school's out

Unbelievable.  We are more than half way through the summer holidays and it feels like it is just beginning.  Maybe I should rethink the whole homeschooling thing. 

 *thinking for 9 seconds* 

Okay,  I thought about it again and decided (again) that it isn't for me!

Here are a few end of the school year photos before I add a few summer ones at Christmas time (hopefully joking):

GRADY

Grady was overjoyed that he was old enough to play soccer this year.  Mom wasn't so overjoyed about helping with the coaching.

Reason # 1: the six and under age group is more like crowd control than soccer, and I know very little about soccer and a little bit about 5 year old behavior.
Reason #2:  Rhett played U8 soccer at the same time on a different, but kind of near by field that he could bike to.  As a result, I made it to only one of his practices.
Reason #3:  Samara's soccer started before the younger kids finished (not the original schedule)

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad!  It just wasn't easy juggling all of that while Phil was farming and that took some of the fun out of it.  I always felt like a survivor every Tuesday and Thursday night :)

 RHETT

Rhett loves soccer more every year, but still does not like getting his picture taken so I have to be sneaky. When he was in U6 he was more concerned if his soccer shorts matched with his jersey than running for the ball!  That might be a tiny exaggeration, but it was for sure more about the social outing when he was younger.  This year he just wanted to get going and not be late ... all for the love of the game.  And you can't tell from the picture, but his shirt is purple and his shorts are blue :)

KEITHAN

This kid still LOVES soccer.  I think I have posted about that before ... but here it is again!  He plays hard and his face turns beet red every time.  He's a pretty good little player, if I say so myself :) 

SAMARA

This girl realized that she enjoys other things more than soccer, and that is ok!  She REALLY wanted to play this year, so we made it work (for the most part).  Then half way through the short season it was more of a "sticking to what you committed to" and "don't let your team down by not showing up for the tournament" kind of thing.  As funny as it sounds, 10 years old is "late" for starting to play soccer, especially when it isn't your skill.  Some other kids and their parents take it a little too seriously.  Oh well, one less thing to schedule next year and it was a good learning experience.  I must say, her coach was wonderful and she enjoyed having Samara on her team and told me more than once what a lovely girl she was.  True enough, she is a pretty amazing kid when she wants to be! 

Samara went to Fort Edmonton Park and the Legislature for her school trip.  She took about 112 photos but this one was too cute not to share!  I hope she doesn't want to be a politician, but she enjoyed her moment in the local MLA's office. 

School Musical

I think I mentioned in a previous post about Samara being in the school musical again this year.  She had a fairly minor part last year in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and this year, although she had high hopes of being the main character, she still got a significant role as Scuttle the seagull in "The Little Mermaid".  She did a super job and it wasn't hard to tell she loves this center stage kind of thing.  Must be from her dad's side :)  The ability to carry a tune however, is not from her dad's side so I'll lay claim to that part of her talent!

inspecting the "snarfblat"

The cast

And ... for my first attempt at adding a video:

The quality is poor ... but gives you an idea.  Musicals are all fun and great ... but the amount of work behind it is astonishing.  The teachers and kids spent hours and hours practicing and rehearsing but it all went well in the end.  The costumes were amazing as well.  Contact me early for tickets for next year!  Ha ha!  Next year Keithan is able to try out and he's excited about it, but only if it is a boy one! Stay tuned ...

future fireman?

Grady had his first field trip the other day!  He plans to be a policeman and a farmer and help at A&W when he grows up, but he was happy to be a fireman for a day!

birthday update

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For those keeping track, we finally celebrated Keithan's birthday last weekend.  

It was the easiest party ever to prepare for, but was the most tiring in the end!  He decided he wanted a sleepover party so I allowed him to invite 3 friends.  The plan was to set up the tent in the back yard and sleep there.  We have had 2 weeks of amazing weather, but of course on Friday night it was extremely windy and threatening thundershowers.  Plan B was a blanket fort in the basement.  It was a fun time of pizza and ice-cream cake and overall loudness!  They had pillow fights (supervised), dart gun fights, a few rounds of Wii games and even a few quiet moments of Lego building.  Unfortunately the weather didn't co-operate for playing outside.  

Bonus:  No one was injured! 

I finally got them settled down and sleeping by 10:45pm.  They were up at 4:45am raring to go!  The kids went home around 11:00am and that was the party :)  

The next day my kids were in bed by 6:30pm and didn't get up until after 8:00am!!!

rainbow brite

Our view from the front step:

LoVe Rainbows!

Since the kids weren't sleeping yet I had to get them out of bed to see this whole double rainbow. I was quick with the camera because it was still raining lightly. Of course I can never capture the moment like it was anyway. Rainbows give the me the "awe" feeling ... and when I'm driving I have to focus on keeping between the ditches when the kids and I are trying to pick out all the colors! 

Good thing this one was right outside the front door!

9 years young

This boy is one year away from double digits!!  Much to his disgruntlement he hasn't even had his 9th birthday party yet but he officially turned 9 a few weeks ago.  I am trying to convince him to forgo the party completely but he continues to  badger me and is still holding out hope that I will pick a date so he can invite the masses.  

A little update on Keithan this year:

• LOVES soccer (and is really quite good at it says his coach)

• second love is kizi games and minecraft (have no idea what is so exciting about that game)

• spent his birthday money on running shoes (weird but true)

•  often has his nose in a book (preferably Archie comics or Captain Underpants)

• has ZERO phone etiquette  (when talking to school friends ... shudder)

•  thinks he's too big for hugs  :-(

at least he can't say I didn't make him a cake!

Indoor soccer until the snow disappeared

Just look at him ... the model of cooperation in this shot with Scott and Terry.  Maybe he can teach his brothers something.

 
So, there you have it until the "real" party.  Hope he forgives this too busy, too disorganized mom who has trouble getting her ducks in a row.   I better check my calender right this minute ....

spring break - rest of the events!

Some cross country ski action

Waxing up for the icy trail

Cool boots

Off like a herd of turtles

Some inside action ...

Chess ... and more chess

Some creative play

egg hunt extravaganza!

A party and show for Grandma ...

Cake decorating

Honored "guest" with a special chair

Adair

Dancing dudes

A little magic

photo op:

So this about wraps up our trip to grandpa and grandma's.  It was a fabulous time with more than a few laughs ... especially over the kids tribute party for Grandma!!  From here we came back home via Calgary and stopped to see Uncle Harvey at the hospital.  Cousin Jessica was also in the same hospital but I just missed seeing her (was having gall bladder surgery).  We enjoyed some wonderful hospitality in Airdrie (thanks Molly and family) ... and a tiny bit of shopping at Cross Iron Mills mall. We also had our first Five Guys burger experience.  It wasn't bad, but I came away thinking A&W has some pretty tasty burgers! And cheaper.  Also had a quick stop to say hi to Grandma O on our way through Red Deer. 

Hope you don't mind the vintage filter on some of the pictures.  I just love the effect, but maybe there is such a thing as overkill!