Soccer Pics

Chloe totally came out of her shell (not that it is usually hard for her to do...) at her soccer game on Saturday. It was so fun to watch her run after the ball, push herself into the cluster of five year olds trying to get the ball and dribble the ball down the field! Here are some pics from Saturday:







And a special thanks goes to my mom for letting me snap pics with her cool camera!

Don't you hate it when...

About 15 minutes ago, I wandered into the kitchen figuring that since Justin would be home from work soon, I'd start dinner. I've had it in my head for the past few hours that I'd make french toast for dinner. Easy, yummy and liked by the kids.

Whats the problem? No bread. The loaf on the counter consists of the end pieces and one additional piece and for the first time in a couple months we have no bread in either freezer. What are the chances?!

Now I need to quickly come up with something else to make for dinner!

Photo Friday

In anticipation of one of our favorite months of the year, here are the kidlets last Halloween:

An ode to my boy

I noticed last week that most of my posts seem to be about Chloe. Maybe it is because her pushy, er... I mean strong, personality just makes her seem to be the center of attention more often. However, despite her wishes, she is not our only child.

Cooper and I are just loving our one on one time while Chloe is at school. It is so much fun for me to get to be with just him for so many hours. He loves hugging, he loves "choo choos," "dars," and "tucks." He drives everything around the house... on the floor, on the walls, through the air. And he has a different sound for everything (because obviously a plane doesn't sound the same as a car or a train). Cooper is such a boy and I love it! He loves eating... the kid would eat all the time and he isn't picky about foods (like his sister).

We were a bit worried that Cooper would be lonely or sad when Chloe went to school. That isn't the case at all. On the second day of school, he grabbed Chloe's lunch box, marched to the front door and started harping orders in his jibberish and pointing to the van. I can only assume he was telling her to get going, it was time for school. He does this just about every morning now! He is very happy to see her when we pick her up, but he definitely is enjoying his mommy time and being king of the house (and playing in Chloe's room while she is gone)!

The Eighth Day of Kindergarten

Eight days. That is how long it took Chloe to "test" the rules and get in trouble at school.

I'm sure in elementary school, we all wondered "what happens if we just don't go in from recess when the bell rings?" Maybe as a brazen fifth or sixth grader we might have even tested it out, just to find out what the consequence was. But I am pretty sure there are very few who decide to do it on their eighth day of kindergarten . We can number Chloe (and the friend she was with) among those few.

I think we have a long road ahead of us.

Dead Camera

Our digital camera died the other day... worked fine Thursday night but on Friday when I took it out of my purse to upload some pictures off of it, it decided it was done working. It won't read/recognize memory cards. So, that is my excuse for the lack of blog posts... I like to post pics with my blog posts.

On the subject of cameras, I've been saving up money to buy a Canon XSI DSLR. Costco has a great deal running until the first part of October that comes with a zoom lens in addition to the kit lens for $799... Between birthday money and part of our garage sale money I'm halfway there (don't think I'll save enough money in time to catch this particular deal) but now it looks like I'm gonna have to put money into a new point and shoot also. Man, I should have decided to "save up" for this camera a month and a half ago... before I quit my job and went on a budget! I would already be a DSLR owner!

Maybe Santa will bring me a new camera?!

Robin Hood

While we were out running errands tonight, we put a dvd in to keep the kiddos happy in their carseats. Justin chose the Disney version of Robin Hood for them to watch. Normally we don't listen to the movies the kids watch in the car, but we decided to keep Robin Hood on in the front so we could listen along. I am pretty sure it is my favorite Disney movie... awesome songs, a good story line, and no scary parts or dysfunctional/broken families (don't get Justin started on this subject in relation to Disney movies). So, if you haven't watched it in a while, I highly recommend sitting down to relax while watching (or in our case listening to) Robin Hood. Two thumbs up!

And she's off!

Chloe started kindergarten today!

I have no idea what I'm going to do today and it took Cooper exactly 7 minutes after we got home before he asked "Uh-oh, where's sister?!"

Saturday morning soccer

The Cheetahs- They're fast, they're fun, and (most importantly?) they're fashionable! Here are some pictures from this morning's soccer. Chloe had a blast and can't wait until next week. If you are bored on any Saturday morning between now and the middle of November (rain or shine) come join us for a little excitement!

Bored?

56 words

Speedtest

Eating Healthy

Chloe was, in her own words, "starving" after gymnastics this evening. As we loaded into the car, she asked me if we could go to Taco Bell and get a soft taco and nachos. I told her no, that we were going to eat at home. Because she is five, she asked "why?" To which I replied that it was healthier to eat at home.

Chloe's solution? "Well, lets just go through the drive-thru!"

Backyard Fun

We've been having awesome weather for September, so the kids have been outside enjoying it! Chloe spent the afternoon today writing and drawing on her easel... she doesn't even get *too* mad when Cooper erases it and tries to take the markers!

(It says, "Mom loves Cooper loves Chloe loves Dad loves DD)

(Now it says less)

And Cooper likes playing with his trucks (note the pile on the ground) and going down the slide... when he isn't trying to do what his sister is doing!

And the strike continues...

The teacher's union turned down (by 75%) the district's contract offer yesterday. They are still pretty far apart on the curriculum issues and wages. Uhg.

http://www.bsd405.org/

At this rate we'll be going to school till July to make up for missed days!

Still no school.

The teacher's strike is still going on. We're optomistic that Chloe will be able to start school next week-- hopefully Monday. She keeps asking when she gets to go to kindergarten and why there is no school. I tried to explain the concept of "going on strike" to her without it sounding like she could go on strike herself if she doesn't like what we tell her to do! Oy vey.

Chloe the Soccer Player

So... Chloe has possibly the world's smallest feet (and hands) of any five year old. All round, she is petite, but her feet (and hands) are just tiny. In fact, I had to order her size 8 cleats from a soccer store in Pittsburg, because no local stores and no online retailers had her size. Most don't carry that size and the few that do only get one or two pairs and were sold out.

I was quite excited to have Chloe try her new shinguards and cleats on when they came in the mail today, but I was worried that they were going to be too small because they just looked *so small* But they fit and are just about the cutest thing ever!

First day of Kindy? Not today.

Today should have been Chloe's first day of kindergarten, but the teachers in our district are on strike! I sure hope the school district and the teacher's union can come to a contract agreement quickly.

Our Labor Day Tradition

Its that time of year again-- time for the Evergreen State Fair!

We ate some fabulous fair food:


We visited the animals (who, according to Cooper are all "dogs"):


Rode the rides:


And had an all-round good time!


See ya next year Fair!