Fair Day

The county fair is in town this week and school was even let out today for it! We didn't make it to the fair last year so we just had to go today. The boys are at just the right size to ride tons of the rides. Since we were there early (before lunch) there were hardly any lines so Alex & Zachary hit them all!




We had a few light sprinkles but then the sky cleared up and it was just hot! We took a break for lunch but the boys didn't eat much. They were just thirsty. To let our tummy's settle after lunch we played some games making sure that both Alex and Zachary ended up with a prize.




We tried to ride a few more rides but after lunch the crowd grew so that we actually had to wait in a line. This did not sit well with Alex who just wanted to walk right up to any ride he wanted. The waiting mixed with the hot sun and no afternoon nap.....Alex had a meltdown to end all meltdowns. We had no choice but to get out of there. We came home and put Alex to bed but Chris and Zachary headed back for more fair fun. Chris called a few minutes ago to tell me that Zachary was on the pony ride and fell off. He's not hurt at all but the saddle was on loose and tipped him over and off the pony. Luckily he didn't get stepped on! He's still having a blast with daddy.

Soccer time!

At long last Alex & Zachary are "real" soccer players! The Tigers had their first practice on Thursday evening and the boys did so well. They listened to the coaches and pretty much did what they were told. Only one child on the team kept wandering off or sitting down and saying he was tired. They practiced with yellow pennies (is that how you spell it?) on and they were HUGE. They must have given the same size to all youth teams regardless of their ages. We were pleasantly surprised that the kids were given full uniforms. We were expecting just the shirts but they got shorts and socks as well plus a water bottle. They are so cute!

Our first game was this morning. We'll be playing every Saturday morning. It was so funny. I had no idea that the 4-5 year olds played in a fenced in field. I guess this cut way down on whistles and stopping the clock for kicking out of bounds. Chris and I joked that it was a cage match! The only downside was that they weren't supposed to touch the fence, which got hard when you were trying to get a ball right up against it, and the fact that the goals were also fenced in. That made it a little hard to tell where the goals were when you were in the heat of the game. These little guys played 3 on 3 and we only have six on our team. That meant that everybody got lots of playing time. Alex is number 4 and Zachary is number 2.



If you had actually kept score, well, we would have lost - big time. But we had lots of fun and I think learned alot at our first game. The kids (and me) had no idea what to expect and now we do. We'll be ready for our next one. I am also now the team mom. As I am going through the folder of stuff I got this morning I can see that we're going to have to do some fundraiser stuff. How in the world do they expect 4 & 5 year olds to sell stuff? That's way too young if you ask me. I'd rather they just increase my fee for playing. Oh well. They didn't ask me. Anybody want to buy some junk, um, lovely items?

Catch up time again

Once again I've been lagging behind on my blogging. There's just not as much going on with the boys in school all day. Here's a catch up on what's been going on the last week or two since my last post.

- The boys are starting soccer at long last! The were supposed to start last week but lots of rain delayed our first practice and our first game. Tomorrow we practice for the first time and then have a game on Saturday. Alex and Zachary are on the same team - they are Tigers. You betcha I'll have pictures to post from that.

- Last Saturday we had a going away party for Chris. His deployment is almost here. The boys know it's coming too and they have even cried about it already. That makes me extra sad..... For some reason I took no pictures at the party (except for one of some food) but we had a great time with friends and family.

- I got a new computer. Chris ordered a laptop for him to take on the deployment since his last one went kaput but it's not here yet. They were ordered on the same day and my desktop got here yesterday. This one's got a camera built in and we plan to video chat with Chris while he's gone.

- A good friend and his wife (this was the first time we met her) came to visit the day after our party. They stayed the night and we took them tubing. We were so happy to get to see them, especially since they had to drive five hours to get here! Thanks for coming Marty & Stephanie!


- We bought the acre lot next to ours. Well, technically we haven't closed on it yet but it's going to be ours soon. It kinda fell into our laps and we couldn't turn it down. We're not sure if we're going to keep it and just have an extra large lot without next door neighbors or if we'll eventually sell it when the market gets better. There's definitely room to make money on it with the low low price we got it for.

- We're setting up the old computer for the boys to play on. I'm deleting alot of stuff off of it to hopefully make it a tad bit faster and we've put it on a small table. (We plan to get a little desk or a better table.) We might get them some games but they love www.starfall.com. They've played that at school and at speech last year and they know what to do. They were so excited to see the computer set up for them this afternoon!


That's basically what we've been up to lately. Chris has taken leave from work until he deploys so we've been getting some house things done and just spending time together. Right now things are good.

Wordless Wednesday

Soccer weekend

This weekend my nephew Tyler had a rec soccer tournament in our neck of the woods so he and my sister spent the weekend with us to cut down on their travel time. It was a good thing too because one of the games was at 7:30 in the morning. I cannot believe they would do that to us but they did. I wasn't sure if Alex, Zachary, and I could get up in time for that one but miraculously we did and without complaint, from the boys at least. The team didn't do so well with two losses and one tie but we still have fun. We always bring soccer balls for Alex and Zachary and they like to play on the field during halftime and after the game. This time we also packed up cleats.

Go, Tyler, go!!



My guys in action.

One week down!

The first week of school is almost over. Alex and Zachary are doing great. I really think they enjoy it and have no problems being dropped off. Never once did they cry or cling to me. It is tiring for them though. I thought it might be. Although they "nap" at school I'm not sure that the boys actually sleep. Alex says he does and Zachary sometimes tells me he does too but I really doubt it, especially for Zachary. He has fallen asleep on the bus ride home a few times and on Wednesday he fell asleep on the couch watching cartoons and napped for about an hour. Alex seems fine after school but hates waking up so early in the morning. I'm with him! The first day was fine but every day after has gotten worse and worse with him snuggling back under his covers or putting the pillow over he head and telling me he wants more sleep. Zachary is just the opposite. The first few days he popped right up when I walked in his room. Yesterday and today he came out himself when he heard me packing lunches in the kitchen. I'm hoping he'll let me and Alex sleep in tomorrow at least until 7:00!

It's been weird and really quiet at home without them. I have gotten stuff done but also had some "me" time watching some DRV'd shows, reading, and hanging out on the computer. I took the dog to the vet and myself to the dentist, all on my own. I'm trying to get some house things done and took a print to be framed and hung a few things on the wall. It's going slowly but I'm getting used to it.

All in all a good first week for all of us.

1st day of Pre-K

Well today was the big day. It started off with Zachary coming to our room at about 5:45. Nope, not time to wake up. Go back to bed. When I did go to his room to get him he was all smiles and ready to go asking about his lunchbox. Alex, not so much. He saw it was still dark outside and told me "It's not wake up time. Go out and let me sleep one more time." Poor guy. I wish I could have slept a little later too. Once he got up, he was just as excited about the big day as Zachary. They were ready!!

We got to school a tad bit early because I didn't know what first day of school traffic would be like. I wasn't the only parent that took a picture outside of school!
The Pre-K and Kinder kids all go to a big music room to wait for school to start instead of the gym where the bigger kids go. The teachers said that it actually cuts down on crying kids because it's not the "final" destination or something. Alex & Zachary sat in the row designated for their teacher - not together. Alex sat right down and clammed up. He went into his shy mode and wouldn't even turn around to take a picture or tell me goodbye.
Even though Alex wouldn't look at me both boys were fine. I stood outside the door for about five minutes and kept peeking in!
It was such a weird day without the boys. I did go to the grocery store, which is about the only thing open at not quite 8 in the morning. But the house was so quiet. I got to watch a show I had on DVR. I washed Alex's sheets and swept the floors. I put together some rolls, cinnamon rolls, and a loaf of bread to rise. (I just took the last one out of the oven.) I'm going to have to start pulling out some big projects soon. FINALLY it was time to go and get my guys! I was way early to the bus stop but again, being the first day and a brand new school, I just didn't trust the bus to come at exactly when they said it would. I was right, kind of. The bus wasn't on time....it was a little late. There was one other Mama waiting with me. The kids were hot and sweaty when they got off. Zachary said he fell asleep on the bus and he looked like it. Two out of the three other kids had been sleeping too. That mom had to go on the bus to get them off.
The minute we got in the house they wanted a snack. When I cleaned out their lunch boxes I noticed that Zachary didn't eat most of his - the turkey and cheese. He only ate the goldfish crackers and strawberry newtons. He said the teacher said it was time to go. He really is a slow eater. It figures that he started with the snacks first. We'll have to work on that. Alex & Zachary had a good day. They seemed to have had fun and are ready to go back tomorrow. Now that the first day is under our belts I feel better too. I didn't even cry today like I thought I might.