The Diary of A Soccer Mom

A#2 decided she wanted to play soccer so I signed her up. This was the first day of practice and this is how we started our evening above. She is crying because she doesn't like how the shin guards feel on her legs. A#2's body is very sensitive. I don't know why. For example, she wouldn't wear sandals this summer that went between her toes and some shirts she won't wear because they "itch" her. And maybe really they do. So my pediatrician's advice was to get some lotion and put it on before she puts something that might bother her on her body and feet. So far it has worked until today. So what I finally ended up doing was loosening her shin guards and that made it better. Thank goodness cause Steven had class tonight and I was on my own tonight. Although I know he wanted to go so bad. Steven and his sister Tiffani played soccer for their high school and when they first started the soccer program at their school, Steven scored the first goal for the boys soccer team and Tiffani scored the first goal for the girls team. So maybe it's in the genes.
We got to practice and A#2 adjusted very well. The coach was very good and she even hit the ball in the goal twice. Good for her! What a pro! Doesn't she look like a natural?

This is my favorite shot. She is really enjoying herself and when we got in the car she was so proud of herself! Her first comment was, "Did you see me mom...Did you see me get the 2 balls in the goal?" I am so glad she is enjoying it. So I guess it's official. I am joining all you other soccer moms out there. I'll be standing on the sidelines cheering her on. And when they mention the "soccer mom" vote in this coming election I guess now I really will fall in that category. I'm so excited that she has found something she enjoys. I'll try to post pictures of A#2 at gymnastics next time so you can see her in action.

The Train

Ok..many of you have given me a hard time about the little train outside the zoo because of the photo above. Let me explain. You see one day we rode the train as a playgroup and this happened. A tree had given way and landed on the top of one of the cars. Luckily no one was hurt. The ride just ended a little sooner than it should have. Most of my friends will still ride the train with me even though this happened. I chalk it up to a freak accident. I have been on this train many a time from the time I was 3 years old and that was the first time anything like this had happened. However, not sure if my friend Kelly will ever ride it again.

So today we rode the train that I have ridden for 35 years. I can't believe it's still running. I am so glad I can take my kids now and ride the train. You see when I was little my grandmother pictured below took me every Tuesday to ride the train and then we would go to McDonalds which was my favorite restaurant at the time. Boy have my tastes come a long way! So now my grandmother takes all of us to ride the train.
Here is my grandmother, my cousin's little girl and the 2 A's ready for departure.
I took this picture because this is the first time I've seen a dog ride the train with us. He was very good and enjoyed the ride with his owner. I thought he looked kind of like our dog Indy, but he is actually a Belgium Malawa who is in the same family as the Belgium Tervurens. If you don't know what Indy looks like, I'll share some pictures of him later.
So all in all it was another fun ride! I can't tell you how many times I've ridden the train. I have lost count, but it is always so much fun!

Butterflys Everywhere!

After school started we had a little outing with 2 of A#1 and A#2's friends. We went to the butterfly exhibit and actually got to hold butterflies. We were actually surrounded by butterflies. Here is A#1 above holding a watermelon with a butterfly on it. She doesn't look so sure does she?

Here are 3 of them holding the sticks with the watermelon and the butterflies. Now they are feeling a little bit better about the whole thing.

And finally, I added this picture just because I thought it was a pretty good. Hee! Maybe I should take up photography.

Dancers

Thought you all could use a little laugh. I've seen lots of brides and grooms dance, but not like this! Enjoy! Watch below.

Back To The Grind

"Back to the grind!" as my mother used to say when we would start a new school year. That's exactly what we've been doing. This is why I haven't posted in a while. We are getting used to transitioning from kindergarten to first grade for A#1. I do remember first grade being hard, but not this hard. I think A#1 will be just fine once she gets the hang of it. We go to school only 3 days a week. The other 2 days I "teach" her.... which has been quite a challenge. The teacher gives me the work I'm supposed to work with her on the days we are off. Today we worked really hard off and on. I had to give her breaks because sitting there continuously is hard not only for her, but for me as well. We will survive though. And she is doing great! So I'm really proud of her.
And again this year I was told how different my two girls are. A#2's teacher was amazed. I was told she raised her hand answering questions the first week of school and even spelled apple for a friend in her class. A#2 is also very social so she had to be separated into another group. Oh boy! Here we go. Trouble. Ha! Just kidding. She's a pretty good kid..just might be a little talker this year.
Anyway, all in all it was a good first few weeks! I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

The First Day

So you are probably wondering if the school opened right? Or maybe the thought hasn't even crossed your mind. Well..we did open just in time. There are still a lot of things to do, but they are things that can be worked on while the kids aren't there or some of it can be done while they are in school. We do lack one big thing...the playground. No we do not have a playground yet, but there's lots of room to run and play. The playground will be installed September 27th. That's not too long to wait. Here is A#1 above posing for the camera. It's her first day of first grade. I can't believe I have a first grader.
And after some coaxing, I finally did get A#2 to be in the picture. Notice they are wearing the same thing. I did this on purpose cause these 2 dresses were the only dresses clean at the time being that I had not had time to do their laundry. The only way A#2 would wear the dress is if she could wear a bow in her hair. She informed me that morning she was not walking out the door looking just like her sister. Thanks to my husband, he came up with the bow idea and she was fine with the dress. She said at least there would be some difference.I didn't tell her that I was asked at school by one lady if they were twins. I get asked that all the time when they dress alike. A#2 looks thrilled in this picture. Doesn't she? She did not want to have her picture made and certainly not by herself.
Here is A#1 trying to get A#2 to smile for the camera.
And here is A#1's first grade teacher. Ashlyn already loves her. The last day of the week she gave Mrs. Gale a hug. I think it will be a good year. :)
And here is A#2 with her teachers...Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Ruby. A#1 had Mrs. Ford last year and Mrs. Ruby's oldest daughter was in A#1's class for a little while last year. They are going to be an awesome team! I'm looking forward to a great year. We are off to a good start so far.

St. Louis Part 3

Here is A#2 playing the harp at the science museum. I like this picture. Really there are no strings. You could just put your hands inside of it and pretend you are playing. It was big fun. Everyone got a turn to play.
And this is one of my favorite pictures of one of Ty and Tiffani's dogs. Her name is Fancy. She has to wear a little diaper so she won't have any accidents. She has an variety of colors to wear. Steven kept calling it her thong. Ha!
And here is Timmy sitting in his big chair just hanging out with us. Hee! So cute!
So we left on Monday, 9/1 VERY early so we could get back at a decent hour. The girls had their first day of school the next day. Here is A#2 sleeping with her ba ba aka blanket over her head.
This is the funniest position I have ever seen A#1 sleep in. It was a good trip and we wish we could've stayed longer, but all good things must come to an end. I'm sure we will go back again, but I think I prefer to fly. Thanks Uncle Ty and Aunt Tiff for letting us come stay. It was a good ending to our summer.

St. Louis Part 2

Here we are at the Science Museum which was so fun. Here are the 2 A's looking at all the cars going under them and seeing how fast they are going. See, we are actually on a bridge at the museum that goes over the highway.
You can't tell here, but there is a window in the middle of this triangle and you could see cars speeding under you. Pretty cool! See my pretty toes! That was from an awesome pedicure I got. The polish lasted for a month and a half. :)

Here we all are....well except for me of course..I'm taking the picture. Ty and Steven are holding up the "St. Louis arch" we just built at the museum. The girls loved knocking it down.
And here is my niece discovering the game of hopscotch. Although this hopscotch makes music when you hop on it. She loved it.

St. Louis Here We Come-Part 1

So all of us managed to get away for a little while and take a break before the school opened to go see my sister-n-law, brother-n-law and my little 16 month old niece. Isn't she adorable! I think so. We drove for 12 hours in the car Friday, 8/29 with the dog and managed to survive ok. The girls did great. Indy, my dog, not so much. Poor guy gets nervous anyway when we travel in the car. He stood up the entire trip in his crate. I know he had to be sore. It was so good though to see my in laws. I couldn't ask for better in laws....including my mother-n-law. I never had any siblings growing up so it's nice to be able to have a "sister" in the family and Ty, my brother-n-law cracks me up. He makes me laugh. Here is A#1 playing peek-a-boo with my niece above. A#1 will be a great babysitter some day.
I was so glad I got this picture above of my niece. She was all smiles!
Here is Tiffani and my neice with the horse that pulled us along in a carriage by the arch. She really liked the horse. Her name was Magnum. The driver said he calls her Maggie for short. Maggie was pulling a ton of weight when we got her carriage since we had the 7 of us and a stroller. It was a short ride though. The girls loved it!
Ok..so I didn't get her smiling in this one, but she is looking at the camera. I like this picture. She loved the girls and my girls couldn't get enough of her. They even argued about who was going to sit next to her in the car whenever we went somewhere. Wish people would fight over me like that! Hee! Stay tuned for more!

Movin' In

It's moving day! We finally got to move the furniture in on Thursday, August 28th! Yeah! It went well. Although we had a little trouble finding some of the teachers things, we did manage to locate most of it. Here is Ms. Julie above. She taught A#2 when she was in the 3's. I love her. She was a wonderful teacher and according to A#2 Ms. Julie taught her everything she needed to know.
This is one of A#1 and A#2's teachers from past years. Her name is Ms. Holly. She was always good about getting down on the kids level and greeting each and every kid that walked in her door. She taught A#2 last year with Ms. Wallace. A#1 and A#2 misses both of these ladies. They both talk about them all the time. We love you Ms. Wallace and Ms. Holly!!!
And here is Mrs. Ford. Love Mrs. Ford. She had A#1 in her classroom last year. This year A#2 has her for kindergarten. Ms. Ford is amazing. She taught A#1 a lot! She is also a friend of mine. She was very helpful with A#1 and gave me some great advice.
I'll post more later about our first day! Stay tuned!