It's official...

I'm a soccer mom

 (and I'm as skinny as this woman, too...but my hair isn't that short and I rarely wear high heels and never wear turtlenecks, but I do wear green, and a headband?...hmm...maybe I should think about it...it could be a good look).

And Ryan, well...he now has a new title...

Coach!

So, we signed the boys up for soccer this fall.  Ryan never planned on coaching, but the director/organizer/man in charge of Upper Cumberland asked him if he would be willing to coach Aedan's team.  (Ryan had marked on the registration form that he would be willing to be an assistant coach.)  The guy also mentioned that he needed another coach for Josiah's team as well, so Ryan agreed to coach both teams.  Some of the game scheduling may be a little tricky, but I think it will work out.  Also, with Ryan coaching both teams, he was able to schedule the weekly practice on the same night, which is very convinent for us.  (Not to mention half of our registration money was given back to us because of the coaches' discount....which I'm saving for the "good" consignment sale coming up in September.)  They start games pretty quick...we only had two practices before the first game.  And, when you have 3, 4, and 5 year olds that have never played...that is definitely not a whole lot of time.  Both teams had their first game on Saturday.  Aedan's was bright and early at 8:00 am and Josiah's was at 10:00 am.

 I was a little unsure of Aedan's team.  One of the little girls had only been at one practice, and well...you just never know what they are going to do at 3 years old.  Here's a couple of pictures of Ryan giving pep talks.

Ryan and the team.  Making sure they have on their shin guards and cleats.

The stellar team...who knew they would be unstoppable!

Aedan on the field.  Okay, Aedan has always loved sports and seriously, dribbles the soccer ball around the house during the day.  He loves it!  With that said, within the first minute of the game I think he scored two goals!  I think he scored around 8 or 9 during the game, not the mention the other little boy on his team was decent as well, scoring 4, I think.

Aedan on one of his many break away plays! 

At the this age (and also Josiah's age) the coaches are on the field with the team, and there are also no goalies.  Don't mind Mercy's hair:)

Ryan and the other coach instructing

Aedan

 

Here is a quick video of Aedan scoring a goal.  I would have had more videos, but my camara battery started to get low and it needed to make it through Josiah's game as well.

 Next, we have Josiah's team, which was a different experience!  Josiah's team was very passive and just not very aggressive.  They didn't do so well...but, they did score a few goals...so there is hope! 

Ryan giving a pep talk

an action shot!

Go Josiah!!

If only Josiah would have been a little bit more to the right...he would have (maybe) scored.

Josiah :)

Ryan giving another pep talk...he's probably telling them that it is okay to take the ball from the other team. 

One final pep talk :)

And, who can forget our little trooper, Mercy, who was very good during both games:)

Last Saturday

Last Saturday we decided to go to Burgess Falls since we will have soccer games on Saturdays the next couple of months.  The Falls had MUCH less water then last time we went.  The water was slower coming over the edge, but not any less beautiful.  It was more peaceful as opposed to roaring! 

We headed down to the top of the Falls, and there was even more room to walk around.  Mercy is a handfull at the top since we take her out of the carrier.  The ground is all rock and pretty uneven, not to mention the water that she continually tries to get in.  We ate our snack and also had a water break...animal crackers and gummies are a favorite. 

Here's Ryan trying to keep Mercy out of the water.  She definitely wants IN!

checking out the water and looking for fish!

Josiah and Aedan walking on the rocks

I like this picture of Mercy.  I like the boys (including Ryan) in the background.

kisses!

On the way back, we stuck to the trail instead of the main path that we usually walk.  I had never walked this trail before.  Ryan had done it with the boys a couple times when Mercy was very tiny, and therefore, she and I didn't make the trip.  We saw a snake and a lizard on the trial.  This is Middle Falls...the perfect spot for another water break.

Aedan and I at Middle Falls.  Yes, we are HOT!!!

Josiah striking a pose!

walking buddies

under a rock on the trail

Josiah climbing...starting out!

almost there

made it!

Aedan

Josiah climbed more rocks!

First Day of CBS

Today we began CBS!  woooohoooo!  The kids did fine, but it was a little weird going without Josiah.  I actually darted out of the room while Mercy was occupied, but when she realized I wasn't there my friend, Danielle, told me that she started crying and came to her for comfort.  Aedan is in Mrs. Susan's class.  Josiah had her two years ago, our first year at CBS.  He also got to see the beloved Mrs. Michelle (Aedan's teacher from last year) on our way in.  What a great morning!  I'm sure we will all look forward to Thursdays this year!

Aedan and Mercy ready to head to CBS!

Virginia Quake

This picture floated around on facebook (mostly from Virginia friends) and it completely cracks me up!  haha!  Maybe you don't find it funny, but I'll admit that I crack up every now and then even if I just think about this photo.  haha!!

around the house

Aedan and Mercy~This is a common scene in our house.  Mercy loves to sit on the boys:)

Ryan and the kids watching a movie together...all snuggled up with blankets...yes, it's August:)

Ryan reading to Mercy~Mercy's new favorite thing to do is to read books.  If I sit on the couch, she brings me books to read.  It doesn't matter the book...even dinosaur books!  The spare bed in her room is a popular reading place also.  The other night I sat on that bed with all three kids and read books for about 45 minutes to them.  They loved it!

Ryan and Mercy Cate

Mercy (and Aedan) videos

       

a full week finished!

Josiah finished his first full week of school this week.  Monday and Tuesday were just half days and the rest were full days-2:00 pick up.  We have had a busy and full week.  On Monday, I picked up Josiah and also a little girl in our neighborhood who happens to be in Josiah's class.  We are pretty excited about that.  She came over and played while her mom was at work.  The kids had fun playing together and getting to know each other better.  Josiah has enjoyed going to school.  Although, toward the end of the week he kept saying that he wasn't going to go on Friday.  (I think, though, that he was saying this knowing that Ryan is usually home on Fridays.)  He did fine today, though, and Ryan said that when he got in the van Josiah said, "Another GREAT day of kindergarten."  All week long we have been encouraging Josiah to learn the names of the kids in his class.  So far he has mentioned Logan, Parks, Wesley, Audrey, and Kyle.  

Aedan is doing well adjusting to Josiah being gone during the day.  I definitely think he misses him.  On Wednesday, Josiah made a card for Aedan.  (He did this completely on his own and by himself when Aedan and Mercy were napping...and I was resting...not sleeping, just laying down.)  Here's the card:   

If your having trouble reading it, it says, "Aedan-sorry I have to go to school." (with a smiley face at the end)  Then he drew a tree, a school, and a school bus.  Not that he rides a bus.  (You can click on it to see a bigger picture of it if you want.)

Today, Josiah brought home a weekly folder with a behavior update.  He did a great job!  Just one "needs improvement"--on talking---raising his hand and stuff.  Yay!  I am so glad he had a good week.  We are proud of you, Josiah!

Don't worry, I won't post these every week...just this one since it is the first!