Spring soccer 2013 - Kitty

Kitty's team was a little frustrating to watch once again.  I'm not sure how much Kitty learned about how to play soccer throughout the year.  Unfortunately with volunteer coaches there are all different levels of expertise amongst them.  I think she enjoyed herself but she never really seemed to "get" the game to me.  After talking with her a little about it we decided to not sign her up again for this next year.  I think she has a lot of talent in other areas and I want to try and find something for her that she will really love.

Spring soccer 2013 - Luke

I had a lot of fun with Luke's team this spring season.  It was fun watching the players really come together and learn to play as a team by the end of the season.  We ended up losing our first two games of the season but then won or tied the rest of the games.  Our last 4 games were on Thursday evenings which actually worked out pretty well and I think because of that we had most of our players at each game.  I enjoyed co-coaching with another parent in the neighborhood and we plan on doing it again next year.

Kid talk

On our drive back home from visiting the state of Washington.
Luke: Are we in Idaho yet?
Me & DH:  No
Kay: Are we in America?

At lunchtime one day I had put some of my lunch down at one place at the table and then went to get something for one of the girls.  DH then sat down right next to my place and proceeded to spread out the newspaper so that I couldn't very easily sit there anymore.  When he noticed what he had done, this conversation took place.
DH:  Oops, I just kicked Mommy out of her chair.
Kay:  Did you just kick your wife?
MJ:  No, she kicked mommy.

DH was picking up a toy off of the floor and tossed it at MJ.
MJ:  Hey, you just hit me with that!
DH: Yes, I did.
MJ:  That wasn't very nice!

After our vacation I went out to the garden and saw that I finally had some ripe tomatoes.  MJ had followed me out there and said, "Holy mackerel! That's a huge tomato!"

When MJ and I got in the car to go somewhere.
MJ:  Hey Mom, could you please not buckle me?  I want to buckle me myself.

MJ:  Look, I have a cell phone in my pocket too!  (MJ had put a toy cell phone in her pocket and she was so proud of it!)

Spring soccer spectators

The girls having some fun on the playground during Luke's soccer games.  We tried to leave them home whenever we could because I couldn't keep an eye on them and coach Luke's team at the same time.

Yellow bird

This pretty yellow bird has been spotted several times around our house this summer.  DH was able to snap this picture of it through our kitchen window.  We usually just catch glimpses of it here and there as it is flying around the area.

Spring soccer 2013 - M&M

M&M had some good games and some bad games with her team.  Unfortunately her team was mostly girls with only 3 boys - one of which didn't come to many of the games and the other two were on the high school track team so they sometimes couldn't come either.  Some of the teams that they played against were really, really good and others were about on par with her team.  M&M got the chance to play forward in a lot of the games and was able to score several goals for her team.  Also towards the end of the season she played goalie in a couple of the games when their regular goalie didn't show.  She has played it before when she was on her all-girls team a few years ago but it has been a while.  At the high school level in our soccer league they play 6 vs 6 on a smaller field.  They focus a lot on passing and moving the ball down the field.  It was fun to watch their games when they weren't being crushed!  

We decided to not sign her up for next year.  The fall is crazy with marching band and then she is considering joining the track team for the spring season.  If she decides not to try track then we may sign her up for spring soccer.  We will have to wait and see what she decides to do and how time demanding her classes are next  year.

Beautiful rainbow!

Wednesday, May 29

There was a beautiful double rainbow on the evening of May 29th!  I was on my way home from YW when it started raining.  After a few minutes I looked outside and saw this beautiful rainbow - it was huge!  DH took a couple of pictures with his DSLR camera and then stitched them together to come up with this picture:

End of School Year 2012-2013

M&M's last day of school was Wednesday, June 5.  The other kids ended on Friday, June 7.  Tuesday the 4th was Lagoon Day for the 9th graders so M&M and a bunch of classmates took some school buses up there and spent the day.  This was M&M's first time at Lagoon.  I'm glad she had some friends that went with her.  Then didn't go to school on Wednesday because no one was planning on going - at least none of her friends...  It actually worked out nicely for me though because I was able to leave her at home with Kay and MJ so I could help out with field day for the kids and attend the other end of the year programs.  M&M ended up getting all A's every year in middle school with just one A- in Spanish her last quarter!

Blondie's class didn't do an awards program.  The teacher just gave out awards during class time.  I was able to get a picture of Blondie with her teacher though.  This was our third time with Mr. R.

Kitty's class did a Reader's Theater and then gave out some awards.  Kitty was a little upset with the program because she wanted a bigger speaking part in her group's play...  I may have to get her involved in some sort of theater or musical group...

Luke's class had a talent show and awards program.  Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of Luke with his teacher...  He was supposed to wait at school for me at the end of the last day so I could take a picture, but I was running a little late and he left right after to walk home with a friend.  He is definitely excited to be leaving elementary school!  Although Luke's teacher absolutely loved him and would like to keep him around for a few more years.

Country Fest Parade

Saturday, June 15

M&M's marching band participates in a parade that our city holds each spring.  Last year we were out of town for it, but this year M&M was able to march for it.  Unfortunately they were towards the beginning of the parade and we had a prior commitment that morning and were not able to get there in time to see the band.  Maybe next year!

Kid talk

Not too long ago we were over at my parents' house and apparently there was a spider that MJ found in their basement while she was playing with some toys.  After that MJ kept walking around talking about the spider:  "It was so, so super nasty."

I took Kay downstairs in our house to talk to her dad about something - he was in his office in the basement.  After we were done with that we were walking back up the steps and Kay said, "Phew! We're still alive!"

While we were shooting off some fireworks the day before Independence Day.
Kay: "That last one was my favorite!"  (It was an aerial.)

One day at the dinner table I was trying to get Kay to finish up her rice.  MJ had already left the table but she overheard me talking to Kay so she decided to come back and participate in the conversation.
MJ:  "Does Kay not want to eat her rice?"
Me:  "You're a busybody."
MJ:  "Why thank you."

MJ and Kay were supposed to be going to bed but instead they were apparently fighting over some ponies upstairs.
Kay: I'm never letting you play with my ponies ever, ever, ever again.
MJ: That doesn't even make sense.

MJ while we were shopping at Target: "I really like stickers."

Kay trying to get her dad's attention: "Daddy! Daddy! Apparently he's vacuuming."