Sunday, September 29, 2013

Saturday Snapshots

Yesterday was a day that the schedule smiled on us.  The only thing on the day's schedule was an 8:30 am soccer game for Connor.  Done by 9:30 with a full unscheduled day ahead, yes please!


This is a big team of boys, which means that at any given time, a healthy number of boys are sitting on the sidelines waiting for a chance to get in the game.

When boys are left to sit and wait, sillies happen.
For the older siblings, waiting for their brothers to finish the game means finding something to entertain themselves.  Today that thing was a giant pvc pipe.
For the baby brother, that means cheering on the big brother while stuck on a blanket with Mom.
The big news today was that the Chargers came out strong, and won their first game as Chargers!  4-2.  Connor had his first goal in a game today as well.  He was a happy kid.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Happening Around Town

If it's a fall weekend in St. Louis, there must be a million possible things to get out and do around town.  Here are just a few, if you need some ideas for getting outside.

Taste of St. Louis is happening downtown at Soldier's Memorial.

Art in the Park will be tomorrow afternoon in Francis Park.

The Scottish Games take place today in Forest Park.

You can learn about the misunderstanding and persecution of wolves at Wolf Fest at the Endangered Species Center in Eureka.

The Strange Folk Festival in happening in O'Fallon, IL.

St. Charles Oktoberfest

You could catch a performance of Fiddler on the Roof at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church tonight or tomorrow afternoon.

For weeks I've been seeing the signs for the Nine Inch Nails concert on Tuesday night...I asked Darren if I blinked and woke up back in high school...

You can watch model boats sail in the 25th Annual Regatta of the St. Louis Admirals at the Boathouse.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Run!

This is a shameless brag post by a proud Mom. The boys had a cross country meet this afternoon. For the first time this season, the kindergarten kids were separated out for their own race.
Connor was the only CCLS boy in the kindergarten race, but he owned this race.

Coming down the stretch. 
Blue ribbon!
The CCLS kindergarten girls also took first and second in their race. 

Christian, competitive as he is, wasn't about to let Connor be the only one coming home with a blue ribbon. His field  of first and second graders was much larger than the kindergarten field. 
As they took off, Christian was in a full sprint. He hasn't yet learned how to pace himself. He jumped into the lead and I began to hold my breath because I didn't want to see him exhausted before the final stretch. 

Righ about here, thanks to a friend on the sidelines, Christian realized he had a runner on his heels. Christian's determination cranked way, way up and he got serious fast.  The look on Christian's face was along the lines of "oh heck no...you aren't passing me."  Christian shoved himself in front and muscled his way to a blue ribbon. 
It was so fun to see them race with determination and intensity. Such fun. 


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A Different View of the World

If you visit The Internet Map, you can see what websites are the most popular in any country in the world.

I'd show you a picture of the US, but I'm not tech savvy enough yet this morning to capture the image.  Go check it out.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saturday Snapshots

If it's Saturday, we must be at the soccer fields.

Today was originally going to be a goofy morning, schedule-wise.  The boys were supposed to have a cross-country meet at Lutheran South, starting at 8:30, followed by soccer games at 9 and 10.  Thanks to the rain from yesterday, the cross-country meet was cancelled.

The morning kicked off with Connor's kindergarten team.

The team, as usual, started out with instructions from the coaches.

Imagine photos of a good effort here...I got to talking and didn't take any photos. And these were all with the iphone, so the quality leaves something to be desired.

After the game comes the best part...snacks.

On to Christian's game across town.

Connor, Nick, and I arrived about 10 minutes late due to Connor's game.  When we got there, it was apparent that there was an aggressive game happening on the field.

Sure enough, there were boys falling down all over the place.  A healthy amount of shoving, and some penalties by the other team that left a few of our boys, including Christian twice, on the ground with the parents attention on high alert.
After a few words with Coach, Christian popped up, and headed to the sideline to catch his breath.

On the other sideline, siblings played.
Christian charged down the field to score the Chargers only goal of the game.  It was a tough loss, but the boys were in good spirits, settling into a game of football after coach dismissed them.
Boys.  Always moving.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

What a Way to Start the Day

The alarm went off around 5 this morning. Grumbling because I hadn't gotten much sleep (yay for teething babies!!) I discovered that we had no water. 

Ugh. 

I called the water company and learned that there were not one, but two water main breaks in our neighborhood that could be causing decreased water pressure or no water. We're in the no water camp. 

So Nicky and I took an early morning water to check it out. Sure enough, the crews were working just where the alert on the water co phone line said they were. As we walked, I noticed yellow tape around the end of our neighbors driveway. Hmm 

A few minutes before six, the trucks and Bobcat rolled onto our block. After a few minutes of staking and rearranging the trucks, the Bobcat started digging--directly behind our neighbors car. 

I guess the noise of the digging finally woke him up because it was at this point he came out to see what was going on. 
Then he moved his car down the driveway, away from the machinery. 

I hope this gets resolved quickly. 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Run, boys, run

The boys had a cross country "fun run" today at St. Paul Des Peres. The K-4 grade kids had to run 3/4 of a mile around Des Peres Park. 

Christian came in 7th overall. Not bad for a second grader. 

For a kindergartener running against a bunch of older kids, Connor did pretty well. He runs with intense concentration. 
Daddy was proud. 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Constitution Day

226 years ago today, the U.S. Constitution was signed by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

Did you know that if your school receives federal funding, the school is required to provide programming for Constitution Day each year?  This is good, but hopefully our students are receiving a healthy civics education beyond just Constitution Day. Parents and teachers can find resources to help teach civics at iCivics.

You can test your knowledge of the Constitution with this quiz found on the ConstitutionFacts page.


Saturday, September 14, 2013

Saturday Snapshots

Saturday...soccer day.

The best part about soccer today--the weather.  After sweating it out last week, today was marvelous, cool and sunny.

First up was Connor and the Kindergarten boys.

During warm-ups, Connor took advantage of Daddy being in goal.


Then a few other boys thought that looked like a good idea.

Coach called them over to stretch.

Nicky wonders, when do I get a nap?

The boys lost, 3-1, but for only playing together for a few weeks, they're doing great.  This team has a lot of potential.

On to Christian and the second graders.

Christian is number 23 this year.  He had some great drives down the field with the ball.  This one led to a goal.

After the goal, he and his teammates celebrated on the way back to mid-field.



I'm not sure what happened here, but somehow, Connor ended up upside down.
Final score, Chargers 3, Our Lady of Lourdes, 2.

Go Chargers!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Six Months

Nicholas, it's hard to believe, but you are six months old today!

Your Dad and I knew that this time was going to fly by--both the highs and the lows.  And, it has.  Gone, for the most part, are the times when you curl up on my chest, nuzzle deep under my chin, and go to sleep.  You did that for the first time minutes after you were born.  You burrowed up into my neck so deeply that the doc's kept trying to pull you down so that you would have an airway, but you just kept burrowing in deeper.
Now, you're happy to go to sleep in your bed...or on our bed...in your carseat...or just chilling out on our lap.  I need to thank you for being the best sleeper under the age of 8 in our house.

One thing you definitely have going for you is the benefit of two older brothers who have broken in/down your parents.  When we learned that you were coming, there really wasn't time (after the initial shock) to worry about all the things we worried about with Christian, and to some degree, Connor.  Heck, we didn't actually put your crib together until about a week and a half ago!

You are a good baby.  So good.  When people ask me about you, I typically say that you are living proof that God has mercy.  And he does.  God knew that our family needed you.  He also knew that if you came to us as colicky and challenging as your brothers, I might have to be committed.

Quick to smile (though your Oma disagrees), you have the most tolerant, pleasant, easy-going personality.  Truth be told, that must be a prerequisite for a third child.  You've already spent, and will be spending, a great deal of time following your brothers to sports events, school events, and such.  Go Chargers!

Speaking of your brothers....When you were just days old, I told them that you would look at them like they were superheroes.  "No way!" they cried, laughing.  But, that's exactly how you look at them.  You watch them with such wide-eyed intensity, studying their every move.  You are often literally leaning forward, on the edge of your seat (safely secured by Mommy), watching them.

They love you too.  When you and I go to pick the boys up after school, Connor is most excited to see you. Congratulations, you've managed to trump Mommy! They love to hold you, to talk to you, perhaps to get a little too much in your face, to take a bath with you, and entertain you.



You're a solid little guy.  Some of the students at the Seminary have nick-named (ha!) you "Nick the Brick."  We gave you solid foods starting at 4 months because I couldn't keep up with you.  You love to eat.  There hasn't been a single food--yet--that you haven't devoured.  We've gone through oatmeal, apples, bananas, pears, mangoes, peaches, plums, carrots, peas, green beans, spinach, lentils, avocados, sweet potatoes, squash, and on and on.  You love dinner time.


Two bottom teeth have come in, and you've been working on the next tooth for weeks now.  I hope it pops through soon.  When you aren't chewing on your fingers, you are chewing on your toes.


You haven't figured out crawling just yet, but the speed with which you can roll across a room is amazing.  You are starting to see where you want to be and going for it.
You are such a blessing, Nicholas.  You made our little family complete.  It's a privilege to watch you grow and delight in everything you encounter.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Whew

We had a good rain today...

Football is back...

Kids are at the neighbors...

Baby is sleeping...

Calm...

Wine...

Happy mom!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saturday Snapshots

It's been a hot, sticky, busy day on the fields.

We started out at the Seminary for Field Day.  Nicholas thought the highlight of the morning was getting to "drive" the golf cart.  Look out folks!

Then we launched into the challenge of having two soccer games scheduled at the same time.  Christian caught a ride with a teammate, while Nick and I took Connor to his first game as a CCLS Charger.

Before leaving the house the paparazzi made the boys sit for a picture.

At the Kindergarten game, the coaches talked to the boys in the shade for a minute prior to the game about what good sportsmanship means, and gave some instructions before moving down to the field.



Nicholas didn't know what to think about it all.

But he settled in, cheering Connor on at the half.
Let's go Chargers!

                                     

I thought the final score was 3-3, but Connor tells me it was a 3-2 Charger win, so that's my story and I'll stick to it.

After the game, it's naturally snack time.
It was fun to watch this team. For their first game, they did great.  There are several boys who are already competent ball handlers on the field, and there was a lot of determination and energy. 

Until next Saturday, way to go boys!