Roly Poly and the latest Superheroes!

Saturday was such a nice family day. We had an early morning Soccer Game which was AWESOME, of course. Then we relaxed and laughed together. The kids took some funny pictures of everyone...then we hung out at this new shopping center near us. Got some frozen yogurt with yummy toppings, then walked to watch the fountain shows set to music. It was a beautiful day. We were together and I was happy to be with my family - all day!

Kyle is quite the "roly poly" these days. While he's rolled from his back to front for a while, he just figured out rolling the reverse direction as well. And he's discovered his feet; that always cracks me up! Back to Mr. Roly Poly...no more leaving him on the bed! This guy can move! Today when I'd leave him for just a few minutes, I'd return to find him on the opposite side of the room. It's cute because you can see in his eyes when I find him far away from where I left him, how much he enjoys this new independence! He's so happy to move around on his own! But now for the next year and a half, I have to worry about small choking hazards! Legos, bouncy balls, etc...Makes me nervous! Here's a common occurence...Kyle watching his big brothers. He loves to watch them!
My three sons.
Sean LOVES fruit. All kinds. He will try steal it from anyone's plate if his supply is gone. Watermelon is one of his favs. So the last few weeks of Soccer Games half-time snack has included watermelon. The challenge is to not allow Sean to eat all of the team's treats. Fortunately for Sean, there was plenty this week and since Ryan doesn't care for watermelon, he decided to give his share to his brother. Aww. how nice:) Sean was super grateful! My very own Super Hero's to the rescue!

If you have boys and they enjoy playing dress-up, and you have few options compared to girl siblings or friends, check out these costumes! Scott and his sister had a superman and wonderwoman type costumes like these when they were small. So when my boys saw dad's picture in one, they quickly asked grandma to find that fun superman costume! She found wonderwoman, but Superman was lost in the ages...so I borrowed the idea and came up with these! Really an easy costume to sew. They love them and it puts a big smile on my face! I made two of each so if they both want to be Batman or Superman or we have friends over, there's no issues to solve. (yes, Ryan's superman is a little high because I made the waistband too small...so I have to fix that up, but other than that they are set to go!) I love that with these, they want to be good guys...sometimes with swords, they want to try to be bad guys and I have a hard time with that. We'll have to see what I can talk them into for Halloween...Ryan is convinced he wants to be "Dark Vador" even though he's only seen a bit with his cousins...he really doesn't know anything about Star Wars...so we thought. Apparently he sorta does. The other night as he was trying to convince us that he knew what Star Wars was and had seen some of it, he began to describe Darth Mal. It was hilarous since we truly didn't think he knew what he was talking about...guess he does!

So does anyone think these costumes are sufficient for Halloween...even though they are sorta like bibs? I don't have the rest put together yet, but they would coordinate, be cute and good guys.

* I am a Soccer Mom *

Yes! The day has finally come. We've been excited for this part of our lives for a long time...and unlike some leagues, this is the first year Ryan is eligible to play in this area. Honestly, the first day of practice, Scott went a bit early to meet with his assistant coahes. So as I was driving and as I got into the turning lane at the practice location, I noticed there was a Suburban and then I was the 4th minivan in a row lined up to take my kid to soccer practice! I got a bit Verklempt (overcome with emotion)! Anyhow, it's really fun! Scott is the coach! He's so cute with the kids as he cheers and encourages each child individually. He's taught them super fun drills and practices are fun for all. In turn, the kids seem to really love him! It's so cute when they call him, "Coach Scott." Although we've been practicing for 3 weeks, we had our first game on Saturday.

GO COMETS! I was so proud of Ryan! He's had a lot of fun in practices, but I wasn't sure how an actual game was going to go - even though the last few scrimmages were definitly improving. Afterall, they are five year olds and just learned the game. He did AWESOME! The team did AWESOME! Coaches are also referees at this age level, so they are on the field with the kids all the time - really a great plan. He was able to remind the kids about their positions and cheer them along!
Attacking the ball - we were so proud he got in that pack of 5 year olds! Can you tell?
Half-time. He and a teammate fell after blocking a goal! Even though the game was only at 10 AM - it was still super hot. Despite the heat, Ryan totally tried so hard! I was so proud of him!
We can't wait for the next 9 games!
Scott and I could not stop talking about how fun the game was all day. Watching my own kid play in a game was one of the most fun things I've ever done! Being a soccer mom is GREAT!

End of summer festivities

Merrill Lynch hosted a company picnic at the Sacramento Zoo a few weeks ago. It was a great place for a company picnic. Nice shady area for visiting with co-workers and then we could go see the zoo with our families. Even though the Sac Zoo isn't the most amazing zoo and even though most the animals were sleeping, it was a fun day.

Our kids are easily wooed. There was corn dogs, Popsicles, juice, small plastic toy animals and the creme de la creme - animal masks! We frequent zoos fairly often and ever since they saw a picture of their cousins with zoo souvenir animal masks they ask for a mask every time. Hooray! They finally got their wish:)baby Zebra, Lion and Elephant. Have you ever seen a giant Anteater? They are really ugly. When we saw the nasty animal, I tell the kids my issue. So Ryan says, "Well, I think I like Anteaters, because they eat the ants and I don't like ants." Good reasoning Ryan. So right. Proud of you for not discriminating by appearances:) Baby Lion.
Previously mentioned...cute car exersaucer.
Last camping trip of the year. Our life has been sooo busy lately. So labor day weekend, we took the kids to Jenkinson Lake for one last camping trip. Our boys LOVE camping. Jenkinson lake is so clear and pretty. The main lake is super blue. And it's only about an hour from us! Our spot was up on the hill in the woods and it was beautiful - lakeside is awesome, but we didn't plan in advance.

Up a finger of the lake...nice skipping Scott!
This is up the finger of the lake again. The green from trees is reflected onto the water.
Mmmm. Camping breakfast is goo-ooood! Pancakes, eggs and bacon. Same stuff as at home, but it tastes maybe even better when camping.
Kyle camped out in the "pod." He was a good camper too - so easy going! The boys rented a canoe. They were in heaven.
They figured out that this was their first "boat ride."
It was a great day and those boys were beat. Sean even said so...then asked if I knew what "beat" meant and then taught me the meaning. They fell asleep on the way home before In-n-Out and when we stopped to wake them up for dinner, we couldn't even get a moan out of them. After finally waking them up, eating and getting back in the van, Sean announced his tiredness and asked if he could close his eyes again! Whoa!

What a great summer. Good times. Good memories.

My kids are getting too old!

Ahh! Where does time go?







Scott mentioned tonight the good ole days when Sean would tell me he was tired and wanted a nap. True story! He used to ask for a nap frequently. These days neither Ryan or Sean nap, unless they are sick (a whole different topic - but I sorta enjoy when they get sick because they sleep and are cuddly - obviously it depends on how sick they are - and we are fortunate because usually they are sick for less than 24 hours). Somehow since Sean turned three he has grown up a ton! He hangs with Ryan so sometimes I have to remind myself that he's nearly two years younger and he's only three! But then I look at him and he doesn't look like my little Seanny any more! He's lost the rounder cheeks of a toddler. Lucky for me he still loves to cuddle and will take it any time I can give it. And is understanding when I can't.

The sad thing that I'm also realizing is that Ryan has been old for a long time! He had to grow up quick because Sean was born before Ryan was two. So I probably didn't get to enjoy his second year of cuteness as much as I did for Sean. Don't get me wrong, I obviously enjoyed him lots, but he wasn't the baby for as long as Sean was. I'll tell you what though, he certainly has risen to the challenge of being the big brother. We expect a lot from him and usually he meets that expectation. This picture is about a month before he turned three. I wish I could jump into that picture and give him a big hug! Now he's in Kindergarten!


Kyle has been rolling over for almost a month! And yesterday I discovered his first tooth broke through his gums! What? Just barely 4 months old! We had no symptoms of a teething baby aside from some drool.
**UPDATE: Second tooth broke through 2 days later!





He is two weeks older than his birthday if you consider his gestational age...which for the first year makes a big difference. He's still a super sweet baby. He talks/grunts a lot. Making him laugh is really exciting! He doesn't laugh all the time, so when he's game it's so fun. Typically Ryan is still the clown to make him giggle, but I got him going tonight! It was a great mommy moment:)

I got Kyle a fun exersaucer the other day. Never had that toy for the others since it was so big...but I decided with so much going on, I needed another place for Kyle to play while I was getting stuff done. It's super cute, but man, he looks so old in it! And he had to have his first haircut on Sunday! Since most of his long birth hair hasn't fallen out and it continues to grow, it needed a trim. His newborn stage certainly flew by! I blinked and he wasn't a newborn anymore! We had his 4 month appointment the other day and he was 19 lbs 10 oz!

The small one is me and Ryan. What a sweetheart!

Here is Kyle probably less than a week old.

Here's the happy guy at 19 pounds:)
As Dori in Nemo says, "Squishy, Here squishy! I will
call you squishy and you will be mine."

I'm sure I messed up that line and I'll correct it later when I get the real thing from Scott or Ryan.

Man! Time flies. Thanks for strolling down memory lane with me...I promise I'll look at it a million times.

Yesterday morning...Ryan says, "Kyle's skin feels like plastic."

Either it's just so smooth and soft or taught thighs and cheeks...not sure which.

I really love my kids at their stages now but I miss parts of them little too!

I need to take more videos.

Kindergarten!

Today was the day! Honestly, I've been excited
for this day for a long time. I'm so excited for
all that Ryan-going-to-school will add to our lives!
Back-to-school nights, homework, activities, parent/teacher conferences, etc!










Here he is all ready to go...to bad he had to wait another half hour! He is in the afternoon class, so we had a relaxing morning as we got ready. When I made his lunch...he asked for an apple - he's not usually an apple fan. Random...but it cracked me up because he somehow associated apples and school. Anyhow, he wanted to get ready pretty quick. While choosing his outfit, he confided that he was a "tiny bit scared of going to Kindergarten." I assured him that his teacher was going to be great and he was going to meet lots of new friends and once he got there and got into it, he'd be fine and that I'd be there to pick him up when school was finished. Scott always had the perfect way of saying things. His response was, "I was always nervous my first day of school too because I didn't know what to expect. etc." (I think I had the same idea...but he said it better :) After Scott gave Ryan his first day of school father's blessing, we hoped in the van and were off. Then on the way, he says, "But I don't know where the bathroom is at school."


It's a really cute and old school - the principal says the oldness adds to the character of the school and he loves it.

Fun Factoid: There is a sign in Ryan's Kindergarten class that says this is the same room Summer Sanders attended Kindergarten...if you are not from around here you may not remember, but she is an Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer 1992.

Now the parents were invited to stay the first hour of class. I assumed that was optional - and the principal even said so at the New Parent Orientation. Scott had to leave prior to the hour mark and we drove together...thinking we'd stay a bit and then head out - especially since the other boys were in tow too. Weellll.... the teachers had a different plan. There was a list of probably twenty things to do with your children in the class room, including making a flower, a house and a parachuting teddy bear, touring the classroom, meeting the teachers, etc. Anyhow this would have been really cute and enjoyable except that Sean was tired and Kyle was hungry and Scott had to leave and we had one car at school. Scott got the stroller from the van, Sean camped out in that. Scott took my van home and left a door open for us. I held an uncomfotable Kyle and helped Ryan complete his tasks - but imagine 26 students with at least 1 parent each...many with 2 and trying to complete the same stations we were going to...so crowded! Oh yea, and I'm a little sick. I got a head cold with a stuffy/runny nose. Then the students went out to play. I said goodbye to Ryan and he said he had to go to Recess (he learned what that was this morning:).
The teacher went over a few things and then parents were to leave and say good-bye as the kids came inside. As I gave Ryan another hug, he handed me a little baggie with Hershey's hugs an kisses. On the outside it said, "Please enjoy these Hugs and Kisses until I can come home and give you the real thing." Then our friends kindly gave me and the two little boys a ride home.
It was super chaotic, so there was no opportunity to reflect on the hugeness of this day! I kinda wanted to soak it in...watch my baby be a big boy in school! I had no idea that dropping him off would have been so involved and without my "crew" in tow it could have been pretty cute and enjoyable.

Does going to Kindergarten automatically make you look older? I wasn't thinking he looked much older than usual until I saw the last picture of him at the tables! What a cutie.

His teacher is Mrs. Rath. She seems so sweet and must know what she's doing, because she's taught at the school for almost thirty years. My worries and wonders about his first teacher are no more. My first impressions today were great!

We are so proud of him and can't wait to see all the things this year has in store for him and us! It's going to be so fun to see him learn and grow!!!!! Can't wait!

And ... for your squishing pleasure.

Austrailia Women's Basketball...

What were you thinking when you bought these uniforms?

In our Olympic obsession, we happened upon Austrailia's game against Russia and they did great. Too bad I seriously could not stop laughing!

It's a one piece short length unitard! I can't imagine that this uniform would be functional. Imagine shooting a basketball and your shorts/unitard riding up! I think a regular leotard would be more comfy than with the shorts attached for the purpose of basketball. Okay, I'm no basketball expert, but are shorts and a jersey uncomfortable? Was there a need to find a new design?

Now take a look at their color design. The yoke (sp?) angling created a very high rear end from the back. These lovely ladies running around the court in these uniforms made me laugh hysterically.

As for other Olympic hype...we love it all! I love the swimming, diving, running, gymnastics! There is something about Olympics that captures my interest. I honestly don't always watch all of these events if part of some other competition. How amazing is Dara Torres? She's awesome. 41 and almost got the gold! I wanted it for her so bad! Michael Phelps is obviously fabulous and we have loved watching him!

As for Austrailia...I love you too, especially for making me laugh!

Boys interview August 2008

I thought it'd be fun to record some of the kids answers to interview questions after seeing Jillian do the same. These things crack me up. The answers are their own true answers...

What is something mom always says to you?
Ryan: I love you.
Sean: Stop doing stuff.
Mom: What stuff?
Ryan: He meant doing naughty stuff.

What makes mommy happy?
R: putting seat belts on by yourself
S: Putting my pants on all by myself

What makes mommy sad?
R: Not putting seat belt on when mom asks me to.
S: Not listening
R: Breaking crayons

How does mommy make you laugh?
R: tickling
S: tickling

How old is mom?
R: I don't know, 15
S: 15

What's mom's favorite thing to do?
R: Go places, chuck e cheese or the store
S: On the Border or to a restaurant

What's mommy really good at?
R: Juggling (I can juggle scarves)
S: Teaching your class

How are you and mom the same?
R: Our faces are the same.
S: Our noses are the same

How are you and mom different?
R: Our noses
S: you are silly.

What is mom's favorite food?
R: Burritos
S: Burritos

What do you like to do with mom?
R: Go to Chuck e Cheese
S: Go to On the Border
R and S: PLAY UNO!

What is your favorite food?
R: Ginger beef sandwiches or a corn dog
S: Cereal, spaghetti or Hangabers (Hamburgers)

What is your favorite part of the Olympics?
R: Diving and seeing the Great Wall of China
S: The drums (Opening Ceremony)

What is your favorite fruit?
R: Pineapple
S: Blueberries

What is your favorite vegetable?
R: Asparagus
S: Broccoli

What is your favorite part of church?
R: Drawing pictures in my class
S: Singing in nursery

What is your favorite dessert?
R and S: Strawberry Shortcake

Favorite place to go?
R: Disneyland or Hershey Park (says Disney is best though)
S: Chuck E Cheese

What is your favorite toy?
R: Transformers
S: Legos

I think it's funny how they answer some questions because they think it's a good answer - for example...the toy question. The only real transformer Ryan has is pretty complicated and we don't ever play with it...and he's never seen a transformer cartoon or movie. I should have split them up when I asked questions because some answers were certainly influenced by brothers. Chuck E Cheese is surely a favorite around here - and they ask to go all the time. They know we think the pizza is gross, so they ask to go just for the games/rides and not to eat. I think it's funny they are so obsessed. We don't go much and we've got other great things we do more frequently that I enjoy more.

Kyle can't answer any questions but is a happy boy! He started rolling over a few weeks ago and got really good at it this week. However he's at that stage where he rolls over to his belly is happy and proud of himself. Looks around with a smile for a bit with good back strength...but then after a few minutes gets tired and is done being on his tummy. So then he's grunting and face plants into the floor. After a few times of me helping him to return to his back, he immediately flips over but is already done being on his belly and is mad instantly. It cracks me up. If you don't want to be on your belly, don't turn over:) Sometimes it seems almost like a reflex. A toy does distract him from the instant roll over for a bit, but he's not great at playing with toys yet so it doesn't stay in his hands (I put the toy in his grasp)very long. He's super happy and smiles lots for us with some laughs mostly at big brother Ryan.

Anyhow, we are loving the Olympics...but tired from staying up so late!