Futbol

Soccer was so fun this year! Mads loved it. The girls loved it too when they were 4, but their love wasn't even close to the amount of enthusiasm Mads had. He would count down the days until Saturday, and ask me every day what day it was so he could keep track. He always ran fast and gave it his best.

Instead of having games every week, the four year olds met with a coach and learned different skills for the first 40 or 50 minutes, and then they would have a mini scrimmage at the end. I really liked it. Mads was happiest when he was kicking the ball in the goal, but I think he learned more this way. And he didn't get worn out or bored.

He was the best one out there. Of course.
Just kidding, but he was pretty good. I think the enthusiasm helped.

He would get so excited when he put the ball in the goal. It was really fun to watch. And he would stay after it was over and keep kicking them in. Even when the coaches were trying to put stuff away. They were nice though, and always let him try one last time.
Notice his tongue out in every picture? So hilarious. And awesome!
The last practice he got a medal and a coupon for a Slurpee. He calls it "his gold" and he thinks he's rich.

Starting To Grow Cold

This is a fall like we've never experienced before. We have never seen so many leaves. It's not surprising considering we haven't ever seen so many trees. Around town. Especially the leaf-shedding sort.

Double U Double E

Fire Chief

First G wanted to be a tiger. Then he wanted to be a dragon. I bid on a couple dragon costumes on ebay, but didn't win. Then I saw this costume in a craft store. He loved it. I was surprised because he wasn't going to be able to growl at everyone, or blow fire, but he liked it and it made my job easy. Little did I know that he thinks fireman actually means FIRE MAN. He thinks he blows things up. The costume came with a megaphone that he called his "fire gun." He used the fire gun confidently as he started everything (and everyone) on fire.

Fire Mario

Regular old Mario wouldn't do. He was certain he wanted to be Fire Mario. I settled on this after he started dreaming about being Ice Mario, and Heli Mario. He was thrilled! I was glad I could make it work for him. He has a pretty good Mario impression too. "It's me. Mario!"

Cleopatra

She was a contest winner. The irony is not lost on me that one of the two costumes I bought won a contest. Yes, I am questioning my need and desire to make costumes in the future. But she looked good. I don't think anyone recognized her. Chris (who sees her all the time) asked us who she was at the ward party. And another guy couldn't figure out how she had my face, but she wasn't one of my kids. Funny.

Aphrodite

It was all about the hair for this costume. It was fun curling it. She looked beautiful.

Amelia Earhart

This one almost didn't come together. We found goggles last minute, and I was able to make a hat. I'm glad. She really had her heart set on being her.

I'm not going to lie. I really wish they were standing in front of our house with our decorations, and carved pumpkins. Oh well. The balcony is cool too.

Trick-or-treating.

We went with friends in the ward who live in a house. It was really fun. The weather was perfect, and it was very fall-ish. There were huge trees losing their leaves, and there were big piles of leaves everywhere. There was one house that was haunted. They had several people dress up as scary characters and jump out at us as we passed through their yard. It was actually pretty freaky. I don't think the boys liked it, but they acted brave. For now, anyways.

The aftermath...

Now, we feast.

{cue evil laugh}

This Shouldn't Be About Me, But It Is

I went to school on Thurday to help in Dare's art class. I was so happy to be there.

In their school in Utah, they didn't have a designated art room. So this was the first time I have been in an art room at an elementary school since I was going to elementary school. All the wonderful memories of being in art class came back to me. What a wonderful place to be! I started remembering why I went to college to be an art teacher. I had pretty much given up that idea until I went to volunteer that day. I loved being there. I loved everything about the room. I loved the kids' enthusiasm. I loved the teacher's cool, anything-goes attitude. I loved that the kids went outside with a pencil, paper, and a board to observe and draw trees.

I loved the caked on paint on the drying racks. Seriously. That means good things are happening there.

I loved the shelves and shelves, and stacks and stacks of art supplies. It was all I could do to not grab a paint brush and just paint.
I also loved that I was able to meet Dare's friends. I had one girl give me a flower, one girl give me a hug, and one girl stop to wait because she wanted to walk with me. And I will never forget the boy who said...

Boy - "Are you Dare's mom?"

Me - "Yes. I am."

Boy - "I am in love with her."

He was so matter of fact that I believed it to be true. Ha ha! He said it as if he was talking about the weather. Like, "Hey Dare's mom. It's raining." Later when I told Dare, she said, "I know." She told me that he tells her that all the time. It didn't phase her either.

Crystalized Onions

Here's a detail of the picture below. Love it.

Take a Hike

Just some more pictures of us. This time, on a mountain.

Check out Rhon. She's doing the I got my eyes on you gesture.

She's hilarious.

Sunny Idea

Or it could be Sonny Idea. I'm not sure which. G made up a game he always asks Mads to play. It's called Sonny Idea. No one really knows where he got it from, but he knows. I haven't even figured out how the game part of it works, but he always wants to play. The only thing we know is when he is playing he calls Mads "son". It is pretty funny. Especially since no one calls anyone son in this house. He has also been calling Mads, "Baby Baby Teenager." So strange.

It is pretty interesting spending my days alone with these boys. There has been so many changes since I had only 2 girls at home. Boys are different. I'm different. In a lot of ways it seems easier now, but in a lot of ways it's harder too. For example, I am way more laid back these days. That makes life easier. But the boys get bored easier too. They are not used to playing by themselves as much, and my endurance for "games" is shorter. That makes life harder. We are enjoying our time though. It is fun to really get to know their personalities more and more.

I thought I'd share pictures of them playing Super Smash Bros. Especially since the game is still a number one feature of G's prayers. I think Mads has grown out of praying for it, but I know when he hears G do it, he is deeply grateful. He says amen a little louder those nights. I wonder if he tells G to pray for it?

Detches

I like this picture.

They must have gone up and down this slide 20 times.

Thankfully, there were no lines.

We decided G looked like some kind of weird monkey!

It is not easy getting 5 children to look at the camera, let alone 9!

I thought we did pretty good with this one.

The fun day ended at Cheeburger Cheeburger.

That place will get a post of it's own sometime.

2 Things

SWEET

adjective

(of a person or action) pleasant and kind or thoughtful

Sometimes he can be so sweet.

Admittedly, it mostly happens when he is sleeping.

I love how is face is all squished on one side.

I could eat those lips right up.

**********

Racing...

Green Eggs and Ham

My second preschool lesson was on trying new things. First we tried yoga...

Those are some good-looking downward dogs.

Then we tried some foods that the boys might not have seen or tasted before...

T trying starfruit.

P was not a big fan of trying new things. But he was such a good sport.

I'm pretty sure I could have put just about anything on Y's plate and he would have eaten it. He had no problems at all. Maybe it's because he has already lived in 3 or 4 countries.