Fall Soccer Tournament

This season has been tough for the Eagles. They lost two long time players to a traveling team, an assistant coach to a military move, then moved up a division so not only had to replace those players but also add a few more to fill out the roster and the field (they now play with the full number of players on the team and use the entire field). It really is a huge field and has taken some getting used to. The league didn't have enough teams in their division so they merged Kyle's division with the U14 division which had quite a few more teams and the Eagles ended up playing with boys twice their size. I've never seen kids so big. They lost a lot of games this season, not by much, by the Eagles aren't used to losing. I'd say it has been good for them but it's been pretty tough on 12/13 year old boys. Overall, the older boys, besides being much larger, where really rough. I mean brutes. It wasn't enough to be just aggressive soccer players, they had to hit, kick, push, etc. Not good sports. I was pretty shocked. But again, super glad for an awesome coach that taught his team to continue to play hard, but fair. No need to sink to their level.

Just like Abbie, Kyle truly has the greatest coach. We've stuck with him since the beginning. Kyle started playing with Coach Brian so long ago that we can't even remember now. He is the best mix of tough and fair. He can be hard on the boys but only when he knows they aren't doing their best, not because he is obsessed with winning. And he wouldn't tolerate it if the parents were. But when he hands out a compliment, those boys shine. Finding a great coach is like winning the lottery.

Brian asked the boys if they wanted to enter the tournament this weekend and they all decided they wanted to, even if their chances weren't great. Yesterday's games were at 8:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and were COLD. Crazy cold. They lost the first game but tied the second, against a team they've never beat before. The Ref was nuts...seriously crazy. He was calling all kinds of nutty things and ended the game 10 minutes early because he claimed the team kept making him blow his whistle to stop the game for penalties, etc. Anyway, who knows what would have happened in that last 10 minutes but the boys were proud of their efforts. They advanced to an 8:40 semi-final this morning and possibly another game at 12:30 today but since we don't play Sundays I'm not sure what happened.

The girls kept themselves busy by sticking zip-ties in Tripp's hat and playing dolls on the blanket. Two games in one day is about their limit.

We love soccer and are thankful for such a great team and coach but are pretty glad the season is over and are looking forward to a few weeks off before spring training begins.

Grasshoppers Fall Season

The Grasshoppers ended their fall season Saturday with a game and a fun little party. I have to say, if you want a good belly laugh, come watch four and five years olds play soccer. It's a hoot.

We had a great coach. Coach Mike was the best mix (in my opinion) of fun and skill. We certainly weren't the best team in the league but not the worst either. The kids came to practice every week and had fun. But they also learned some really good skills as well. However, I was really impressed that, all things considered, he didn't take the whole thing too seriously. In the end, these kids are 4 and 5. I didn't have high expectations of what they would do and I didn't really appreciate how great this team and coach was until we started playing games and I saw some of the other coaches (and parents) and how seriously they were taking it. I just wanted Abbie to give it a try, learn a few skills, learn how to play with a team and have some fun. Mission accomplished. And she can't wait to play in the spring. She was the only girl on the team and it didn't both her one bit. I really loved that as well.

But most of all, Daisy can't wait to be four and play soccer. She feels really left out that both Kyle and Abbie play and she can't. Coach Mike is great and lets her participate in some of the practice with the team (her new favorite game is Sharks & Minnows) but she just can't get big enough fast enough. It's stinks to be small.

Go Grasshoppers!

Halloween and A Five Day Weekend

It seemed like we celebrated Halloween all month with school parties and ballet parties (all four of which I didn't get a photos of) then our second annual trip to the pumpkin patch. Of course, it is the just hokey jokey pumpkin patch down the road but a cute girl in our ward sets up a play date for everyone there each year and Abbie (and now Daisy) really enjoy it. Lindsay and Nate joined us as guests last year but now they get their own full fledged invite. The photo below has Abbie with Nate's friend Hadley (we always love seeing her) and Daisy sitting next to her best friend Nate and her nursery friend Clara on the "train"....don't ask.
Trunk or Treat was a hit this year. Tripp hates it and every year he goes home in a rotten mood. Lindsay said something on her blog about how the three ward event was something new and something crowded (or something like that). I guess it is the only one we've really ever gone to so we don't know any different but it is crazy crowded which is why Tripp is always in a horrible mood by the end. The girls where finally old enough that I could manage them by myself in the crowd without a headache so I parked Tripp in the car to hand out candy (a first for us) and he was in a great mood all night. Even Kyle, our resident grouch, had a fantastic night. He didn't really go for any candy...just hung out all night with his two buddies and a couple of girls. They were outside all night in the view of parents so I'd say a happy Kyle that got into zero trouble equals smiles for me too. Nate mostly hung out with his mom handing out candy so we didn't get to see much of him (but he did eat my hot dog and for that, I am grateful) and Ryan went home early to bed but we did get to snuggle him for a few minutes in his skeleton costume. And, yes, Daisy was a chicken last year too. She was meant to be a bee this year but at the last minute threw a fit and had to be a chicken again. She was a bee for her class party and unfortunately, I didn't get a photo.

With Nevada Day now officially on a Friday, Kyle received 10/29 off school. The school district planned teacher work days for Monday and Tuesday as well so we received a five day holiday. With Halloween landing on a Sunday we decided to skip town and head up to the cabin one last time before it gets snowed in. Tripp and Kyle had Fly the Flag duty Friday morning early then we packed, prepared and left around lunch time. Friday night was spent unpacking and snuggling in. Saturday we did a small service project around the cabin...cleaning up pine cones and bark on our lot and taking it to the dumpster. Then we started out on a what we hoped was a long ride on the 4-wheelers but after about 45 minutes it started snowing so we had to make our way home. We watched movies and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon while it snowed off and on. That evening, we made our way to Cedar City for dinner and Trick or Treating. Lucky for us, many in town were giving out candy on Saturday instead of Sunday. Britney, Curtis & baby Berkley (Jennifer Thompson's Sister) happily let us use their place as home base. It was so fun to meet Berkley and catch up with Britney...we haven't seen her in what seems like a million years.

Sunday morning we made our way to church but it was already closed down for refurbishment (Kyle wasn't too disappointed). We came home and watched Halloween movies and waited for our friends, the Gublers, to arrive. It's a shame when we can only hook up with dear friends, who actually live less than a 3 minute walk from our house, when we are out of town. We try a lot...but can never manage to get our schedules to match up. Finally, we were in luck and they were spending time at their family condo in BrianHead for the weekend so we invited them over for 4-wheeling and dinner. The kids spent some time on the rope swings then we set out. I guess Alora ran into a tree but sadly, I missed that. Luckily, she is fine...just a funny story. Later, the kids played and Sean brought back Aimee and her Oma and we enjoyed dinner then smores by the campfire. It helped us all forget about Halloween. Abbie was really worried that The Great Pumpkin wouldn't know where to find us but he did. The next morning, all three kids woke up to much less candy and stacks of books (and coloring books for Abbie & Daisy) in it's place.

The Gublers came back Monday and we spent the day out on the 4-wheelers again. I'm sure my family will be shocked. I've never really spent much time out on them but now that all my kids are old enough to go and we had room for everyone, it was fun to ride along as well. Kyle likes to drive so I'm happy to ride on the back and just look around and think...I never really get to do much of that. And with all of his arguing and bad behavior, he can actually be trusted to drive a 4-wheeler. I feel perfectly safe to sit on the back and just space out (not something I do a lot of when Kyle is around). We stopped for lunch at the Cafe in town, got to know the owner then headed back home to help the Gublers load up their equipment and say "Goodbye".

We had to get back to Vegas Tuesday morning. Tripp and I both had work to get back to and Kyle was going to meet his mom just after lunch. Unfortunately, I got the worst stomach flu ever so the cleaning, ride home and basically rest of the day was torture. But Kyle made his rendezvous and Tripp made it to work and I was able to send back some emails here and there so I guess alls well that ends well.

We probably won't make it up to the cabin much during the winter but we'll miss it. It definitely was peaceful this time. We missed everyone but it was also nice to have it for ourselves as well. Just when we really got to missing the rest of the family, the Gublers arrived and helped us keep ours minds off of it. A little ying and yang I guess.

Pumpkin Carving

We took some time this afternoon to carve our pumpkins. The girls have never carved them before and thought it was pretty funny and yucky at the same time. Kyle was in a rotten mood so he was in and out of the process. Basically, it was me (with some help from Tripp) carving the pumpkins. But the girls really thought it was funny and love how they look with the candles so I'd say that it was worth it.

On another note, Abbie's Primary program was this morning. She sang her little heart out and actually stood up and gave did her part this year (she was terrified of the entire thing last year). She used sort of an old man voice when giving her lines but she was really nervous and we were just proud that she stood in front of everyone and did it. An enormous step for her. And she really did sing every single song from beginning to end in a loud voice. Super happy for her. Daisy can't wait to give it a try next year.

Springs Preserve Halloween 2010

We enjoyed the Springs Preserve's Halloween festivities again this year. Friday was their opening night so we took advantage of the free evening and made plans to go. What a great night. The weather was wonderful and the crowds (maybe because it was opening night?) were light. As always, they did a great job of decorating and had a lot of fun activities planned for the kids. Might be the last time Kyle will really be interested but the girls still love it. And with Halloween on Sunday this year (always a bummer), any Halloween activities we can cram in prior to the 31st are welcome.

Isabelle's Baptism

Isabelle Thompson was baptised Saturday, October 9th. We were so lucky that the stars aligned, Tripp was back in town, Kyle didn't have a game, Abbie's coach didn't mind her missing a game and we could make the trip to L.A. and be there.

In fact, Kyle had Friday off so after Abbie's field trip, we hit the road. We didn't make it in time to see any family that night but we did get some dinner and a good night sleep in the hotel. The next morning we met bright and early for Izzy's party. The girls had a ball bouncing with their cousins. After the bounce house fun, it was back to Paul & Laura's for play time and lunch. Pat & Jen drove through Yuma and picked up Chili Pepper for everyone (I think MamaThom & PapaThom might have treated us). Isabelle had all the kids upstairs dancing. Not too unusual. But they were dressed up in costumes (again, not so unusual) and the boys were asking the girls to dance. She taught them how to slow dance. It was pretty funny. Tripp still hasn't quite recovered.

That afternoon we met at the church for the baptism and confirmation. It was just her ward so it was only Isabelle. So nice. None of the craziness you get here in Vegas. How lovely it all was. I'm glad Abbie and Daisy got to witness it. After the photos we piled in cars and met for dinner. Doodle decided to have a monster meltdown so she and I spent dinner in the parking lot in our car. Super sad as I missed enjoying Tripp's family and Laura's as well (her parents, Marisa & John and Jeremy & Katie came down that day)which is always fun. Rats.

Daisy fell asleep four minutes before Tripp and Abbie returned to the car. So we headed back to the hotel and put her in bed. She was so rotten that she didn't want anyone near her...just to be in our bed by herself to fall back asleep. I took Abbie to the pool, which she had been begging me to do since our arrival Friday. We fell in bed later that night and got a bit of a late start Sunday. It was absolutely worth it. One full day of cousins made Abbie & Daisy's month. They are still talking about it. Last week Grandma Sandy came for a day and Abbie was trying to get her to dance like Isabelle and Seth.

Thanks for including us Paul & Laura. Hope to see you all again sometime soon!

Anderson Dairy Field Trip

Abbie's preschool took a really fun field trip to Anderson Dairy Friday morning. Little brothers and sisters were invited so Daisy got to come along and since it was a teacher work day, some big brothers and sisters came along as well. We invited our fun next door neighbor Joel and his sister Juliana who are new to the area (just arrived this summer) and home school so probably don't get opportunities like this too often. The girls (especially Daisy) really dig Joel so they were over the moon at his arrival.

Anderson Dairy is really darling. They do a great job at making the dairy a fun place for the little guys to visit. It is a perfect field trip for preschool through maybe second or third grade. Lots to see and wonderful dairy friends to meet. And the ice cream at the end was a huge hit. Several families met at the park afterwards for lunch and some fun. It was nice for Abbie to get a little play time with her school friends. Very few of them are returning from last year so she has a lot of new kids to get to know.

Daddy got to come along and that was probably the best part of the entire experience for Abbie. Daisy was just excited to be able to do a big kid activity. She is struggling with being the little guy in the family and not being able to do much when her big brother and sister are involved in so many things. She really wants to grow up a little!