Silver Bullets Soccer

This little dude was so excited for the opportunity to participate in soccer again this Spring. Last year we signed him up with Sporting Tykes through the YMCA and it quickly became apparent that he loved the game. We knew this Spring we wanted him to be involved in a more "competitive" league so we chose Kansas Rush Soccer Club. The teams consist of six same age players. Dawson was fortunate to play with three other Meadow Lane Kindergartners as well as two boys from other area elementary schools. 

The red streaks under his eyes are NOT the latest in soccer accessory/fashion.

They're signs of the poor kid suffering terribly from allergies :( 

Dawson plays a mean game of defense but put the ball near him and he gives it his all! He is a hustler and has a fierce determination to win. He scored multiple goals within the season scoring two in his final game. 

Dawson, Brady, Caleb and Christiano

Missing from photo - Noah and Peyton

Meet team Silver Bullets {Christiano missing}. 

Quite possibly the cutest group of six year old boys in the JoCo area. These boys praticed and played with passion. They became fast friends and had a blast together! The coaches and parents are already in talks of getting them together over the summer for a BBQ and possible participation in a summer soccer camp. We are also in high hopes of playing together as a team again this Fall. 

I-Click

It's seems like months have passed since I last visited the blog when in fact it has been several loooong weeks. Rather than one long exhaustive post I will provide a brief update in the form of life captured through the lens of my iPhone.

The entire 3rd grade class at Meadow Lane participated in a wax museum in late January. Each student chose a famous person {past or present} and did extensive research on their lives. They then wrote a narrative which they presented to fellow students, staff and parents at the wax museum. Gabrielle choose Carrie Underwood and thoroughly enjoyed learning the little details of her life as well as dressing the part :)

I'm sporting specs again. I began wearing glasses in the 2nd grade and graduated to contacts in the 7th grade. I despised wearing glasses in my early adult life. Picture Coke bottle lenses - not.even.lying! Fast forward to late 1999 when I met Travis and that sweet man paid $4100 cold hard cash to have LASIK surgery performed on my eyes (before we were engaged or married holla!). My specialist suggested at my recent visit that I wear glasses driving at night and/or reading to improve the clouded vision resulting from my vitreous detachment that I shared about here. What a difference they make! I went cheap and a little on the trendy side in choosing my frames.

This is a glimpse into our playroom on any given day we entertain "extra" kiddos in our home. I would absolutely be a fraud if I didn't say that just looking at this picture gives me the jitters BUT I will gladly take the messes when it means my kiddos are living it up with their friends enjoying free imaginative play. You have to look really close but McKenna and Buggie (Ellaina) are hiding under the table.

For the <3 class="goog-spellcheck-word" of="" span="" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Legos
. Dawson loves Legos. I love that D loves Legos. Truth be told, I love Legosso when Legos began taking over his bedroom and his existing shelf was overflowing with completed and 1/2 completed projects I asked Travis to cut, stain and install a 2nd much larger shelf. I realize this is one tiny corner of it, but it is functioning oh so well! I'm also over the moon happy with how the Lego Manual I created turned out.

This wee one has me at hello (remember Jerry Maguire circa 1996?) each and every morning. What is it with our last babes? I can't/won't/refuse to let her grow up!

Travis saw his surgeon for his 10 week post operative appointment February 19th. His surgeon harassed Travis that he was smuggling a golf ball in there. We laughed, but seriously this picture brings the term cankles to a whole new level!

 I'll wrap up with our little man representin' on our family date night last Friday. #PowerGen!

Little Miss Sunshine Turns 3

This sweet Sunshine turned 3 on January 11th

... and this is really how she felt about getting her picture taken :)

We invited her besties - Ellaina (pictured above), Hartley, Logann, Faith & Micah - to join us at Wonderscope Children's Museum for a morning of play. 

We had cupcakes and juice to fuel up for the fun.

Daddy did a little cupcake smash after she blew out the candle!

How is it possible that our baby girl is 3?!!!

McKenna Jane,

You are the sunshine of our lives! Because of you our days are brighter, more full of love & laughter and noise. Your personality exudes happiness. You love when we crank the zuzic (music) up loud and have dance parties; snuggling up in front of a cartoon; playing Barbies and baby dolls and play time with just about anyone.
Currently, you would eat an endless supply of fishies (Goldfish crackers) or fruit snacks;  watch countless episodes of Tom & Jerry; bathe a dozen times a week never growing tire of playing surfer girl and live in your footie pajamas if life allowed. You would also chose to spend 1/2 your days at Papa and Mema's house as they are your grown up best friends and you never tire of quality time with them.
We love you more than you could ever possibly know!
Mommy and Daddy

Ms. G celebrates #9

New Year's Day marked another year in life for our #1, Gabrielle Annique. She wanted a small group of friends for a few games of bowling and a sleepover to celebrate her 9th. Wish granted!

These girls rocked the lanes at Mission Bowl.
Ava {far right} got a strike followed by a spare in the 1st round of bowling and Gabi got a spare.

Photo evidence of G's spare :)

 

It was really fun for me to watch the girls interact and giggle until I was sure they couldn't laugh any more. After bowling we returned home for pink lemonade cupcakes and ice cream sundaes in waffle bowls before the girls retreated to the basement for a movie, popcorn and theater candy. It is fair to say they were successfully sugared up yet amazingly well mannered!

Good morning bed head x 4!!!!

A big shout out and thanks to the Morris's for the FUN birthday spectacles! I'm sure these bad boys will make frequent return appearances over the years :)

Saturday morning we fixed Gabrielle's favorite breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.  She had invited five friends for her birthday but Tatum traveled to Oklahoma to celebrate Christmas the weekend of the sleepover and Harper woke with the stomach flu. 

* Once again the iPhone saved the day in documenting Gabrielle's 9th birthday celebration * 

We gifted Gabi a protective case for her Kindle, a cardigan sweater and headband that coordinate with the wellies she received in her stocking for her AG dolls and an AG craft kit. Her friends were very generous in gifting her cash, new clothing from H&M (one of her favorite stores), Beat the Parents board game and friendship bracelet kit, loom accessories and a Tapefitti Art Desk Set. 

Dawson's Big Day(s)

Dawson turned SIX on September 21st. 

We spread the celebratory festivities over several days. 

Kiersten made chocolate cupcakes with frosting, sprinkles and candied Legos at his request to share with his classmates at school on Friday. They serenaded him with an upbeat birthday song I wasn't familiar with, a birthday card and a 1st reader book. 

Dawson gave me the obligatory cheese when I asked him to smile for a picture :)

This one pulls on the momma heartstrings a bit more.

Ahhhhh, my handsome devil of a sweet boy!

Evan joined us early Friday evening for supper, play time, a movie (Star Wars) & popcorn and Dawson's 1st {hosted} sleepover.

Saturday was jam packed with fun!

We played miniature golf at Smiley's with his two buddies, Evan VonMoss and Brandon Lewis.

According to Travis, D has a natural swing, but I wouldn't exactly say it showed on the putt putt course. The boys were being boys! We left Smiley's and headed to Dickinson Theatres to see the movie Planes, then had lunch, cupcakes & gift opening at McDonalds.

After Evan and Brandon's parents picked them up, our family of 5 reloaded and headed to the River Run car show in Ottawa, Kansas. The picture above was the state of our troops in route to Ottawa. One followed by the other drifted off into a deep sleep.

The car show was phenomenal and something we will absolutely attend again in years to come. The weather was beyond perfect and the cars didn't disappoint! We all wished we had more time to spend there but alas we had evening plans.

We made a super fast 5 minute pit stop back at the house to change into blue jeans, grab our sweatshirts and hit the road to Liberty to watch the William Jewel Cardinals football team with the Eaton family which consists of D's favorite teen bud, Corey. It was a wonderful evening in which our little man was spoiled and given lots of love and attention. 

Sunday morning we opted to sleep in and played hooky from church. Dawson opened his gifts from us which were a Star Wars Lego set, a Star Wars wall puzzle, refill foam darts for his Nerf guns and the Action Bible (which was immediately confiscated by his sister who <3 it="" nbsp="" p="" reading="" s="">

He has his eye on this Lego set (costs $100 gulp) so we are saving up his birthday cash & chore earning and waiting on a great sale. 

Birthday Blessings

With school back in full swing I am determined to dedicate a bit more time to keeping our family journal (aka blog) more up to date. In doing so I will be starting with "back log" so please bear with me as I document. As another mother put in words that ring true here as well "This is my story catcher, dream saver and family album." 

I am one blessed girl when it comes to girlfriends. I am a better wife, mother, friend and Christian because of these women. They encourage me, uplift me and enrich my life. They planned an entire day of fun in celebration of my 38th birthday.  They went above and beyond to show me love, share in laughter, and make me feel treasured and loved. 

Our morning began with a little beautification in the form of pedicures for Heather and Daina

and manicures for Rene and myself. 

Then it was off to breakfast and a morning cup of joe (an orange coolatta for this non coffee drinker) at Dunkin Donuts.

From there we made the 2 hour trek to quaint Jamesport, MO. We had lunch at the Country Cupboard Restaurant. The food was home cooked, filling and super yum. We then visited The Fabric Barn, the Amish country store H&M & Anna's bake shop {where Rene and I shared a delicious pastry that left you wishing for more} on the outskirts of town before touring the art & antique district. We made a few fun purchases & did a little wine tasting before stopping for fudge. We made a quick stop back into The Collection Wine and Gift Shop to purchase a couple bottles of savory wine before heading back to KC. 

Rene, Heather, Daina and myself 

After a wonderful day spent in Jamesport we all enjoyed our 1st dining experience at Blanc Burgers & Bottles. The atmosphere was loud and distracting (envision thee most loud, obnoxious fellow diner at the table directly next to us) but we laughed until I cried and devoured our scrumptious burgers leaving enough fries behind to feed the next party. Lesson learned one shopping basket full of fries goes a loooong way let alone two :) 

Lynelle, myself & Heather

We ogled window shopped at Anthropology then went to Forever XXI (much easier on the checkbook) before calling it a day.

I love these women and am so thankful to each of them for making this day a memorable one for me! Mwah!!!!

Color Run

I participated in my first organized 5K on Saturday, June 1st. The Kansas City Color Run or also known as the happiest 5K on the planet! It was held at Arrowhead Stadium. 

I ran with Heather Buelow and Daina Skorbutanas (soon to be Mrs. Justin Buelow!). I am NOT a runner. Shoot, I rarely exercise in any fashion. Within minutes of finishing the race, pain took up residency in my left knee. Heather was also experiencing discomfort. Fast forward to Saturday night and that knee pain kept me up all.night.long. I may have any cursed it once. Within a couple of days the pain/discomfort was nearly gone when I took it upon myself to re-"injure" it running after Little Miss at Science City. It is now back to normal PTL and the lesson I took away is this. I am no longer a 20 something year old and this nearly 38 year old body of mine let me know that :) 

It was an incredibly fun morning spent with friends and a great way to give back to the community in a very small way. We had a delicious post race lunch at Cafe Gratitude {I'm SO looking forward to going back.} I will definitely sign up for next years Color Run and may even allow the munchkins to tag along for some happy color action! 

The School Year comes to a Close

School is out for summer and that means one thing to me. More time with my kids which equates to making memories intermingled with times of complete madness and mayhem. I've really been anticipating this summer as Little Miss is at such an incredibly fun age. She is old enough to be independent in a lot of areas and is always, always following in her older siblings footsteps which makes for quite the adventure at times. Picture a 2 year old determined to master a razor scooter, dribble a basketball, jump rope, enter any activity and she is making her best attempt to keep up with the older two's antics.

Gabi on her last day of 2nd grade

Noah Eckert and Gabrielle

We are really looking forward to checking things off our summer fun bucket list.

In reality I'm sure a lot of this ^^^^^^ will be happening this summer.

Goofing around in addition to fighting and making up, lots of popsicles and sweet treats, bubbles and sidewalk chalk, playdoh, parks and pool play!

When I look at these pictures of our children I feel incredibly blessed. They can be loud, disobedient, disrespectful, messy, picky eaters, stubborn and strong headed. Yes, they can be all of these things, but they are absolutely beautiful in my eyes and they are mine!