Update

It seems like we’ve been in school for ever now.  I can’t believe how immediate it all is, one day was summer and the next was carpools, lessons, soccer, and homework.   We’re spending a lot of time at soccer games which has been fun.  It’s much more fun this year now that Joshua isn’t running all over the place, and I can actually watch.  Brennan is Nate’s coach and has earned even more of my un-dying love by walking around with a really pretty clipboard my friend gave me.  It’s pink with a picture of high heals and pearls.  I can’t get enough of watching him pace the field and shout out coachly things while carrying that clipboard.  He couldn’t care less, and that’s what I really love.  I’ll get a picture next time, so you can all be so happy. 

We’ve had lots of fun things that I’ve got some pics. of so I’ll be adding random pics. throughout this post.

Sweet Peter’s 1st birthday party

Anna is on a new comp team this Fall.  These girls have been playing together for years and at practice all Summer Anna felt a little out of place and like she was the worst one on the team.   She felt like one of the coaches was always on her case and that he didn’t think she was good.  Then they had their first game and she played her guts out.  That coach was kind of shocked, but was really complimentary.   I think they were all surprised.  Anna isn’t one of those players who can do lots of cool tricks and drills that impress, but you get an opposing team in her face and watch out.  I love that she has such grit.  She’s enjoying school and even loves math, thanks to her teacher.  YAY!!!  She is also always cracking us up with her quick wit, she can get Brennan dying laughing, it’s hilarious.  We love Anna.

Cannot get enough of my 2 year old niece, Amelia!

Who can totally swim!

Abby is on a really good soccer team this year and is loving it.  She’s become such a good little player because she’s finally on a team that is good so she’s been rising to their level.  It’s been really fun to watch her catch fire.  She’s loving her 5th grade class, she’s with all her cute friends which makes our very social girl so very happy.  She got asked to babysit our little neighbor girl the other day and it pretty much made her life.  She loves earning money and she’s so good with kids, so it’s a win-win.   Abby is the oldest of our little neighborhood group that walks to school and part way home.  She takes it very seriously and gets completely distraught if someone won’t stay with them.  Poor girl is a worrier, but she’s a great little mama duck.  We love Abigail.

Nate is loving his new class too.  I think he’s feeling pretty old as a 3rd grader.  We’re hoping this will be a great year for him.   He found out the two girls in his class moved from his best friend and cousin, Rex’s school.  He was so happy to know that.  He loves Rex!  Nate went to his first cub pack meeting last night and could not have been more excited.  He loves scouts.  He came home with a ton of belt loops that he earned from day camp.  Now we just need to get him a belt .  I’m afraid that’s how it’s going to be his whole scouting career, his Mom is always going to be trying to figure out what we’re doing and probably always a little behind.  At least she’s trying, right?  He’s loving his soccer team too and they’re really good.  He is so impressed with one of his teammates, he can’t stop telling whomever will listen about his teammate’s feats.   I love that he can recognize and so fully appreciate the talents of others instead of feeling threatened by them.  We love Nate.

A fun FHE up in the canyon with two little firebugs.

Ben finally got to officially start kindergarten on Monday.  He is so excited about all of it.  He is finally feeling like he’s one of the big kids and he’s literally been waiting for that his whole life. His friend is in his class and the week before Kindergarten started his friend, Will, was here playing.  I heard Ben say, “So, should we talk about Kindergarten?”   It made me tear right up as he ran off to the neighbor’s to ride to school.  Not my little Ben, my little companion for all these years!  I’m so grateful that he’s so well adjusted and so happy to go, but it does break my heart a little bit to know he’s gotten so old.  I can’t ever get much out of him as to what he’s doing at school every day, but I know he’s happy so that’s just going to have to do.  He’s also playing soccer and loving every minute.   He’s officially in the age group of stamped style soccer, but he doesn’t seem to mind one bit and is constantly looking up at me with a big old smile.  We love Ben.

Joshua is a little lost without all his siblings around all day.  He continues to ask, “Where Anna going?  Where Abby going?  Where Nate going?”  Fortunately Ben is around in the mornings, but he’s really missing the others.  I am appreciating just how much they kept him entertained, because without them to occupy him, he has more time to find all kinds of opinions about what I’m doing.  Lately whenever we’re driving somewhere he’ll say, “No, uddow (other) way, Mom!”  I try to explain that I have to go a certain way to get where we need to, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.  He’s gotten really good at playing with little action figures and animals.   I’m so grateful I still have Joshy around!  We love Joshua.