Flag Football

I signed Chase up for Flag Football and I must say I was a little worried that he wouldn't like it. To my pleasant surprise he LOVES it! He listens very well to the coaches and tried out many positions. In the picture here it looks like he is protecting the ball carrier. He received the first MVP award for sacking the quarterback for his team.

Happy Birthday Auntie!

Happy Birthday to you! Ryder made a special birthday hat all by himself just for his Aunt Kate and I made the "Dirt Cake", Halloween edition per Kate's request.

I think that everyone enjoyed the cake! Ashtyn was feeding Ava the cake, very cute, but of course by the time that I got the camera out Ava was over it.


Yummy!

Soccer Monster

It is soccer season yet again and still I wonder if Ryder will ever score a goal in a game. Oh well, I think that this may be our last season. He still likes going which is wonderful and I think that he would prefer to play goalie, (which they don't do at his age).

Oh no, time for homework

Starting Kindergarten means homework for Ryder. So today he got a homework packet for the first time. He has a week to complete it, thank goodness. (It comes home on Monday and he turns it in on Friday.) So, after school I asked Ryder if he wanted to do his homework and he was very excited about it initially. But almost immediately he wanted to give up, (something I'm used to with my experiences with Chase). He had to write his name in lower case letters, rather than the all caps that he knows. So after struggling with just the simple task of putting his name on his homework we put off the rest until after dinner. So after dinner here we are again, I insisted that he do at least one page from his packet, his choice. He started to complain that he didn't know what to do and didn't want to do it. To the rescue, (like a good big brother), Chase offered to help Ryder with his homework, (well, because he is a seasoned student now he can show Ryder the ropes). It doesn't happen often, (it is starting to happen more and more), but when Chase offers to help with his younger siblings I could practically burst with pride. So tonight in that moment I knew that I was raising a good kid. And to Ryder's credit he completed his page and then one more from his packet with his brother helping him. I had to capture this moment, could it be any sweeter?

A Sea of Fans

I don't think that I have ever been so excited at a sporting event! (Well except for my senior year of high school when we beat Monte Vista after like 13 consecutive losses and then I was one of the students running onto the field). And I wasn't the only excited spectator as you can see. Everyone was on their feet celebrating and those who were close enough ran onto the field. You could just feel the energy everywhere. If I was this excited just try to imagine how Brian felt.

Kindergarten has come...FINALLY!

With much anticipation, Ryder's first day of Kindergarten was today! It was a little hectic for me this morning. Brian worked a shift at the North County Fire Station today, so he was gone before we got up. I had to get the whole gang ready and out the door on time. It is nice to have Brian at home on mornings like these and I surely missed him. I guess I'll have to get used to it.


Here he is ready to go into his classroom with flowers in hand for his teacher. It is important to make a good first impression, you know, (especially if you're a rambunctious little boy). Just as I expected he went right in with no worries and as with Chase I had to remind him to say good bye and give me a kiss, (well and Ashtyn too). I feel very comfortable with him at Bethlehem Christian, I get such a warm feeling there and I'm sure he must feel it too. His teacher, Mrs. Ramich has been teaching there for years, however this is the first that we've had her. Having been taking Chase and Ryder to this school for going on our 5th year, the anxiety of the first day is minimal and I was really just very excited for him. But as I walked him up to the door I did have a moment of sadness. Watching him walk into the classroom I thought, now two of my babies have moved on to new experiences in their lives. No more are the toddler days, Ryder is now a -full day-grade schooler. They no longer need me quite the same way as before. He was so proud to be on his way and pretty much had the same attitude when I went to pick him up. So far so good. He reported to me that he ate all his lunch, had 3 recesses and received a gold star sticker for good behavior. What more could I ask for?
Just a few weeks ago I called him, "baby" and he told me that he was NOT a baby, he was a big boy! I said to him, "I know you're a big boy, but you'll still always be Mommy's baby". And after a moment of thought, he reluctantly said, "OK". He can be so fiercely stubborn and some moments can be terribly challenging with him. At the end of the day he will always be my baby no matter how old he gets. He still will crawl into bed with me at night occasionally and I have such a hard time saying no. With all of the running and jumping and energy that he usually has, it is only at those times that he is calm and will snuggle up close and quietly sleep next to me. I wouldn't say that he is a mama's boy though, (as much as I try). He tries as hard as he possibly can to do and be just like Brian. And even if he isn't trying, he is definitely his father's son through and through. With Ryder, my new motto is this: embrace the quirks!

The Dawgs get the W

After nearly two years the Huskies finally won!!! It is hard to see on the score board behind Brian and sleeping Ashtyn but the final score: Huskies 42, Idaho, 23. We took Ashtyn with us to the game and lets just say that we will not be bringing her again this season. She fell asleep about 10 minutes before the game was over, (just our luck). A beautiful day on Lake Washington as you can see. Our seats are under cover so we weren't in the sun, fortunately.

Back to school day 2

Staying good with my promise, Chase got on the school bus this morning. I was nervous, but there were several kids at the bus stop and one mom had good things to say about the bus driver, Miss Vanessa. Chase knew a few of the kids and did not seemed worried at all. (Now as it is getting closer to the time that school gets out I'm worried that he might not get on the bus or get on the wrong bus. I should have gotten him a cell phone!) I had no idea that we had so many kids around the neighborhood. We are pretty isolated on our street, I don't let the boys go beyond our street unless I am with them. I think I will be a nervous reck until he gets off the bus this afternoon.

Ryder still has a few more days until he begins Kindergarten. What will Ashtyn and I do without the boys all day long?? Finally get some peace and quiet! Ashtyn just started a Little Gym class. It is every Tuesday and she loves it!

For all you party people...

Despite waking up early and taking a half-hour nap, Ashtyn can still party.

What? A second grader already??

What a cool kid! New clothes, new back pack, he is ready! When he came home his only complaint was that they only had 6 minutes for lunch. Therefore he didn't get to eat his all his lunch, which he made himself last night. He was happy that he had a lot of friends from last year in his class and they worked on a project that he liked.

So my eldest child started the second grade today and I have one question, where did all the time go? I received a picture of Adam today on his first day of Preschool and it brought back so many memories. It seem like just yesterday Chase was heading off to Preschool and I was so excited and nervous for him. I guess my feelings haven't changed much, for this morning I felt very much the same, excited and nervous. He has truly accomplished a lot in his short 7-1/2 years. He's gone from the basics of learning to be a good friend in Preschool to the wonderful student and son that he is now. He has a love for reading and can read pretty much anything. He loves baseball and is starting flag football soon. He is the household Wii master. He is a good brother and is very helpful with his little sister. OK so he and Ryder fight a lot, but I don't see that changing anytime soon. Like every 7-1/2 year old he has his good times and bad, but mostly good times. It can be hard being the oldest.
Today I drove him to school and walked him to his classroom, like I have every day since that first day of Preschool. He walked in with flowers in hand for his teacher and I had to remind him to say good-bye to me and give me a kiss before I left, (at least he isn't embarrassed to kiss me yet). Tomorrow he will start taking the bus, he's been asking and I can't keep saying no. So tomorrow will be another first and again I will be excited and nervous for him, (mostly nervous). Brian asked me if I will be able to sleep tonight. I had to give it a second thought but I will be just fine, he has all the tools he needs.
We are so proud of him, he has accomplished everything that I dreamed he could, and more that I never thought about. I feel excited for his future, but for right now I'd like him to just be the 7-1/2 year old he is. When I can still sort-of remember when he was 19 months old, (like Ashtyn is now) and would play with his ears when he was tired.