Vacation

Just a quick post to say that we had an absolutely wonderful time on vacation!  How nice to be home, but how nice that we got to spend such quality time together.  We spent time exploring 4 national parks - Arches, the Dinosaur National Monument, Bryce Canyon, and Zion!  We didn't do everything quite as planned, but adapted well I think and made the most of the situation.  It was also really wonderful not having to confirm to the school schedule.  This was just the week that worked for Mike's work, really about the only time he could get a week off all summer and for a while in the fall.  School officially started on Monday the 29th.  We were going to be gone - which if Noah was attending school normally would have cut our vacation short.  But fortunately, we're doing an online charter school option here and just took some of his course work with us, we did a bit before we left and I'm happy to say that he's definitely on track for the week.  And his science for the week was about using your senses...we were in the perfect environments to explore with our senses.  Noah and Josh both did a great job paying close attention to what they saw, heard, felt, smelled while in the parks as they worked on their Junior Ranger badges.  I'm working on pictures - there are a LOT of them!  So I'll update lots probably in the coming week.

First Soccer Practice

Noah had his first soccer practice this evening.  So nice that our drive is much, much shorter!   And Josh and Noah have the same coaches for their teams, though they are on different leagues.  Their coaches were both super nice and seemed to have that love for coaching little players.  I think it's going to be a great season and am glad we were able to make the first practice. 
Noah's coach had them do a few different drills after stretching, then at the end they did a bit more running.  He said if they didn't sleep well tonight to let him know and they'd run more next practice, lol.  Noah was passed out very quickly after getting to bed.  Of course, we were also told to come ready to play and participate next practice.  Should be fun.  Josh got to practice some with them too, very nice and he enjoyed it. 
Right before we left the house, Josh ran full speed into the table - I mean seriously full speed!  Poor kid got knocked backwards and fell  flat on his back.  Thank goodness it was the side of the table and not the corner, his eye is the perfect height for the table.  So in one of the pictures - you can see the start of what I'm gonna guess will be a nice shiner.  He cried for less than 5 minutes, told us that tables are not nice to eyes and then was ready to play.  Tough boy!

Now it's Josh's Turn! Look Mom 2 wheels!

Josh is riding on 2 wheels now too!!  We raised the training wheels a bit to start with tonight, then he wanted them off - "I can ride 2 wheels!"   While, yes you can buddy, yes you can!  He did an amazing job.  So proud of him, seriously does he realize that he's not even 4?  I mean I think it's more normal to take off the training wheels between 4 and 6 or something, not before 4.  That's Josh though - he's gonna do things when he is ready and he's gonna do it with everything he's got.  He had a couple of hard falls tonight too on his 2 wheels, but each time got back up and tried again.  By the end of the evening, he was getting the turns while staying on the bike pretty well too.  The one at the shorter end of the street was a little more tricky than the cul-de-sac but he was getting it about half the time.  He looked SO happy with himself!  Good job Josh! 

Hoover Dam

Mike and I spent our last date night exploring the Hoover Dam.  It was a fun time, we took the short tour and walked through some of the tunnels to a room with generators.  There was a short movie before hand that had lots of interesting facts as well.  After that, we explored the Visitor's Center and then walked along the bridge/dam.  It truly is a feat to think about all the work, constant work, designing equipment to lift the huge weights.  The cooling process for all that concrete was really neat as well.  I think before we leave Vegas we will take the kids, maybe not do the tour but at least take them to see it and be in awe!

Look Ma Two Wheels!

Tonight we spent time outside playing with the neighbors.  A walk to the soccer field and playground and then home for more water and bikes outside.  The 2 oldest boys, Noah and the oldest neighbor, were brave enough to try their bikes without training wheels.  Noah was very encouraging for his friend, you can do it, be brave, etc.  When we asked if he wanted to try them without training wheels - no that's okay.  We pushed him just a bit, Mike promised they'd try and he'd help Noah and later the training wheels could go back on.  He did AWESOME!  He rode 10 - 15 minutes on his bicycle without training wheels.  He was even getting the turns at the end.   When we came inside for the night, he kept asking Mike and I if we were proud of him, yeah buddy we're super proud of you!  I was proud the minute he was willing to try - cause that is what life is really about, giving it your best shot!  I was thrilled for him that he was getting the hang of it.  Way to go Noah!  I'm not sure if the training wheels are staying off or going back on, we'll see tomorrow night I think.  Enjoy the pictures - sorry they aren't the best lighting...it was getting dark and my external flash helps, but it's not ideal for pictures of a fast moving boy at dusk!

Plans for Addison's birthday present

I'm so excited for Addison's birthday present, I think she's gonna love it!  As previously posted, she's loving playing dolls lately.  I found this plan for a doll bed from one of my favorite DIY sites.  I loved it, so stinkin cute.  I mentioned it to Mike, who looked at it and decided it would be easy enough to do and almost as important it would also be able to be built sturdy to withstand some rough play (we're imagining kids will be sleeping/sitting on it not just the dolls).  I also loved the little mini quilt on her bed.  So I decided that a mini quilt would be a good first try for a quilt.  I used some of the fabric scraps that I had in my stash and surprisingly really enjoyed the process.  It certainly isn't perfect or even close to it.  I think I did the binding totally wrong (or unconventional at the very least) but I'm pretty happy with it and think Addy and her babies will enjoy it.  I think the bed is going to be a few more weeks before we get it built (we have 2 months, so I think that's safe).

Playing Dolls

Addison is a girly girl.  She has been since day 1, which is funny given that she has 2 big brothers and a momma who never was too girly.  Anyway, she's also always loved her dolls.  She played differently than the boys did with their stuffed animals.  She would hug them and kiss them.  Lately though, she's taking them around in the stroller, rocking them, having us rock them, feeding them bottles and juice (even from her own cups).  So today while I was sewing she puts her doll to bed.  She walked through the hallway rocking her baby, and told me "shhhh" then went and put the doll in bed.  A few minutes later she went and got her doll from bed.  She's hugging the doll and signs all done and night night.  So I asked her if her baby was all done sleeping and she says yes.  Then she walks in the living room, comes back and brings her doll to me and a diaper and signs change.  So I had to put a diaper on her doll for her.  Then she went to show Noah and Josh.  So funny!
We decided to build her a doll bed for her birthday, just this past week.  And oddly I was working on a little quilt for that bed when this all happened.  Think I may try and find some of those tutorials online for some diapers to go with her birthday present.