My Soccer Girl

We've hoped since last year when Ashley started dribbling the ball between her feet, that she'd be good.  She didn't get it from me! Considering I've never played before. ;)

Last week she had a rough time. She didn't like being pushed around but held her own.  This week was a different story.  Daddy had a little pep talk with her and told her to go for the ball and run.  She did!!  

We missed her FIRST goal for various reasons.  The other team was great at scoring goals in our goal in between.  her teammates made several goals.  With a few minutes left to go in the game, Ashley decided to take over.  One time down the field she got within a few feet of the goal when the other team got it from her and scored - in our goal.   The next time down the field she was about to make a goal when a member of the other team decided to pick it up... Whoops!!  She decided to make up for it and took off down the field and kicked it in!  So the last time down the field she was running after her teammate who was about to score, he missed a kick, she took over and scored.  So yep, THREE goals for my little girl!! She just can't seem to stop beating the boys. ;)  That's my girl!!

Oh and just and FYI, this picture is from last week.  I wanted to get a picture of her adorable pigtails with the orange and blue ponytail holders but she took them out too fast!!  We decided they are her good luck charms!!!  She also had a super cute orange skirt too. Quite the clash. ;)

Conversations with 3 year olds

Sometimes I forget how much Gavin knows.  He started talking early and his first sentence at 15 months was "don't do dat!" Just as clear as can be.

So today I was trying to get Gavin to eat his spaghetti. He wants a ding dong for his dessert and knows there's two left.  I told him he needed to eat fast or someone would eat them.  He thought for a second and asked if Jakob and Andy were going to eat them.  I told him maybe a monkey would eat them.

He thought again for a second and started eating pretty fast.  

G:  Mommy, there are no monkeys in the house.

M: They could come through the front door. 

G: Monkeys only eat bananas.  

M: Well what if they want a Ding Dong?

G: They only like bananas!!

 

M: Well then maybe a cow.

G:  Cows only eat leaves.  No giraffes do.

M: How do you know giraffes eat leaves? 

G: I don't know.  Cows  say MOOOOO. Mommy say Moo(he wanted me to put food in his mouth).

A few minutes later he decided he better hurry and eat so that the monkeys won't come.   Guess it WAS the monkeys!!

Lightning Fears and Ear Infections

We've had interesting times in our home lately.  Well, with 5 kids and one on the way that's to be expected. Add 3 kids in soccer and getting a bookstore started up, we're quite busy! But that's not what I'm talking about.

Jakob had a HUGE fear of lightning storms for a while.  He watched the weather like a hawk and if there was even a slightly dark cloud he would get very anxious.  A few Sundays ago I thought he would have a meltdown because of the thunder booming. 

We had to talk to him many times and finally starting showing him that while yes, lightning is dangerous, you don't HAVE to be afraid of storms!  That started as we were driving to Ikea last week. The weather was TERRIBLE and he was looking at all the lightning.  We got out of the car and I had him inhale the wonderful smells that lightning and rain bring. He LOVED IT.

So then comes today.   He had a scrimmage for his Arsenal soccer team and it was rainy.  Lightning was everywhere and he sat there being goalie just as calm as could be. HE learned to enjoy the lightning.  I had to keep telling myself that I couldn't freak out for his sake. It worked for both of us!!  The lightning never got close but they did get dumped on.  Jakob was great and even stopped a goal with his head!!  So I was very proud of my son and his overcoming of his fear. If only I could do the same with heights and spiders...

On to the ear infections.   We have gone swimming a lot lately and forgot Ashley needed ear plugs with her tubes.  WAY TO GO MOM AND DAD!!  The first time we went, she complained about her ear and after that there was no problem.  Then we went to the lake last week. I didn't expect her to go under so I didn't worry... I forgot that I have 5 little fish.   

A couple days later her ears started draining. I was thrilled because I knew the tubes were doing their job and all was great - until Sunday in St. George when I noticed it wasn't so... fresh. BLECH.  So on our way home(We had an AWESOME time in St George by the way!!!), we took her to the doctor and got drops and medicine.  

Her ears are finally doing really well after 4 days of drops and medication.  One awesome thing came from all this.  My little 4 year old can count to 60!!! And I have to stop her a lot of times because she keeps on going.  Its because she had to let the drops soak in for 60 seconds so I had her count.  For the first few times she missed all the 4's.  She'd miss 15 and then 24, 34, and so on.  I noticed last night she was counting perfectly all the way!! Probably not the most ideal way to teach your child to count but it worked for her!!

New Table!!

Today we decided to go to Ikea (sorry Katy, I know you wanted to go!) to check out the bookshelves for good ones for our store.  We found some awesome ones and can't wait to get them.

We found a few really nice tables and fell in love with one. $599 wasn't too bad for the size but we knew we couldn't do that for now.

We were down next to the checkout and decided to check out the clearance items - and there was our table!! It was bein

g discontinued so we got it for WAY cheap and we were THRILLED.   After maneuvering things around in the car Steve managed to get the whole thing(gotta love Ikea and their do-it-yourselfness) in!! 

We got the whole thing put together and it is SO NICE... Here is the table we had before. Don't mind the knife on the table. The kids were in bed and we had to use the knife to open the box...

And here is our new table. the picture doesn't do it justice. Its a good 8 feet long and will be 10 if we put the leaf in it!!! The whole china cabinet and cupboards we were thinking of doing may have to change a little but its so worth it!! Now we just have to work on the folding and patio chairs we're using...