Summer Soccer

We signed up for real soccer lessons this summer. And they are way more fun than the goofy Dad-coached league at the Y.

 We do real drills, like dribbling, agility, pull back moves, and general conditioning.

I love it! I literally just run around the field, smiling for the whole hour. I don't even notice that it's 10:00 on a summer Saturday in a blazing hot open field. You won't believe how strong my legs are getting and how fast I can run now.

 I think the Gatorade has magic powers.

Ryan likes his team, too. He's learning how to dribble like a turtle, dribble like a rabbit, and do stop airplane.

 Mom and Dad each sit at one of our fields and text back and forth the funny comments from other hardcore parents. Like the father-grandfather pair who clearly feel they missed their calling as Navy Seals lamenting their 5 year-old boy's "lack of hustle", and the fact that he obviously "is not in a situation that will set him up for success".  I guess they think it makes the sport more fun for little kids when they stand on the sidelines yelling awful things like "you're not doing your best, it doesn't matter if you are trying your best" the whole time.

Mom said there is literally a published research study that says the most important things about team sports are: kids trying their best; having a positive, supportive coach; and having parents who stay the heck out of the way. The only thing your parent should say to you is "I like watching you play".  

Because, let's be honest, it really is fun to watch us play! Our bright red cheeks, big smiles, and the thrill that comes with every small victory.

We aren't qualifying for the US Soccer Team, we're just learning how to work hard to improve a skill.

We're learning how to do our best to help our team. We're learning how to lose gracefully when the Premier Team kicks our butts, then how to get back on that field and try again.

Oh, and we're learning how to devour orange slices.

Dad was right, the oranges are the best part!

Superdad

We like this guy. He's pretty awesome.

Happy 4th of July!

Independence Day was one of my favorite days this year. Our awesome cousins from Georgia dropped in for the day! Keeley is a big girl like me, she's lost 2 teeth already. Brady lived up to his reputation as The Chosen One: sweet, easy going, and hilariously demanding.

Their fun, spontaneous parents with flexible summer schedules grabbed a last minute deal for the week in Orlando. Since our parents were stuck at work all week, they made the trek in their party van to come see us.

We had the best time doing simple everyday things that we wish we could do with them all the time. Like, changing clothes a hundred times, lining up every single car and tractor in the house, eating popsicles and watermelon, walking to the neighborhood playground to play in dirt, and cooling off in the sprinklers during Aunt Jenny's photo shoot.

We. Love. These. People.

Aunt Jenny and Mom had fun planning our girls trip to Camp Georgia while Uncle Robert and Dad watched the World Cup and grilled burgers.

I wish we could do this every Friday.

There are some people in this world that you will always feel close to, even if you live far away and only get to see them twice a year.

And there are some moments that will always bring a sentimental tear to your eye... Like when Brady had an epiphany at dinner and kept shouting "I LIKE CHEESE PUFFS!".

Tooth Fairy

 Finally, I lost my first tooth! Actually, I already lost my second tooth yesterday, too, but it has taken me a while to catch up on the blog. This was a historic occasion, made more exciting by the weeks of hope and pleading to the Tooth Fairy in these nightly letters:

 It was all worth it in the end, she left me a crisp new $2 bill. And a trail of pixie dust all over the house!

Hooda Hoops and Seekwets

We're calling these 3 videos the Hooda Hoop Interviews. Ryan says some pretty cute things lately, especially stuff like "Mommy, I want to tell you a seekwet", then "You're my best Mommy ever". He's also given new names to some of our favorite places:

• "Old McDonalds" = McDonalds
• "Old McDoughnuts" = Dunkin Donuts
• "Jimmy John Jones" = Jimmy Johns

Gallery

One of my favorite classes in Elementary School was Art. We got to create still life, self portraits,

and wild imaginary alter egos.

I think Ryan will love art when he gets to Kindergarten. He is already showing promise with masterpieces like: "A Helicopter Shooting And That's The Bottom" ,

"Helicopter",

and "A Car That Got Stuck And The Wheels Came Off".

Temperament

While we're on the subject of temperament, let's take a minute to spotlight the beautiful differences between me and Ryan. Mom is constantly amazed at how different the two of us can be. While most people will chalk it up to the differences between girls and boys, or the birth order effect, Mom knows that from day one we each had our own hard-wired unique personalities. What's crazy is that these differences are what our parents love the most about us.

Mom and Dad seem to intuitively understand certain things about me, like my shyness and initial withdrawal from new situations. Or how I sometimes need a quiet corner to recharge after a hectic day. I'm a lot like Mom in that way. When people ask her if I'm always "so serious", she just smiles and thinks of this selfie she found on her ipad:

Then she tells them to back off and give me a chance to warm up. She loves the fact that I am self assured and playful with my friends,

but especially proud that when they are doing something I'm not totally comfortable with,

I have the confidence to hold back,

and know that I can wait to try it one day when I'm good and ready.

Some of my poise and self control has been forged over the last 3 years living with the volcano that is my little brother. The fact that I don't do serious bodily harm to him (even when he deserves it) is a testament to my incredibly kind, empathetic heart.

 

As a 6 year old, I am definitely starting to figure out the world. Like, when I asked Mom: "Is Dad in charge of the family, or you?".

I still have dramatic moments of exasperation, mostly at night when Despair hits: "These two things are the worst in my life: brushing my teeth and brushing my hair!".

I'm already mastering advanced concepts of teenage attitude, like when Mom says she doesn't know how to do a fishtail braid and I reply "Can't you just look up a video on your phone?". Or trying to make sense of the world with "You know how people are allergic to peanuts, gluten, and cats? I think I'm allergic to mornings".

The cool thing about having parents that adore you is that they notice every little trait and either cry with admiration and pride or mentally note a teachable moment. And when your mom is obsessed with writing everything down, then 20 years from now you get to look back at these posts and realize that you have always been perfect, exactly the way you are.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Our hilarious boy is 3 years old! Everyone says the "threes" are harder than the "terrible twos", which is probably why Mom has new books on her nightstand like "Raising Your Spirited Child".

The pages and pages of temperament surveys validate what we already know and love about this happy, energetic, intense, persistent, fearless, affectionate little maniac.

When it comes to trying new things, he just goes for it, 100%. No hesitation. No caution. This is great for sports, like kicking the crap out of the soccer ball, and breaking a plank of wood for karate. Not so good for living room stunts, like base jumping from the top of the couch. At least now he recognizes some of the injuries are a direct result of his choices, like when he runs into a wall and calmly says "That wasn't a good idea". 

His teachers have always told Mom and Dad that he is a "delight" to have in class, but "needs more stimulation". This is code for "very high energy and we have no idea how to tire him out". He seems to operate at maximum exertion from the moment he steps out of bed in the morning, literally running out of his room, running to wake up Mom, then running to the kitchen. Then he will crash into bed at night, sleeping like a rock. An adorable rock.

What saves him from being in Time Out 90% of the time is the fact that he wakes up so darn happy.

Like, genuinely, hilariously ecstatic. His general mood baseline is set at euphoric. This is good, because when he runs into your bedroom every morning at 5:45am asking "IS IT TIME TO GET UP?  IS IT LIGHT OUT? I WANT A SNACK. CAN I HAVE A SNACK? CAN I HAVE SOME CHEERIOS? AND WATCH A MOVIE?", it's easier to be patient with his happy face.

He seems to have a certain amount of insight into the power of his charm. He already tries to manipulate Mom, like when he sees her across the room and says "Mom. I want to hug you", then "Can you get me a snack?". Or "If you got me water it would make me so happy". We think he will grow up to be a charming little devil, very fitting for a kid with a rooster tail cowlick like this.

  We look forward to another year of his persistent curiosity: "Why? But why?", "What's that all about?"; and frustrated resignation: "Fine. Fine. Fine. Ugh.".

 We love to hear him say "I'll do it all by myself. I'm a big boy.", because he is a big boy now, and we are having a blast watching him grow up.