Rock hopping

I decided on a nice warm and sunny afternoon to take the kids to the river for some "rock hopping". We have had so little rain this year that the river is very low so I thought it would be perfect.
I grabbed my camera, picked the kids up right from the bus stop and off we headed.

This picture of Connor is the only one I got from our adventure because right after I took it the battery died on the camera. Bummer!

However, rock hopping with four young children, all by myself, was not the best idea I ever had. So, I am pretty sure even if my battery hadn't died there wouldn't be many more pictures because with-in minutes I admitted defeat and back home we went. I was impressed at what troopers the kids were about leaving so soon after arriving though!

Swim lessons

Maggie started back at swim lessons last week! She was thrilled and just couldn't wait. Thank goodness it was at 10 in the morning because patience is something that Maggie doesn't have a lot of!

She has a new instructor because she moved up to a higher level and although he has big shoes to fill (the instructor last year was FANTASTIC) Maggie did great.

Now Maggie is looking for the "remote of life" to get her as quickly as possible to her next lesson. I wonder if you can buy patience???

Remote for life

Remotes.

How many of these do you have in your house?

If you are like many house-holds in our country right now you probably have many of them. We don't have as many as most just because we aren't really into electronic gadgets. Still, we have enough to get remotes confused.

I want a new remote, but the kind I want doesn't exist.

I want a remote for life.

I want to be able to have a little more control over things, like time. What I could do with such a thing. Just think of the possibilities.

Pausing a perfect moment. Slowing down a wonderful day. Even muting a person that is driving you crazy (hey, if you got it use it, right!).

It wouldn't be often that I would use the fast forward button. Life goes by way to fast as it is. It is very rare that I am wishing time away. But this past weekend I could have used that fast forward button many times. It would have come in so handy.

Thursday night when I was waiting to hear from Chris who was at the emergency room getting a cat scan. (He found out he has two hernias and a blockage and that he would need surgery to fix them).

Friday afternoon when my niece was having surgery to remove an infection that she got weeks after having her wisdom teeth out. (She did great and is recovering nicely)

Friday evening when I was waiting to hear from my best friend who went to the hospital with severe stomach pains.

Friday night when Chris went into emergency surgery because one of his hernias became an emergent situation. (Everything went very smooth and Chris has been recovering fantastically and quickly)

Saturday when I found out my best friend was going in to the hospital for tests because things in her body were showing that something could possibly be VERY WRONG! (Things look more positive but still no definite answers.)

And right now, as I am waiting for my best friend to get out of the first surgery of (hopefully) only two. She will be in another one tomorrow and I will be wishing for a fast forward button then too.

So, as you can see, that button would have gotten a lot more use over the past few days then ever before. But also, the slow down button would have gotten a lot of use for the great moments the last few days. There have been many of those too.

Like watching this little guy play with his barn which he loves.

I don't really wish there was a remote for life as that is not how life is supposed to be, but sometimes I can think of the possibilities, right?

Dangly earrings

Ever since the girls got their ears pierced a few months ago they have been asking for "hanging down earrings" or as I call them "dangly earrings".

I really don't think for two active little girls it is a good idea. I feel that studs are really be safest option for my girls at this point.

So, boy were they surprised this morning when we were getting ready to go to a baptism and I called them into my room and asked them if they wanted to wear a pair of my "dangly earrings"

They jumped at the opportunity! Both of them were just thrilled!

Maggie got to wear a pair of dangly gold hearts.

And Katelyn wore a pair of earrings and a necklace that Chris had given me not long after we started dating.

It made their day. I loved seeing the excitement and confidence they had all day just because of dangly earrings.

Of course, I also had to answer all the questions about when and where they will be able to wear them again but that's ok.

And since I showed pictures of Maggie and Katelyn close up with dirty faces I figured I would share one of Connor too!

What's left in the yard...

Big things were happening in our yard on this sunny September day.

Ben and Maggie watched out the window as big trucks, a gigantic crane, and a bunch of men cut down four trees in our yard.

We had a few trees that were in need of coming down. We had put it off for quite some time but the opportunity came the other day and we did it.

We watched as the men used a chain saw to cut the tree and a big crane lifted it high in the sky over the power lines.

I don't think Maggie left the window for even a minute.

But Ben took time away to play.

After the tree was cut, and the big crane lifted it high in the sky, it was laid in the middle of our street to be cut into long logs and the rest was quickly turned into bark mulch.

And when all was done our yard looked bare...

With just a few tree stumps. This one was all rotted out in the middle and I am very glad it came down.

Oh, and we have a couple areas that the big crane sunk right down into the grass and left us with two big divots.

I have to be honest, even though it was the best and safest decision, it is a little sad to look out the window at where the trees once were.

Before long the men will be coming back to grind these stumps.

Katelyn was very sad when she came home, she is such an earth loving little girl, so we decided that since we cut down a few trees we are going to plant a few!

Ball meet washing machine...

We have a ball loving toddler. He loves balls, all balls. Doesn't matter the size or shape. He is a little more partial to regulation sized basket balls and soccer balls but will happily take a tennis ball or football. It really doesn't matter.

Balls make this guy happy. Very happy. He kicks them or throws them. Puts them here or there and everywhere.
For instance yesterday when Chris and I were trying to get stuff done down in the basement and Ben was happily transferring all the balls from the toy box to the washing machine. He was having a grand time and it was keeping him busy. Perfect right.

Yep, perfect until one of the balls is left in the wash and no one notices said ball when throwing laundry into the washing machine. So that there basket ball comes out looking a little sad.

Not a big deal right, basket balls are hardy and can withstand a beating and some burn marks?

Unfortunately the washer couldn't handle the basket ball and the glass door COMPLETELY SHATTERED!

DESTROYED! Glass EVERY WHERE! Inside and out. Mixed in with clothes, uniforms, and a table cloth.

So.... Learn from us, balls are fun for little toddling boys but are not good for your washing machine!

And now there are three monkeys playing...

Soccer that is...
Maggie had her first ever "soccer practice" last Friday and just loved it. I was concerned that she would be too shy and wouldn't participate. My worries were unfounded and she had a great time.
She did fall and get a boo-boo but with some strong encouragement from Mommy she went back in!

Since we didn't want to do the 8am on Saturday morning thing I signed her up in a different organization. It's on Friday afternoons and I think will be perfect for her, and us.

She really enjoyed all the games and drills that the coach ran.

Parent involvement was a lot more then I had anticipated but it was so fun for Maggie to have mommy and daddy participating.

As well as for Ben, as you can see!

So my Maggie, with her pink shorts, socks, and black and pink cleats started soccer today.

She even got an official uniform, aka t-shirt, at the end of practice and couldn't wait to put it on.

I am so excited for Maggie as this is another wonderful step in her life. One that she already loves and hopefully will for many years!

Passing time

Some times when Katelyn (or Connor) are out on the soccer field...

The kids come up with new ways to pass the time...

Cheering for your big sister, or brother, is fun but can get a little boring for younger ones.

So....

Jumping

from

the bleachers

with friends

and Showing off

for the camera

helps get energy out and pass the time!

Side note: The three other girls are Katelyn's best friend and her two little sisters who happen to be watching their older sister play on Katelyn's team.

flowers

Days are getting cooler. There is not a doubt that fall is here.
My mums are covered with buds just waiting to bloom and when they do it will be beautiful.

However, I am still happy to be enjoying my rose bush that is full of beautiful roses.

The smell of these beautiful flowers is like no other. When I open my living room windows I can actually smell the roses that sit outside.

My "angel bushes" are also in full bloom and I am enjoying their beauty along with the memories they carry.

So, yes fall is here, but summer hasn't left quite yet so I am basking in it for as long as I can.

And, as you can tell, I like taking pictures of my flowers but don't really know what to do with them so I create a post like this.

And now I'm done.

No problem, you're welcome...

Soccer Season has begun

Soccer has begun! Thursday night started our season and a BUSY season it will be! We will be at the soccer field four nights a week and all day on Saturday between our three older monkeys. And, I have no doubt that keeping the toddler monkey off the field will be a sport all in itself.

Katelyn's first game was great. It began a bit rocky when the ref told her she would have to take out her earrings or put tape over them. Katelyn was embarrassed and upset and she informed me that she wasn't going to play if she had to do that. With a bit of encouraging I put the tape on and she had a great game.

Offense was her best position of the day. Although she didn't score she did a fantastic job getting the ball down the field.

Connor was a little under the weather this morning but insisted he was up for his first game. He is in an older league then last year, as is Katelyn, so has lots to learn. He did really well considering! Next week we will get there early and try to explain a little more to him to get him prepared.

I was a bit worried that he would get frustrated but after the game he told me it was so much fun and he can't wait till Wednesday! I was excited that he was not deterred!

Oh, Katelyn is on Valencia and Connor is on England!

Maggie starts on Friday and can't wait.

It's gonna be a great season FULL of soccer!