Thursday, April 25, 2013

March and April catch-up post

 
This week I took my last turn teaching Toby's preschool co-op.  This photo is from our field trip to the fire station back when it was still cold out (you know, that's like 55 degrees in GA.) It has been such a fun experience for him!  He just loves his school, and I am thankful to all the mom-teachers who made it work so beautifully.

 
Climbing the eucalyptus tree in our yard has become a regular activity for the bigger monkeys in the house.


Like Toby, Jake loves to do anything he can to help dad with the yardwork.  He is such a cute little toddler these days!  I love how his cheeks just look like they are full of pudding- they even bounce when he runs!

 
In early April we celebrated my sweet Rob's birthday.  I baked him a cake and got him the FINAL book in the Wheel of Time series for his birthday and his sister Allyson came over from Atlanta with her kiddos for a few days during Spring break that same week.  (Jake was not cooperating for any photos. And also, 'booyah' is not a valid play in Scrabble.) 

 
The fruit bowl bandit.
One day I went to switch the laundry, when I came back Jakey had climbed up on top of the kitchen counter and was halfway through his SECOND banana, while simultaneously eating a whole pear in the other hand.  I also found later that he had taken a giant bite out of the end of an avocado, peel and all.  He is a bottomless pit!  And I don't think there is anything he loves more than fresh fruit. I guess that's a good thing, right?
 


Spring Soccer 2013

 
We're about halfway through our soccer season here.  It is Toby's third season playing, and he is really getting to be a good little ball handler. He has -maybe too good- of an understanding of defensive play in a league age group where swarming the ball is the only play in the book.  And he has been very happy at practices and games... after the first practice where he cried A LOT.  I asked him why all the tears the next day, and he said, "I just want to get a trophy like last year."  Turns out he was putting massive pressure on himself to not make any mistakes so that he would get a trophy.  Once I explained that EVERYONE gets a trophy at the end of the season, no matter what, he was able to relax and enjoy the game again.


Charlotte didn't play Fall soccer last year because "you just have to RUN, and I'm tired of it!"  However, sitting on the sideline and watching Toby play all season had her second guessing her choice and wanting to try again this Spring.  Rob and I hesitated, and reminded her that she would have to follow through on her commitment, but ultimately decided to let her give it another try.  What a difference a year makes!  Charlotte is actually playing soccer this year and has a new dream of being a "soccer star."  While that may be a stretch, we are happy to see her participating appropriately.  (ie. not ballet dancing and pouting on the field.)
 

 
Coincidentally, both Charlotte and Toby's teams are called the Dragons this year.  (They are in different age groups.)  As someone who never played team sports, I'm glad they have these opportunities to play on a team, and learn important things like good sportsmanship, doing your best, supporting your team/sibling, and of course being active and healthy.  I love to watch them face and conquer their individual challenges.  I'm a proud Dragon mama!  

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Easter 2013

I have been trying to update the blog for weeks, and each time either blogger or my computer has fought with me! Hopefully now things will run smoothly for awhile and I can post these photos. :)

 
This Easter I made my mom's Bunny cake. She made a cake shaped like a bunny on many an Easter when I was growing up and we loved decorating it with various candies. This was my first year doing it with my kids and they loved it too. To honor Rob's mom as well in this tradition, I used her carrot cake and cream cheese frosting recipes.  Toby kept asking why I was calling it "carrot" cake.  He had NO IDEA there were three cups of shredded carrots in there.  lol

 
We also dyed a few Easter eggs.  I had grand plans of doing natural food dyes until I realized the eggs would have to sit in them foor 3-4 hours and that would be very anti-climactic for the little ones.  So we went the traditional Paas route.

 
Writing your name on your eggs is VERY serious business.

 
Easter morning we enjoyed our baskets and hunted around the house for hidden eggs.  Cadbury creme eggs are absolutely the coveted treat around here.  (By everyone except Rob- he's a Reese's peanut butter egg kind of man.)

 
Then I made scrambled eggs and toast before we got ready and headed to church.  When I put Jakey in his highchair I had no idea that he had two tiny fistfuls of jelly beans and M&Ms from his basket which he promptly used to garnish his scrambled eggs.  Yum!
 
We are so thankful for the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  It is so comforting to me to know that no matter how I may fall short today, I can wake up tomorrow and try again to be a better person.  Wishing you all a belated Happy Easter!