New Friends...

Sometimes new friendships are made in very unexpected ways...last year we were placed on a random soccer team with two coaches we didn't know and who didn't even have kids! Why on earth would they want to coach youth soccer I wondered?? I quickly learned they coached because they loved kids, love sports and their work schedules allowed it. I was blown away by their kindness, patience, and love for my kids. 

They have ended up being great friends and I feel so blessed to have met them through this random connection. We were fortunate enough to be back on their team this year and our friendship has grown and our entire family has come to just adore them.  

Coach Jessica, Coach Todd and The Skullcrushers!

Todd trying to keep them dry during a massive rain storm. 

Beau and Todd ended practice with helicopter spins every night. 

Random escaped bull at soccer! 

Headbands to help kill time between games. 

Lots of hugs and piggy back rides!

Goofy kids

This is the last time these two will play together. Bittersweet and very fun to watch them play. 

So many fun memories!!

Camp D!

Today TJ returned from a week away at Camp Disautel. I was really really really nervous about camp because I'm a control freak and I had no experience with Camp D. Basically every person who grows up here attends Camp D. and has fond memories. Husband grew up going there almost yearly with his dad who taught 6th grade forever and his comforting words were,"He'll be fine...!" Sigh. Not helpful. 

I subconsciously tried to persuade TJ from going..no dice...the kid was super excited so I figured I might as well get on board. He went away to summer camp for 3 nights two summers ago, but this was a full week away and the longest we've ever been apart. I totally overpacked for him and even tried to stuff some sweets/snacks in his bag. Again, no dice... He informed me the packing guide states No Food! He's such a rule follower and I appreciate that. 

I dropped him off Monday morning and was sad (but not surprised) at how happy he was to see his friends and quickly hug me goodbye. I missed him...seeing him, hugging him, talking to him.. But the weird part was not knowing what he was doing for 5 days and feeling pretty helpless about it. He's so very kind and responsible, so I knew he'd be fine but I just had moments of, "What if he's sad? Missing me? Needing something?" "Probably not!" Husband told me.

Night time was really hard and I woke up the first few nights thinking about him. Going from three kids to two was strange...quiet and easy. But just not the same without my pal. We were able to see him for a few hours Thursday night for Family Night and I maaaaay have been a bit excited to see him. I squeezed the beans out of him and apparently he was a tad bit embarrassed. Sigh. He smelled so disgusting and they were all exhausted... Apparently indicators of a successful week at camp. 

I was excited to spend Friday night with my three loves while Husband was at district track...but TJ wanted to go to track with Husband and his HS track buddies... So he came home early to shower and took off. Waaaaah.  

This week away was good practice for the next stage in his life ...my life too I guess. TJ is growing up and as hard as it is to let him go, he's ready. He's enjoying these adventures and I'm growing more and more comfortable with it. 

This summer he is going back to summer camp for 7 days!!!!! And his excitement about that confirms for me it's what's best. He is also slated to go to Washington DC next year on a school trip. These experiences are what makes a well rounded child and helps loosen a mommy's attachment. 

Getting ready to go! 

I may have recruited a few of the high school counselors to keep an eye on TJ and send me reports! Shameless I know..but it made me feel better!

Morning one...he's already so dirty!! 

Daddy kisses!

Family night visit!

Showing us his survival fort. 

Survival Fort was pretty awesome!

A lot of volleyball and capture the flag. 

Husband and TJ now both have their name carved at Camp D! Legacy!

Manic Monday's...

Monday's have turned into my least favorite day of the week for so many reasons...not only is it always hard to get back into the swing of things after weekends, but this particular Spring our Monday's are so chaotic I literally have to write down and keep track of who needs to be where...when...with what type of equipment.  I usually feel like Fall is the most busy season with Back to School and Football, however this currently takes the cake.

It has required good planning and perfect organization to get Finely to dance class with enough time to then get Beau quickly changed into soccer gear and dropped off at church class, zipping back to dance to change Finley into soccer clothes...back to church to pick up Beau and then taking them both to soccer...and sometimes then baseball for Beau.  The entire afternoon is fairly ridiclous and I feel like one of those moms who over extends her children....but in reality it just ended up being the perfect storm with things all landing on one day.  The only thing we've made a total non-negotiable is church as CCD is just a few months and then Beau will go through confirmation and first communion.

The back of my car looks like a hoarder might live there, however with so many outfits, various cleats, balls, water bottles, etc. I'm not bothering to clean it out until after all the schenanigans have ended.  I learned the hard way that Beau will NOT wear soccer cleats to baseball and Finley will only wear a certain pair of shin guards...so forgetting something at home is just a headache and I'd rather litter my car with it all.  The key to surviving all the busy "going's on" is to ask for help and give help back when possible.  I've relied on my girlfriends more and more the past month as I juggle all the stuff and I know they are just as busy as I am...helping transport kids, watching them while parents are at away games, or simply squeezing in a jog and venting about mommy-stress is always helpful!  I appreciate my mommy friends and wish more women would support each other rather than tear down and make everything a competition.  I'm not Super Woman...never claim to be and appreciate the support of my friends who understand the struggle of trying to do it all.

The beauty of Monday's is that TJ has been able to take care of himself after school..sometimes staying at school for homework help, sometimes lifting weights and sometimes going to track with Husband.  I often leave him a note asking him to do something to help me get dinner going and I trust that he's able to handle himself until Husband or I arrive home.  As sad as it is they are growing up...it's also nice to have a somewhat self-sufficient, responsible pre-teen who can preheat the oven and set the dinner table.

I was reflecting with a girlfriend the other day (in the madness of our chaos and I could feel we were both so stressed) that someday we would be sitting together as older ladies with grown children and we would reminisce about this time in our lives....hopefully with fondness and a smile.  So despite the hectic pace that currently exists I'm enjoying it all and remembering to slow down just enough to not miss a thing.

Easter Recap

Easter was a really nice family day that gave us the chance to spend time together, chillax and eat tons of delicious food. Like Christmas, it is really important to Husband and I that Easter has meaning behind it. With Beau doing his CCD classes this year it was cool to talk to him about what Easter means and why we celebrate it...not for the egg hunts or the plastic candy filled eggs..but the true meaning of Easter. After a lovely Easter Mass with my parents and many friends, we headed to our house and enjoyed the ultimate feast. 

We have so many blessings and days like  this are good reminders of His love and grace in our lives. 

What We Are Reading...

Tanner and I just finished my all time favorite young adult book "Who Put the Hair in My Toothbrush" by my all time favorite young adult author Jerry Spinelli. I read this book countless times when I was in my early pre-teen years and I was happy he enjoyed it too.  Every kid with pesky siblings should read this great book!

Reading with Tanner at bed time is my favorite and I am planning schemes to keep doing it as long as possible! We just started "Ungifted" by Gordon Kormam and so far we are really enjoying this tween novel. 

Beau is currently reading Charlottes Web...classic!  He's very captivated by this story...his two favorite characters are Avery and Templeton. He especially loves my Templeton voice. I'm interested to see his reaction to the end of this story as he is very tough, but surprises us with his tender heart. 

Finny Minny is reading....everything! This girl is a reading fool and just moved up another reading level.  She comfortably and easily reads second grade level books, which is so awesome!  She hasn't really found a chapter book series that she loves but reads a lot of Magic Treehouse and Junie B. Jones. And of course Fancy Nany never gets old. 

Weekend.

This weekend Husband and Beau had a super fun time together in Spokane at the final wrestling tourney of the year...the "state" tournement that had wrestlers from all over Washington. It is a really big tournement with something like 1400 wrestlers who are all really tough...and initially Beau wasn't going to go because we (ok me) just needed a weekend at home. But his coaches were only taking a small group of wrestlers and they really wanted him to go and experience this challenge...so Husband and Beau had a little weekend get a way together.  Which was pretty fun for Beau because he and Daddy don't get tons of alone time. 

Beau pinned his first opponent, beat the second by points and lost in the finals by getting pinned. Beau was not happy losing and didn't want to talk to me on the phone. Heartbreak. He didn't cry and held it together until he had cooled off. I was so proud of him...second place out of all those kids...that's awesome...but mommy's little pep talk wasn't taken so well. "I wanted to win!"  Sigh. 

While he and his teammates waited for the medal ceremony he found his smile and enjoyed the rest of the night. All this was reported to me via text from my wrestling mommy friends. Thank God for them!

So now we can finally hang up the singlet and headgear until next Winter. 

Back in Omak I enjoyed the first soccer game of the season with Big and Lil. The cold April wind was miserable and I was almost...almost wishing for a stinky wrestling tourney. After soccer I attempted some house cleaning but ended up catching up on my many hours of DVR. It had to be done. Felt great. 

Husband and Beau enjoying the day together. 

Husband said this picture was taken from very far away...hence the blurrrrr...but it captures the love between Mateo and Beau. Pep talk in staging for round one. 

Before round two..Blake "The Beast" and Beau "The Sandman" with game faces on. 

The three amigo's...all took home silver. Very proud of these boys and love their friendship!

Disney Recap

Our Spring Break Disney Trip was a huge success!!! Everyone had a great time and lots of fun memories made.... Not relaxing or chill, but busy and go-go-go with action packed days. Thankfully we've learned a few tricks over the years to make long days at the parks more manageable...go early...mid day break/nap...return and stay late...hit the rides during parades/lightshows, and grab Fast Passes quickly and stick to one park per day!

It was really awesome to see the excitement and joy of all the kids!  They handled the lines really well and had a blast riding all the super scary-fast rides...which meant we all had to ride them too. It was a great family adventure and I hope we can continue this tradition with another family vacation next year!

                   Day 1...in matching shirts I had made! Super cheesy and very cute!

Papa stayed back at the hotel to rest, while we headed back at night.  We rode Splash Mountain several times in a row on this night. 

                              Front seat ride on Splash Mountain. 

                                      Cousin Love!

An afternoon in Radiator Springs was awesome! Everyone had a blast at California Adventure. 

Too cold to swim for the adults...but the kids didn't mind. Brrrrrrrrr

That is not me in the back....I was hiding behind Husband. In fact in every single one of these ride shots...from Splash Mountain to Space Mountain, Tower of Terror and Screamer...I was hiding in fear. There were some pretty hilarious pictures.