The Best Little Soccer Fan Ever!

James was truly the best little soccer fan to the girls we could have asked for all fall season long! Each week he had to sit through two hours of soccer games (sometimes in cold and rainy weather!) and he behaved like a pro! Of course it helped that we brought LOTS and LOTS of treats for him and always made sure we had a nuk or two handy at all times!  He loved cheering for Annie and Kate and gave all the players high-fives at the end of the games. He also really enjoyed the times when he got to watch out of his stroller.  This was his chance to run loose for a few hours and burn some energy.  Luckily, we only had one instance where he thought he was a player on the field!  I think his favorite time each week was at the end of the games when he would get the opportunity to run around on the field and kick his own little soccer ball.  Here are some of the fun pictures we took of James this fall season!

Soccer Stars!

What a fun fall soccer season for both Annie and Katelin.  Kate got to play on the same team as many of her friends from previous seasons so she really enjoyed the social aspect of soccer as well as the physical aspect of playing the game.  Her assertiveness, drive and excitement for the game impressed me each week. While I don’t remember their season record, her team definitely had more wins than losses which of course made it fun for all the girls.






This season was Annie’s first season playing actual games and to her excitement – wearing real uniforms! She has come a really long way from standing on the sidelines crying a few seasons ago to jumping up and down when we told her it was time to go to soccer! While she isn’t quite as assertive as Kate, she is very fast and the control she has over the ball was pretty impressive.  I really look forward to watching her grow and develop her skills further in future seasons.







Once again while the soccer season is busy, I am sad to see it come to an end.  We truly enjoy watching the girls be a part of an athletic team and hope they continue with it in the future.  Great job Kate and Annie!  You are soccer stars in our eyes!!

Little Man Turns 2!

Wow, my little man is 2 years old!  It really doesn’t seem possible that he has been part of our lives for 2 years already. With each day that passes, he does something new, says something new and reminds me that my little baby is gone. I love the little boy he is becoming but I feel sad as I know with each milestone he hits, it will be the last I will experience.  No more first smile, first laugh, first tooth, first step, first word….  But I also look forward to watching him grow into an amazing little boy, teenager, young man, husband, father…Whoa, now I am getting way ahead of myself!  I better just stick the here and now!  Although I did have to look back at some of the photos from the day James was born.

10.08.10!!

The girls and their new little brother.  They are awesome big sisters!

Today we had a great day celebrating James as he turned 2!  We threw him a Thomas the Train themed party with many of our family members in attendance.  James had an amazing time opening his presents and even more fun playing with all his new toys!
 
I tried to get a little crafty for his party and created some handmade decorations. I think they turned out pretty cute!

The banner in the back is my favorite DIY project. The Thomas train with apps on the table was a fun idea too!

Let the present opening begin!

“WOW!” was expressed when opening many of his presents!  Then he would proceed to say “Op please Daddy!”

James and Brian with the tool bench that Brian made for him.  It was a HUGE hit!!!  Great job Bri!

Happy Birthday James William! Mommy, Daddy, Katelin, and Annie love you so much buddy! We hope you had a wonderful day and we look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you!!

GO LAKEVILLE!

For the second year in a row, Katelin participated in the Lakeville North Homecoming Cheerleading Camp. Kids K-5 get to spend 3 hours with the cheerleaders learning cheers and eating pizza.  Then the get to cheer on the sidelines during the Homecoming game! Katelin and her friend Briana participated last year and had such a great time she wanted to do it again. While I don’t think cheering is in her future, I do know she had a blast and felt pretty important out on the field. What a fun time for the girls! GO Lakeville!

The Great Outdoors!

The kids and I enjoyed the weather this weekend by spending some time with Grandma Sharon at the Arboretum. I hadn’t been there since I was young and now I wish it was something we did more often.  It was beautiful and peaceful (despite it being super busy) and a great way to spend quality time with the family.  (We sure wish Brian could have joined us but hopefully next time.)  The kids LOVED it!  ALL of them!
There was a scarecrow exhibit that we all enjoyed. Annie was a little skeptical at first and wouldn’t stand too close to them to get a picture but she eventually warmed up. Here are a few of the girl’ favorites.

 

The first photo…Annie wouldn’t stand next to the scarecrow!

 

My favorite!

 

Annie’s favorite!

 

Kate’s favorite which is surprising because we can’t even say the word Witch in our house.  We call it “the W”!

 

We spent the majority of the day walking the paths and enjoying the beautiful fall colors. James loved when we let him out of stroller to roam free! Next time we are going to go stroller free so we can off-road it more! We also had a nice picnic lunch.

 

On our peaceful, adventurous walk!

 

Of course Annie couldn’t walk the whole way!

 

 

The maze we thought would be fun to take the kids into.  Never did we think that little man could run so fast and get away from us! Yikes!

 

Of all the pictures, this is my favorite! My three precious, precious kiddos. I am truly blessed!

What a great way to enjoy one of the last beautiful fall weekends! We all decided that we have to explore nature more often!