Last Week

I haven't been great about taking pictures so I am just going to do a quick recap of our week last week. Monday we had playgroup - no pictures. Tuesday Ben and I worked at Elizabeth's school and played at the park with a friend - no pictures. Wednesday - zoo school! I watched Jackson for Jessica so she could go home and get some packing done. After Jackson and I walked through the nearby botanical gardens and the zoo, we picked up Ben and Cooper and took them into the zoo to have lunch. Ben loves zoo school, he wants to go every day! (Which is a huge accomplishment for my boy!)
Thursday I babysat Zach and Amelia so we decided to drive out to Jessica's new house to see the area and the outside of the house. (long story but we weren't able to get into the actual house). They have a really fun park in their neighborhood that we played at.

It was gorgeous weather and the kids were all so good. We finished with a picnic lunch and then headed back home to nap and get Elizabeth from school.

After school Elizabeth had her first swimming class. She wasn't loving dance this year so we decided to try swimming. She is a little fish so I knew she would love it.

This is what Zach and Amelia did while she was swimming,

and this is what Ben did (he's watching a movie).

She doing the freestyle!!

Hi Elizabeth!
On Friday Elizabeth had an early release day and a new friend came to play after school - again no pictures!! (so bad!)

Saturday we had Ben's soccer pictures and game. He did great for pictures, not so great in the game. He wouldn't play - again!!! We're going to see what happens this Saturday! Keep your fingers crossed!

It was a busy, but really fun week!

Ben's First Soccer Practice and Game

After playing T-ball this summer Ben was ready for a change. He loves to play soccer in the backyard, so he was excited to sign up for soccer this fall. Then he found out (after I signed him up) that none of his cousins would be on his team, so he changed his mind. Too late! I thought he would like it if he gave it a try, so we headed to his first practice.
Once he realized the kids weren't going to take his ball home with them, he loved it.

They did some drills,

and just spent some time running around, kicking the ball.

I had brought Elizabeth's homework box with her crayons and other supplies with us so she would have something to do. This other little girl (the coach's daughter) kept skipping out on practice to come use all of Elizabeth's supplies. Luckily Elizabeth was nice about it!

Drew and Josh happened to be at the Y to sign up for their T-ball league so they stopped to watch Ben and color with Elizabeth. :)

So the first practice was successful, but then we had the game on Saturday. Ben started out great, the first play he went out with a few other kids and was ready to play.

That was his last play.
I guess all the kids running around with all the adults on the sidelines yelling really freaked him out and that was it. He didn't want to get back out on the field.

This time I got him out on the field,

and he was already running back to me, crying.

So, the first game, not so successful.
I guess we'll see about next Saturday! :)

Last Days

Elizabeth and Ben had their last day of gymnastics and dance last Wednesday. Elizabeth practiced her tap and ballet dances - she had a recital for all of us on Saturday.
She kept checking to make sure I was watching :)

She always does such a great job listening to her teacher and following directions. I love watching her do her dance!

Ben had gymnastics - he got to show off all his skills :)

So strong!

He's bear walking backwards.

Cooper and Ben had a little more of a difficult time following directions. If one of them scooted, the other one would scoot. If they weren't sitting by each other, they would move so that they were. It was very funny to watch (but I will admit that teacher part of me inside was saying, "Ben, sit still and listen to your teacher!!" We aren't supposed to step in during the lesson and it was really hard not to!)
This is so typical Ben. He was running to the line to get his stamp and he tripped and fell. It was funny that I got a picture of it.
He recovered quickly and was able to get his stamp. I thought he also did a great job during his class (and so did Cooper).

We signed the kids up for a fun ocean class this summer so I'll actually have different pictures next time!

My Athletes ;)

Ben and Elizabeth had their last days of gymnastics and dance class this week. We start again in about 2 weeks but this was the last day when the parents were invited into the classrooms to take pictures. My kids have class at the same time so my mom came with to take turns with me so the kids would always have someone with them. (of course Jessica was in Ben's class the entire time because of Cooper so it would have worked out if my mom couldn't come).

I have seen Ben doing his gymnastics many times since they pretty much do the same stuff in class that they did in our mommy and me gymnastics class, but I had never seen Elizabeth's dance class since the glass is frosted, so I was very excited to see what her class did. She always tells me she likes it but it is hard! :)
I don't have a very good zoom lens so my pictures are kind of far away. There are only 4 girls in the class and one wasn't there so it was a little class. Here they are stretching.

I really like this picture of my little ballerina!

They stretched and moved at the beginning to some really cute songs.

Reaching for those toes - she can get pretty far!

Then on to Ben's gymnastics. Here they are stretching.

Doing some forward rolls.

Walking like a bear (Ben's in the blue pants and Cooper's in the red pants).

Ben's showing me his favorite part - the stamp!

We really liked the classes this session and are excited to do them again in a couple of weeks!

Last Day of Gymnastics

The boys and Emily had their last day of gymnastics together. We told them to sit together for a picture and put their arms around each other. They had quite a good time trying to get the perfect picture. (I never got that perfect picture on my camera...maybe Jessica or Allison did :)
Ben being sweet with Emily - I don't know if her daddy will like these pictures of her being pawed by the boys
(:
Cooper - are you feeling left out?

OK -now he's part of the group

What a bunch of happy kiddos

Our house is moving along slowly but surely - we're set to start sheet rock next week

and yay - they delivered brick! But Boo - it's the wrong kind! So now we are trying to get them to correct their mistake. It's a long story but we're hoping it will all work out the way we want it to. I'm ending this post now because my computer is being very strange and putting weird punctuation in wrong spots...don't know what's going on so I'll try again tomorrow! I love technology :)

Last Soccer Game

Elizabeth had her last soccer game on Saturday. We had about half the games cancelled due to weather/swine flu, so we were excited to have one last game so the kids could get their trophies. This is how Ben and Cooper watched the game, they were very into it, can't you tell?
There's Elizabeth, number 7, running fast down the field!

The end of the game. I love how they clap hands with the other team.

We were very proud of our girl. She did a fantastic job on her first soccer team.

Elizabeth's First Soccer Game

Finally, the weather was good enough for Elizabeth's first soccer game. She was very excited and loved it that lots of family came to watch her play.

What a cutie in her soccer uniform.

The team photo.

Elizabeth's cousin Drew and friend Elliott are also on her team.

The big soccer player right before the game.

In action! Their team won about 10 - 1. All but one point was made by the coach's son. He's so good!

I liked this action shot!

It was a great game and most importantly I think all the kids had a good time.