A Little Indoor...

Today was Tyler's last indoor soccer game and party day!
He had such an awesome time this year. We LOVED his coach, and wish that we could play outdoor on his Silver Lake team, but his son is one month younger then Ty, which puts him on the level under Ty...so we can't but it was a great seaosn with him!

He really loves indoor in a whole different way then outdoor. He plays with a little more reserve, but loves that there are no out-of-bound lines and that you can play off of the wall.
I just don't like that pictures turn out so bad!!!
Here...he is cruising down field....
about to make his move...

Making his move....again.
Fancy footwork...
Tongue out, as usual...
And you can tell by his face...
that he just got a goal!
Game over.
{Edit note****Turns out...the coach of the red team...would end up being Tyler's outdoor coach in the fall. Until I was going back looking at these pictures, I had no idea that we ever played him. It was a good season, and we really enjoyed playing on his team.}

The kids had some cupcakes, and juice, and played on the toys a little bit together.

Then coach Foley handed out the trophies and pictures to everyone.
He really, really liked Tyler.
He told us on MANY occasions that he thought he had huge amounts of natural skill, and it was made very clear that he REALLY wished Tyler could be a part of his outdoor team.

Another for the collection!
He earned it!

Really, couldn't love him more!

Rainbow Rangers Last Game

WHICH WAS ARE WE GOING?
The NUMBER one question that a coach asks during a 4 and 5 year old's soccer game!
The kids had a very fun season. I did too...but honestly, I am not sorry to see the season end.
Don't get me wrong...I liked coaching...and I LOVED the games...and all of the kids more than grew on me....
But, the Y shouldn't give one coach (or two when my co-coach was actually there) 10 four year olds. It is too many. I know it is to account for subs, but...it is too many to handle in a sane manner.

It was our last game today.
The kids played well and had a good game!
Makylie rocked it as usual. :) I may be a tad biased...
Here she is makin' her move....
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
She made a goal...
I'm not sure how the other coach is feeling about those skills she is showing off with.
hee hee hee hee
After the game we had our little party!
We brought the kids doughnuts, and fresh fruit, and juice.
Even muffins for the parents.

I passed out the trophies and pictures.
For most every child on the team, it was their very first trophy. Mine have them, so I forgot that it would be such a huge deal to some of the kids.
They were so excited!
This is the best part.
Right here.
The smiles, and the pride...
Adorable.
Rainbow Rangers

2nd Grade Field Trip...

Today was Tyler's 2nd grade field trip.
I was a chaperon...as usual.
We went to the Pacific Science Center.

I had a group of 4 boys. They were all really good. I have known them all since kindergarten, so that always makes it easier on everyone.
One of them is one of Tyler's very best friends!
We checked out the dinosaurs, and the space exhibits.

Tyler flew this shuttle. :)

They had this live bug exhibit going on. Being boys, of course...they LOVED that exhibit...and wanted to stay there for a long time, and go back later, once we had looked at everything.

I honestly, did NOT think Ty was going to want to hold this GIANT Madagascar hissing cockroach, but he did...and he liked it.
He was a little bit unsure at first, and I kind of had to prod him into going up to the lady...but then he liked it.

His friend Nathaniel was the only other one of my group who wanted anything to do with it.

They had a "feel miniature" exhibit, which was really fun to take pictures with. They had this guitar, and they had a giant table and chairs, and a few other things.

We got to go watch an IMAX 3D movie about space.
It was REALLY cool!

I thought for sure that the glasses were going to give me a headache, and I still had half of the field trip left to last through....but actually, the movie was worse without the glasses...so I wore them...and was OK. It made me nauseous a couple of times...but it really was an AWESOME movie to watch. The seats shook with shuttle launch and you could feel it in your whole body.
Sure has come a long way since I saw my last IMAX movie...over a decade ago.

This was a periscope looking out at Seattle. Depending on where you turn it, you could see East, West, North and South Seattle. Pretty cool to try and find things that you know are there.
Kids all got a kick out of this...and we were stuck there for a while. :)

Also, one I don't have a picture of is the toilet exhibit. It had a toilet cut in half and it showed how the flushing mechanism worked, and actually had water in it.
The kids LOVED this one...I don't think I need to explain further. :)
Also there was a butterfly exhibit which I really loved. However...the pictures didn't turn out very well because the camera fogged up in there as it was SO humid and hot.

It sure was a fun day and I can't explain how truly happy it makes me that I am fortunate enough to be able to go on all of these trips with Tyler, and his classmates. I truly do have a great time, and know that I am lucky to be able to do so!

Flag Football

Tyler has been having a pretty rough time in Flag football.
He really wants to like it, and is really good!

We were kind of feeling like, having a first-time-ever coach, he wasn't noticing Ty's skills, and he wasn't getting played enough. Tyler being so nice, would never say anything, and never complained, and just did what he was told. But at the end of the day...you have a 7 year old kid, who never touches the ball, and never really feel like an intracle part of the game...and he starts to feel left out, and defeated...and really stops enjoying the game.

Which is exactly what we DIDN'T want!
We were getting to the point that Ty didn't really want to go to practice.
Don't get me wrong, he always had fun, once we got there...but he just wasn't enjoying himself like he does with every other sport on Earth!
It is hard to feel like your child isn't happy simply because he doesn't feel like he is being included.
Then, on this day...

THIS happened...
Tyler got that ball...and ran, like the mad-man that he is.
He ran and ran...full length of the field, and made his very first touch-down.
He WAS SO EXCITED!
So were Daddy and Mommy!!! More in the pride he had, and as tears came to my eyes, (literally) all I could do was be so thankful for that moment, knowing it was going to mean SO much to him!
After making that touch down, he was just a different kid.
It was the EXACT boost in confidence that he needed.
Kids (and adults too) just want to feel like they are needed, and appreciated.
He just SO needed that exact moment to happen, on this exact day!
It completely renewed his spirit, and his love of the game, and gave him more confidence then he had ever had since learning how to play.


Then, at the end of the game...
The couch handed out the Medal of Excellence, which is what the MVP of the day gets.
He gave it to Tyler!!!!

He earned it, and was so in need of it on this day. It was like all of the stars aligned.
He said that Tyler had the best moves of the game, and that he is faster then any kid he's ever seen.
It was a great game!
But most importantly was that Tyler walked away GLOWING!
Nothing better for Kevin and myself, then that!



{edit**Ty's coach ended up bringing in his dad to help him coach. It was obvious he was feeling overwhelmed, and I think that a lot of the parents and kids were noticing. His dad used to be a high school coach...so once he came...it got a lot better. He taught the kids plays that they could actually learn and follow-thru with. He had the ability to see and then utilize the kids' skills...and he just had a way of making them feel important.}

And the Bunny Came...

A little rain never stopped any BUNNY that I have ever known.
They were hidden everywhere!
In the plants, on the cars, in the bushes, in the grass, on the fence, on the stairs...everywhere.

We had some friends over for dinner...but before that...
THE HUNT WAS ON!

These kids have been hunting eggs together since before one of them was even born, and for most of the rest of their lives.
They have so much fun!

The hunt is most of the fun....
The look of discovery when an egg is found...

The run through the yard when you spot on from far away.

Then the mystery of what is in those eggs!


Some were stuffed with money. Some with candy. Some with little toys.

Earlier in the day...
The kids came out to an Easter bunny kind of a day!

LOADS OF CANDY!!!!

Toys and Games!


Lots of Easter Fun...
{Karman still had a basket...but she had a big debate the day before and didn't get home until 2 in the morning...so she slept through the morning basket fun. :) First year of not pictures of the 3 kids opening baskets together. Not like she cares anymore...she just picked up her basket later in the day when she got up.}

Lovin Eggs...

It's time...for the bunny to come hoppin by!

And we are getting ready!
The kids had so much fun mixing colors, and doing different patterns.
They would have colored MANY dozens if I would have let them! :)
Look at those eyes. Cuties!

Happy Easter Everyone!