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!

A Two Wheeled kind of Day...

Today...

For our athletically inclined, just-turned, 5 year old...

The TRAINING WHEELS CAME OFF!

And she did GREAT!

I Can not believe that she is getting so big.

She rode short distances, but with confidence.

And was SO proud!
She studied the concrete...and the bumps carefully...and trusted her daddy fully!

Tyler was so proud of her! He stayed with her the entire time!

He was full of congratulations and cheers!

What a beautiful, two-wheeled-kind-of-a-day!
Look at her go!

A natural!

Today, two wheels....tomorrow, Kindergarten!

I keep asking her to stop growing....but she just laughs.

Is it really that much to ask?

I just want to put her in my back pocket and shield her from this big world,

and yet I also want to watch her grow, and flourish, and become amazing!

Just like she already is.

AMAZING!

In the blink of an eye...

I feel a complete turnaround since December.
Things are much better and I see my daughter moving forward in a positive manner.
There is still a lot of work to do, and I think her upcoming graduation will really help as well.
I think she needs to move out of this environment.
One that was, in many ways, very destructive for her.
I do see change though...positive change!

I am not sure how to move forward with the idea that this girl...the one I still see as a 5 year old scared on her first day of kindergarten, will be
GRADUATING
in less than two months!

How?

What happens after that?
So excited for all that is coming for her!
-------
In the blink of an eye though...
It goes so fast.

A Day at the Beach

Today,
Makylie's preschool class went to the beach for their spring field trip.
It was COLD, and rainy. It poured on us all of the way there, and as we were waiting for everyone to show up, we all huddled under their small picnic area to stay dry.

Then...
before it started...the skies just OPENED up.
It was still cold, and wet, but we had BLUE SKIES for the whole tour!

We got to look for shells...and creatures.
We got to move around stations where the marine biologists showed the kids different kind of sea life. The really coold thing, was that all of them were form our shore. NONE were brought in for display.
Some were even hands on.

Maky loved the sea stars! They had found almost every color to show the kids.

The kids listened very carefully...and had a really fun time. They touched what they could, and were careful, and they asked questions.


These little crabs, of course, were a huge hit!


They searched for driftwood, and looked for shells, and got to come and show them to the biologist. They loved having the freedom to roam around and search.

Makylie's very favorite part of the day was looking for wishing rocks. They are black rocks that have a white line all of the way around them. The idea of wishing rocks goes WAY back! The kids all got to search for them, and then pick one to take home!
She looked and looked, and found SO many. Then she picked her favorite for her, and brought one home for Tyler too.

Finally, the biologists showed the kids different kinds of seaweed.
All different kinds and colors.
Then the kids went and searched for others from the beach that matched the examples.


All in all, it was a really fun trip.
Very wet and cold, but the kids had a blast, and I was VERY appreciative for the blue skies!
Makylie learned a lot and has talked about it ever since.
It was a really fun field trip and a fun day with my baby!

Yep...that' snow in April

PJ Party Invite!

We are getting ready for a big day tomorrow!

Makylie is beside herself.
We are very busy...
Decorating...baking...cleaning...
Making memories.

Organized hair accessories

Makys hair bows were the bain of my exsistence.
They were such a pain.
I tried EVERYTHING to get them in order, and make it easier to find matches of bows, and to keep things from getting knotted up etc.
Nothing worked!
Eventually all of it would end up back in a big pile, and then she would never end up wearing any of her cute matching barettes and bows, because I could only find one.

So I found an idea on this website...and modified it to a different container...and I absolutely LOVE how it came it.

It works SO well.

Everything is COLOR coordiated! It makes SO much sense now that it is done. :)

Now, I can ask her to get whatever section our needed color is in....and at the end of the day, it can be returned to its appropriate area as well!
I did get rid of many things that we never use...but there is actually plenty of room in all of these containers.
It has made hair-do time, so so so much easier and pleasant in the morning!