Captain Literal

This is Hudson's first year of t-ball, and aside from soccer when he was 4, it is his first organized sport. He hasn't been all to interested in t-ball once his practices and games started, but he did participate, though never expressed really loving it.   His first game cracked us up because his coach would tell the kids to get "Baseball ready" on the field and Hudson would get his mitt/hands on his knees.  And stay that way.  The entire time he's on the field.  Balls were hit past him.  Baseball ready he stayed.  We cracked up at how literal he took it.  

His second game his stubbornness started to show.  He wasn't fond of playing in the field (what kids are??) and while playing 2nd base decided to just sit.  On the field.   His coach tried giving him a pep talk.  Ryan and I snickered, telling each other "He doesn't know who he's talking to... hahhaaha!"  Well Hudson did stand up for the coach.  And the second he walked away, on the ground he was again.  We just laughed- that's our Hudson. 

At his game tonight we almost quit.  He was upset at home because he'd left a toy at Aunt Heather's house, so he had a literal meltdown the entire way to the game and was not happy about team pictures.  Pretty sure he's the kid covering his face in them.   It'll be a good pic to look back on that's for sure.  

So, they play 3 innings.  We couldn't get him to play the first inning.  The second inning he batted as long as I walked the bases with him.  He did play in the field too.  The third inning Amelia and I cheered him on to "go get the ball!" and something clicked.   He ran to catch the ball.  And he smiled!  After each batter made it to 1st base he'd come running up to me, I'd tell him good job and tell him to go back out and get the ball because the batter was going to hit it to him.   He had a blast!  

After that inning was done he came up smiling and I hugged him and asked "Did you have a good time?"  "Yeah!"   Then I asked "Did you know that you were supposed to run after the ball when you were out there?"  Laughing he says "No I didn't!"  HAHAH!  So this entire time he thought he was supposed to just stand out there.  NO WONDER he thought his games were so boring!!! 

The Galloping Tongue | Basketball 2013

Despite our icky experience last year with Upward Basketball, Porter wanted to play again this year.  Ryan decided to sign up to coach his team, which Porter was really excited about.  I was curious about how this would work out.... would Porter be defiant and not want to listen to Ryan as a coach?  Would Ryan be too hard on Porter since he was his son?  So far it's going great... Porter is really enjoying basketball this year and Ryan is having a lot of fun coaching.

Porter has only had...hmmm 3 games so far?  I'm already noticing a lot of improvement.  The first game cracked me up.  He got out there and looked like he was raring to go.  Clapped his hands together.   Kind of jogged back and forth on his feet.  Feet apart.  Knees bent.  Arms braced to go.  And the game started and I was cracking up.  He pretty much played a glorified game of keep away.  Loved it.  SOOO funny.  He had the whole "where's your guy" down... he was NOT about to let "his guy" guard him.  He spent his time on the court running FROM the guy who was guarding him.  This got him a basketball to the face because he was so focused on not letting the guy near him he wasn't paying attention whatsoever to the basketball.  

The 2nd game he improved a little bit more.  He was a little more focused on the actual game portion.... he did a lot of skipping and galloping around the outside of the "core" of players who were more aggressive with the ball and a little more focused on the game.  He reminded me of Cooper when we go to the dog park.  He wants to play, but he's a little intimidated to jump into the pack so he kind of paces the perimeter.  He stayed with it, though, and he had a good time.  He felt involved (though wasn't quite that involved), he did get the ball a few times.  He likes to be the guy who passes the ball into the court (I have no idea what that is called... you know when the other team fouls and then the opposite team passes the ball into the court??).  

This week, his 3rd game, he improved even more.  He still cracks me up galloping and skipping up and down the court, and when he blocks his guy his arms are a little more of a flailing mess than guarding, but he's doing better!  He was much more aggressive this weekend and he actually got in there once and stole the ball from the other team.  He had quite a few chances to get the ball and shoot.  He had so much fun, and was so proud of himself.  I'm pretty proud of him too.  :)   

Oh!  The funniest thing yet, I think... his tongue!! I took pictures this week and nearly EVERY SINGLE ONE of them his tongue is sticking out.  Cracks me up!

Enjoy!

Spirit

Oh Porter.    You slay me with your enthusiasm for life.  Yes, that's what I'm going to call it.   This year you wanted to play flag football again.  Daddy and I have agreed to let you explore sports and activities as you become interested on your own, so we signed you up.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make any of the practices because I had sessions, but thank you buddy for understanding when we had a little talk about it.  I love you.  And I do believe that a very wise therapist I've spoken to is right- it's okay to miss some things. You should be playing for YOU, not for everyone else.  Your feeling of achievement and desire to play shouldn't be because of who is in the stands.  We will *always* be there to support and cheer for you whether you choose to play football or soccer or debate team or band, but that doesn't mean we have to be at every single practice or game.  So, I guess we're good on that because I was only at one of your football "practices"- the scrimmage at the JV game halftime.

This is the first year we've really taken you to any football games.  We went to homecoming last week and Daddy and I were cracking up at how social you were.  You ARE.  Seriously, I was such a shy kid and really didn't come out of my shell until sometime in the middle of college.  And now, well, some friends who didn't know me as a kid find it hilarious that I was shy and quite unsocial as a kid.  I'm not sure you get that from me :)   During the homecoming game you were constantly asking to go say hi to Mrs so-and-so, and if you could go say hi to Elyse or Hannah or Brianna or Hunter, and you were going up to the older kids you knew from football like it was nothing.   You were the same way at the JV game- running around the stands and under the bleachers with all the kids who play flag football, raising ruckus.  And you made your way through the stands a time or two to say hi to random teachers and kids you knew from school.  I saw you a few times go sit with the Varsity players who coach you.  It cracks me up, but I'm also so glad you're such a confident, outgoing boy.   It will take you far in life and I know you won't ever have a problem making friends with anyone you're put into a situation with!

I was curious to watch you interact with your team at the JV game because last year you were a little more focused on just chasing people and pushing and shoving and tackling.  Daddy said he's had to have a few talks with you this year about it being FLAG Football, not tackle, so hopefully one of these years it sticks.  Coach Allen told Daddy he "loves the spirit the purple team has" and he "hopes they keep it until high school." HAHA!  After watching a handful of you wild monkeys out there I see what he means.  

One of your coaches definitely had his hands full with you.  I could see his love of working with kids as he joked around with you and overlooked your annoying amount of energy as I rolled my eyes at it.  The coaches you had this year were much better than last year.  Daddy said the program was more structured as well, which is nice to know.  We joked that this must be part of the high schools birth control program or something- having the Varsity football players coach K-3 kids on one team!  Funny stuff, there. 

To be honest, I really didn't pay much attention to the "scrimmage" you played.  I videotaped it, sure.  But I was more focused on your enjoyment.  Watching my little guy out there running and playing with friends and having a good time.  And buddy, that's what makes me proud.  I want you to know this. I want you to know this is my goal from early on.  Because boys' sports- they're something else.   The competitiveness among parents and coaches and pressure on the kids starts so early.  And I don't want you to think that you amount to how good you are at a sport.  I want you to enjoy yourself.  Have fun.  Don't take it too seriously because after all, its just a game.  It's not life.  Have fun, have heart, be a good sport and stay humble.  Please.  

"Did you have fun, buddy?" 

"YES, Mom... it was SO much fun!"

Good.  Good.  Love you bub!

Go Lions!

When I was pregnant with Amelia, one of the few purchase he requested for her was Lions and Tigers gear.  He found this onesie at Old Navy while we were shopping one day and here she is... time to wear it!  I thought it'd be perfect for the Lions' first game.  I made some ruffle jeans for her and of course a headband!  She looks pretty darn cute, if you ask me!  

Teeth, Sports, Careers and Babies

-Porter lost his 2nd tooth last night.  It'd been wiggly for a few weeks and Oma had told Porter the other day that if he pulled his tooth out before Saturday's Christmas she'd give him $2.  Last night he asked me, out of the blue, "Mom, do you want me to pull my tooth out?"  I said I didn't care (because, really??) and he walked into the kitchen, got a towel, came back into the living room and pulled that baby out in a second and said "Oops, there it is! I pulled it out!"  So random.  HAHA! Not sure if he was motivated more by the money promised by Oma or that he wanted to pull his 2nd tooth out before Aubri pulled hers out.

-Porter started basketball on Thursday.  It should be interesting... they had one practice (Thurs) and have a game next Saturday.  As usual, Porter was the only kid on his team (there are 6 kids) that was dinking around with his shorts, hands in his pocket, hopping and spinning around while the coach was instructing them on drills.   He said it was boring because he didn't get to play... but doesn't get that he has to LEARN how to play in order to PLAY.  Duh.  The child has no attention, I swear.   So... we're holding him to playing this season (just until the end of Feb) because he is the one that initiated that he wanted to play basketball and the money is paid already.  I hope that he enjoys it after they start playing games.

-I decided to drop my Master's classes.  I am taking a different direction (approach, mindset etc..) and just getting my 18 credits in a planned program to move onto my professional license.  The past few months I've become more at peace with where I am at with my work/career path at this time.  The bottom line was that I'm not sure when I'll be fulltime and I don't want to spend the next 4 years busting my butt to get my Masters degree and have it possibly over-qualify me and hold me back from getting hired in full time.  College will be there later.  Masters degrees will be there later.  One on one days with the kids?  They're limited.  And I'm so glad I have made that discovery now rather than later.  My kids are only little for such a short period of time and I want to try to focus on them and not so much on building a career.  Sure, I'd love to be teaching full time but I also know that that would mean less time with my kids (no Friday-Mom-Days, more time planning at home etc) and right now I'm okay with not being full time.  I'm okay with putting the extra time into the boys (and soon baby sis) and viewing it as a blessing rather than a setback.  Sure, it may mean a few more years of doing photography more than I'd like, and it may mean driving my rusty but paid-off van instead of getting something shiny and new but I am choosing to be thankful for my Fridays with Hudson right now and thankful that I have been blessed with photography skills and a prosperous part time business that helps fill in the gaps when we need it to.

-Baby Sis (as we've come to call her) still does not have a name.  We have a few top contenders (and really, though, Ryan is pretty set on one name) but I'm not 100%.  I don't have an absolute favorite, but feel pulled by one in particular.  I don't know.  Regardless, we've decided to keep her name to ourselves until she is born.  Even if we decide I feel that this time I need to SEE her to be settled on her name.

Her room is coming along nicely!  Her walls are a light light spring green (very pale yellow/green).  New curtain rods have been hung and the curtains have been made (by me!) and hung.  We purchased a dresser at a resale shop and it was a pale yellow (which was pretty in itself but it clashed with the wall color) and I repainted it pink and distressed it so the yellow shows through in spots.  It is beautiful.  I love love love it.  I've attempted to work on her quilt today but only got so far as to cut out the 5" squares.  My sewing machine has taken a dump on me.  So, hopefully I'll get some progress done on that soon!  I still need a rug for her room though I kind of want to get the bedding done first to see if I need color or something neutral.  I wanted to do pink, but now that I have the curtains up I am leaning towards wanting something shaggy and cream/white colored.  We'll see.

The Sunday Wrap

FLAG FOOTBALL

Porter's flag football is going well.  He seems to really like it.  This past Saturday they split off into teams. Lucky Porter, he ended up on the Green team (his favorite color!).  They're called the Packers.   

Now, being the opinionated Mama I am, I did find myself quite annoyed at this most recent practice.  Let me explain.  The kids were split off into 6 different color teams.  There is one "main" coach (I'm assuming the High School Football Coach) and he oversees all 6 teams.  And each team is coached by about 6-8 high school football players.  Kudos to them for stepping in and spending their Saturday mornings teaching all these little rugrats.  HOWEVER... I was kind of annoyed at how so many kids seemed to get "lost" in the HS coaches playful banter against their buddies.

For example...in the beginning of practice Porter was the kid who started with the ball (Ryan tells me this is the Center).  He tosses the ball to Big Boy, and Big Boy passes it to Runner Boy.  And then the little squad of 5 or so kids run at the other teams squad of 5 or so kids.  Now, after Ball Tosser (Porter) passes the ball, everyone else runs and chases the kid with the ball (or tries to grab a flag or whatever)... and what is my kid doing?  Standing there.  In the middle of the field.  Dinking with his flag.  Okay.  Maybe he didn't pay attention.  But this happened FOUR plays in a row.  FOUR.   I don't know a thing about football but I'm pretty sure I've never seen a high school, college or pro game where the Ball Tosser just stands on the field while everyone else does their thing.  Why did these HS coaches... all 6 or 7 of them... not notice and give him direction?

And then... they'd just place kids in spots, and the HS coaches would go gather in their little huddle (okay there were two HS coaches on P's team that actually dispersed throughout the little kids to keep them on task).  I kept thinking... "Why don't they each choose a kid or two and follow that kid throughout the practice to explain what is going on as it is happening... while they're waiting ect.?"  Instead, they ball would get played, half the kids followed the ball (as did ALL of the HS coaches) while the other half of the kids ended up across the field tackling each other (none of which had the ball).  So... essentially, half the kids didn't have a clue what was going on at any given time. 

I know.. I know... I'm one of "those" mom's.  "I can do it better."   No.  I 100% admit I don't know a thing about football... but I do know they aren't reaching each of these kids or holding their attention and I feel there are better strategies they could be implementing.  And I also know that the HS coaches seemed much more interested in the banter with their buddies who were coaching the opposing team.... whose "team" won yards etc... rather than keeping the kids focused on what was really going on in the play.  

WHEW!  What a post.   I know.  I know.  My wise FIL made a very good point on Saturday.  He said... "These kids aren't going to be won this year.  They aren't going to be sold on this game this year, or fully invested.  You can't guarantee they will love football and want to play in 5-10 years.  BUT... you CAN lose them.  This is a critical time... those coaches aren't going to win the kids over this year... but they can easily lose them."   So. So. True.  

So I'm hoping that maybe as practices go on the HS coaches will gain a little insight or skill to teaching the sport that I know they love and know all about.  I hope that they do their best to reach all these little kids who are looking up to them and to instill in them the love of this game and not just the winning little scrimmages against their buddies. 

MASTERS CLASS

My class starts tomorrow and its safe to say I'm already dreading it.  Not to mention already behind.  I think we have an assignment due tomorrow.  I'm not in the mood or mental state to even deal with a class right now but I'm not sure if I should drop it and wait until next semester to take it.  

AWANAS

The boys started Awanas tonight.  It actually is the 3rd week but we didn't realize it had already started.  Hudson is in Cubbies- this is his first year.  Porter is in Sparks, and seems an old pro at going- confident and sure of himself.  Hudson kept telling us he "Hated Cubbies" and after talking to him about it he admitted that he was actually just really nervous about going.  I told Porter this and he ran downstairs to Hudson and said 'Hudson, you're going to have a lot of fun!  And if you don't know what to do, then you ask your teacher if you can come get me and I'll help you.  My room is right next door to yours!"  It was the sweetest thing.  They both did great at drop-off.  Hudson requested 4 hugs and 4 kisses (this has become his ritual... not sure the significance of the number 4?). 

Ryan and I had 2 hours alone!  We've declared Sunday our date night.  YAY!  This week we went to the Dawson's to pick up a smaller dog crate we are borrowing for Cooper (details on him soon!).  We hung out with them for a bit then went and got flurries at TJ Freeze.  

When we picked the boys up Porter wasn't even worried about seeing us... he said "hi" and smiled and turned right to Hudson's room and waited for him to come out.  When he came out he hugged him and was so excited to talk to him.  It was adorable.  I love seeing little tidbits of the boys like this.  There are so many hours full of fighting and bickering, but moments like this make up for it!

ISO PHOTOS

Oh I've been such a slacker on the website that was pretty much my idea.  Go figure I get all gung ho on an idea, ask Michelle to help start and run this thing and then I totally slack off.  Thank GOODNESS for Michelle, who has solely taken over my slackerness and been doing more than just her share of ISO.  

I did have an image to participate in this weeks challenge: Silhouette.   Its not new (boo) but it is from our recent trip to Mackinaw. We all went up to the Soo Locks to watch the ships come through.  It was really neat.  The ships (barges??) were HUGE!  I think this one in the picture was 800ft long.  

Spring Sports

Awhile back we had planned to sign Porter up for Learn to Skate lessons at a local ice rink.  However, this was at the beginning of spring and I thought we'd be miserable going to an indoor ice rink when it was just beginning to get nice outside.  

Instead, Porter said he wanted to play t-ball.  I was hesitant to sign him up as I feared t-ball would be too "slow" for him and he'd lose focus (which has happened... more later).  I also signed him up for soccer, thinking (knowing) he'd really like it. 

So, from April 16-March 21 Porter played AYSO soccer on Saturdays.  He really loved it (although complained about actually going to the practice/games he had a blast when he was there).  We will definitely sign him up again this fall when soccer season starts, although we're going to try out a different program that is run by a local university. 

I do have to say, little kids in soccer uniforms are so darn cute.  

Hudson usually spent the practice/game running around the field with other kids.  Too cute.  

Just after soccer ended, t-ball started up.  Perfect timing.  Porter has surprised me and really likes t-ball.  He does get a little distracted when they're playing the field (and we've seen him countless times sitting down, filling his mitt with dirt or grass haha!)

Despite him writing with his right hand, he's a lefty when playing ball.  He throws with his left and bats left handed.  Silly boy.  

Watch what you're thankful for...

Of course it backfires when I decide to be optimistic about the rain and be thankful that it has created such beautiful greenery around us.

It was cold and rainy all. stinkin. weekend. 

This was not good for our plans to put up 4' wood fencing around our yard.  Ryan got about 5 of the post holes dug and posts concreted in, and he also purchased all the fence panels but was unable to get anything else done.  Friday WAS beautiful, I can't complain about that.  Only.... I spent the day... the only gorgeous day of the weekend... doing a garage sale at my sisters.  I made a whopping $60 (ok, so its $60 more than I had before Friday and I didn't have any other plans but to sit around all day anyhow... which is what I did at the garage sale).  I hate garage sales.

Today is sunny but very chilly.  When will it warm up???

What else is new:

• Duncan got his hair lopped off on Friday.  I was so ready for it to be trimmed and ultimately decided to let her go shorter with his hair so we could go a little longer in between haircuts.  It had been 3 months since he was last groomed and that is TOO long.  We're going to try 8 weeks this time.  My word... I spend more on his hair than I do my own!  $55 every 8 weeks??? GAH!  I didn't' realize this when I decided to get a Goldendoodle.  We love him though.  

• Today started out just like a Monday...  I backed into the trailer that Ryan parked in the driveway full of fence panels.  I didn't see it on that side of the van and it is low so I didn't see it in the rearview.  Jacked up my bumper... made a hole in it .  GRR.   Then the vending machine in the lounge was out of water AND pop. And then I found out that while I had been hopeful at the prospect of 2, possibly 3, positions being open at my school next year... it isn't so.  Other people are filtering into those positions and its likely there aren't any openings at the other elementary schools either.  The next few weeks I'm going to get resumes ready and do my annual "turn in your resume to every school around" event.  Ugh.  I'm thinking of applying out of town as well... I hate to do that because of gas and I'd hate to have to commute and cut into my time with my kids. 
  
• I've decided to go back on Zoloft.  Target Pharmacy is filling my scrip as I type I'm sure.  While I've learned a lot of techniques to dealing with my stress/anxiety, I'm finding that the stressful things are piling up and I'm spending more time talking myself down from the stress and spending more time helping myself get through my anxiety than I am enjoying my life.  I think for the time begin I need a little helper and hopefully once life is a little more stable... I'm not working 2 jobs etc... then I'll try ditching them again. 
  
• There are only 4 weeks of school left.... this one being the only full week!  I can't wait for summer. Stressed though as we're about $1200 short  of having enough $$ to cover my checks throughout the summer.  I'll be picking up a few extra photography jobs this summer and trying to stay away from stores as much as possible.
  
• Last week Porter started t-ball.  He has 2 left hand mitts (so, for right hand throwing)... of course he's the opposite. He has practice tonight at 5 and I am not going to be able to get to the store to buy him a new mitt.  Hope he can muster one last practice being backwards HAHA!

And even older news:

• Our second follow-up with Dr. Bloom and Porter's ultrasound (May 2nd) was pretty much inconclusive.... everything looks a-okay inside and he hasn't been having his "episodes" lately so as of now we're doing nothing.  If things start acting up again Dr. Bloom said to call and make an appointment but for now he doesn't see the need to do anything else.
  
  
• During these trips to Mott's, I've really been enjoying my time with Porter.  I need to make more one on one time for each of the boys. They are such special little people and its amazing how their true personalities shine when they are my main focus.  These trips have also made me realize how incredibly lucky and blessed I am that we are only visiting Motts for a simple pee issue.  We have seen so many young children... and babies... with so many battles they are facing.  It makes me really count my blessings and be thankful that our visits here are for simple issues and that my children are healthy. 
  
  
• 3rd Annual Mega Meet/Archiver's trip (May 6th) was great.  This year it was me, Jane, LeeAnn, Jessica, Lori and Cristi that went.  I didn't get many pages done at Archiver's but I did get some great new product.  I was almost ready to back out of the the trip because of my crazy "missing my kids" feelings (oh, and Hudson also barfed Friday morning but we have a fabulous babysitter who said "GO! and I'll take care of it!" Bless you, Sam!).  I'm glad I went.
  
  
• Easter... boy I never blogged Easter.  Well, same as every year... we went to Lori and Don's, had dinner, egg hunt.  Kids played, I napped for a bit, everyone else played Phase 10, took some pictures outside of the monkeys in bunny ears.  Good times all around. 

Busy as a beaver

I knew this weekend was going to be busy and tiring, but I didn't realize just HOW tiring it really was going to turn out.   Awhile back I schedule my Mommy and Me Mini Sessions for this morning, not thinking anything of it.  Well, it turned out to be Porter's first soccer practice and game.  I had 3 mini's scheduled and I really didn't want to try to coordinate all 4 of our schedules to change the date, so I decided I'd just have to miss his first game.  I knew it'd probably be harder on me than him and it probably wouldn't even bother him.

THEN my May client had her baby 5 weeks early so I had to fit her in somewhere and today was the only day that worked out.  So, I basically did photography from 9am to 4pm and that was exhausting!  I think the newborn session was what did it... they are exhausting in themselves, on top of an hour drive to Dearborn and also on top of 3 mini sessions wrangling and performing for the kiddos to keep their attention.

On my way to Dearborn, my newborn session, Ryan had texted me that Porter played and scored!  I got tears in my eyes and called right away.  I was so proud of him.  I talked to him and got so choked up on the phone I could barely talk.  Pathetic, I know.  He was super excited and said he LOVED playing.  Ryan told me that after they played he came off the field and said "That was AWESOME Dad.  I LOVE it!  I want to do this EVERY Saturday morning!"  Ahhhhhhhhhh!  That is so exciting to hear!  Porter is always so hit or miss with activities... things I think he'll love he always ends up balking at.  

My newborn session lasted about 3.5 hours... kind of on the long side but she invested a lot of money into packages/digital files so it was worth it!  I was so tired on my way home, and just was feeling homesick. I'm not sure why... Yesterday the boys and I had a great day together.  Porter had a doctor's appointment in the morning and then we WERE going to go to some garage sales but it was cold and rainy and the local ones had cancelled.  We settled on St. Vincent and a resale shop down the road from our house.  The boys each had $5 in their piggy banks and each bought a truck at St. Vincent (I picked up a great wood frame that I revamped for our upstairs bathroom... pics to come!).   At the local resale shop I scored a little dresser/nightstand for $15 and some children's books.  Porter was craving Los Tres Amigos and talked me into that for lunch.  If he'd had it his way we'd have been eating at 10am!  We opened them up at 11am and the 3 of us shared some soft shell tacos and chips with cheese and salsa. YUM!  The 3 of us took naps in the afternoon and then after Ryan got home he took Hudson to get dog food while Porter and I went to JoAnn.   We let the boys stay up late and do a little art project and then have a cookie and watch a show.  It was a great day, filled with lots of togetherness, so maybe that's what I was missing today?

The weather was gorgeous today... 75* and sunny.  We ordered pizza and ate outside while the kids played with the neighbors.  I love that our house has kind of a "mini neighborhood" between our neighbors.  The kids can go from any of the 5 houses in our little "neighborhood" and never go near the road.  Its perfect... the kids went up to Kyle and Chloes for ahwhile then over to Eian and Kennedy's to jump on the trampoline and then McKenna, the neighbors granddaugher, came over with popcicles after dinner.

By bedtime I was whooped and once I tucked Porter in I went to lay down for "30 minutes" and get a second wind.  Ryan tried to wake me up and I snapped at him to "not tell me what to do" and "no I'm not getting up right now I'm grumpy and tired!"  HAHA!  I ended up waking up at 11pm and apologizing and now here it is almost 2am and I've frosted cupcakes, been the Easter Bunny, got goodie bags for the nieces tomorrow and done some laundry.  Time for bed!  I'm going to spend all day tomorrow doing family things... no work and no worries.

Happy Easter everyone!!

No title tonight

• Been busy with home "renovations"... as always.
  
  • Painted the entire basement (well, the finished area of it, not including my office).
  • Painted basement stairs (tedious!!).
  • Sanded, stained and poly'd our Duncan Phyfe dining room table.
    
  • Bought some new shrubs for the bare landscaping.

• Had a garage sale last week and did great! Sold a ton of large items, lots of baby stuff out the door. A little moolah in our pockets to fund our upcoming vacation to Holland.

• Porter had a birthday party to attend on Sunday for his little friend Ashley. He's actually only played with her once, but I'm hoping that we (as in, her mommy Rachel and I) can get together some more this summer!!

• Attended a Bead for Life party at Jane's. LeeAnn and Lukas were there and thankfully we (along with Kristen and Jane's mom) were the only ones there as Lukas and Porter were rambunctious little heathens. I'm sure Kristen is a little nervous to see what she has in store with little Rhenner!!
  

• Porter finally figured out how to pedal his bike! He's still not completely consistent on it, but he did manage to ride it over to the neighbors. He gets SO frustrated when the pedals get stuck in an awkward/hard to pedal position. He tends to get ticked off and then doesn't want anyone to help because he's so ticked. Temper, temper
  
  
• Porter had his soccer team photos tonight. I didn't buy any of the pictures (figured... hell, I can set my kid up with his foot on a soccer ball with some trees behind him and take a picture!) so I snapped a few of the team picture for the scrapbook and called it a deal! Out of the 6 or so pictures I took, this is the best one (and sadly, I had to photoshop one persons head in from another pic!). No one looked happy haha! Porter, precious little angel, started bawling when I made him go up with the team for the picture. What kind of mother does that to her child?!?! LOL!
  

• I am anxiously counting down the days... Two more days. Two more days... Two more days of work and I'm on summer break! Two more days and we head to Holland for the weekend with a. bunch. of. super. fun. friends. We're going to be a sight, that's for sure.... 7 kids under the age of 3! Three 3-year old boys, Two 2-year old girls and Two 1-year old boys. YIKES!
  

Soccer... getting to be fun

Last night Porter had his 3rd soccer game. The last one he didn't play at all. Practice was before the game (not idea, IMO) and by the time the game started he was done. Well, in his defense I had given him Tylenol with Codeine before the game to help with a cough/cold he had. Oops!

We were contemplating pulling him from soccer and getting our money back but decided it wouldn't be a great example to give him. We decided to just go to the games and put little to no pressure on him to play- but that he needed to wear his team shirt and sit and watch his teammates play.

Porter did great in practice, he was definitely acting more himself (although he did bring back the somersaults while he was waiting in line LOL!) nd he actually played in the game a little bit last night. He was able to kick the ball off to start (not sure what that's called??) and once he had control of the ball for a bit he was into it. However.... all good things come to an end, right? The second someone stole the ball from him he fell to the ground bawling. He just didn't understand that everyone is supposed to be able to kick the ball and that even if someone steals the ball he is supposed to go in and try to get it back. Made for some good laughs watching him go from huge smiles, running and having fun to a crumbling meltdown in a blink of an eye.

We celebrated with ice cream (and sprinkles!) and a trip to the park to feed the ducks with Lukas and LeeAnn. While eating ice cream we watched a pretty ridiculous show of "Jackson's Finest".... a large group of kids/teens/adults (all with I'm sure the same maturity level) scream and run around like yahoo's "scared" of the geese. At one point they were all (a couple kids and about 5 teens/adults, a few holding onto toddlers) standing on two picnic tables, screaming like idiots when the geese walked towards the tables. They then proceeded to take over the playground area and throw wood chips at the large family of geese. Ridiculous. We took the kids over towards the pond and quietly fed a small family of geese. I shot the Yahoo's a couple glares and notice them watching us feed the ducks who SURPRISE weren't lunging and charging at us like they were them.

First Soccer Game

Porter's first soccer game was... interesting.

I was a little disappointed in the program, the more I find out about it. Let me explain.

When I signed Porter up, for a 3/4 year old soccer program, I expected the games would be nothing more than a herd of 3 and 4 year old preschoolers who had no idea how to play the game of soccer... the only thing on their mind being "kick the ball".

When we arrived to the game, I began putting two and two together and realized the program had been condensed to include 3, 4 and 5 year olds.

At first it didn't seem like it'd be a problem, although you could definitely tell the 3 year olds from the 5 year olds... they were at least a head taller.

The game started and Porter was whiny. I finally got him excited to go out and play and immediately the ball was snagged by older kids and in the middle of the field was the straggling little kids, clueless as to what was going on. The older kids knew how to play and knew the objective of a game.

Porter lost interest QUICK. He wanted nothing to do with being out on the field. Why would he? He had no chance to get to the ball. He's not a competitive kid by nature and when he had zero chance of getting to the ball he really could have cared less about playing. He did have fun for a few minutes when he was put in the game and the older kids were pulled out. He ran after teh ball with the group of other little kids, laughing and giggling.

I hate to be one of those annoying parents who are all "My kid... blah blah"... but honestly? 3, 4 and 5 year olds? That's equivalent to putting Porter and Hudson on the same team. Essentially, they're putting kids getting ready to go into preschool on the same team, and against, kids who possibly are going into 1st grade in the fall.

I wrote a letter to the soccer director expressing my displeasure in the program. The parents meeting last week was so.... "Oh there's no score. Our goal is for all the kids to have fun and play and enjoy games. Every child will get equal playing time." But... how is it fair/equal when the littler kids, who have never played a sport, can't even get a fair chance to get to the ball?

I only wanted Porter to have a chance to play with other kids his age, to kick a ball around and run around a field. At this age I am not concerned at all with him learning much about skills or drills or plays. I wanted it to be a fun experience where he could get out some energy and have fun and run around with friends.

I wasn't the only parent concerned/surprised at the age/skill level differences. I wasn't the only one irritated or dissatisfied.

Anyhow... we're sucking it up and we'll stick it out for the next 6 weeks. I am hoping that maybe Porter will catch on, become a little more aggressive and jump in there. If not, well, I guess its a lesson learned. I'll just wait until he's old enough to play AYSO where the teams are run a little better.

First Soccer Practice

Porter's first soccer practice was last night. Up until now (and, well, even most of the time now) he really hasn't shown a huge interest in sports. He'll play for a bit but then he's onto other things. In the yard he'd much rather drive his trucks around in the dirt or his new favorite... riding his quad. At the meeting on Monday night ("meet the team") he had a blast. He took off running and grabbed a ball and was kicking it around all night. He was thrilled to hear we were having practice again the following day!

So, Tuesday we arrived at the soccer field and met LeeAnn and Lukas. We found out our coach had been changed, which isn't so bad because the new guy seems great. The kids were HILARIOUS. I have got to take my Flip next time to record this. Its too cute to watch.

Porter had fun for the first half. I'm so glad I trusted my gut instinct and insisted on a practice on another night rather than before the game. 20 minutes into the practice Porter was doing this:

"Look, Mom! I'm on my head! Heee!! HEE HEEE!!"

There is no way he'd make it through a half hour practice plus a half hour game. In his defense, he is probably one of the youngest kids on the team. Some of the other moms were saying their kids were 4; 4 1/2. And... he did gulp down two "Flushies" at Target before practice :)

He did, however, manage to get some practicing in.





All in all, I think Porter will really enjoy soccer in small spurts at this stage. Its a good constant activity and I think that is definitely something he needs to keep his attention. I really just want something to keep him occupied, get him used to listening to another adult and following directions, having fun with other kids and burning up some of his endless energy!