).

We headed off to the fields for his 9am game. It was windy and chilly - but Jack's Fan Club persevered through the weather.

He was actually really good! He scored 3 or 4 goals and even PASSED the ball to a teammate for an assist! WooHoo! (I was actually more exited about the PASS than the goals!)

In the end, Team Argentina was victorious and more importantly - Jack had an AWESOME time! Here he is posing with his buddy Owen. Such clowns.

It was hard to tell who was more pumped - Tyson or Jack. I know we have MANY, MANY, MANY more years of soccer/baseball/sports in our future...but there is nothing like watching a bunch of 4 year olds play a game, give high fives, and walk off the field smiling (win or lose).

Holy Heat

We officially welcomed summer today…with 100 degree weather. HOT! We celebrated by visiting our friends in Tipton, Indiana! More on that later…

Tonight Jack had his FIRST Wee Bear soccer game. The Plex was {a wee bit} HOT - but Jack {and Tyson} did an excellent job! 

 Modeling his new "jersey"

Josephine is modeling her new headband & shades from her Great Aunt Kim. She's ready for the 4th of July. Annnnnd - at Jack's soccer game a lady walked by Josie and said "Oh.My.Goodness! Look at that chunky baby." Luckily Josie couldn't understand her…and I have thick skin. Back off, lady.

Wee Bear Soccer

A few weekends ago Grandpa Denny (over Spyros breakfast) announced that The Plex would be having Wee Bear Soccer for two year olds this summer. He believed Jack needed to participate. Tyson & I agreed, so we signed him up last week. Stay tuned for some updates on his future as a Wee Bear and his quest to be the next Ronaldo. I'm just hoping he doesn't get any red cards…