Soccer

It's hard for me to believe that Aiden is old enough to be on a soccer team. And it's even harder for me to think of myself as a "soccer mom". With the minivan and everything. Crazy how fast it seems to happen.
When we went to his school orientation, they had soccer league sign ups. However they were all going to be wait listed because official registration had already closed before we even moved. So we gave it a whirl and hoped for the best. We didn't get a call by the first game, so I figured that he didn't get in. Well, the Sunday after what was their second game, we got the call that he was on a team! So his first game was the team's third game. Our registration fee included the uniform fee, but they didn't have a uniform for him, so the coach told me that until his got in, I needed to find a black shirt, shorts, and soccer socks since they were the Black Tornadoes. So I went shopping and all I could find were solid black long sleeved shirts. It was scheduled to be in the 90's for his next game, and that just didn't fly with me, so I found some PJ's that had this for the shirt. It was on clearance for like $3 and was much cheaper than the long sleeved shirt. So I went with that. I figured they could live with it-and I was right. The coach loved it and thought it was more than ok. (I was thinking-good, since I'm essentially paying for 2 uniforms now).

So this was his first game!

It was 97 degrees that afternoon and the kids were HOT! Poor things in their black uniforms. To top it all off, it was team picture day as well, and they had to stay after to get their photos done. It was lunch time, they were hot, and really cranky by the end. The photagrapher was being really picky too. We ended up staying there for over 3 hours total. What a mess. I was getting a little irritated too. I wasn't even ordering pictures since he didn't have a uniform. I was getting a free one that was included and that was enough for me. In the end, the pictures did turn out really well, and I have scanned them in at the bottom of this post.

Micah was on call, but was able to make it out for his first game :) He's been great about making every game he can, even if he has to come late. And thank goodness he is able to come because we have another little "soccer star" who can't wait to get out on the field. And for the most part he doesn't wait! He gets right out there with the big kids during warm up. Micah usually takes him to the other field while they practice, and then during the game, he has to sit with us. (They have a 30 minute practice before the game). Sometimes this doesn't go so well, and all he wants to do is be in the action. But he's got a few years yet...

Yeah, he really really really wants to be a part of the team!

With four games left, he finally got his shirt! The coach didn't have his uniform shorts or socks, but I was just thrilled he finally got a jersey! It was the game before Halloween, and part of me wanted him to go as a soccer players just so we could get some more use out of it!

I tried to get a few videos of Aiden playing. They're pretty short because my battery died out on me. He's getting better with each game and becoming more aggressive going after the ball and keeping up. We're so proud of him :) He has scored a goal almost every game. But we don't keep score during the game.

They are always good about cheering for the other team at the end and giving high 5's. This league is really big on good sportsmanship. All they want from us parents is to cheer. The coaches wear shirts that say "They Play, I Coach, You Cheer".

And then the parents make a tunnel for the kids to run through. That's always a highlight for the kids, and of course Devin runs through too.

Go Tornadoes!

Monkey in the middle ;)

It was really nice that someone lent their jersey to Aiden for his individual shot. I didn't think he was getting one taken since I wasn't ordering one (parents weren't allowed over during the sessions). But it was incorporated into the team picture layout we got for free. I love it. I'm a proud soccer mom :)

Mosquito Bite

I mentioned earlier that while we were at Adam's house, Aiden got bit by a mosquito on his forehead. It really is the worst spot to get bit, and he had been complaining that it hurt him. We had been putting ice on it, which seemed to help. But once we got up in the airplane it got significantly worse. During our layover I stopped at a restaurant to get a cup of ice for him. The poor little guy was so uncomfortable, but was still so good. The boys have always done really well on the airplane, and he was being such a trooper.
I snapped these pictures on the shuttle taking us to our car.

My little Avatar!

At this point I think he was so happy that we were close to getting home and going to bed. We gave him some Benadryl and Tylenol to help with the pain.

He had already missed 2 days of school for our trip, and I really didn't want him missing anymore, so I prayed he would be better by the morning. No such luck. I think he looked worse, but he said he felt better. I asked him if he wanted to go to school, and I was met with an enthusiastic YES!! Boy do I hope this attitude continues throughout his school career ;)
So I sent a note to his teacher letting her know what happened and that if he was uncomfortable that there was an ice pack in his lunch box. And to call me if he needed to come home. He made it the whole day and the teacher sent an email to me letting me know how worried she was for him when he arrived and got the note, but he did great and never needed the ice pack. It took a few days for the swelling to go down, but I was so glad that he wasn't feeling bad anymore. I think that change in altitude pressure really did him in. He was still a cute little Avatar though :)

goodbye at the park

Our visit home had come to an end and it was time to fly back. But first Micah's family wanted to run around and have some fun with the kids before we had to get on the plane, so we hit up a park.

Uncle AJ doing a good job with the swinging.

Danno had been up so much over the weekend, he was a little tired.

We wanted a family photo, so we set up the timer on the camera. Too bad we didn't have good lighting. Or a better camera.

It's hard to say goodbye. But lucky for all of us, it was only going to be a few weeks before Aiden's birthday and everyone would be coming out to celebrate!

Kiki took us to the airport and said the rest of her goodbyes then.

Grammy tried to get out to us before we left, and just barely made it as we were getting in the car to head to the airport. It's always good to get that one last kiss in :)
It was a good visit, but it never seems long enough. A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped us make it out...Can't wait till we can come back home again!!

Fun with family

The day after the party Sandy and Larry wanted to take us to the new mini golf place. It was a lot of fun, and I know the kids loved it.

Aiden liked to "whack" the ball.

And the boys cheered for every ball that went into the hole. Literally. haha ;)

So the game of golf was a little lost on Devin. This is typically how it went down. He would hit the ball from the normal spot-good start right?

Then he would pick it up and place it down very close to the hole (thinking that is probably illegal with the pros, but it works for us) ;)

He would then be sure to guide the ball and make it fall into the hole.

He had to get the ball out right away.

And then yes, the ever important "YAY!"

YAY! again! and again! and again! LOL :)

The water was super fun. Yes, he lost his ball in the water. And although the boys and Sandy ended up going ahead of us (since Devin had to get his ball in first and then move on) Larry insisted on keeping score. ;) It was fun.

Then that night we went back to AJ's house to have dinner (lots of leftovers from the party)

It was hard to get a good picture with my smaller camera (remember I broke my good one, so now all my pictures are all from my little one). And it was hard to find a good spot with all the huge gross spiders around! Ewww! They were EVERYWHERE! After it gets dark, they start spinning their webs and I was utterly freaked out. And not only did the spiders come out but the mosquitos did too. And poor Aiden got bit in the middle of his eyes on his forehead. He was not a happy camper :(

My parents joined us at AJ's and then came back to the Smith's with us to tuck the boys in bed since we were leaving the next day. Kiki and Grammy read both boys good night stories and then my parents had to say goodnight and goodbye.

Aiden has ice for his bite-poor little guy...

After the boys went to bed we sat down to play a round of Jokers and Marbles. Girls won...we always win ;) hehe