Year End Kindergarten Fun!

Hayden's Kinder year was wrapped up with some good ole

fashioned outdoor miserable Texas heat fun! 

Evan joined the ranks as an honorary member of the class this year.

The kids love him and Hayden's teacher was always smitten

by his big bear hugs. He was kind of the class mascot.

He loved going up to the school with me when I helped out

in the classroom and for parties. Hayden also enjoyed

seeing him and showing little bro off.

Mrs. Hodges class won 2 of the 3 tug of wars.

Perhaps it was the 30 extra pounds of assistance?

This contest involved running back and forth

soaking the sponge and then running across to

squeeze the sponge into the empty bucket

to see which team could fill their bucket first.

Hayden took this competition seriously
and really hussled!

Hayden and his buddy, Kaden - then 

Evan right back in the middle of the action.

(He had dropped out for a while because he was

sad they didn't have a baseball hat with his 

name on it like the other kids. It was a pitiful

scene there for a while.) Fortunately he made a full recovery.

This pic was actually from field day from a few 

weeks earlier but I wanted to show off his mad

shoe kicking skills.

He beat all his classmates by a mile in the shoe

kicking competition.

Look at that shoe fly! That soccer

has paid off apparently. He was so 

proud.

The Raptors dominated in Division I Spring Season!

The Raptors moved up to Division I soccer this season for a challenge and still dominated! They had one loss all season to a team that I am pretty sure had a kid that was "Bending it Like Beckham" by the age of 3. CRAZY!!! Anyhow, these boys get better and better each season. In the fall they move
up to the "big field." It seems like yesterday we were holding up signs for them to make
sure they were kicking the ball down the field in the right direction.

Hayden really excelled in playing the sweeper position this season. He stopped many opposing goal kicks and his coaches, Steve, and I could not have been more proud. He seems to do better in this type of position where he can concentrate and not be stuck in the "mosh pit" of 6 year old boys fighting for the ball.

I didn't even notice Hayden kind of pushing on this kid

until I uploaded it.With the big smile on his face, it looked friendly
enough.

The Raptors

Hayden- a.k.a. " Dominating Sweeper"

 End of year kudos from Coach.

 Hayden proudly displaying his trophy.

Soccer Shots

We had Evan enrolled in a great soccer clinic for pre-schoolers called Soccer Shots the past couple of months. He loved it and was so excited to get to put on his big brother's old soccer gear - shorts, socks, shoes, shin gards, and all! They said he didn't need shin guards and cleats but it was so much fun for him to be able to wear it so I gladly put him in it each Monday morning.

He wore it with pride.

Evan happily followed coach's instructions. 

Doing a little drill where he was to touch his nose to the ball - great technique, Evan!

Even better, Evan got to be in Soccer Shots with his friend, Will.

I think they both equally enjoyed getting decked out in all the soccer gear.

Too cute this pair. 

Evan was frequently seen adjusting his socks making sure they were at just the right height

and folded to his liking....

He made sure he was well hydrated of course and liked to carry Mommy's water bottle 

she often uses for running. 

(Notice at this age how with these little guys there tends to be a 

seamless transition between the bottom of the soccer shorts to the top of the socks.)

It brings so much joy to see my little boy having so much fun.

This is a little video of him kicking a goal.

Hayden Doing a Little Bedtime Reading and Singing to Evan

Hayden is doing wonderfully with his reading.

This is him doing a little bedtime reading to Evan to the tune 

of Wheels on the Bus.

He also did a little improvising to Evan as to what else

the characters might be saying or thinking on each page.

Evan loved it and so did Steve and I.

Spring Break Lake Weekend with the Chandlers

We took a quick little Spring Break trip to visit my long time friend, Melanie Chandler,

at her parents home at the lake.
Melanie was one of my best friends in high school and we have never lost 

touch. Her parents, Betty and Randy, we also now consider friends
at this stage in our lives. 
Thank you for a beautiful weekend.

The boys could not wait to get out for a boat ride. 

Randy even let the boys drive the boat - 

the smiles were non-stop!

And just when they thought it could not get any better, they got a
chance to ride the 4 Wheeler!

Evan just kicked back and relaxed...

A pretty tulip from the Chandler yard and Red Bud Tree from the farm.

Evan finds the perfect walking stick while Betty guides the hike.

Melanie and the boys.

MSilly brothers....

Steve in "Be the Chef" at Benihana's

By the great suggestion of my sister in law, Melissa,

I bought Steve for Christmas the

"Be the Chef" training at Benihana.

Two of Steve's favorite shows to watch

are Top Chef and Iron Chef so to him this opportunity

made him somewhat giddy.

For those of you that know him, you

might find this interesting as my husband is

known for his extremely picky refined culinary taste.

(By the way, please don't take this as hubby bashing!)

It just makes this whole thing all the more entertaining and

provides a good background for this event. 

Steve's idea of a delicious dinner and perfect evening is to

steam a trough bowl of rice and fry up several pieces of bacon then

park himself perfectly centered in front of the television as

he watches the chefs make their best creations with

things like eel and squid while he feasts on rice and bacon....go figure. 

Steve, you are darling and so funny!

He was a bit nervous thinking he was going to forget things that
he learned the week before in his training while cooking for us
but he did great! You could tell he was really enjoying himself.

Steve even flipped some shrimp tails into his hat!

Here Steve did his favorite task, "The Train".

Here he is making some quite delicious fried rice. The meal really turned out fantastic.

So proud of our chef -We had a blast and a very yummy meal (really!)

Snow Much Fun!

  After watching the snow fall all morning long, Steve took a break

from working at home. We all bundled up and went down to meet

                 Hayden at the bus stop after school.

                                                         

Hayden is off the bus - happy and ready to play!

He told me how they let them go out and play at school that day in the snow.

He was overjoyed with the fun of the day.

Hayden immediately starts chasing E with a snowball. 

 

The boys threw snow at each other all the way down the side walk with laughs and

smiles the entire way .

 

Snow was literally knee deep for Evan.

Evan had really gotten the hang of this snowball thing.
He is going after brother full force and with a huge one at that!

 Love how after so many pics I had failed to realize

his little ear was not tucked under his hat. He was having

too much fun to complain about cold ears!!

Me and my favorite little snowmen.

Steve was so waiting for me to take the camera inside

so he could launch snow at my face.

I took my time - I knew what he was plotting.
He even sent Hayden to do his dirty work
later that night sending Hayden running inside
yelling, "Daddy fell!" I almost ran out in my
pj's but as soon as I saw Hayden's face
I knew better!
Plan foiled, boys :-)

snow angels!

This began day 2 of the snow fun. No school!

I was sad for Hayden to not have his school Valentine Party but

rest assured the principal had a recorded message that the parties

were rescheduled for Tuesday..whew!

 Below was the email forwarded to me as well. It made me chuckle a bit. 

I think I was the one that was stressing more than Hayden being a room mom and all. 

"Parents,
Valentine parties will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 16th.
Tell your kiddos not to worry.
I don't want to cause any stress for them that will affect them later in life.

Enjoy the Snow!"
Mr. I

The boys took instruction from the
construction supervisor (boy next door)

to build their super fort. They did a pretty

great job as you can see the height was well 

above waist level for Hayden.

Hayden hides out behind the finished fort

waiting to launch a snowball as soon 

as our neighbor walks out of his front door.

Trouble......What trouble?

taste testing the snow...

couldn't have been happier - such wonderful memories...

..even for old sweet Lizzie