"Playing" Soccer

Mason participated in his very first organized sporting event on Sunday -- a soccer match (or is it a game?). I call it "playing" soccer because there was a whole lot of playing, but not a whole lot of soccer. What else would you expect from a bunch of 3-year-olds? It was hilarious chaos!

The team had two practices leading up to the first match...I wasn't sure what to expect, but surprisingly, Mason was really interested. Each little player had their own ball and their coach taught them how to kick, dribble, pass, etc. So...as long as each of the children had their own ball, they loved it. But then in the actual match, when there were 8 children chasing 1 ball, most of the children lost interest. Or in the case of my son, he became distracted with the sand pile on the side of the field...and he practiced turning flips in the grass...and he practiced sliding into the goal feet-first & then getting his shoes tangled in the net.

When we sat down to dinner Sunday night, I asked Mason how he thought his first match went. He responded, "It was really good. Coach Card gave me a high five at the end of the match!" So...if Mason thinks it was a success, I guess that's good enough for me. :) After all, we aren't training for the World Cup...we are just hoping he will have fun (and maybe burn off some of his boundless energy in the process).

Richardson's Lake

Saturday morning we ventured down to Aiken with a group of friends for some fun in the sun at Richardson's Lake. Our friend Travis is the proud owner of Richardson's Lake, so while we were there, we got the star treatment. :) Meaning, he gave the girls the very best chairs, we got the primo picnic shelter, and we were entertained with never-ending "Travis" stories and commentary.







The BIG slide...I'm not sure how tall it is, but I'm thinking 30 feet? Or at least 25? This is Jay at the top...



Graem was too scared to slide by himself, so he convinced Jay to slide with him. :)








Mason sliding...




I didn't have my camera with me, I was just using my phone (which thankfully did not go swimming), but the battery went dead before I could get a picture of all the children. I am loving my iPhone but I tell you what, the battery has yet to make it through a whole day. My blackberry battery would last for at least a few days before going dead!

Anyway, we had a great morning. Many thanks to Travis for the hospitality and for keeping us entertained!!

Best Seats in the House

We headed up to Charlotte last weekend for the first Carolina football game of the season...we tailgated in high style, this "tailgating spot" even included a swimming pool! I never got my camera out during tailgating, which might have ended up being a good thing since my phone went for a dip drowned in the pool. I was due for a new phone anyway...but if my camera had ended up in the pool that would have been a different story and would have probably resulted in a withdrawal from a certain 2-year-old's college savings account. :)

By the end of tailgating the boys (and I) were whipped so I was glad that we made the decision from the get-go not to try to take them into the game. After tailgating, we met up with my parents and they and Graem headed over to the stadium. The boys and I went back to the hotel to watch the game from our comfy room.

We ordered room service...they thought that was really neat, especially the miniature ketchup & mustard bottles. :)





Roper only saw the worst part of the game (the first quarter) before nodding off...Mason made it through halftime. He was so funny talking about the players and listening to the commentators. He heard them mention "Mr. Clowney, the man-child," which I think was equally confusing and hilarious to Mason. We were behind at halftime but had momentum going...and then I think I fell asleep sometime in the third quarter. Thankfully we ended up with quite a decisive victory! I can't wait for our first home game next weekend!

First Day of Preschool, Round 2

Today is Roper's turn...he does not share the same enthusiasm for preschool that his big brother does, but he didn't seem completely opposed to it today, which is good. One of his Sunday School buddies is in his class, so I've been reminding him that he'll see Jack at school, which seems to make him excited.

Here is my second handsome boy...

First Day of Preschool, Round 1

Today is Mason's first day of preschool. He has been looking forward to this day all summer! He is in the same local church program that he was in last year. He will be going four mornings a week this year -- wow!! We originally signed him up for two mornings, later decided to move him to three mornings, and by that time the three-day class was full. So four days it is. It seems like a lot to me, since last year he only went two mornings. And I know that he'll spend the rest of his childhood in school. But...for now he really loves going to school so we might as well send him while he loves it! He might not always feel that way! :)





Tomorrow is Roper's first day (he only goes on Wed & Thurs). I'm so thankful for our boys' preschool, which reminds me so much of the preschool that I attended as a child.

Last year's preschool post is here.

Fishy Kisses

There are moments when I realize that God truly knew what he was doing when he gave me two little boys (not that I ever doubted it). Things that other mothers might find gross don't even phase me!

In case the pictures don't speak for themselves, Mason & Roper were picking up each mud minnow (our bait fish) out of the bait cooler & then giving them kisses. Fish need love too. :)

The Gull Whisperer

During our Murrells Inlet cruise, Captain Graem had some excitement in store for us.

Daddy was fishing off the back of the boat and the boys and I were throwing out broken pretzel pieces for the seagulls. Before we knew it, there were seagulls swarming around our boat!



One of the birds inadvertently got his wing caught in the fishing line. The poor thing was starting to go berserk! Daddy slowly reeled in the line, and Graem was able to grab the gull by the wing...finally he calmed down and let Graem get his wing free! I think he will avoid fishing poles from now on. :)