“My nails grow in really fast!”
“They also grow in dirty.”
“Mom, I need to make a list. A list of goals.”
“I don’t know if I want to be a piano teacher, or a puppet maker…”
“Mom! I wore this outfit to church last Sunday!”
Not All Created Equal
I have been buying strawberries at Costco because they are much cheaper there. The kids love them, but I would rather not eat them unless they were covered in chocolate. Well, the other day, Jeremy bought a box of strawberries from Haggen on the way to Michelle’s soccer game (she always has strawberries before her games). Well, this box was fresh delivered, hand picked from BoxxBerry farm right here in Whatcom County, and Oh Boy. I remember now why I liked strawberries! We used to pick them on Whidbey, but have not gotten out this season to do it. They are nothing like the Costco ones which come from I don’t know where. These ones were melt in your mouth sweetness, juicy, and heavenly. I think all I ate Saturday were strawberries. So if you don’t like strawberries, you haven’t really had really good ones. You should try them. I may need to go picking now that I have been reminded of how good they can be. I hope I am not too late!
Baker Blast Champs!
The first soccer tournament of the summer season has started off with a little more excitement than I would have liked. It was a nailbiter all the way through! My stomach was in knots! The girls lost their first game in what was the weirdest game I’ve ever seen. They took literally 30 shots, and only one would go in. The other team took 2 shots and both went in. We lost 2-1. The next two games were the same. Dominating the ball, taking tons of shots, nothing sinking, and we barely won both games 1-0 to finish first place going into the semi-finals!
Winning the ball, fancy footwork, tongue hanging out. She dominated the midfield.
Taking a free kick
More fancy footwork
This is a typical pic. Shoe lace untied, chasing down a ball between two girls a head taller.
I like this shot.
We won easily 2-0 in the semi-final game. Michelle had the opportunity to kick a penalty shot and she SCORED!
Michelle had the tournament of her life! She played so awesome, winning every ball, making great plays. The coach is having her do all the penalty kicks/free kicks. She is so tenacious. When all the girls were pooped out and falling apart, Michelle was still running around breaking up plays, saving things here and there. She got trampled on in a certain game, and the coach wouldn’t take her out. Coach tried to give her a rest during the finals, but after a couple minutes said, get back in there. She was so fun to watch!
Way to go Ranger girls! A good start to the summer season!
Families are Forever
We had the opportunity to get up at 5:00am Saturday morning to go to the temple. The three older ones participated in youth baptisms. Aidan came along for the ride and stayed with Jeremy. He was such a happy camper even though we dragged him out so early. It was a good session and a good spirit there. I was glad to be there for Michelle’s first time!
Can you tell which kid does NOT do well with little sleep?
I am grateful for the house of the Lord, and the peace I feel inside. I am glad to know that families can be together for eternity!
The drive home.
Batter Up!
Aidan played his very first baseball game the other night. He was so excited to get his cap and jersey. He had asked the coach the other night at practice if he could try the catcher position. I don’t think coach remembered how it all went down because he asked him to play catcher. If any of you know anything about little league and first grade baseball, you will understand exactly what I am talking about. The machine is pitching the ball at these little kids. Most of the time, the kids strike out, and the ball will hit the little catcher (or I call them the target practice) in the chest, in the face, in the head, in the hands (they learn to put their hands behind their backs real quick). Well, Aidan was braving hit after hit. The first couple hits in the face mask jolted him, then he braced himself for the rest of the hits. But two bounced in underneath where the jewels were and he was done catching! I felt so bad for him.
I love this hind shot. He can barely walk with all the gear on.
Most of the time, the ball would bounce off the home plate, Aidan never quite knew where that ball would go!
He should have worn a cup too! Poor guy!
Aidan struck out the first time at bat…a look at the footage explains why…his eyes were closed in every shot!!!!!
He managed a hit the second time around and here is the cutie rounding second base!
You have to admit, he’s pretty cute…even if he is wearing soccer cleats! He even scored a run for the team…and his nerd mom said in all her excitement, “Yeah you scored a goal!” HA! PS…Aidan got two hits (barely) and scored two runs his second game! YEAH!
Summer Vacation?
The first two days of summer vacation have been jampacked! Here’s a peak:
Monday:
8am: Aaron off to wrestling camp
9:40: Aidan swim lessons/Mimi deep water running (I know, I am a nerd!)
10:45: Search for the perfect birthday presents for friends’ upcoming party
1:00: Drop Aaron off at wrestling camp again/Run one mile around the track with Summer (did you ever think the day would come? We kept a comfortable pace for my foot!)
1:30-4:00: A hundred loads of laundry/make Aidan do lots of homework
4:30: Drive Michelle’s soccer carpool
6:00: Watch Aidan in his very first baseball game
8:00: Get home
Tuesday:
8am: Aaron off to wrestling camp
9am: Aidan piano lessons
9:30: Get tortured by Power Pump instructor–I am still a wuss!
11:00: Soccer manager duties
1:00: Drop Aaron off at wrestling camp again/Drive a friend to Seattle for a doc appointment
Meanwhile dad takes Michelle to lift weights, drops Summer off at friends for a run, brings Aaron, Michelle, and Summer back home. Crockpot dinner awaits.
I did sneak in a trip to PF Chang’s and made my friend eat with me. You can’t drive by it and not go in! Plus I didn’t want to sit in rush hour traffic! The traffic and my tummy were way better by the time we got going again. Plus I learned her whole life story, which made the time fly by.
Wednesday promises to be the busiest day of the week with two games, more wrestling, swim, a birthday party thrown in AND youth group! Then a soccer tournament, with a youth temple trip thrown in for the remainder of the week! At this rate, our summer will fly by! I can’t wait til things slow down a little so we can enjoy summer vacation.
PS…So far, so good–I may have planted too much for this little box…
Michelle’s Campout
Michelle had her birthday party. They all wanted to camp out in the tent in the backyard. It was the easiest party I’ve ever done. They had pizza, cake, presents, and then went out back and were even quiet….hm…
Happy 12th Michelle!
Baseball?
We are a soccer family. Whether Aidan wanted to or not. We love how the sport makes you run run run. Michelle and Aaron are great runners because of it. Soccer is pretty much year round in Whatcom County. Fall, then indoor in the Winter, then Spring. There’s no room for anything else. So…when Aidan’s friends’ (they are twins) mom asked if Aidan would be interested in baseball in the Summer, he said, “YEAH!” This is sure to be an entertaining season!
He was picking his nose as a grounder went whizzing by him…I am not exaggerating
Aidan is the weakest player on the team, but he managed to score two runs! Of course mom had to remind him to run when the batter hit the ball.
This was too precious…we need to practice our catching and throwing skills…a LOT!
Coach giving Aidan a few pointers. He happens to be one of Aidan’s best buds’ dad.
School’s Out!
For an end of year celebration, we took a quick two day trip to Cama Beach on Camano Island. This was so much fun. We stayed in a one room cabin right on the beach. The weather cooperated. The highlights were playing with crabs on the beach, eating lots of junk food, flying the kite, and having a yummy steak dinner to celebrate another great school year. We all agreed this trip was too short, we wanted to stay a couple more days, it was so peaceful and relaxing. Since we went midweek, it was very quiet and private. We definitely want to go back.
On the way there, we found this…
Our little cabin. It was totally cozy and old fashioned. Loved it.
We had a little down time for Five Crowns and Sequence
Maybe I was born for it, or maybe because I lived on one for ten years, but I love the island feel. I would consider retiring on one!
A nice sandy beach, Aidan could have stayed here all day. Everyone kept rushing him, next time, I am just taking him!
I love this view of the sky and water
Aidan wouldn’t touch this guy, he thought it would pinch…I wonder where he gets that from?
Aidan could have played with these critters all day.
The favorite was flying the kite
The kite pulled Aidan along, he even got a cut from it
Michelle up and running!
Are these colors awesome? No editing! It was so nice!
Contentment at its best. No matter where we were, he had a good time.
A little mishap…while playing tag. I took this before she noticed the blood and started to freak.
The sunset was amazing!
Why He’s Spoiled
We went to the mall the other night to get some food. Aidan ordered a Subway kids meal (strange in and of itself). The “toy” was a water bottle with lettered stickers so you could personalize your bottle with your name, etc.
Well, while we were eating, he was quietly and intently putting a bunch of stickers on his water bottle. I had no idea what he was up to, I thought he was just putting random letters all over his bottle. What would you personalize your bottle (for all the world to see) with if you were seven years of age? Off all the things he could have chosen, can you guess what Aidan chose to display on his?
In case you can’t read it, it says, “I love my mom“. Now you wonder why I spoil the guy? Can he stay seven forever?
