"Soccer Speed...ON!"

We're 4 games into the spring season, and our little soccer star is still goal-less but more determined than ever! Years from now we will all laugh and remember with fondness his "soccer speed" season. It's his super power, you know. And because he was concerned about it, he had to be assured by his coach that turning on his "soccer speed" is NOT cheating. Ha! Ha! I love him! And while the pictures all begin to look the same after awhile--same outfits (just more layers this season), same players, same field--I particularly like some of these shots from last week:

Adorable

This past weekend we got to spend some time with Dave's oldest brother, Chuck, and his wife, Robin. I tell you what, you'd probably be hard-pressed to find 2 nicer people. They are both so wonderful, and we really enjoyed having them stay with us for 3 nights. While she was here, Robin knit the most adorable flower hat for Molly.

Unfortunately, my camera didn't do the colors justice. It's light purple (not white like it looks) and so precious.

A talented gal that "Red Robin" is! (Sweet Molly just couldn't seem to remember "Aunt" and instead settled on "Red Robin". Truly a term of endearment though. It IS her favorite restaurant, after all! Ha! Ha! Thankfully though, she was able to remember "Uncle Chuck" because Red Robin and Chuck E. Cheese might have been a little much!)

Thank you, Chuck and Robin, for a fun weekend! Let's do it again soon! Your place in August??? :)

Friends Since Birth. Literally.

My favorite thing about birthdays is not the party or the cake or the presents. It's getting to look back at pictures from years past--prior birthdays, big milestones, and special memories.

Here are a couple of cuties 3 years ago:

And today:

So big they are now!

Birthday Boy (continued)

Because 'photobucket' and I apparently do not get along, here is the rest of my planned post, wishing our sweet friend a very happy birthday:

Dear sweet Carter,

As your honorary "auntie", I hope that you know just how much you are loved beyond your family alone. You have been a blessing to ALL who know you--your humor, your charm, and those great big squeeze hugs that I will miss so much. (I figure honorary "aunties" don't get great big squeeze hugs forever. Too uncool when you're a teenager, you know?)

How has it already been 3 years since you arrived? I was there. I loved on and snuggled you in those first few hours. In fact, I knew about you before almost anyone else. And how excited I was! I knew that you would be just as special to us as your brother and sister. And I hoped and prayed that you would be a dear, sweet friend to our little "peanut" also on the way. Not for one second have you disappointed!

Thank you for being the special boy in our lives that you are. Happy, happy birthday sweet Carter!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Carter Mac!

An Unfair Advantage?

I feel the need to apologize to all of the other kindergarten soccer teams who play thru our local 'parks and rec.' department. You see, I've recently become aware of the fact that...well...we have at least one superhero on our team. Yes, a superhero. And that's just not very fair to everyone else, is it? I mean, here we have kids huffing and puffing up and down the field, trying their hardest to keep up, and giving those little 5 and 6 year-old legs of theirs a true work-out, but this superhero? All he has to do is whisper "soccer speed" and his legs just take off? I know. Totally not fair. And he is FAST, let me tell you. And what's worse? I just found out that he's starting to share his "powers" with other teammates. I can only imagine the unfair advantage that we'll have at tonight's game! ;)

Ssshhh............

A Realization.

I regret to inform you, my readers, that my initial boastful proclamation last Fall stating that I am a die hard soccer mom thru and thru was, perhaps, a bit premature. Mainly, I am a weather wimp. W-I-M-P. To me, 42 degrees is freakishly cold! Who cares that some people in some areas of the country would consider 42 degrees to be a heatwave this time of year?! Seriously. Those people should move. Because 42 degrees never has been nor will it ever be WARM! Admittedly, I am the mom who sits in her car with the engine running and heat turned on during practice while I watch the other moms and dads, not to mention the players, tough it out on the field. All the while I just pray that one of my mom friends will walk Grayson back to our car when practice is over so as to not have to get out and feel the cold. (Thank you Allison, CB, and Sarri for prevailing thus far!)

Secondly, while this has absolutely no bearing on my soccer mom status, this Spring season brings with it a new element. Potty training. Yes, Molly has decided that now is the time. (Which really, now is past the time...she's over 3 for heaven's sake...but, well...) You can imagine that a curious 3 year-old who is now interested in visiting every "potty" in the greater Portland area would also, of course, feel the need to experience the porta-potties located near the playing fields. Multiple times. During each game. Oh yeah, that is going to be fun.

BUT, because I still get teary-eyed while my heart swells with pride when I see my little guy hustle up and down the field with a smile on his face from ear to ear, I will, freezing or not, be there each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. With my curious little potty explorer, too. (Now Wednesday night practices? I make no promises!)

Here are just a few pics from this morning's Spring soccer kick-off:

I think today's 'catch phrase' heard most often from the sidelines was, "_____, get your hands out of your pockets!" Who can blame them though? It was darn cold!

That looks to be some sort of "Bring it on!" battle cry. Or something.

Apparently a pink Easter hat with ribbons ranks as one of those 'don't leave home without it' items. Hopefully it won't land itself in the "potty" this season. Ick.

Game's over. Now bring on the snacks!

Soccer buds.

He's Gellin'!

I knew that I shouldn't have started bragging about my kids not being very sick this school-year. Because of course what struck the very next week? Yep. Actually, according to the doctor, "nothing" came to our house uninvited, but that "nothing" brought with it vomit, fevers, coughing, sneezing, and enough snot to go thru 2 or 3 boxes of kleenex. Sure sounds like "nothing", huh?

So I decided that a child who has "nothing" should, indeed, look like he has "nothing", so it was off to Great Clips we went immediately following our apparently unnecessary trip to the doctor's off. There's just something about a new 'do that can make you go from homely to happening just like that.

I thought we'd go for "short all over" just like normal, but the gal knew she had putty in her hands and suggested to Grayson that if she left the front longer, then he'd be able to spike it up with gel. And, well, all Grayson needed to hear was the word 'gel', and he was sold! And let me tell you, you do not mess with a boy and his styling products, much less his style! In fact, for the first several days after, he was leary of any activity that *might* mess up his hair. Are you kidding me?!? There's just something not right about a 5 year-old boy constantly checking in with you to ask, "Does my hair look okay?" Seriously! But I will admit, he is dang good looking and oh-so-cute with his spikey new 'do!