It rained four eight days straight. On top of that, there was a full (super) moon in the midst of all those rainy days. The kids have been crazy. Cooped up, caged animals. And when all four have to sit in time-out at the same time, this is the view in our foyer.
Random musings of a tired Grant. He loves to make people laugh. And when it's nearing bedtime, he loves to talk - and sing - about everything that comes to mind!
Carter and Ellyson have started soccer. Jack played soccer until he was a teenager ... but I was softbal through-and-through, so my soccer knowledge is limited to 1) don't touch the ball with your hands, and 2) the general setup is similar to football. We joined an indoor league for our first season - it's very close to our house, and we don't have to worry about weather changing our schedule.
Carter has been excited to try soccer. He played two years of t-ball in preschool, but it was not his forte. He joined the running club at school last year, and that went well. So he has been itching for another team sport.
Now that Ellyson is old enough to play on a team (the three-year-old program is a parent-child pairing, which was not an option for our family), we thought we'd let her venture into team sports at the same time. And she is so excited. Oh. My. Gosh. She counted down the days to her first practice, then to her second practice, then to her first game ...
Wondering what it looks like when a bunch of preschoolers play soccer? Here's a very brief glimpse. You'll identify Ellyson (#7) by her bright orange shoes and light pink shorts. This is the most I've seen her run, ever.
Ellyson's age group (four- and five-year-olds) plays on a half-size court. They don't really play positions, and they don't keep score. I honestly have no idea what the score would have been. A couple goals were scored at some point, but I really don't know which team or how many. When keeping tabs on a player plus three siblings on the sideline, it's surprisingly easy to not keep up with scoring. It works well as a preschool-level intro to the idea of the sport.
Carter's the blur, kicking off during the second half
Carter's age group (six- and seven-year-olds) plays the full court (field? I don't know ... chalk it up to never playing or watching soccer). They do play positions - sort of (at the game, "positions" were offense, defense, and goalie) - and they do keep score. We learned there's a mercy rule. We were on the receiving end of the mercy this week. Carter's poor team got run over by three very well-versed players on the other team. The entire first half of the game, Carter's team didn't even manage to take the ball across the half-court (mid-field? I don't know) line, so they were basically playing defense the whole first half.
And Carter spent that first half playing goalie. He volunteered for the position, and he thought it was cool, so I think he'll probably volunteer again. And he really was pretty good at it, considering he'd never been taught how to play the position. Don't let the score fool you. He blocked more kicks than he missed, which I think is great for his first game ever. Jack gave him some tutoring over the weekend, so he can learn a little faster. Carter's team lost 10-0, thought there were at least three additional goals scored by the other ringers team, which were just not even counted.
Carter's the one in the middle, less than enthused to be playing defense (because he'd rather be IN the action)
This week was fall conference time at school. I met with Carter's teacher today. I was expecting no surprises. Jack and I stay on top of what Carter is doing at school, and I've started helping his teacher in the classroom. But the teacher managed to surprise me. It's the first time one of my kids' teachers has ever surprised me. After showing me samples of Carter's work, and his current grades (all A's, of course), she said that Carter is "very smart and creative." Emphasis on "creative." It took all my effort not to laugh out loud. But his writing definitely has developed since last year, and she sees creativity in him. Makes me want to have him re-evaluated right this moment, for gifted. But we need to wait for Cogat results and for his current teacher to have two months with him. Then we can talk about re-testing. Also, I see how well Carter is doing with this teacher and these classmates, and I know they are good for him. If he had tested into gifted last year, he wouldn't be in this class because the teacher isn't certified to teach "gifted" students. I know he's where he needs to be right now. Hopefully I'll still be saying that in a few months. ;-)
Ellyson (pictured dressed for red day at pre-k), meanwhile, has added "red," "cat," and "car" to the list of words she can recognize and spell (prior to this week, "love" was the only word on that list).
Last Saturday, after letting the kids get nice and sugared-up, we strapped them in the car for a couple hours, and went to visit Grandpa and Grandma. We had lunch in the town where they live now, then played at their house.
The kids were also really interested in helping Grandpa get water from the well, to water the new trees in his yard.
Last Thursday was Grandparents' Day at preschool. The kids were lucky enough to have Nana, Papa Jack and Grandma attend this year. After a short program of singing, we had a school-wide lunch in the gym.
Yesterday morning, we celebrated pirate day at Krispy Kreme. If you come dressed like a pirate, you get free donuts. In our family, with four kids, multiple pirate costumes, and pirate accessories galore, we make out really well. As in, a dozen free glazed donuts per pirate. I bought one dozen (so the kids could try the pirate donuts and so Jack could try the pumpkin spice), and we got four free dozen glazed.
We had to wait in line no more than 10 minutes. On free donut day, we waited longer for just one donut per person ...
We didn't eat them all ourselves: we shared three dozen. I think next year I'll make plans to drop them off at a fire station, because we just cannot eat that many donuts.
We have entered a new era in our house: soccer. Carter and Ellyson are playing indoor soccer this fall, and each started practice this week.
Carter is excited. He has tried t-ball, Awanas, and running (enjoyed the running). He just didn't seem to "feel" t-ball, and he lacked a good group of friends at our church Awana program. But he knows Jack played soccer, and I think it's going to be more Carter's thing.
We weren't sure how Ellyson would do. She's not exactly the most willing to exert energy ... But she is so, super excited about this venture. I don't know if it's because it's something that is "hers" (she is separate from Carter, even on separate nights), or if she's really interested in soccer in particular. But she is currently giving it her all. Hopefully her enthusiasm will stick around.
Seriously, this girl is a little mommy in training. Yesterday she folded a whole load of towels while I cleaned, and she was so proud! Then today before school, she "read" a book to her brothers while I packed book bags.
Last night was a birthday party for one of the little girls at church. It was a pool party, and 80 degrees is a little cool for swimming. So we fit the "Frozen" theme after swimming!
Ellyson's new BFF from pre-k was there, too. Ellyson has a hard time with friends. Every year at preschool, she makes a new friend and then that friend leaves our preschool at the end of the year, and she has to start over. Finley one year and Kaileigh the next. We still catch Ellyson talking to Finley on the play phone Finley gave her a year and a half ago. Thankfully, God brought Caroline to preschool this year. Her family attended our church in the past, but hasn't really been there in the last couple years. So Ellyson and Caroline have met before at Vacation Bible School, but haven't seen each other in more than a year. But I already dread next August, when Ellyson and Caroline move on to separate elementary schools.
Last Friday, Jack and I celebrated 11 years of marriage!
We celebrated by taking the kids on a drive through long, winding mountain roads. We stayed in a cabin outside of Pigeon Forge with Jack's family. I had never been to Pigeon Forge (actually, I have never stayed overnight in Tennessee, though I have visited), and Jack hadn't been to Pigeon Forge in about 20 years.
Once we finally found the cabin (perched atop a mountain road which we were driving at night ... far less daunting in the daylight), we had a very active long weekend.
Sunrise - my favorite time of day!
We spent Saturday seeing the town of Pigeon Forge. They have a trolley system that offers an inexpensive all-day pass, so we bought trolley passes and let someone else do the driving. We visited an historic old mill area (where we had an awesome lunch at a local restaurant), an outdoor mall, and The Apple Barn - which is a little like the apple orchards, but with extra shops and without the actual fresh produce.
Playing in the pop-up rain shower. Okay, it was a little bigger than a "pop-up" or a "shower" ... it was a lot of rain.
Watching pumpkin spice salt water taffy being made
Rocking at the Old Mill House Cafe, where we ate lunch
Cowboys!
Saturday night I was chopping cilantro for dinner, and chopped off a corner of my index finger. Yay.
Sunday we visited Dollywood. To Jack's disappointment, we did not run into Ms. Parton herself that day. But we did find some rides for everyone to enjoy.
Ferris Wheel selfie
Graham and Jack behind us
Remembering that I hate ferris wheels. I was so scared, I thought I might pass out.
Carter and Ellyson riding the big splash ride.
The train was crazy-crowded!
Train photobomb by Grant. Graham's face is almost in it!
Ellyson's favorite was a roller coaster that she insisted on riding with her Aunt Meredith.
You can just see her blonde halo.
Grant and Graham (and Braden) liked the track cars the best.
We couldn't leave the mountains without s'mores. My giant "campfire" sized marshmallows may have been a little over-the-top, though.
Jack and I are high school sweethearts who married in September 2004. We have four children, ages five to one: a son, a daughter and twin boys.
Jack is a marketing manager in telecommunications and I am a former copywriter, turned stay-at-home-mom.
This is our adventure.
