Why I loved Hope, ID...

...because this was the view of Lake Pend Orielle from out deck

...because Liz made us laugh

...because Gary took us on a Sunday drive and we saw this

... because we got to appreciate nature

...because I loved being with my kids

...because we got time away with Mike

and the kids had fun with DAD!

Thank you Liz and Gary. We had a great vacation!

TuRniNg TwO

So, what did we do on this special day?

- We picked up Mike from the airport (yeah!)... after a long working weekend in UT.

It's crazy how much we miss him when when he's gone.

- Jack and I enjoyed a little 1-on-1 time at the library

- Jump and Bounce and Krispy Kreme

- Presents and Cookies

Little known facts:

LOVES: anything sweet. anything resembling something sweet. honking "semi". his Babas (grandmas). curious george and the firefighters. animals. following aidan. breakfast cereal. "wipeout".

STILL HAS: big blue eyes. "little feets". his "ribbits". sleeping in a crib. toehead. sweetness.

A few unknown facts:

NEW THINGS: VoCAb! new words.words.words. leaving the ground entirely while jumping. drinking from open cups. uses the potty... but has yet to actually "produce" anything into the potty.

THINGS LOST: the binks... due to an accident... but, not too difficult to over come

Pre K

There he goes... One more year of preschool. Very politely he told me... "Mom, I can go in by myself. " Good luck, Kiddo, you're ready AND... have fun!

First hint of Fall

...here in Liberty Lake

The DesTrOYerS...

Meet the Purple Destroyers, a group of 8 fearless soccer boys...

Today they suffered in 90 degree heat to play their first game of soccer. Countless goals were scored, mostly by Isaiah (the boy in the yellow t-shirt who is seriously better than me), but a couple by the other boys, including 1 by Aidan. In most cases it's hard to tell who actually scored the goal, seeing how the boys become a huge moving blob after the ball is put into play. However, we'll count one for Aidan.

Included in the game, along with the goals...

- a single looking mother (since Mike's out of town), attempting to carry a lawn chair, diaper bag, snacks, gatorade... all while pushing a toddler in a jogging stroller through an old field towards the soccer grass. I hope I looked like a trooper "soccer mom" rather than a frazzled, struggling young mother.

- 1 bee sting, taken by Aidan, unfortunately. Getting A. back in the game took about 20 minutes of coaching and ended with me finally threatening him we'd go home if he didn't. To which Aidan replied while crying, "I want to go home." I'm glad I could make a good first impression with the other soccer families.

- 1 train with multiple freights (which I was praying he wouldn't see) but for which after he did, A. put the soccer game on hold for about 30 seconds as he attempted to run to each player and coach informing them of how cool it was...

- and an appearance on the field by Jack, whom I swear I only took my eyes off for one minute to get a drink. It was 90 degrees after all!

All in all... a great victory for the Purple Destroyers!

Luckily, Mike will be back next game!