Lauren's new adventure(s)

Lauren has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old.  This year Lauren decided to not play soccer but play a new sport...Lacrosse.  Over the summer we found a local league and had her attend a couple camps.  Once it was time to sign up for the fall league, either soccer or lacrosse, she had a hard time deciding which one to do.  She chose to try Lacrosse.  Her coaches are awesome and very positive (unlike her select soccer coaches).   So far, she's only played a couple of games but she is having fun and that is the most important part for me.

Division I College Coach Lellie  (on the left in pink) and Beth in black (on the right)

Lauren looks so huge compared to the other girl.

And of course, the boys come to the games.  We spend all the time on the playground and Mike and I take turns watching Lauren play.

Now that she is in 7th grade, the school sports have begun.  She tried out for volleyball and scored a spot on the B team.  There are three teams, A B and C.  It has been explained to me that C is for girls that need to work on some skills and A and B teams are evenly matched.  Lauren loves to play volleyball and is really excelling on her school team.  Just last week at a game she scored 15 consecutive points until she got benched to give the other team a chance to come back.  I wasn't at the game that night, but Mike was and gave me a blow by blow account via text messaging.

This is one of her 15 in a row serves

**and as a side note from my last blog post...Soccer with the boys is getting so much better. We had practice last night and we had 2 out of the 3 practice the entire practice; the third did about 30 minutes total but that is still an improvement.  We will see how Saturday's game goes....

Soccer season won't be over fast enough

We signed the boys up for soccer way back in the summer.  Yeah we had asked if they wanted to play, a couple said yes, one said no. But what do they know right?  We signed em up!  No multiple/sibling discount and 3 sets of shoes and shin guards bought!  Our friends, the Nunn's, wanted their daughter, who is the same age as the boys, to play on the boys team so we got that all set up once Mike volunteered as coach.

Pregame group pic

This is the best picture I could get

Kayla keeping the kids in line while on the sideline

The only picture with all three boys in there

Ian played, but was more interested in charming the crowd

Travis

The boys really have no interest in playing soccer. We can get Ian and Travis to do a little practicing, but there is no hope for Logan...he just plain refuses. Game days have gotten a little less stressful for Coach Mike and Asst Coach Lauren.  Luckily we have some cool parents that don't expect a lot out of "4 year old soccer."  The boys enjoyed playing blastball last spring and we will more than likely put them back in that league in the spring. 

A new school year

This year Lauren is a big 7th grader.  School started for her last week and it was filled with new schedules and volleyball tryouts!   Yes, she made the team.  There are three teams for 7th grade; A B C.  She made the B team and games begin tomorrow and go through the end of October.

Lauren is also starting Lacrosse practice this week. This is the first time since she was 4 years old that she is not playing soccer.  I'm proud of Ms. L for trying stepping out of her comfort zone and trying a new sport.

Today the boys started their final year of Mothers Day Out (aka Preschool).  It's hard to believe that next year they will be going to kindergarten.  Yes, I'm excited for them, excited that I won't be writing a "car payment" for preschool, but sad that my little boys are growing up. This is my last year of having them at home with me all day long ;-(

I need to find time to blog

Every night I come to the computer and sit down to do something.  Right now it's doing my volunteer job as a Board member with my local early childhood PTA.  When I'm not doing that I'm researching how to redo the playroom or scanning old photos of family members, or just browsing Pinterest.

I promise I have many blog posts ready - especially our recent trip to Michigan.  But I will leave you with some pics from our vacation.

 At the airport waiting to go in and depart

 All the kids hanging out in the hot tub

 Logan with a S'more

My brother Bob and Sonya on Brenda's boat!

I have plenty more to share - a bit bummed that I didn't get more pictures while I was home.

Till the next blog post.....

Look who's 4 years old!

Happy Birthday to Ian, Travis and Logan!

(courtesy of Jacqueline - DFW photographer)

We decided to have their birthday party at a park this year instead of the house! We had the usual suspects; Nana, Papa, Aunt Tiff, Uncle Justin, Ava, the Nunn's, and then we had some special guests from out of town, Karola and Greg Kling. Karola was at the hospital when Lauren and even when the boys were born!

 Here's sissy waiting for all the guests to arrive!

Ian

The Nunn's (KK, Kenzie, and Jonathan - not sure where Stacy was)

Logan pigging out on chips

Nana and Logan

Travis - apparently too busy to stop for a picture

Logan had a butterfly land on his table and he was fascinated by it.

My friend Karola and I

Just before we lit the candles to sing happy birthday

Opening gifts - Wow a nerf gun...three of them!

 Ian with his bug catcher

Travis with his (red) remote controlled car

Logan with his Bumblebee Transformer

After we got home and after the boys took a nap, we noticed a lot of activity outside the house.  I went outside and this is what I saw.  It's right across the street from us.  Everyone got out safely, including animals.

The boys hanging in the yard with our neighbor

All in all it was a pretty stress free day.  I didn't have to clean the house, but I did have to remember to pack up ALL of the party stuff to take to the park. I don't think I forgot anything ;-)  At this particular park, there were two play areas and a splash pad.  I didn't get any pictures of the kids playing on the equipment and all my kids were dry so I know they didn't visit the splash pad.  It was 96 degrees that day - I know I would have camped out at the splash pad.

Mom and Dad finally decided it was time for a "park" in the backyard.  Papa and Dad worked on hard on it for a couple of days.  I even built the climbing wall and Mike attached it to the structure! Oh I think I helped with the roof too.  The slide is missing since we had two left sides.  The company is sending us the correct part so it should be attached as soon as it gets here!  You would think that it would be quiet and peaceful with the park in the backyard??  Nah - they still fight and argue that someone is not sharing or they need help up or down from the swings/rocket rider.  I'm hopeful that once they master all the swings and such I can sit outside and listen to the giggling and observe some brotherly love.