Legends Soccer

Wes had his last soccer game this week with his team, the Legends. He was lucky enough to have Dad coach him which in turn got Thad to be the assistant coach! Wes moved up a division this season so he wasn't the only one that wanted to play (last season there were several criers that sat on the sidelines), that could run fast or score lots of goals. A lot of games he held back a lot because he was intimidated by the other kids, but I think he learned a lot. I asked him if he wanted to play in the fall because I thought he might give up on it because he wasn't the "best" player on the team, but he said yes and I am so happy! I don't want him to give up when things get tough, I just want him to push harder, try his best and prove to himself that he can rise to the occasion.

Warm up and practice time-

  

Lining up for the game-

It's always so fun to watch their little clusters form and see who comes out on top.

 We were so happy to see Wes being more aggressive at his last game and him gaining back some confidence. He equates skill with the number of goals a person makes because last season he made several every game and we're helping him shift that thinking. He's smart and amazing and I know he will get it.

Wes got to play with his friend Coco (the other boy in the red) and it was so fun to see his family each week. His older sister Camille and Eve became besties and she was such a good helper and went back and forth from the playground with Eve during the games. It was awesome!

Cutest girls!

-Water break-

I love how this boy gets red-face syndrome just like me when he exercises! 

Not that they were keeping score or anything, but we won our last game!

Go Legends!!! 

What a fun season with our most favorite red head there ever was! 

 Wes has an awesome dad and brother and I hope he always knows it. Soccer is awesome and I hope to help this boy to always recognize his talents and potential when he can't, and not just in soccer. You are amazing, my boy!

Legends Soccer, Spring 2017

Stars Basketball

This winter Thad got to play basketball with his same coach from last winter and had a blast! Coach Bill is so great and the Stars had a pretty fun season. One of the best parts of basketball season is that Thad gets to go to practice with dad one night a week and spend some time with him. I think they both love that a lot. It's always fun to look forward to games and watch Thad play each week!

 Brian helped Coach Bill a few times at games and even got a little assistant to tag along!

Eve looks like Thad's biggest fan here, but she was ticked most of the time that we would strap her into her stroller and just let her yell and yell. This little gal isn't the best at staying off the court and not climbing the bleachers, so strapped to the stroller she was all season!

I am so happy Thad is still loving basketball so much. Each season he plays he gets a little better and loves it a little more. Finding things that we love to do is such an important part of our individual journeys. I love this little baller!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is always a good day for me. My husband spoils me and my kids make amazing cards for me that help me get a glimpse inside of their heads! 

This card Wes brought home from school probably has to be the best card I have received to date on Mother's Day. I love him so much!

This has never happened. Wes just made it up. His teacher said at first I wasn't wearing a swimming suit when it happened, but she convinced him that I was. Thanks, Ms. Shelley! 

 I wish.  

At least he doesn't detect how much I really do NOT like going shopping with him. Maybe my kids won't be as messed up as I think. ;-)

And, I am definitely feeling good about how I look weighing in at 309 lbs! Where do kids come up with this stuff?! A few days before he actually gave me the card he kept confirming what my favorite color and drink was and I didn't realize why he was asking until I saw this. I love it!

I told Brian the only thing I wanted for Mother's Day was for him to take care of the kids and their needs while I used all of the Saturday before to begin to catch up on blogging. He did it and it was a huge success! I got ELEVEN blog posts done in one day and am feeling good about being able to catch up. I am so grateful for a man that will listen to me and does everything he can to make me feel loved. I am a lucky lady to have him and the three beautiful babes we are raising together.

I woke up to a delicious breakfast, some relaxing time with the fam and a wonderful day at church.

Marian is one of my cutest Young Women, and the kids' favorite babysitter, and she surprised Eve at church with a new fan like the one Eve had been playing with at her house the weekend before. I love our great ward, my Young Women and people that make my people happy!

I am so grateful for the blessing it is to be a mother. I am very aware of how blessed I am to fulfill this role for these three special children of God. I don't always act like I know it, but I do and I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for this wonderful life I find complete joy in. I am so grateful for my mother and and mother-in-law for the wonderful things they have taught me and continue to teach me about what being a parent means. And I am forever grateful for a husband that not only wants me to be the best mother I can, but does all in his power to make it happen.  

These three beautiful souls have my whole heart forever and ever. 

Happy Mother's Day 2017

April Moments

General Conference was the first thing on our calendar for April and it was awesome as always. 

We headed to Waco for the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference and had a fun time playing Conference Bingo and eating yummy food with our fellow Texan cousins.

We brought this little table in our house so the kids could eat and draw at it during conference and I loved catching Thad with his little leg cross pre-conference.

A tornado warning scared us a little on conference weekend too, but it didn't last long and we were fine, but better safe than sorry!

Thad's Math Pentathlon tournament came up the second weekend of the month and it was a success!

Here he is in the sea of kids playing one of the five games he learned this year-

  I was the Math Pentathlon coordinator this year, but Brian is awesome and took over the 6-hour event and volunteered as a game monitor. It's always good when those two can have some one on one time, there's never too much of that.

Thad did better this year than he has the past two and won more games than he lost and came out with an "Honorable Mention." He had fun and that's all I can hope for. Love him and his cute little team- 

Coach Dilani (left) and Coach Shashi (right) were both amazing and wrangled 17 kids after 7+ hours of school every Thursday to teach them math games and did an excellent job! I'm so grateful for people that are willing to volunteer their time for the benefit of my kids.

While Thad and Dad were away Eve, Wes and I headed to Liz and Ralf's church party at the park and had a really good time!

Wes LOVED the petting zoo and kept going back for this lizard! 

I sure love this neighbor Liz and am so sad she has since moved to the back of our neighborhood. Liz has cancer and she is fighting hard. We pray for her every night and I truly hope a miracle keeps her here as long as possible. She has a heart of gold and I will forever be grateful we lived across the street from each other for four wonderful years!

I had fun a couple of Sundays during the month having Eve wear some old dresses that are very sentimental to me-

Last summer Grandma Cindy sent me home with a few of the things she has kept for 30 years and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Eve wear the blue dress a few times while she fits in it. It was so fun to have her wear the dress Laney wore at our wedding 11 years ago! I love it just as much now as when Aunt Haley showed it to me all those years ago. Hooray for classic everything.

Brian saw this collection of signs on his run and couldn't pass it without a picture- 

 West Lake likes rules. A lot.

Our neighbors John and Abby had a mama robin make a nest on their wreath and they were kind enough to let them hatch and stay until they flew away. We loved checking them out every couple days! 

Eve is just a balanced girl and eating a red pepper with her Thin Mints cereal. I have taught her well.

Aunt Haley challenged Brian to "rock climb" a chair...it didn't go so well. The video is way better than this photo, if you ever want to see it just let me know. 

We went to Marian's dance recital because 1. She is Eve's favorite babysitter 2. Eve is obsessed with everything dance 3. She is one of my 14 Mia Maids. We love her and her family and it was so fun to go support her beautiful dancing at the middle school dance recital.

We got front row because the Hatches rock and Eve wanted to sit on everyone's lap except mine. Nothing new there. 

Marian is a beautiful girl and dancer and I wouldn't mind one bit if my Eve followed in her footsteps!

Wes is still set on being a Bug Scientist when he grows up and I love watching him aspire to big things!

He may even be turning into a bit of a hippie-

Just kidding, it says, "I can save the earth by...mowing the lawn." He doesn't know that the fumes are actually killing the earth, so no hippie here, I guess.

Sometimes when I see Eve sleep I have to take pictures of her because I love her so much...especially when she is sleeping. And I love that pink blanket that Grandma Cindy made for me when I was a baby and I remember it vividly in my childhood. 

  

It was a good month leaving us feeling like this-

Haha! Love my little sleepers!!