SOCCER!!

Getting ready for Carson's first soccer practice 8/9/10

The boys are both playing Upward soccer this fall for the first time. Practice started 3 weeks ago. Carson's practices are on Monday evening and Andrew's are on Tuesday evening. These pictures were all taken during one of Carson's practices (8/16/10), Andrew was kicking a ball around on the sidelines. I have yet to go to one of Andrew's practices because Chad is the coach. It gives me a little time alone with Carson to get some things done or go for a walk. They both have their first game this Saturday. I looked at the game schedule and they never play a game at the same time this whole season. Which means we will be at the soccer field every Saturday from 9 until 12:45 ish for the next 10 Saturdays!

Andrew's First Day of Kindergarten...August 24, 2010

The day started out with the boys watching a show, "no shirt club" style....
Andrew dressed for school, waiting on the bus. (A different barber cut his hair for the first time last Saturday. He went a little clipper happy. Hopefully Andrew's hair will grow a bit before it is time for school pictures!)












getting on the bus and waving good-bye with out any hesitation!

Carson and I met the bus at school on this first day to walk him to his class and take some pictures.


Even though it had only been about 15 minutes since we said good-bye to Andrew as he boarded the bus, Carson greeted Andrew with an enthusiastic "ANDREW!!" and a great big hug.
Here he is in his classroom, drawing a picture.



I really did fine saying good-bye to him and telling him to have a great afternoon at school... mainly because he was fine. So thankful for that. He did mention with some nervousness walking into the school "There's going to be big kids here."



This is the poem his teacher gave to us parents as we dropped off our kids...

The First Day

I gave you a little wink and smile as you entered my room today. For I know how hard it is to leave and know your child must stay. You've been with him for five years now and have been a loving guide, But now, alas, the time has come to leave him at my side. Just know that as you drive away and tears down your cheeks may flow I'll love him as I would my own and help him learn and grow. For as a parent, I too know how quickly the years do pass and that one day soon it will be my turn to take my child to class. So please put your mind at ease and cry those tears no more. For I will love him and take him in when you leave him at my door. Author unknown

Really thankful that I didn't read that poem til I arrived home. Of course the tears were flowing as I prayed he was having a great first day.

And he did! He first said it was good, then later said it was awesome.

Here he is after getting off the bus. I missed the big hug the boys gave each other. So sweet. My babies are growing up!

Do you remember my post about the children's singer we saw named Justin Roberts? Here are the lyrics from his sweet song Giant-Sized Butterflies. (go here and click play to hear a portion of the song)

Giant-Sized Butterflies

I felt so nervous in the morning light.
My Mom said it would be all right Still I had giant-sized butterflies On that first day

So she made me some hot oatmeal It couldn't change the way I feel How was I to know how it would go? On that first day?

We're in the car and we're on our way When we get there, Mom, will you stay? I might need the space but just in case On that first day

It's my first day mm-mm-mm

Then Mom told me "when you first came Into this world we felt the same We had giant-sized butterflies On that first day"

"If there were some kind of magic spell That could protect like a turtle's shell Everyone would be wearing one On that first day"

And when she opened the back seat door Told me what butterflies are for How they were meant to fly And they were born to be your guide

Now Mom's beside me and the school's in sight And everything is gonna be alright Cause I've got giant-sized butterflies On my first day

It's my first day mm-mm-mm

And my butterflies are well-disguised But those butterflies they're giant-sized Yeah, my butterflies are giant-sized

Mom's Surprise Party

We got her! This was my attempt at getting her response as all her children, grandchildren, husband, siblings and their spouses sang "Happy Birthday" to her as she walked in.

Mom's birthday (her 60th) was back on July 15. We celebrated with this surprise party Aug. 7th at Mom's Diner. She was truly surprised but then began thinking back to things that were said that seemed pretty random.

The cake that Sarah Nafziger made. So pretty & delicious.

Tricia put together a multiple choice quiz about Mom. I think it was pretty entertaining.
Above is Justin, Benj, Kristy with Maddie, Tim and I love how you can sort of see Abby running through in a blur in the bottom right of the picture.
We came up with a floral theme for party because she loves flowers, gardens and gardening. Here is one of the centerpieces that were on the table. I ordered them and didn't really know what to tell the floral shop over the phone, so they came up with this. I kind of wish it would have just been a small glass vase with several flowers in it. Some hydrangeas and pink roses...her favorite flower, which was a quiz question.
Here we have (starting left corner and going around in a circle) Linda, Art, Donna, Elaine, Rich, Shirley & LaVon.

Dad, John & Sharon behind him, Levi, Lynn, Tim & Bobbie.

Mary Lou & Tricia conversing.

Andrew & Justin playing the slap hand game (what is it called?). I think Justin got Andrew pretty good on this one!

Mom opening some gifts with a little help from Carson.

We had such a fun night celebrating Mom with family that night. So thankful for such a wonderful Mother.

Anniversary weekend in Indy

July 24th 2010 was our 11 year anniversary. Just doesn't seem possible that we have been married that long! We decided to go to Indianapolis for the weekend. The boys went to stay with Grandma & Grandpa K. for the weekend. (Thank you very much!!!)

We had asked my sister and brother-in-law; Tricia and Justin, if they would want to go to a Jack Johnson concert with us. We all went to that Friday evening. It was at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, an outdoor amphitheater. We had a great time listening to Jack's music, trying to stay cool (it was so hot!) and enjoying a thunder/lightning storm. Chad said I shouldn't bring the camera that night...maybe he took some photos with his phone...hmmm

We got home late, slept in til 9:00am. When is the last time we did that??? I do not know! We spent the day with Tric & Justin. For lunch we had this great Arugula pesto pizza. It was a joint effort between the 4 of us. Tric & I worked on the crust, making the arugula pesto, and chopping the tomatoes and peppers.

Chad and Justin did the grilling of the crust

and putting all the toppings together on the crust.

It was quite tasty and very pretty too!
(so annoyed that blogger isn't posting this how I want it!)

Buddy the dog hung out in the kitchen with us. He is very photogenic. :)

Had to get a picture of my sister and I.

A case of the giggles.

Chad & I on our anniversary, July 24th 2010. 11 years.

That night we decided to make the most of it and stay at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis. We booked through Priceline for the first time, not a bad deal! We stayed at the Marriot. We headed out to dinner at Ruth's Chris. (you must order a fillet and sweet potato casserole!!) This is Chad's favorite steakhouse. It is rather expensive. Chad mentioned while eating there that if our current home town ever got a Ruth's Chris, that we could be in trouble. I assured him that he didn't need to worry about that happening! Chad first ate at one during his residency when he was in San Antonio TX for a review course with his fellow residents. He is hooked and it is always fun to meet up with those guys/gals and go to Ruth's Chris.

Sunday we slept in again and then met up with Tric & Justin & Justin's cousin & business partner Tom. (have you heard of Indie Bike? check it out!) We ate at a great little cafe called The Taste for brunch. Yum, I am salivating just thinking of it. I wish we had a restaurant like that in town!!

We headed back to O-H-I-O to pick up our boys. So fun to see them again after 48+ hours apart! And so great to celebrate with a weekend away!

(and now since it is 1:45 I will attempt this sleeping thing again. two little boys will be in our room way too early for me I have a feeling.)

Two boys in a basket

I was taking a shower one day when I heard the boys quietly talking from in our bedroom. This is unusual, not that I can hear the boys but that they were quietly talking. Often they are running threw our room, jumping around or off the bed, tackling, laughing, yelling....

So when I got out of the shower, it was really quiet....until I lifted the lid off of our laundry basket and so this....

Andrew's teeth

I can't sleep tonight for some reason. Can't think of a better time to get caught up on this here blog! I have other things that I could be doing like putting away dishes or vacuuming but those seem a little noisy for 12:45!

Andrew lost his first tooth on July 10th, his bottom front tooth. It had been loose for a while. When he first noticed the loose tooth, he commented "my tooth is bigger". After he said that for the second time I checked out his tooth and it was loose.

He lost his second tooth a week later, July 17th. That night after going to bed Carson called out "Can Andrew pull out his tooth". I replied "go ahead" as I was washing the dishes. Andrew wondered if he could come out to the living room to do it. So he came out. I thought perhaps this was a stalling tactic for going to sleep but he pulled it out.

He has been so excited by loosing these two teeth. It made me a little sad. Yet another thing that makes me realize how quickly he is growing up. We could actually see his new "big" teeth coming in behind his baby teeth before they fell out. These pictures were taken July 18th.

I should have taken another picture today because they are even bigger now.

Andrew - my self esteem booster

This was Andrew & I's conversation earlier today....

A - "You didn't used to have those dots on your face."

K - "I don't have them in the winter but when I get out in the sun in the summer my freckles pop out."

A - " Oh. I think you look better in the winter."

Thanks Buddy!

Fireworks

Friday night July 2nd was fireworks night here in town. We watched them from MVNU this year.

I thought the sunset/tree line was so pretty.... As we were sitting waiting for the fireworks to begin, two different families from our church walked up and then sat with us. Not arranged. Pretty unique considering we all drive a distance to go to church and there were a lot of people there that night. Carson was having fun chatting with this little guy. I'm not sure what happened in this picture but thought Carson's expression was pretty funny.
Andrew loved the fireworks. "This is so awesome!" He stood for most of it, munching on the caramel corn I had made. He had been running around before the fireworks started, chasing/kicking a ball. On a hill, some college age kids had set up a homemade slip and slide. He had asked to go down it...No, it was really kind of chilly that night! But one time he kicked the ball across the bottom of the slip and slide and then ran across the end of it. He wiped out on it and was quite wet!! He dried a little bit and then we just took off his Tshirt and put on his sweat shirt. Crazy kid.


Carson was a bit scared of the fireworks. When they started, he ran around behind my chair and watched from there. He didn't cry or get too upset but he may have asked to go home a couple of times. He continued to watch in awe but kept his little hands up by his face.

Swimming Lessons

The boys have been taking swimming lessons this week and last week, Mon. - Thurs for 50 min. each morning. This year it has been a really great experience. The first morning Andrew was in a different area of the pool than Carson's class was. Andrew swam/walked over to where I was and declared "THAT...was Awesome!!"

Here are the boys prior to their swimming lessons last Tuesday.

Andrew really was excited despite the grumpy photo.

This is Carson's class talking about safety at the pool. This morning (last Tuesday) it was quite chilly. I wrapped up in the boys' towel as I waited for them to be done. This week is a completely different story. I'm dripping wet at the end of their sessions and never touch the water!

Andrew's class waiting on their instructions. We just happened to be in the same session as some friends from church and friends from Andrew's preschool. Very nice!

Carson's class playing Red Light Green Light.

Carson swimming.

Carson did great last week. Until Thursday. On Wed. at home he had scraped his leg a little and we put a band aid on and he was fine. Well Thursday morning at swim lessons he didn't want to get his band aid wet. I tried everything (we will get you a new one...you have so much fun in the water...) but he refused. Again on Monday he was being difficult but today (Tuesday) he did great again.

Andrew swimming with a kick board.

Andrew waiting to go off the diving board.

I could tell that he was a bit hesitant. Two years ago he went off the diving board at swimming lessons for the first time...well he was lowered off the board where another life guard caught him. Then last year he just plain wouldn't do it. But this year....

he jumped off by himself!

two different times in one day!

The first time, the lifeguard that was on the board with him was whispering something in his ear and they were both giggling. He then walked to the end and jumped off. When he got out of the pool I asked him what she had said to him. He said "She told me to jump on their heads!" That was perfect to tell him!Today Andrew jumped off the diving board twice again and this time he swam to the ladder all by himself! The lifeguard still caught him and swam beside him to the ladder but didn't help him. Amazing how much different he is swimming now compared to when we were in Florida in the beginning of May!

And today Carson went off the diving board! (but of course I didn't have the camera today. I really thought there was no way he would do it! Hoping a friend got a picture of him.) He was quite brave, really no hesitation. He was dropped/lowered into the pool where another life guard caught him. He did go under a bit and wasn't ready for that. He coughed a little and then said "I do not want to do that again!"

Here is Andrew floating around in the deeper pool (the pool where we always swim, he can touch) with a life jacket on. He thought this was pretty cool. He just paddled around even though he was supposed to wait at the edge for his turn with a life guard. Too much down time for him!

Tomorrow is their last actually lesson day and then on Thursday they have free play. They turn the water to the slides and mushroom thing on and the lifeguards get in and play with them. I'm thinking about wearing my suit that morning too. The past two mornings have been way too hot at 9am to just sit there.