Reinforcements have arrived

Sunday, Wes rode in on his white horse to offer me a break. Okay, so is wasn't a white horse but it was in his new white Pathfinder. Yeah! He came bearing gifts from his travels abroad. Hats with horns, a sparkly shirt, a painting, and cool T-shirts were the loot. The kids were so excited. He was only going to be here for a few days but i will take it. Since his arrival we have been going non-stop it feels like. I think we go non-stop everyday. He has been a huge help getting the kids in and out. An extra set of hands sure does come in handy. Maybe i will start praying for a set. I asked Wes if he saw anyway that i could streamline my life and his suggestion was boarding school and boot camps. HA! Anyway, we have been hitting the gym every morning. It is really nice to get out and exercise, the kids love it, and it gives me a break but Wes is a runner. I don't ever want to slow him down so i have really pushed myself to keep up with him but now i think i can hardly walk. Ahhh, the pain. He also came to see Jack play soccer and it just happened that Ella started her gymnastics so he got to see both kids in action. After the gym yesterday the kids played in the "awesome" pirate ship pool that Uncle Wes bought. (Thanks again Wes) Then we went to check out the Fun Station 2000. We arrived about 5:30 to an empty parking lot yet the sign said open. Was this good or bad? We laughed and Wes just told the kids he rented out the whole place just for them. They believed him. We ate and played. They had a few carnival rides that we took the kids on and Wes and i couldn't stop laughing. I think they were a little fast for John but they were short so he got off with a smile. We collected 1,045 tickets and traded them for prizes as we headed out the door. Most of those were from Wes's Deal or No Deal skills. It was a fun night. Wes left after lunch today. I considered throwing a few of the kids in with his luggage. :) I hated to see him leave but i did enjoy the visit. Here are a few more pictures.

Miracle Workers v. Cardinals

Upon first inspection the Cardinals looked like formidable opponents. This was the first team we have played that had more than four player show up and stay on the field. Their coach had a whistle and stop watch in order to insure proper play. He set up his players. Two at goalie and the rest on the line. This was serious. Was this going to be the end of our Green Machines domination? They're off. GO, GO, GO, SCORE! No stopping the green machine today. After the first few minutes the Cardinals began to fall apart. One little kids stuck with it but turns out it was because his dad was the coach. I am pretty sure i heard him saying "Lord, make me a bird so i can fly far far away from here". HA! Stole that line from Jenny in Forrest Gump. Anyway, we stopped counting after the score reached 12 to 1. Jack was happy to have Uncle Wes there to watch him. Still just running with the pack. He is happy letting the others score. By others i mean the tank, I'm sorry Mom, Kensley. I have high hopes that we will go undefeated. Three down, three to go.

Back to basics

Ella started her gymnastics class yesterday. I think we were all a little surprised at the requirements for the class. In Raleigh, the teacher was so sweet and they went through different exercises but it was more for fun. Here, however, was more along the lines of say.......boot camp. The teacher was very nice but she had Ella working on her splits, chin ups, flips, climbing up on the balance beam unassisted, holding her weight on the bars and pushing off (she even gave them the correct name but i wasn't listening). I was a little surprised that they were so focused on technique in the 5 year old class. Ella didn't seem to mind. She made a friend and said she loved the class. She will go every Tuesday at 3:30. Another class to add to my schedule. :)

Miracle Workers v. Shockers

Today was a glorious day for futbol, or soccer, whichever you prefer. I am really starting to think that there are a couple of child prodigies on our team. To bad it isn't Jack.I think Jack is a little to passive to play soccer. He isn't aggressive when it comes to getting the ball. He says it isn't nice to take things away from other people. Great! He is finally listening to what i say! During his warm up it became evident that he was more interested in looking cool and hitting on a teammate. Just happened to be the little girl that likes to eats grass. I guess he likes vegetarians. Anyway, the game wasn't quite as organized as the last but it was still good. Jack is getting better but hasn't mastered the art of the running kick. He has to stand and kick and then run. He did kick off and kick the ball in. One other time he found himself with the ball at his feet but spent too much time trying to line it up that one of the girls took it. No biggie Jack still gave us the thumbs up. The Shockers look like they are in the same predicament we are in. They had one stand out player who gave Kensley (Mom requested i not refer to her as "the tank") a run for her money. However, one reclined in a chair snacking on chips for the entire game while another chose to roll around in the middle of the field and i do mean that literally and another decided he didn't like the competition so he got his own ball and had his "me v. myself" game while the actual game was going on. After seeing that, I am convinced we have a great team now. Looks like a family soccer game for practice this weekend. We still came out on top. I don't think anyone is keeping up with it but me. Okay, so i am slightly competitive. :)

Visit and comments

We are changing our visit. Jack has two soccer games the last week in April and that was our original scheduled visit. He only has six total so we would hate for him to miss those two so we shifted things around. Eric has other classes to take so this is the latest travel itinerary. Eric will be in Birmingham May 12 and 13. We will travel with him back to Alabama June 3rd through the 7th. That is as far in advance as i can plan. It will be a short visit but we hope we can see everyone.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who takes time to follow my blog. I also appreciate those of you who take extra time to leave me a comment. However, i would just like to ask you if you post as "anonymous" make sure you leave me your name in your comment so i know who you are. :) I want to be able to respond to your questions.

Miracle Workers v. Master Minds

Today we had our very first game. I have to say the day could have gone a little better but we were there 10 minutes early. That is always good. Eric also arrived before the game started. Jack was in a bit of a fog from his late nap but was smiling. We (Eric and I) don't care much for soccer but are trying to be open to the sport. The likelihood of at least one of the four loving this sport is pretty high. We watched very closely to see how they lined up and how long the quarters were, etc. for at home practice. The time arrives. Everyone is in position. The game is beginning. A little kid kicks the ball. Their off! A group of kids all running together after this one ball. Where's Jack? Still standing in the middle of the field. He is just watching. RUN JACK!! GET THE BALL!! RUN!!!! He turns around. Will he run? Is he looking for the ball? Nope, he gives his Daddy a thumbs up and continues to stand there...watching. We had a bit of a talk and he soon caught on. He ran towards the ball but was content running behind the pack. He says he had a blast so i am very happy. The other team only had four players (really three if you take out the kid who wouldn't stay on the field) to our five and maybe would have had a better chance if "the tank" sat out. We won by a long shot. Not that it matters, but just so you know. Superstar? After today's game .....magic 8 ball says *shake* *shake**shake*........ not likely.

Today's funnies

Today has been a lazy day. Eric went to work and John has had a fever since yesterday so we hung out here. We aren't sure if the fever is something John picked up at the Y or if it has something to do with that big tooth coming in. Anyway, he has been super clingy and lazy and when I don't have him I have Ben. However, there were a couple of funny conversations today. Here they are.

I was giving Ben a bath and Ella came in to ask me if I could read her a bedtime story. I said sure and she sat and I read while I finished with Ben. As I finished the book I told her to head up to her bed. The rest sounded like this:


Ella: I need to kiss Ben goodnight. (in her best baby voice) night night my precious baby Ben. Your my love.

Me: Your love?

Ella: yeah, and Sam is my love dog and Ben is my love boy.

Me: what about Jack, John, Sally, Mommy and Daddy? What are we?

Ella: (smiles really big. I can tell she is thinking. )

Me: how about Jack can be your love big man, John can be your love little man, Ben can be your love baby, Sam can be your love boy dog, Sally can be your love girl dog, I can be your love mommy and daddy can be your love daddy.

Ella: (giggling) yeah

Me: wow, our house has a lot of loves in it.

Ella: and pee!

Hahahahahah. I bet you didn't see that coming. Neither did I. I guess that is better than something else. Here is to love and pee. :)

Eric read a bedtime story to Jack and John and got them tucked in. As Eric was leaving this is what he heard:

Jack: daddy don't leave. I get scared.

Eric: Jack there is nothing to be scared of.

Jack: but I just want to sleep in your bed.

Eric: Jack you don't need to sleep in my bed.

Jack: but I do. What if the monsters come in and try to get me.

Eric: monsters?

Jack: yeah the ones with mean eyes and skinny boobies.

Yeah, he isn't scared of a monster's teeth but of skinny boobies? I wonder if he is talking about me? :) HA!

-- Post From My iPhone