The Bestest Soccer Player

If you ask Koen, he's the best at soccer. He's the one that scores all the points (really truly, him and another boy that Koen occasionally stole the ball from so Koen could "officially" score the point but we talked about being a team player and all that other parenting talk stuff).
Koen was in his element. He's the kid that constantly asked his coach to play and would sit out for a nano-second and then ask to 'be put in as forward because he's good and can score points.' Wow. And he's five.

And yes, Koen. We saw you score the goal. Now focus and return back to the game.

My baby's got the moves! He would do the slide kick and score points that way. The referee told him he had to stop because the other "little" kids weren't ready for that level (that's what I heard but someone else may have heard that he had to stop the infamous slide kick to avoid tripping the players). Can't wait to see him excell even more.....in soccer, baseball, swimming, and football. Strict instructions from my lil' "bestest player" ever.

My Picture Window

I've said this many a times. Dan puts up with a lot from me. I've got plans. Ideas. And they don't involve just me. My ideas are master plans and huge weekend (plus a few extra days) projects. I convinced myself that our children needed a swingset. Not just any old swingset. But one like I had when I was little. Massive. Seventeen feet high and sturdy. Dan got to work. My dad dropped off old main line (irrigation pipes). We tracked down a portable welder. Neighbors stopped by wondering who would be crazy enough to weld in 95 degrees. Dan simply told them that his wife was on a mission. (Every man that stopped nodded in silent agreement. Reality?)
We cemented the poles in place. Begged every scout and friend that they couldn't swing just yet. The kiddos put their handprints in the cement. It took 3 days to cure in place.

And now I have this. Who needs a picture window? My picture window never sits still. My picture window laughs and sings. My picture window is priceless. I never see the same picture while washing dishes, getting a drink of water, or just staring out and enjoying the price of giant swingset.

Best of Friends

At times these two are infuriating. Climbing on the top shelf of the pantry to eat their "secret treats."
At times these two are hilarious and wacky in their own little world.

But whatever they are, they are inseperable.

I'm a lucky mom to have children that are more than brother and sister, but also best friends.

Just Like when I was Little

On Sunday afternoons growing up, we would all pile into the suburban and head up to the Ferry Butte. It was a riotous ride with the 3 big kids (Shane, Shalece and Klade) up front and us 3 little kids (TaNece, me, Kelly) in the back. Driving up and down the hills and dusty windy roads was a lot of fun. Before long TaNece, my sister, would be flinging herself over the middle seat gasping for fresh air before she threw up over everyone. (Not sure why she just never sat in the front to begin with...) Once at the top of the butte we would look down and see the giant blue slide just north of the cottonwoods by the river. After running around the butte through sage brush we'd pile back in and head down towards Pocatello. We'd stop at the Smith's and buy ice cream cones. Us and the rest of the Indians along the reservation. Now days, my family is doing the same thing. We head up to either the ski resort or to the dam on Sunday afternoons. We throw rocks in the river. Kids looking out windows trying to spot deer and bear. We cook marshmallows and hot dogs purchased at the gas station on a whim because fun ideas just keep getting funner and funner. We climb rocks (and at times it's more like scaling cliffs) and look over the fields and the sprinklers. Dan and I relish in the shouts of "You guys are the coolest parents ever!" as the car gets deeper and deeper into cavernous tree tunnels. We stop at the store and buy square ice cream cones. Us and the bikers heading up to the Tetons.

Ohhhh, the Joys of a Mom....

While hauling hoses around to water the lawn:
Koen: You know what I want are those sprinklers that shoot out of the ground.
Me: That would be nice.
Koen: But we're too young to have those.
Me: What do you mean?
Koen: Only old people have those kind of sprinklers and we're not old.
---------------------------------------------------------
While sleeping on the trampoline:
Daradie (while looking up at the stars): Do you like being a mom?
Me: Sure. Do you like being my dauther?
Daradie: I love it. But not when you yell at me.
Me: Do you think I like to yell at you?
Daradie: No. I know it's because I don't listen and ignore you. I love you mom and I'm glad that you're my mom.
Me: Love you too.
Daradie: Now can't you scoot over! You keep rolling on me. Get off of me!!!! Get off!!!!
(The downfalls of sleeping on a trampoline during those special talks.....)