Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Soccer 2011

Another year of soccer is underway.  All three kids get in on the action this year, and wouldn't you know it, on three separate nights.  The obvious plus to this is that I get to watch each and every game the kids play without running between kids games. The obvious minus, is that we are gone every night . . . . for a little while anyway. But we can be home by 8:30 and it is great fun to watch . . . especially as they get older.
Kevin is having a great year so far . . . . although his team has not yet won.  He has been a pretty good sport about that -- even telling me yesterday afternoon that, "Mom, you know, I don't even really care if I lose anymore. I just like having fun playing."  But after another loss last night, he was fighting back the tears after the final whistle.  I am proud of how he is trying to tame his competitiveness.  Soccer is a passion for Kevin and because he is so passionate, he is the funnest to watch.


 Kade just might be having his breakout year.  In his first game he scored two goals and the second game at least one . . . the third game - none - but I think that is b/c I wasn't there to cheer him on;)
 I still think his favorite part is snack time, although he seems to prefer playing this year, to sitting on the blanket.  So progress is being made!
 Kade is not passionate about soccer.  He has a much more laid back approach to sports than Kevin.  Soccer is fun for him.  He likes it.  He likes being with the other kids.  He likes the snacks.  It is something to do. He enjoys it, but I don't think he anticipates his soccer night the way Kevin does.  It's fun to see how they are so different.
 Kylie is our rookie.  She is off to a good start.  She goes on the field.  She does the warm ups. She takes shots. She runs with the crowd during the game - although she remains at the edge of the herd. And, if the ball happens to end up at her feet, she may even kick it!
 She has also learned to be comfortable enough to talk to her coach.  So whenever someone else on the team says,"I need a rest." or is told to take a rest, Kylie is quick to walk up to the coach and state that she needs a rest too. 
 Her team is full of kids that like to take their turn resting, so it is often a struggle to get six kids to take the field. I always tell my kids, that if there is a chance to play - PLAY!!!  But at four years old, she is not really taking my advice.  So sometimes I, along with a number of other parents, strongly encourage her to get on the field!  The highlight for Kylie is DEFINITELY the popsicles/freezies.
 Aren't they a colourful bunch?!
I love summer - and one of the reasons is soccer. It makes for a busy week, but it is such a carefree busy. Every night I grab a coffee and a lawnchair and sit for an hour. (When else would I get that chance?!!!)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Rondeau 2011

The time has come and gone for our annual camping trip with Mike and Jenn and family.  We had a wonderful time once again with a wonderful couple and our mostly wonderful kids:)  The weather really couldn't have been much better. Not a drip of rain, despite various forecasts!  We really liked Rondeau. The definite negative was the lack of privacy in the campsites, but everything else was fantastic.  Rondeau is situated so that you have Rondeau Bay on one side and Lake Erie on the other.  So we would walk out of our campsite, down a very short path and then we could turn left to the Lake or right to the Bay.  Lots of fun!!!
We acquired a canoe just before we left . . . as in Jonathan brought it home when he came home from work to hook up.  I hadn't thought to take it and didn't really think we should, but Jonathan's wisdom prevailed and I'm glad! (Did I just admit that Jonathan had better judgement than me?!!!)  Here we are all ready to go - just had to pick up some paddles . . . .


Kylie and Devin were a hoot together. They are at the age when they have such imagination. They played fabulously the entire time and were pretty much inseparable Kylie would wake up in the morning and immediately ask to play with Devin. I would tell her to wait a while, but she would sneak off and stand outside their campsite, until she was invited in.
 
 The canoe (on land) was a great source of entertainment for these two!
                                        

                                                          The three ladies of their clan.
 Near sunset.
                The boys were ALWAYS on the move.  Here, there, and everywhere!

 This is the pier out to the Bay.
  Not  quite sure what they were doing except that Kylie had something imaginative in her mind I'm sure. Devin just followed her lead - a little skeptically here though I must say.
 Campfires!
 Kylie and Jonathan were the first to test out the canoe.  Doesn't Kylie look thrilled to be there? She was not impressed and let us know rather loudly, but we prevailed, and she ended up liking it.

 Jordan's turn.
 Fishing was a highlight too. The boys went often off the pier in the Bay. There was almost always something to catch - just mostly sunfish - but its always fun to feel something tug on your hook no matter what it is.
 Ian and Kade's turn.

 Kylie fished too.
 Our campsite (#42)
 The beach!
 Canoeing Lake Erie this time. 
 Devin
 Ashley
 Sisters! Emily was such a big help throughout the weekend. 



 Kade and Jonathan
 You could also jump off the end of the pier into the Bay, so once they mustered the courage for the first jump, this was a hit too!

 And then came the waves. We woke up Sunday morning to the sound of crashing waves!
Kevin and Kade checking the Lake out before church.
 We went to the ARP in Chatham which is a wonderful little congregation.  What a warm welcome we received! One of the highlights for Jonathan and I was finding out after the first service from a parishioners that he thought Jon and I were Mike and Jenn's children too (he only saw us from the back) That gave Mike and Jenn a crew of 10 children all of the sudden. He had felt bad b/c he introduced himself to Mike and Jenn, but didn't bother with us (the kids:)).  It gave us a good chuckle:) 

 Lots of biking and bike paths too.

 Enjoying the waves.
 Mike and Jordan taking the canoe for a ride and it WAS quite the ride!

 One of Kevins sunfish.




 Think she was enjoying herself? or the more likely option - her dad was chasing her!!
 Over lunch, Kade showed us with his hands the size of a fish he had seen (dead).  We smiled and I told him that that was probably a slight exaggeration.  He insisted.  On Monday, when we went to the beach, off went Kade trotting way down the beach.  He slowly made his way back with this monster:)  You win Kade!
Thanks Mike and Jenn and family for another great year.  Lots of great memories have once again been created.  Thanks for your wonderful friendship.