The Rocks

Not the rocks you are probably thinking of....

Our friends from Illinois came for a visit and it rained almost every day.  So, we ended up at a rock wall one afternoon.  The good thing...we are home-schoolers and had the whole place to ourselves.  Nice.  I wasn't sure if Joy would be able to do much climbing with her little hand...but as usual, she proved herself with an inverted wall.

The place was pretty large, and I think the kids had a good time even though their arms and legs were noodles by the time we left.  Eva had a hard time, initially.  She just could not bring herself to let go and repel down the wall.  Instead, she wanted to climb down.  After 30 minutes and a lot of tears, she made it.  After a bit, I took her around the corner and practiced short repels with her.  Eventually, she made it to the top.  She wasn't going to let that wall get the best of her!

Our Gang

I loved this sign at the rock wall.

Onto soccer.  Jack has his last game tomorrow.  Ivy and Eva finished last week.  As much as I love watching my kids play soccer, I am looking forward to the break.  Between, piano, violin, 2 soccer leagues, co-op, schooling, and a traveling husband, I was running out of steam.

Funny picture with Jack in the middle.

Speaking of soccer...my handsome husband was traveling to New York last month.  Upon entering his hotel lobby, he spotted the US Women's soccer team.  He didn't hesitate to have his picture snapped with best and prettiest player, Alex Morgan.

He and his co-worker ended up going to the stadium to watch them play that night...while I was home in Virginia taking my kids to soccer, cooking dinner, washing dishes, washing clothes, cleaning house..............

He met Kirk Cameron on a flight once, but didn't get his picture taken with him.  Just an observation. I probably would have.

Refugees + Soccer

The city has a refugee community of Bhutanese/Nepalis.  We have many people from our church who work with the refugee community.  The refugee children love soccer.  They practice weekly and even have their own jerseys.  Needless to say they are pretty good.  Our local home-school soccer league has been getting together (as an outreach) to play soccer with them.  Jack participated recently on a hot Saturday morning.

We're the hodge-podged jersey team.

Maybe we lost because we didn't practice as a team....or didn't have matching jerseys.

But, the point was to have a good time.  And they skunked us...pretty badly.  No need to tell you the score.

Eva got tired of watching and headed off to play her own game of soccer with her buddy.

Soccer Season Done

Tuesday, we had a banquet for soccer season.  Since this was Eva's first season, she was beyond excited.  She had 3 goals this spring and is ready for the fall season.  I took pics of the trophy presentation, but failed to insert the memory card.  Yes, I'm forgetful but for a good reason.  I had just picked up my camera from the shop.  Anyhow, here is one picture of her with her trophy.

A train was going by at the moment, thus the ear holding.  We had fun eating potato chips, fruit, brownies, rice krispy treats, the food of champions.

Joy loves Seth's friend, Anica.  She is always wanting to sit on her lap.

It was nice having Seth with us at the banquet.  He spun the kids incredibly fast on the merry-go-round, all of them screaming for more!  Crazy kids; I'd vomit.

We had a very bad storm right before the banquet.  On the way home, Seth, Anica, and Jack stopped by the soccer fields where there is a nice hill.  I wondered what happened to them.  Let's just say that none of them were allowed inside my house with their clothes on.  I gave them towels and a laundry basket while in the garage.

They decided a wet, muddy hill was good times for a water slide.  Seth ripped his underwear, and most of the clothes did not come clean.  But, it was fun times with memories made.

It's That Time of Year...Again

Yes, it is soccer season.  And, you know how much we love soccer around here.  Jack has played since he was 5 years old.  Seth played for the last 10 years, so, it makes me sad seeing him stand on the sidelines.  I think I'm having a harder time with it than he is. 

This is Eva's first year.

 She looks like she has always played.

 And this picture looks completely weird.

Big Brother Seth with some encouraging words for Eva...

 ...and a few tricks of his own.

The sideline cheerleaders.

Seth and Anica on the way to a dance after the game.

Then Jack had to show us his stuff.  He looks good during his first season with the "big boys"

We lost both games, but had fun.

We're Crazy

Only a crazy family will drive 5 hours round trip to sit and watch a family member play a 90 minute soccer game.  But, it was good family time.  Rarely are we all together at the same time, doing the same thing.  It was good; especially knowing that the time is soon coming when we will not all be together often.  Since Mike was speeding making good time, we stopped at an overlook, where a gracious lady patiently took a well-needed family picture.

Then, my patient children allowed me to take their picture.

Why is it so difficult for everyone to look at the camera at the same time?  Is that really too much to ask?  I just want happy faces for 2 minutes, please!  Appease me.

We made it to the fields, hung out on the bleachers eating apple pie bites until the game started.

And, as always, there is the interesting journey to the public toilet facilities at these soccer fields.  Sometimes it is the port-a-potty, which my girls are terrified of and only use in desperation.  Other times, like yesterday, we had a wonderful 20-stall bathroom at the local high-school stadium at our disposal.  Joy had to go.  I had just taken her 10 minutes earlier.  But, you know...she had to go again...more.  She and I made the trek to the humongous bathroom.  I sat her in her stall, headed next door myself.  Joy, loudly making it known what she was doing, let me know she was done.  Now, Joy is a tiny girl.  She's not yet his the 30 pound mark for her 5 1/2 years.  I'm not sure if the toilets were on a sensor or not, but the thing just kept flushing over and over.  She is so tiny, she cannot get off by herself (plus the fact that she's not allowed to touch ANYTHING in a public bathroom makes it difficult to just hop off).  She kept screaming, "IT KEEPS FLUSHING!".  Poor girl.  By the time I made to her, it had flushed quite loudly 5 times.  She was not happy.  I'm hoping it makes her think twice about using a public facility again.

My tiny girl, Joy.

Rare mother/daughter photo.

Don't these guys look ridiculous?  Seth is the lone blue guy, the only one who looks like he is working.

Now, I have to decide if I want to make another 2.5 hour drive tomorrow to watch Seth play on a different team.  I know the kiddos will be miserable if I take them, but I really want to go.  Anyone want to swing by and watch my 4 youngest?

Because Seth Would Not Pose

I had to resort to using Ivy as a model.  Bear with me while I brag just a bit.  (And, bear with me the next few months as I sort through feelings of my first son leaving home to join the Marines.)  But, Seth is wrapping up his season of soccer.  Today he and his team mates received 3rd Place in their Region.  This is the team trophy that we get to keep because Mike is the Coach.  Ivy is beautifully wearing the 3 medals Seth received for this particular tournament.  I am so proud of Seth.  He has worked incredibly hard with his team.  Seth has been with some of these guys for the last 4 years and has loved every minute of it.  I will definitely miss sitting on the sidelines cheering my son on (sniff, sniff).

Fortunately, when this season ends with this team next week, he still has another month of games on another league thru November.  I'll savor every minute of watching him play, win or lose.

Rain and Mud

My boys have always loved playing in the rain and mud.  So do my girls for that matter.  So, it was no surprise when it did not bother Seth to play soccer in the rain last Saturday.

The whole family headed out for a day at the soccer fields.  The day looked promising when we left the house early that morning for the 2 hour drive.  Once we arrived, though, the rain greeted us with a smile, and stayed around for most of Seth's playing time.  But, it did not deter Seth's play or our cheering.

The Cheering Family

Jordan thinks she looks like a mom in this picture.  Well, she's got the kids because she held the biggest umbrella!  That is what she gets. 

Doesn't it look like fun?  Seth played a great game with a goal and an assist.

He brought home this yucky shirt that used to be white, along with the matching dirty socks.  After 2 washes, they look new!  I love Oxi Clean!