Soccer Boy

Evan had his last Smart Start soccer scrimmage last night:

 I can't believe how much he has grown since the last time I went to practice. Last time, he got teary on the field and was not so sure about this at all. Yesterday, he was one of three kids that played the whole scrimmage, loving every moment.

 The coaches are awesome:

I love that they focus on skills and fun at this stage. Evan is pretty sure they walk on water. The picture above was before practice; Coach Robert just started kicking the ball around with Evan, and he loved it.

 

The hive scrimmage:

 They really didn't do a great job with your goal versus my goal, but they did get the idea that they wanted to get the ball in a goal and away from the other team.

Look at our boy go:

 He did score a few times. I embarrassed Issa by cheering every time anyone scored, though. Brad shot me a look for over-encouraging passes and tries from everyone. What can I say? It's who I am. I think these little guys deserve a lot of credit for putting themselves out there and trying. Go kiddos!

The best big sister dressed for the occasion:

I called her name, and I got that picture. I am in trouble.

 

And a Friday funny for you:

Evan asked me to take that one this morning--weirdo.

 

Dancer

Last night was our last regular dance class of the year. I have seen Issa grow so much over the past year:

 I still get lost just watching her sometimes. Daddy snapped this picture last night:

There is just something about it. I'm not sure I quite know the words, but it takes my breath away a bit. My sweet little dancer.


On a completely unrelated note--a few updates:

Evan has decided he wants nothing more than to join a soccer team!

All pets are alive and well and seeming very happy! Here's hoping!

This Just Sucks

There is really no other way to put it. It's been a rough week for aquariums at our house.

Mother's Day weekend, Evan lost another frog. He had been absolutely fine, and then Saturday morning Evan found him on his back in the tank. We thought he was dead, but when we went to take him out, we realized he was not, which resulted in a 24 hour watch in his own little tank before he finally passed. Meanwhile the other frog got a fungus, which we were thankfully able to cure pretty simply thanks to the google and the most stressful twenty minutes of my recent life while I gave the little guy a salt bath of just the right duration. For the record, any cure that states, "If done correctly, your frog will recover beautifully. If done for even a moment too long, he will die," is not my idea of a cure.

With the frog restored and the tank cycled, we started the process of replacing the dead frog. It always takes a couple of tries. It seems them live a week or a year--not much middle. But...the second replacement seemed to be doing okay.

Then this weekend, we noticed poor Bubble/Bow was not looking so good. Granted, he was a three year old betta, but he was noticeably struggling to breathe. At several points, we thought he was dead only to see him swimming by the time we got the net to get him out. It was awful. I recognize he was just a fish, but he was my dish-doing buddy, and I hated knowing he was in pain. Finally, he really did die yesterday. I think he was just old, but it was a hard day.

The kids and I decided we didn't want an empty tank, but we also knew Bubble/Bow couldn't be replaced. He was just one cool fish. So...I checked the google for other options for a tank our size and with our set up. Meet the Shinies:

The picture is awful, but we now have three neon tetras, all named Shiny, and I have taken to collectively calling them The Shinies. It's like our own little fishy rock band. They are fun to watch dart around the tank, and the kids are enamored.

 

With the Shinies nicely settled, we gave Bubble/Bow a burial at sea. I will admit I think I cried more than any one else. And then...we went upstairs...and we found new frog belly up. I want the Mom of the Year award for not saying what I wanted to say. Poor Evan just crumbled. It was too much. I asked if he wanted to give up on frogs, and he doesn't, so we will go get a new frog under warranty again this afternoon. I am praying for a long life for the little guy, though, because I don't think we can take another froggy funeral at our house right now.

A Wondrous Last

Friday night, we went to Issa's school for an 80s themed family dance. It was a fundraiser for the fifth grade class trip, and we had a blast. Issa announced that we had to dress up, and I jumped on board:

 Issa had bangles up her arm, we were rocking the blue eyeshadow, and I would like you to witness these:

 I rocked the leg warmers. Even Evan got into the theme:

Who doesn't love a good mohawk?

There were lots of kids decked out in neon, but Susan and I were the only two moms who participated. We also were out there dancing with the kids and showing them exactly how the electric slide is done. I had a blast, and Issa and Briana declared us the coolest moms ever.

After a few dances, the girls took off with their friends, and Susan remarked that this may be the last time they ask us to dress up--much less proclaim us cool for doing it and dancing with them. I know I will eventually be relegated to the bleachers or drop off duty, but I'll take it for now.

Conundrum

We have a conundrum. Why is it that the little parenting decisions are the ones that make me the most crazy? I am totally aware that this falls squarely in the realm of first world problems, but it's stressing me out, so you all get to listen to me sort it out--sorry--sort of.

Evan loves, loves, loves soccer. He also loves, loves, loves Coach Logan. This is all fabulous. Here's the issue. In the fall, we have a choice. Evan can either play Smart Start Soccer again for a third time or he can start U6 soccer and play on a real team with real games and everything. Brad and I thought this was a no brainer. We have seen so much growth over the past two seasons of Smart Start we planned to let him do U6. Brad talked to the Coach, who agreed Evan is definitely ready for U6.

Here's the problem: Evan doesn't want to do U6; he wants to do Smart Start. My parenting gut says he will be bored by Smart Start and will love U6 once he gets there, but we said we would never make the kids start something they didn't want to start. Conundrum.

I tried to figure out why, but I don't know if you've tried reasoning with a four year old lately--it's not easy. It started out about not wanting to leave Coach Logan, but we told him they will be at the field at the same time and he could say hello. Then he didn't want to wear a jersey; no problem: they wear t-shirts. Then, he was afraid the really big kids would run him over; no problem: they play on a different field. He's out of reasons. He just doesn't want to. Sigh.

I don't know if it's change or just Evan being Evan. I also know we have a few weeks to make the decision and I probably just need to chill. I also know it the grand scheme of life this is so not a problem. But...it's currently making me crazy! Any ideas will be happily heard!

Never Say Never

Before children, I proclaimed lots of things would never happen in my house. Most of them have all happened: toys in the living room, the music room becoming the play room, glitter everywhere, a constant "project" on the art table. Last night, though, we had a new one:

Yes...Evan is playing baseball in the house! Uncle Brian and Aunt D sent a preschool pitching machine for his birthday. By the time it was assembled and Daddy made the run for the requisite batteries, Evan had already bathed and it was past bed time. So, we did what any reasonable parent would do: we let him try it out just this once in the living room. Who would have thought he would actually make contact? Thankfully it stayed low and only hit the DVDs. Nothing was broken, and Evan thought we were the coolest parents ever. I am totally planning on reminding him of this the next time  he is "going to tell Booboo" on me, which is his new response when I ruin his life.

Wheels

Miss Steph came over for a little impromptu play date last night! The weather was perfect, and the kids wanted to head outside. Steph started out first, and imagine our surprise when we walked out to see this:

 After Issa's last crash, she had sworn off the bike. Last night, she decided to try again. Bless Steph. She ran up and down that street with Issa. Issa never took a solo ride, but she was getting less wobbly--and she was back on the bike!

And...little man figured out the tricycle:

His legs are finally long enough to get going! You can tell he is just a little bit thrilled!

It was probably one of the most fun moments I've had in a while, watching my two kiddos experience the thrill of wheels, the wind in your face, and the freedom of the ride.