soccer players

Soccer began last week, and if Saturday was any indication this season is going to be so, so fun and also a little bit complicated. We had two games to get to, one right after the other on opposite sides of the valley, at the same time as Ivy's preschool open house. So Chris took William and Charles to William's First Ever Soccer Game, and I took Ivy and Michael to the open house and Michael's first game.

All the way to the field, Michael kept saying, "You know what I wish? That William and I BOTH win our first games." 

brothers.   awwwwww.    and also ARRRRGH!

Now, technically William's level doesn't keep score: it's about fun and skills, not competition. But let's be real, those kids keep score. And our kid, he wants to win. (He's half Bennett. He can't help it.) 

So it went down like this: William's team was losing 0-4, which frustrated him. The next time he went in he played very hard and scored 3 goals. Then another teammate scored a goal. Then William scored a fourth time ... and his team won 5-4. 

Not officially, of course. Officially, everyone had fun and learned a lot about soccer. And also about watching out for the crazy kid who wants to win.

I know what happened at the game because William told me about it, then told me about it again, then reenacted it for me, then told Michael about it when he came off the field. 

Which was good, because then Michael got a little ... inspired, we'll say, if inspired is synonymous for competitive, and promptly scored for his team.

Which was also good.

So yes, both our teams won. It was a great weekend for sports. Next we'll work on having great weekend for sportsmanship, i.e.  GLOATING IS NOT COOL GUYS.
(Sorry everyone around us/who knows us. It's the genes, I swear.)

Birthday Girl

Ivy had her first ever birthday party this year, and she was so excited. She talked about it for weeks. Finally! Her own party with her own friends!

the birthday girl, showing her own Lellow hair before receiving a giant red wig that she would like to wear forever.

I talked her into having a water party, because that sounded easier to plan than a fairy party. But what do I know? At the end of the day, I still felt like I was run over by a train.

some of the attendees. I couldn't manage to get everyone gathered for a picture.

Anyway. After much waffling she decided she wanted a cakepop cake.

it's possible the wind blew out her candles before she started blowing.

And I made Pina Colada Shakes.

Which, alright, yes, that was mostly for me. I love all things pina colada. But they were excellent! And the kids really liked them! Plus, adorable umbrellas!

Her favorite part was opening presents.

Her other favorite part was the PVC sprinkler we (Chris) built.

It was a lovely day.

cousins!

just to make sure Maggie knows Gray had a great time

The End.

this is halloween (halloween, halloween)

(We're going to pretend like I didn't disappear for two months, and just get back to business, okay? okay.)

summer rain

what a lovely and wet summer it's been.

(my friend Mauri took these pictures while our kids were riding bikes together in front of her house. thanks, Mauri!)

Christofer bought himself a birthday present

march madness with Grampy

Michael has fallen in love with basketball.

I'm not sure how we'll break it to William that next year Jimmer won't be playing for the Cougars.



it's just been a great month.

Christofer

I love you.
And this picture.
So far, thirty-year-old you is awesome.
(Although a little cranky when tired.)
(But that's just same as 29-year-old you, so I can live with it.)
(happy birthday.)

storytime

after we clean up the toys, Michael and William go sit on the couch in our darkening family room, whispering to each other and giggling. "Come sit with us, Mom," Michael calls after a moment. "I'll tell you a funny story."

"Me, too," adds William. "I'll tell a story, too."
So I settle down between them to listen.

Michael's Story: I went to bed and I heard something outside my window and it was morning. It was a bird singing. So I went outside and the bird was eating a COOKIE. And while the bird was looking at something else I sneaked over very quietly and I took the cookie and I ate it, and the bird looked back but she thought I was eating a grape and she didn't know I ate her cookie...

(Me: I feel sad for the bird. I bet she was sad that her cookie was all gone.)

...so then I came inside and I sat on the couch and I thought 'what Jesus would like to do' and I felt in my heart, and I hurried and made more cookies and took it outside and then we were all Happily Ever After.

William's Story: We're driving in the car and Mom is trying to give me a granola bar, but then it's too messy so instead she gives me a mango. Two mangos. Then she gives me lots of mangos and a cookie and I eat them all gone in my tummy, they are so delicious. the end. BEEP BEEP.

Ringpop!

because there's no tragedy a Ringpop! can't fix.

william, king of the world

William has recently become very concerned about being a Big Kid, so when my friend called me to say that one of the kids in their neighborhood preschool had moved, and did William want to go once a week?, he was ecstatic.
Preschool! Just like Michael! Just like BIG KIDS!
this morning was his first class. He came home with a crown and big smile.
(not for the camera of course, that would be letting Mom win.)






"I not smiling, Mom. I not."

Things William has recently declared he will do when he is "a grown-up Dad like Daddy":

• buy mangos, eat them all gone in his tummy, they will be delicious
• use a hammer, fix everything
• go to the gym
• have a baby in his tummy

I tried to tell him that, as a matter of fact, he will not have a baby in his tummy when he is a grown-up dad, because he is a boy. And only grown-up girls have babies in their tummies. WOW, did that make him angry. "I WILL, MOM," he yelled. "WHEN I A GROWN-UP DAD, MOM!" and then he proceeded to vigorously ignore me for the better part of 30 minutes. It was fantastic.

(as a matter of fact, it was so funny I couldn't really resist taunting him. a little. "Hey, William," I'd say, "are you talking to me yet?" he'd glare for a minute, then turn his little nose up in the air and walk away. he snubbed me. oh, man. It was so great. I wish you'd been there.)

(also, I'm super excited to tell him this story in ten years.)

initiation

we wish you a Merry Christmas...

delivery

"please, mom?" Michael begs. "Please?" He's four years old. He wants to deliver treats to the neighbors without help.

"....okay," I agree. "But! you have to wear a coat."

"Yes! YAY! okay! YAY!"

"And! you HAVE to stay with William, and hold his hand tight while you cross the street. okay?"

"YES! I WILL! LET'S GO!"

"WAIT. William. You must follow Michael, and hold his hand in the street. Will you do that?"

"OKAY! YES! WE GOING, MOM!"

I watch from the window.

such good boys I have.

after bedtime

after bedtime last night, William managed to:

• find the thinning shears and cut a giant hole in his pajama pants
• dig out my mascara and paint his face and our bed
• throw q-tips all over the bathroom
• fill up the bathtub with water, jump in it
• break our toilet

Please keep in mind when reading that list, this was not the result of just one sneaking-out-of-bed incident. These were all individual sneaking-out-of-bed incidents, separated by repeated replacement and severe beatings.

ha! just kidding about the beatings.
lucky for him he's so damn cute.

sick day

I was going to write about how tired I am of everyone being sick,
but some mornings it's nice to wake up and have an excuse to cuddle up on the couch with a show (or your computer).
we're very cozy right now.

Darth Vader eating a turkey and avacado sandwich

"William," I asked, "why aren't you speaking quietly?"

"Because I Darth Vader," he replied, "and Darth Vader's a Bad Guy."






































valid point.

obeying

this morning was one of those mornings, so when Michael ignored my request to go upstairs and get dressed for the third time I gave him my best mom face and was like, "Dude. You have ONE MORE CHANCE TO LISTEN. And then, if your clothes, your shirt and your pants, are not ON YOUR BODY, I am going to beat you."

Just kidding. I didn't threaten to beat him. I threatened to confiscate his lightsaber, which apparently is more horrible than a threatened beating. he almost flew into a rage. then he looked at my face again, thought better of it, and sighed in exasperation, because, geez. MOMS, you know? so annoying.

"OhhhKAAAAAAYYYYyyyyy," he said, and stomped upstairs. I was surprised to find a preteen in my house, but whatever. At least he went upstairs to get dressed.

In a few mintues he called down to me. "Hey MOOOoooom. I got DRESSssssed." I found the jocularity in his voice suspicious. A second later, my suspicions were confirmed, and honestly, my first inclination was to be even more angry because it had been one of those mornings. Then I thought, "Hey, wait. that actually is pretty funny."

and I laughed.

October

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

--e.e. cummings, I Thank You God

unfair

this is the face of a heartbroken little boy, a poor tragic thing whose cruel and unfeeling mother took away his lightsaber, wouldn't let him watch a movie, forced him take a little rest, hid the rest of the treats, and made life a total misery.

And then took a picture of it.

life is hard.

wishful