Friday Favorites!

The only reason I remembered I needed to do this is because Pen mentioned that she did hers. Thank heavens. I would hate to disappoint my most ardent follower for two weeks in a row!

1. I am in charge of coaching Bud's team for practices this season (Since no one volunteered to coach this season we are kind of doing a community coaching thing. Parents take turns hopping out on the field to coach games and I'm doing practices-- it seems to be working well.). We had our first practice on Monday. All of the boys' different personalities crack me up and I think we have an awesome team. One boy kept giving me a look of disbelief and rolling his eyes when I had them run-- why is it so much more amusing when it's a 7 year old kid with freckles instead of my teen?

2. Big started kindergarten on Tuesday. He absolutely loves it and is making some great friends already. You can read the post about his first day by clicking here.

3. I am trying to parent my children like they are someone else's kids (ie. respond more patiently and express more sympathy, etc.) There were some moments of success, so I think it will work great if I can actually remember that I'm trying to do it.

4. Both Big and Ginger scored goals in their games this week. I was at Big's game so missed seeing Ginger's, but I loved listening to her and Rophone give me the play-by-play. I snapped this photo of Big when he came out for a drink after his big score.

5. Edith had her well-child appointment this week. She's looking great and, of course, refused to say anything until after the doctor left the room. That's okay, the doctor was impressed anyway. I love the fact that Edith weighs in at just over 23 pounds, which is what Big weighed at 6 months. No wonder she seems so light! She is in the 93rd percentile for height and the 60th for head size. I've never had a kid with her proportions, so I can't wait to see how she turns out. Anyway, the favorite in this is that she's healthy and looking good!

6. I'm really enjoying my one-on-one time with Edith now that Big has started school. I may not be getting anything done around the house with my little helper in tow (she either scales the dishwasher like Everest while I'm trying to load it or shuts it over and over, and folding the laundry is a total no-go...), but at least we're getting other important things accomplished.

7. This afternoon, while Edith was napping, Big and I worked out in the yard for almost 2 hours. It felt great to get something done (since as I just mentioned, I haven't been) and I loved working with Big. Life with Big has been difficult as of late-- I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to make things better-- so I was thrilled to work with him out in the yard. Big is so happy when he works. The obstinate, disobedient, angry 5 year old that I've been living with disappeared. Instead, the helpful, loving, kind, hard-working kid that I love was back and I was overjoyed to be with him. We need to work together more often. 

All in all, I think it was a pretty good week!

It's Not a Job, But It Will Have to Do

Big started kindergarten today. Thank heavens there's a dilapidated excavator toy on the playground to lure him there. We were both so excited for today to come. Having to wait an extra week after the other kids start is always such torture. See the excitement as it builds?

He's such a ham.

Big has the same teacher that Bud and Ginger had (and she's great) so I think it will be a fantastic year. I'll take it as a good sign that he emerged from school today excited to return tomorrow.

Congratulations on entering kindergarten, Big! It's the first step toward achieving your goal of owning a construction company someday. I have no doubt that you'll accomplish whatever it is that you set out to do because of the drive you have inside. I can't wait to see what your future holds! I love you!

Eighteen Months with Edith

Edith is getting so old! Although, upon being asked, she will still tell you she's a baby. A baby who can pretty much say whatever she wants and insists on doing things by herself. But, still, a baby. 

I think that Edith is the perfect blend of tomboy and girly-girl. She likes to play sports and poke at bugs and loves to dance and wear earrings. She is busy perfecting her soccer throw-ins and kicks, her basketball shot, and her hip swivels. 

Edith is getting better and better at pretending things. We love to watch her play and talk to herself and the characters she's using. Her dad is still her best friend and her preferred playmate, with Big being a close second. Her mom will do in a pinch. When playing, whether it be with construction guys, cows, work trucks, all must call each other 'Honey'. 

I am especially glad that she is getting better at pretending on her own. 

Edith still continues to be a close-sitter. When one of us sits down on the couch to read or take a breather, she climbs on up and then sits and re-sits, sliding down the side of your body (seeming like she's trying to get in your body) until she feels like she's close enough. We have learned to not even waste our time trying to reclaim some space. Edith will just stand up, back into you, and sit and re-sit all over again. 

Yup. A really close-sitter.

As you can see, Edith still prefers to read non-baby books of her own rather than have someone read to her. She is requesting that I read to her a little more often than she was, but she really would rather read a book by herself or out loud to me or to a toy. I love it when Edith reads aloud. She reads with such great inflection.

Edith is always so excited when she wakes up from her nap in the afternoons, because she knows that her dad will be home soon. She loves to sit in the bay window in the living room to watch for his arrival. Plus, she can usually catch sight of a few birdies while we wait. Edith loves birdies.

Being outside is pretty much Edith's favorite place to be. She has been loving this soccer season because of all of the games she gets to go to. And when you tell her you're going to take her to the playground, her face does this:

I took a bunch of pictures of her playing basketball outside yesterday. She was so happy to be outside and playing with her brother. What a perfect thing to do to celebrate turning 18 months old.

(I know this first one is blurry, but I love that she was informing me her ball was wet.)

It was so fun to just watch her and take pictures, but next time we're going to work on getting more arc in her shot...

(Yes, I know this next one is blurry, too, but just look how flat that is!)

To top it all off, she found some ants. What a grand celebration!

Perfect for poking...

...and stomping on.

I don't think Edith's 18 month celebration morning could have been any better. Then, when she got up from her nap, the two of us went on a date to the bread store. She was so happy to be out. So much so that she actually mugged for the camera. 

Seriously. So cute, Edith!

I know there are so many other great things I was going to write about what Edith is up to, but Big got to talking to me about coyotes and my brain filled up with coyote facts instead. Hmmm... let's see....

Oh, yeah. Edith adds an -uh ending to words that end in 'p'. It's super cute. So, 'cup' becomes 'cup-uh', 'lap' becomes 'lap-uh'... you get the idea. I love it. 

Anyway, she's fabulous and wicked-awesome and we love her. Happy 18 month, Edith! I can't wait to spend time with you this year!

Forgotten Favorites

I realized today that I completely spaced doing Friday Favorites yesterday. Oops. I hereby apologize to my most ardent follower. Anyway, the fact that I forgot probably has something to do with the fact that school started, soccer has consumed our lives, and I've been sick. So sick that the pain from sinus pressure made me want to pull out my newly shod teeth-nubbins with pliers. Anything to relieve the pain. I'm sure that something good happened this week, though...

1. The 3 older kids started school this week. It seems like it will be a good year-- the kids all like their teachers/classes, etc. I did a whole post on it and you can read about it by either scrolling down the page or clicking here. I can't wait for Big to start next week.

2. Big and I made some fun drop sugar cookies to ring in the new school year. We wanted the kids to have something fun in their lunches. It was nice to do something together.

3. The kids are still enjoying soccer. It's a bit of a juggle getting everyone where they need to go, sunscreened up and water in hand, often at conflicting times. But it's worth it. 

4. Boot camp still rocks. And it's turning me into more of a rock. Cool. 

5. Big found out that he will have the same teacher Bud and Ginger had for kindergarten. Now he's super excited to get started on his school year. I'm excited, too!

6. We went out as adults to celebrate my mom's birthday last night. It was nice to hang with my folks and my sister, Art, and her husband. We met my folks at the restaurant so my mom would be surprised. I think she was happy about it. Good job, Dad.

7. I think the most important part of the week is that I learned that my family can function quite well even if I take time for myself. I did boot camp 3 mornings this week, arriving home with just enough time to make lunches and remind the kids of a few little things before we head out the door to school. It's nice to know that Rophone and the kids can work together to make it all happen. Thanks, family, for stepping up so I can do this!

First Day, Not for the First Time

The three older kids started school today. I can't believe it. The summer really flew by, but I must admit we were all ready for school again. Big starts kindergarten next week (he has his testing tomorrow), so I'll have to do a separate post just for him when he heads out. It's going to be a loooong week of waiting, I can tell you that. There's an excavator toy sitting on the kindergarten playground that has his name on it.

I was going to have the kids hold up a whiteboard with their grade on it and what they want to be when they grow up. Yeah. I couldn't even get them to wear their backpacks so they looked like they were going to school. And I didn't even get a picture of Pen until after school, since this morning she was getting ready right up until it was time to head out the door.

I did make an attempt to at least ask what they want to be when they grow up so I could include it in this blog post. But I didn't remember until Bud was in bed, so I'm not sure what his plan is today. Ginger wants to be an undercover FBI agent (a change from the teacher she has wanted to be for years), and Pen wants to be a professional eye-roller, it seems. At least that's what I gathered from her response. She is well on her way.

Here are Bud and Ginger, ready to head out. Bud is in 2nd grade, Ginger in 6th. They were so excited. Really.

I managed to snap a few photos of Pen when she returned at lunch time after her freshmen-only-half-day. 

All of the kids were super happy about how things went today. Bud and Ginger absolutely loved their teachers. After school when Bud and I were talking about his day and he was telling me how nice and funny his teacher is I asked, "So, you think you're going to have a good year, then?" Bud replied, "I'm going to have a great year!" Just what I want to hear. Pen is just so thrilled to be in high school. It is really where she has probably felt she should be since first grade, so I'm glad she's finally there. 

I just love that my kids love school so much. And I'm glad that they are excited for what the next year will bring. I'm excited to see what it brings for them, too. It's always a bit of a roller coaster ride, isn't it? 

Aaaaand heeere we go...

Friday Favorites

1. Rophone and I got out together for a little bit on Saturday. It was nice to chat and just hang out. 

2. Bud lost his first tooth! He looks so cute with it missing. Now we just need to work on the others that are loose.

3. I got my new teeth on Monday. Finally. I'd have to say that modern dentistry is definitely a favorite. It allowed me to go from this:

To this: 

And then to this (thank goodness):

4. Soccer started up again this week. I got a chance to see both Bud and Ginger play, but missed Big's game because it was at the same time as Ginger's. I know I'll get a chance, though. I just really love seeing my kids running around, having a great time playing a sport I enjoy. I'll have to do a separate post with pictures.

5. I took a friend to boot camp twice this week. It was really great to have her along. I'm still loving boot camp and the changes it's bringing about in my body. 

6.  Rophone had to work tonight. Not a favorite, but I'm glad that he was able to get out of working on both Tuesday and Thursday night this week. It allowed him to see Bud and Big in their first games. Plus, I got to see him more. That's always nice.