Hayden's First Soccer Game

Hayden had his very first soccer game this past Saturday. It was a precious and hilarious site seeing those little boys run around that field. Aunt La La and her contagious laugh kept me going the whole time too. The expressions, the excitement, the look of my little boy in a soccer uniform was too cute for words. I didn't realize until I saw the coach's wife holding a sign with an arrow pointing towards the goal that was the biggest challenge for the 4 year age group. We just praised them, cheered them on, and tried to rally them in the right direction. No score is kept at this age. Steve even had to corral a few back onto the field when they decided for no particular reason to just wander off in the middle of the game. They had a blast. I can't wait for next week. Hayden even scored a goal!

Hayden waits for his turn to play on the field from the sidelines.
Hayden gets to do his first ball throw in from the sidelines. Notice he is number 12. (It is not coincidence that is the number of Colt McCoy, the quarterback of the Texas Longhorns.)

Hayden gets a little halftime encouragement from Dad.

Go Raptors! Hayden is doing some little funny stomping thing - just having a ball!
Hayden watching his teammates.
A couple of weeks ago at his first practice.

Our Busy Valentine's Day!

I would have updated sooner. The week got by me and the past couple of days have been kind of nuts. Steve spent the night in the ER with a kidney stone night before last and Evan decided to get his very first ear infection. It has been fun! However, they both seem to be on the road to recovery so we have hopes for a good weekend. Hayden is looking forward to his very first soccer game!

I apologize because I know this is gross but Steve wanted to show off his little kidney stone. This teeny tiny little pebble caused him all the pain and a night in the ER spending his time hooked up to morphine watching Ocean's 13 on TV. I will applaud Steve because after spending the entire night awake, he comes home at 8 am and heads off to work saying, "I feel better now. There is no point in staying home." I personally would have milked that kidney stone for all it was worth - ha!


Little E and I started the morning with a visit to Grammy's work to deliver her a Valentine, some flowers, and a kiss while Hayden was at preschool. (I wish I had gotten a pic!)


Hayden enjoys a game of musical chairs at his preschool Valentine party.

Hayden and I share some water and a cookie at his school party.


I took the boys to Aunt Melissa's 3rd grade class to participate in their Valentine party and to deliver her Valentine and valentine cards I made for her students featuring her dog, Pepper. (see below for the card). My mother in law was up there helping Melissa with her party and got to enjoy them as well. We had great fun parading them around the school.

The Valentine I made for Aunt Melissa's 3rd grade class featuring her dog, Pepper.

I ended the day with a visit to see my friend's precious new baby boy.Welcome to the world, Andrew Jason! Congratulations to our long time friends from highschool, Jason and Jennifer Fegraeus!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

www.celestialcreationsbycolleen.com

My Cute Little Valentine "Sock Monkeys"!

I took the boys to our neighborhood pond for some duck watching and hopes to get some pictures of my little men in their Valentine sock monkey t-shirts. I ended up finding their shirts online this year through cafepress.com after a rather discouraging hunt at all major retailers. "I love dirt" was not the appropriate sentiment for my little Valentines. When are they gonna learn we women like to dress our boys in things other than just army prints and dinosaurs? Okay, enough of my rant..


Hayden likes to hug Evan a lot more these days.





Evan thinks he is talking to the ducks in their "language". It was actually quite hilarious. He was trying to mimic the quacking.



Evan is enjoying a little pick a boo on his bro. Hayden finds it entertaining.

A Little January Soccer

I took the boys to the park to try and escape the "cabin fever" of the late afternoon hours before Daddy arrives home. We signed Hayden up for his first soccer league beginning next month so he has been having fun kicking the ball for practice. We can't wait to see him on the field.

Hayden enjoys his soccer practice.

Cute little Parka baby!
Excuse his poor beat up eye (fell on the window seal at home), but Mommy loves this pic of "E" gazing out at the ducks in the pond by the park we are playing in.

Evan's Baby Dedication

We dedicated Evan last Sunday, January 20th. Poor baby didn't feel very good and was exhausted (as you can clearly see above). Hayden didn't even get to go church to see it as he was sick. However, I realize this was more of a day for Steve and I to remember what our commitment is to raising our sons. I suppose the day not being so eventful with typical afterward activities allowed me to focus on what it meant for us to make this promise to our Father. Thank you, Lord, for entrusting us with our precious sons who we pray will grow in Your love and seek You.

Deep Thoughts - by Hayden Sosbee

5 days had passed by the time I took this picture. It looked much worse last week when I arrived to his preschool to have an "incident report" waiting for me to sign and a child that looked like he scrubbed pavement with his nose. My sweet Hayden. It looked like it really hurt! The protective Momma bear in me wanted to hide him out in the house for a few days but I have to remind myself to be prepared that this won't be the last time he comes home with cuts and scrapes.

Hayden is saying some of the cutest things lately. It is funny to hear him verbalize what thoughts are going through his mind.

Lauren a.k.a. (Aunt La La) took him to see a movie the other day and while they were in the car Lauren had pointed out some horses they saw as they were driving down the Tollway. Lauren told me it went something like this.

Lauren: Do you see the horses, Hayden?
Hayden: Yes, but where is the farmer?
Lauren: I'm not sure, Hayden.
Hayden: He is probably in the barn watching football.

Steve decided that was probably a pretty accurate assessment.

Hayden also recently inquired how Jesus is able to stand on the clouds up in Heaven. I am not sure where Hayden obtained the vision that Jesus was up in the clouds but I guess that is always what we envisioned as children too. He also wanted to know how God could hear his prayers being so "far, far away." I told Hayden that for sure God is always with him no matter how far away it seems He might be. We were driving down the road as we had this conversation and Hayden then ask if God just jumped out the window. I so badly wanted to turn around to see if Hayden was searching for God in the back seat.

Genuine Joy

Oh Little "E" what a busy little man you are. You are always in such a rush to discover all there is in this life (if we only could share even a fraction of your enthusiasm!) Mommy sometimes has a hard time keeping up with your adventures and amazing ability to get out of or climb anything.You are the one child in the nursery that can manage to climb up out of those plastic bucket seat chairs that are built into the table for snack time as all the other babies watch you in wonder as their little legs continue to dangle below the table. This past week I found you standing on top of the dining room table when I left the chair pulled out just enough that you could climb up to see what you were missing up there. Thank you for the little daily workout sessions. I guess you are aware that after 30 our metabolisms start slowing down - just keeping me going out of thoughtfulness, huh?

I love that my smile can make you smile. Your little giggles and squeals at your brother Hayden warm my heart.


Your continual carefree delight is a little heaven sent reminder to me at times to just take a moment to "be still and know" Psalm 46:10.

Christmas Wrap Up

Christmas was good this year. We got to spend time with everyone and just enjoy the company of one another. I was reminded of how thankful I am to have so many loving people in our lives.

Steve's cousin Dana found inspiration from a magazine for making our very own Christmas ornaments. It was super fun and very addicting. I think my sister-in-law Melissa made about 20 and spents hours. I hope this will become tradition.


My first ornament creation.
Little E and I goof around in the backyard a bit on Christmas Eve.
There is something about a Classic Coke bottle that will always be a novelty. Steve bought the Coke in bottles as stocking stuffers for all of his cousin Dana's children and his sister Melissa. I will always appreciate how Steve and my sister-in-law are always children at heart when it comes to Christmas. The laying out of the stockings on Christmas Eve is and will always be a joy for Melissa.

Little E and I still waking up on Christmas morning. He decided at about 11pm on Christmas Eve that he would not do well sleeping somewhere he was not familiar with so he and I attempted to share a bed and Daddy ended up on the couch with the dog. I think Evan spent a good portion of the night sleeping on my head. I was a bit sleepy Christmas Day.

Hayden is enjoying his new "Smart Cycle". It is a really cool bike that plugs into the TV and they ride and steer to play the game. I suppose at least his is getting a bit 'o exercise while glaring at the television - ha! Things have come a long way from the Atari joy stick.
Hayden checks out his new Play-Doh Meal Makin' Kitchen.


Evan takes a drink break from all the festivities


Evan gets a Christmas kiss from Peaches.

Our First Gingerbread House

Hayden and I had some Mommy and son craft time while Evan was taking a nap yesterday. We put together our very first Gingerbread House! Those kits you can buy in the store are great. I really must preface this by indicating there is no way I made this thing from scratch! However, I highly recommend having your own icing piping kits because squeezing the icing out of the provided plastic bag was quite a mess. Hayden of course did not mind the mess one bit. He kept calling the icing glue because he could not fathom how icing was able to hold together the magnificent construction of this wonderful little house. He finally believed me when he ask me why I was eating the glue off my fingers and I convinced him to try it.

Just getting started with the trim...
Hayden in the midst of our decorating blurted "Run, Run - as fast you as can - you can't catch me - I'm the Gingerbread Man!"



A little Gingerbread Man decor

Coming along nicely

So proud of my Gingerbread House!

All I Want for Christmas is a Cardboard Box !- Everyone sing....

So you might remember back a few weeks back when Hayden told me he "already had 1,000 toys." He apparently is already bored of them all because he and his brother have resorted to fighting over the small space in a single card board box. The living room was literally filled with wonderfully fun toys (so we thought) and this is what they want to play in. They are both quite upset here. I initially wanted to rescue but knowing they were safe from harm Steve thought thought this to be a great "Kodak moment." Well, here you are folks - a beautiful Kodak moment. Is it safe to say our Christmas shopping is complete? Who needs more toys when you got boxes in the attic?