Ryan's First Soccer Game

This past Saturday started a new soccer season for the boys.  Phillip's game was scheduled bright and early at 8:20.  So we got up, shoved down some breakfast and headed out the door.  As soon as we drove into the parking lot we realized something was up.  There wasn't a soul there.  I hadn't even thought of checking the rain-out schedule because we hadn't had rain for a few days, but sure enough, they deemed Phillip's side of the complex too wet to play on.  You couldn't have seen a sadder boy.  We're talking real tears here.  What made it worse was when we drove across the bridge separating the two sets of soccer fields, and saw that the other fields, being slightly higher in elevation were still playable.  So while Phillip's game was canceled, Ryan still got to play a couple of hours later.

It was the first time I got to use the larger zoom lens on our camera and I had so much fun.  One of these days, I'm going to actually take a photography class and learn to take some really good pictures, but thank goodness I have a nice camera that makes up for user error.  I still think they turned out pretty great, plus the subject matter is pretty fun to look at too :)

Cahokia Mounds

Being in moving limbo makes it really hard to plan trips or vacations.  That's why this year our kids' spring break was pretty uneventful.  We played with friends, went to parks, enjoyed the beautiful weather, visited the Magic House, and pretty much just enjoyed lazy mornings and care-free days (except for the times when we frantically rushed to put the house together for house showings). 

On Friday, much to my children's chagrin, we went to Cahokia Mounds (The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico), in Illinois.  My kids aren't much for museum-type entertainment, but I figure as their parent it's my obligation to subject them to various experiences and get them off of the t.v., computer, video games (insert other electronic device here), and out of the house.

It wasn't an earth-shattering experience where they begged my forgiveness for their initial dissension because the experience was so life-changing, but it did get us out of the house, and we got to see another culture from another time.

You might have to squint, but if you look REALLY closely, you can see the St. Louis Arch in the distance

 

14!

Wow...Sophie is 14 years old now.  She is also officially taller than me.  That just boggles my mind (not the "taller than me" part...that was inevitable, but my jaw is still on the floor to think I have a 14 year old).  Sophie's birthday was pretty low-key this year.  We didn't do a birthday party.  I figure after 12, you're kind of out of party mode.  We might do something for her 16th birthday, because that is a biggie, but this year we did family stuff.  Sophie is very much into fashion and so all she wanted for her birthday was clothes.  We went shopping, shopping, shopping.  She also got to go to her first church dance (the starting age for those is....14).  She had a great time and 7 boys asked her to dance.  I love that she counted.  It's so sweet...just like she is.

I love Sophie's enthusiasm and the thrill she gets from simple things in life.  Her smile and joy are contagious.  I am so lucky to have such a caring, kind, honest, responsible, fun-loving daughter.  I love to be around her. 

She begged and begged and BEGGED me to home-school her this year and I really did not want to do it.  After-all, Phillip started kindergarten and it would have been my first taste of "freedom".  But, after much prayer and thought and discussion with other home-schoolers, we decided to give it a shot.  I'm so glad we did.  I like to say this is the best decision I never made, because it was really Sophie's initiative that got this ball rolling, but I have fully benefited from it.  It is a joy to be around her and I love our time together.  I imagine that once we get out to Colorado, she will go to high-school, and before I know it, she will be off to college.  I will always cherish this year that we have had together!

Turtle Park

On our way home from visiting the Bakers at the Arch, we stopped at one of the kids' favorite St. Louis landmarks....Turtle Park.  We will miss this place!

Oh no, the snake is eating Ryan.

Whew!!!  He's O.K.

The Bakers

One of the benefits of facebook is the ability to connect with people that you otherwise would have very little contact with.  I'm "friends" with Jason Baker on facebook because he and Dave were good friends in high school and roommates in college and because Dave doesn't have a facebook account yet. 

While perusing through facebook a couple of weeks ago I noticed a post from Jason stating that they were on their way to Branson.  I assumed he meant Branson, Missouri (is there any other?), and let him know that if they needed a place to stop over on their way, they were more than welcome to crash here.  He then let me know that they were all set, but that they would be stopping at the Arch the next day for a little bit.  Seeing as the Arch is relatively close to us, we loaded everyone in the car and met up with them for a few minutes.  It was a beautiful day and their kids are similar in age to ours, so it was fun for them to get to run around together for a little while, and to reconnect with Jason and Cara for a few minutes.

Girl's Camp

This year Maddie and Sophie got to go to girls' camp together for the first time.  They actually didn't camp at all (although considering their humble housing accommodations, they might argue with you there), but went up to Nauvoo for a few days and got to visit some of the historic church sites up there.  They had a great time!

1st Lost Tooth

Last month Phillip lost his first tooth.  I found it so strange that it was one of his back teeth.  All of my other kids' first lost teeth were one of their top or bottom middle teeth.  Oh well, Phillip never has been one to fit the mold, why should he start now?