Enjoying the Sunshine

See the sun does shine every once in a while!

Soccer, Soccer, SOCCER!!!

Another spring soccer season has come and gone! Here are a few highlights of the season:

At our house we had 2 Player and 1 coach playing on 2 different teams.  The 5 week season consisted of 20 games or 4 games a week or 2 games per team per week.  We also had 2 practices a week or one practice per team per week.  Basically we had a soccer game or practice or both 4 days a week.  Often times we had games and practices that overlapped so Jason and I tag teamed transporting kids to their events.  It was a busy fun filled 5 weeks!

Mikele was a rock star! She scored multiple times each game through out the season.

Last year she was more an observer this year she was part of the action.  It is amazing what a difference one year can make.

We (I coached Mikele's team this year) played against a couple of Millville teams.  It was fun to play against kids that we knew from Mikele's kindergarten class.

Check out those white legs!!! I had a great time coaching Mikele's team. Our season started out warm and sunny then the weather changed to snow, rain and COLD! We ended the season with a sunny game. The joys of spring soccer!

The joys of a U6 team was that we had a couple of experienced players, a couple of grass pickers and a lot stumbling, missed kicks, bunch ball action.

Now on to Brock.  He had a great season! He played on a U10 team this year.  That means a bigger field, they call off sides, and you feel like you are actually watching a real soccer game!

Brock is not the most aggressive player but he loves the game and plays hard.

For me the highlight of the season was Brock scoring his first goal!!!!

Right after the last game of the spring season we signed the kids up for the fall season.  I also signed up to coach Mikele's team again. She will be moving up to a U8 girls team and Brock will be playing on a U10 boys team again. We will be back in September for another 5 week soccer marathon!

Talent Show

A few weeks ago Brock called me from school and asked if I would bring up his piano performance book.  When I asked him why he said it was because he was trying out for the talent show.  Apparently the kids were able to sign up to try out for the school talent show.  Each class voted for two kids from their class to participate.  Brock received the most votes in his class!!!   On Tuesday, May 11th the school held their annual talent show STARING BROCK NORRIS!!! (Ok, maybe he wasn't the star but in my eyes he was!)  Jason, Kassie, Allie, Grandma Murdock and I were able to attend the event.  (Mikele was already there with her school class)

Brock played Reindeer Rock.  He did such a great job! I am so proud of him for participating and playing in front of his whole school.

Puppet Show

I think I mentioned in my last post about Brock's Birthday that Mikele is weird. Well here is some more evidence to support that theory.

Mikele had an assignment from school to make a puppet that she could use to tell a story. So we made 2 puppets to tell the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet." We had a great time making the puppets! I snapped a few photos of Mikele with her puppets before she took them to school. (she will get to bring them back but all the kids get to play with them and I have no idea what condition they will come home in.)

What an adorable nut!

Brock's 9th Birthday

What! How did this happen? Brock is 9!!!! I know I was shocked too.

We decided to buy Brock a new bike for his birthday because he had completely out grown his old one. We took Brock shopping on Saturday so that he could help us find the right one for him. Of course it was raining but that didn't stop the kids from riding bikes and trying out the new set of wheels.

I made Brock a hot breakfast Monday morning (the actual day of his birthday).

That evening we had the real party. Brock picked spaghetti and cheesy bread for dinner (I think he has picked spaghetti every year since he was old enough to have an opinion). Then he opened presents.  Grammy Norris gave Brock a magazine subscription to National Geographic for Kids. This was Grandpa Norris's favorite magazine.  Brock is so excited for his first magazine to come.

The girls gave Brock a flashlight for when he goes camping. Ironically the flashlight we though we bought was blue but when we got it home it was purple. It was kind of funny.

Allie thought it was really funny!

Grandma and Papa Murdock gave Brock the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series of books.  I have read all but the last one and thought they were really good.

This kid is just weird.

After presents it was time for BIRTHDAY SPANKIN'S!

Put your back into it Kassie!

Finally we had cake and ice cream. Yes, Brock is praying over his cake. Actually he was thinking of his wish and it requires a lot of focus.  His Turtle Cake was made by one of my Laurels, Darin June.  We bought her cake from the cake auction and Brock suggested that we save it for his birthday cake.  So we did. (I totally got off easy this year!)  It was really yummy! It was chocolate with mint flavored frosting and we had mint chip ice cream.  Happy Birthday Brock!!

This Girl is all about BREAKFAST!

Cereal just won't cut it for this girl.  She wants pancakes and/or eggs for breakfast. This morning we had fresh blackberry pancakes colored  pink with food coloring. I have to admit that I can't blame her for loving breakfast because frankly it is also my favorite meal of the day.

This little girl loves pancakes too!

Mikele Lost Her Second Tooth. I mean really LOST!

Mikele's second loose tooth has been hanging on by a thread for days.  I kept telling her to just pull it out and she insisted that if it had not fallen out by Tuesday night she would have Dad pull it out again. (This might sound familiar because it was a repeat of her first loose tooth).  Well on Tuesday she came home from school and enjoyed her afternoon snack then the trouble began. She couldn't find her loose tooth. It was no longer in her mouth.  Did I mention it had been hanging be a thread.  Well apparently she must have fallen out and she swallowed it while enjoying her afternoon snack.

Then came the tears! "I have been waiting forever for that tooth to fall out . . ." sniff sniff ". . . so I could get the money!"

Mom: "Well Brock lost his tooth at Grandma Camp and the tooth fairy still gave him a quarter."

Mikele: "But the tooth fairy found his tooth by the chickens." sob sob

Mom: "I really think if you explain the situation to the tooth fairy in a letter she will understand.  Besides we know where your tooth is, it is in your tummy."

Mikele: "Well how with the tooth fairy find it in my tummy?" bawling

Mom: "She won't but if you write her a letter and explain where it is she might be understanding. I am sure you are not the first kid to swallow a tooth."

Mikele: "Ok"

So for the rest of the night Mikele carefully composed her letter to the tooth fairy.

Then the next morning. . .

. . . we were all smiles.

For the record: So far Mikele has been paid for 2 teeth and the Tooth Fairy has collected ZERO teeth from Mikele. (the first one she wanted to keep because it was her first tooth she had lost and was therefore very special)

"I will not have a temper tantrum nor stomp across the floor.

I will not pout, scream or shout or kick against the door.

I will not throw my food around or pick upon another.

I'll always try to be real good because I am the Mother."

~ author unknown

Happy Mother's Day!  I would just like to take a moment to thank my own Mom for being so wonderful.  I am so grateful for our relationship, she is not only my Mom but also my friend.  I would also like to thank all of the women who have had an influence in my life and the lives of my children.  It is impossible to raise children by yourself.

Can you tell that my kids LOVE their Grammy! (Jason's Mom).  I hope you also have a great Mother's Day.  I will always be grateful to you for raising such a wonderful son who became my extraordinary husband and an amazing father to my kids.  "It takes a village" and I am grateful for the contribution from family, grandparents and friends.  You know who you are!