Bend it like Isabelle

The weather was beautiful in Seattle this weekend, which was a real treat because we haven't had too many nice days as of late. Friday night Isabelle's soccer team had a great practice in 70 degree weather, and I actually got to take one of the dogs to practice so he could hang out with us. Saturday we had a wonderful day of playing outside with the kids, and a great dinner on the deck that evening.

Sunday, of course, was Isabelle's soccer game. Her team is doing outstanding this year, and Isabelle has been a true all-star, if I do say so myself. Her skills are tremendous and her coach (and Dad) is very happy. Not too bad for a girl that we thought wouldn't be playing soccer about a year ago. At any rate, we played under gorgeous weather this afternoon and the girls had an awesome game. We ended up winning 13-2, and Isabelle scored THREE goals! To top it all off, one of them was a left-foot shot, which had been one of her goals to accomplish this year. We were so proud of our girl! To this point in the season (6 games) she's had 8 goals. We still have two more to go, so hopefully the hot streak continues.

Here she is gearing up for a big left foot shot. She's the only girl on the team that can switch from one foot to the other with complete confidence.

Here she is throwing up the "L" sign. No, it's not for loser, but her sign for "left-foot goal."

Here's the third goal headed for the net.

Again with the "L" sign for the left-foot goal. She was so proud!

Running through the victory tunnel at the end.

GO MONSTERS! No game next weekend due to Memorial Day, but we play the two weekends after that to finish off the season.

Hope everyone else had as wonderful of a weekend as we did!

Mother's Day weekend

This weekend we were blessed with gorgeous weather, which hasn't been a regular event these days. And no better weekend for it, as we were able to get out and celebrate Mother's Day with great family activities. Saturday we started out with Sophia's soccer class, and then headed out to the zoo to explore the new penguin exhibit. The kids had a blast, and all caught a quick nap on the drive home. That evening we had our dear friends the Cappalongas over for dinner. Tia is one of the best mothers I know, and a great person to celebrate the weekend with. She has five wonderful kids that are all amazing in their own individual ways. She is really one in a million...oh, and just an awesome person to be around. :) At any rate, the kids all wore each other out playing until late that night, but did sleep in the next morning, so we couldn't complain.

The next day Todd cooked omelets for everyone and then got all our bicycles prepped for a family bike ride while the little ones were napping. After they awoke, we headed off for a ride along the Cedar River. The weather was still good, though a little overcast, but not too hot or cold so we couldn't complain.

Todd and Isabelle off and going. The hilly path that Isabelle is riding towards is the one she crashed down at the end of our ride. No better way to finish off Mother's Day than scrubbing gravel and dirt out of your kid's knees in the tub with a loafa. Good times.

Isabelle cranked along with us the entire ride, which probably consisted of about 3 miles. She's awesome on her bike, and really enjoyed us all being out together.

A nice view of the Cedar River.


Sophia and Hudson ride along in their bike trailer behind Todd. They love looking out the windows and generally grappling with each other in the tight quarters.

Little faces peeking out at me as I ride by them. Too cute!

I hope all the mothers I know had a wonderful weekend like I did. I feel truly blessed to have three wonderful children that are happy and healthy, and that give me the title of "Mom."

Hump day is *the* day

Whereas most of us look forward to Friday, and the end of a busy work week, my little ones look forward to one day...garbage day. Our garbage day is Wednesday, and it's the best day of the week in our house. Sophia loves the garbage man to the point she yells at the top of her lungs when she sees one while we're out and about "Garbage man!!!" Hudson has two Tonka Wheel Pals garbage trucks (one small and one large) and they happen to be the same green as our garbage trucks. Needless to say, the two of them ALWAYS play with the garbage trucks. We weren't so sure about this new obsession, but upon talking to other friends, it seems the love of the garbage man extends to all small children. Good to know, as we were starting to think Sophia already had a career in mind...

Perched on the sofa...anxiously watching the street for the first sighting of the garbage man.

Since we sit up on a bit of a hill, from our front window the kids can watch the garbage man collect from about six houses. Bonus!

They are so focused the entire time this is going on...neither moves at all, except to wiggle their butts back and forth with glee.

Bye, bye garbage man! See ya next week!

Today's activities:

Work
More laundry
Get to UPS to send some returns back (not holding my breath on this one)
Isabelle's soccer practice

Tonight's menu:
I'm stumped!! Not good.

Two Little Monkeys

On a daily basis, it's the little things that make me appreciate being a parent and truly make me love my kids to death. Yes, they run me ragged, and both Todd and I probably look like walking zombies most of the time, but there are moments during the day that just make my heart melt and make me realize why the dark circles under my eyes are totally worth it.

Sophia's new favorite game is to go into her brother's room while he's still sleeping, scale over the side of the crib, and wake the poor child up by jumping all around him. This occurs in the morning, after nap...it really doesn't matter. If she can sneak past me and get in there with him, she's all over it. Fortunately Hudson finds the whole thing just as fun and exciting as she does, so...well, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Poor Hudson is still trying to wake up here...and Sophia is in full effect.

Sophia gets her full bounce on...travels the length of the crib in one bounce.

I couldn't capture it in a picture, but when Huddy gets real excited he starts head banging.

Yes, they've crashed into each other and bounced off the rails of the bed. And no, neither cares in the least when this happens. They simply both laugh, hop up, and start bouncing again. Siblings...gotta love them!

Today's activities:
Laundry...did three loads, it wasn't nearly enough
Sorted through baby toys that we're keeping and getting rid of...sniff!
Work
Isabelle's soccer practice

Tonight's menu:
Calzones (I used this recipe as my jumping off point...my final product depends on my mood and what I have available to put inside. And I use pizza dough, not white bread dough.)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Unbelievable-Spinach-Calzones/Detail.aspx

Sophia's swim class

Tuesday night Sophia had her first swimming class ALL BY HERSELF! She's been in the parent-tot class for about a year, and her instructor finally said it was time to move her up, even though the PS1 class technically is not for kids under the age of 3. That being said, Sophia will go under water by herself, knows basic strokes, and had completely outgrown the toddler class. The biggest question with Sophia was whether or not she would get in the water without Todd or I, and if she would go to her teacher or scream the entire time. Check out the pictures and see for yourself...

The PS (preschool) classes stand on tables under the water, which Sophia just loves. She spent the entire class, when she wasn't with the teacher, jumping up and down on the table.

Swimming out to her teacher, Karmina. As you can see, the other kids in the class are significantly bigger than Sophia. The class is for 3-5 year olds.

Here she was doing "reach and pull" with Karmina. She had such a great time!

Such a cute little thing sitting on the side of the pool waiting for her turn to jump in the water.

Her final jump in the water. We were SO proud of our little girl. She did an awesome job!! We have our second class tonight, so we'll see how it goes.

Happy Birthday Master Hudson!

My little boy (sniff) turned a year old on Monday (sniff sniff). It seems like just yesterday he was born, but then that's the case for me with all my kids, even Isabelle and she's turning 7 (gasp!) next month. We celebrated with a party on Saturday with friends and then gifts and more cake on Monday.

Hudson's cake was from Hoffman's Bakery and was delicious. Absolutely adorable with a dumptruck on the front and all vanilla and buttercream. Yummy!

Gifts gifts and more gifts. In the true nature of a little kid, the Huggies diaper box that Isabelle decorated for him with Star Wars stickers was his favorite thing. Shortly after this picture was taken we took it away from him in order to open presents and he promptly had a meltdown.

When you have two older sisters, you have lots of help opening presents. Fortunately Huddy could have cared less, as he prefers to do as little as possible most of the time. Yes, typical man in the making here.

Where we used to only have dolls, Barbies and all things pink...we now get our share of cars, trucks, and camo mixed in. It's awesome!

This was taken just after we all finished cake. Probably the most telling picture ever taken of the kids.

Thanks to everyone for sharing in Hudson's birthday with us...for the gifts, the well-wishes, coming to his party...you all made it a wonderful celebration!

Today's activities:
Work
Isabelle's soccer practice
Planning Isabelle's summer camps
Sorting through the kids' closets...ugh, such a chore

Tonight's menu:
Angel Chicken Pasta http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Angel-Chicken-Pasta/Detail.aspx

Easter with the Maynes

Easter in Seattle is a rainy affair. Always is…probably always will be. I’ve given up on buying my girls frilly dresses, as they will just freeze and end up complaining the entire time they’re wearing them. No, we’re still pretty much in winter dresses…with leggings…and boots. Here the girls pose with the Easter Bunny while at brunch.

Isabelle and Sophia started coloring Easter eggs on Saturday. We only tipped over two bowls (pretty good for us) and only cracked three eggs in the coloring process. Again, very good for our family.

Hudson even got in on the coloring action, though his preference was towards trying to eat the egg, shell and all. He made it through the coloring of one egg, and then was back to playing cars on the floor.

That night the kids put their Easter baskets outside in anticipation of the Easter bunny coming. Only in our house do we wear our Christmas pjs on Easter evening. Classy.

And the next morning the kids delighted in going outside and finding their full baskets. Once again, it was raining, so the poor baskets had to sit clinging to the side of the house until the kids were ready to go out and get them.

For brunch we all took a trip to the top of the Space Needle to enjoy the most spectacular view of Seattle. Though the weather was cloudy and rainy, of course, it was still a view of the city I'd never seen. Isabelle especially loved it and sat glued to the window the entire time.

After brunch we colored more eggs. This time we didn't spill any colored water, and only broke one egg. Crazy improvement!

The day was wrapped up by an Easter egg hunt INSIDE. Booo! The girls got to hunt on two floors, though, and fun was still had by all.

Today's activities:
Wow...where to even begin. We're all exhausted and Todd is looking forward to going back to work in order to rest.

Today's menu:
Cioppinno http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cioppino/Detail.aspx
Rosemary Garlic Bread from Three Girls Bakery
Salad