Saturday was the last day of soccer for Micah and Jackson. It was a great season and we had a great team and awesome parents! It was really fun getting to know people who live around us that we wouldn’t have met otherwise. Micah was a great coach – at practice last Tuesday Micah was trying to run a drill and he had all the kids’ attention as he started to show them what to do, but a lady walked by with a funny little dog that caught all the kids’ eye. As Micah finished a little ways down the field he turned around and said, “alright, get in a line,” I don’t think one child was paying attention. All the moms were on the sideline watching and cracking up at how easily the kids were distracted. All season the moms kept telling me how grateful they were that Micah was so patient and kind to the kids. It was fun to watch him coach and Jackson was so happy about it.

Jackson improved a lot through the season. He was aggressive and not afraid to go for the ball no matter the situation. That alone was probably the reason he was so successful at this age.  There wasn’t a goalie, so  almost everyone scored. Just ask him about any game – he’ll tell you exactly how many goals he got. He LOVED when anyone would come watch him (thanks Mamama and Papa Dad).  It was so fun to watch him because he enjoyed playing so much. Go Cheetahs!                (click on the images to see them larger)

In the beginning of November we had some pretty warm days. A lot of times as I’d send the kids out side to play I’d come out and see them playing in the hose. They had asked a few times to go swimming and I kept telling them the pool would be pretty cold. Finally, I just decided to let them swim… and they had a great time. It was cooler than they are used to, but they lasted about 40 minutes out there.

Last week Jackson was chosen by his teacher to be the beary special student. That meant that he got to bring home this bear and play with him all week.
Jackson named this bear Jakey. Jackson came right home with him and read him one of his favorite books: “there was an old lady who swallowed some leaves.” Jakey loved playing with Jackson’s other bear Jack. Jakey was included in lots of our activities this week, we were glad to have him. We filled out one paper all about Jackson, and one paper about what Jackson did with Jakey to send back with Jakey for Jackson’s class to read together. Sounds like they had a great time. It was a great week! We decided to take some pictures before Jakey had to go back :

Today was a good day. Jackson had preschool and soccer, Lacey started a new session of her dance class, Rachelle was smiley, giggly, and happy and life really is good. Have you ever had those days where you just watch things going on around you and say “Life is good,” or  “I know I’m going to miss this.” Things such as, Lacey asking me to sit in the big chair every once in a while  just to be held and rocked by me, my little baby Chelle peacefully drifting off to sleep cuddled in a warm blanket in my arms, Jackson so happy and excited to tell me all about what he learned at school. All of our meals went smoothly today, Jackson and Lacey asked only for grapes and bananas for snacks today, and at dinner after the half bbq veggie/half cheese pizza came out of the oven and we were all sitting at the table Jackson took a sniff, excitedly said “mmmm, smell this mom” and then announced, “Mom always makes the best.” So often lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for my family. I love them. Not everything was perfect today, but still life is so good.

I meant to go shopping earlier today, but I wasn’t able to get to it until tonight after the kids went to bed. I was getting some crackers for the kids and there was a display in the aisle for these:

I’ve seen these in Target once in the past few years. I was first introduced to Tim Tams when I went to play volleyball in Australia my junior year in high school and my home stay family, first thing, took us to the supermarket there and bought us a package. Wow – heaven to this chocolate lover! After I came home from that trip, I never thought I’d see them again, so I let them be a thing of the past. Then I went on a study abroad to New Zealand a few years later and was reunited with these delicious little things! That is where several of us in my group learned about the “Tim Tam Slam.”  I went back and forth in my head, should I buy these or not. Finally as I remembered how the weather tonight was a little chilly, I decided tonight would be a perfect night for a tim tam slam: hot chocolate, one of these cookies (bite a corner off of each end and use as a straw).  Yummy!

As I pulled into my driveway on the way home from the store and opened the garage door the garage door broke. Bummer. I guess I’ll  just forget about it until tomorrow and enjoy my treat!