Game, Meets, and more!

So I realized I haven't blogged about the kids activities for the year. They are staying busy, and so are we. Funny thing is that most of the time I actually am enjoying it. I love seeing the kids do things they love, trying things they don't love at first, but end up loving it, sticking with things that they don't necessarily love all the time (ie piano), and working hard to be their best at all of it.

This year the kids are doing the same activities as last, with the exception that Aubrie and Boston have continued with the gymnastics that they started in the summer. The gym is helping Aubrie be a better dance (more flexible and strong). It's helping Boston become a better athelete. Besides that, he is just good at it because he has a very precise personality. I saw that in diving this summer. After the summer, they moved Boston up to team. So now our Saturdays will consist of three soccer games during the season, mixed with gymnastic meets, karate tournaments and dance performances/competitions. This weekend was Boston's first meet. His morning started off with an 8:00 am soccer game, and then off to a Cub Scout Day Camp, and then straight to his meet! It was just a fun Strong Meet to get them excited for the season. It was in Chandler, and was during Ethan and Aubrie's soccer games. So I took him while Ben went to the games. Oh, I better not fail to mention that Aubrie's team finally had a win this year. They put Aubrie in as the midfielder, and she scored an awesome goal! She was so happy, and so was her team!!

So back to Boston's meet. Boston was so funny because the closer we got to the meet, he started to say that his stomach hurt, which usually means one of two things with Boston. In this instance it was his nerves. I knew once he saw his coach and friends, and saw how the tournament was being conducted he would feel much better. I was right. The whole time he looked calm. He did great for his first meet. He got 9th. I'm sure that doesn't sound great, but most of the boys in his age group have been taking gymnastic much longer and have a little more muscle for those dips and pull ups. His strongest event was the rope. The ropes were right in front of the audience seating, and I could hear people comment how they couldn't believe how effortless he made it look. He was happy with how he did and had fun. That's all I was hoping for.

Stretching with Team

Gearing up for the Rope

Up the Rope No Problem

On his way down while the other kid is still going up!

After the meet we stopped at the Chandler mall, that was conveniently right next door to the facility the meet was held. We first grabbed some food, and then hit a few stores that included Tilly's and kids abercrombie. Boston was so sweet the whole time. He kept holding my hand, and he would count how many things we did at the mall. Our last stop was at a popcorn store. I got some gourmet popcorn and he got a caramel apple. He acted so grateful for our time at the mall together. On our way home we talked the whole time. At one point we played "Would You Rather." Boston asked me if I would rather jump in the Antarctic or get a tattoo. I hesitated, wondering if I could survive a dive into those waters. Boston piped up and said, "I know what I would do. I would jump in the water for two reasons. First because getting a tattoo is against Gods will and also, they hurt!" I love his desire to do what is right. While at first I was dreading the long drive out to Chandler, I was grateful for that time we got to spend with one another.

When Aubrie and Boston were very young we heard a talk about what we are doing with our "precious Saturdays" with our children. The speaker mentioned how we are only given so many before they are grown up and gone, and asked if we were using them to develop relationships and establish memories, or always filling them with our own errands and personal agenda's. Luckily we heard that talk when the kids were young, because we always cherish our "Precious Saturdays!" I'm now seeing these extra activities as dates with our children and a great way to spend our "Precious Saturday's'!

The napkin holder Boston made for me at scout camp. Notice he put a heart on it for me!:)

If only I had a picture!

Last week the kids did some things that made my heart smile, and I wish I could have taken a picture, or some video! So hopefully writing them in detail will help me retain the mental pictures in my head.

Wednesday of last week Sophia showed up to scripture study complaining that her head hurt. Apparently, Ben said she had a hard night, but had failed to check her head. She was running a fever. I gave her some Tylenol and had her lay on my bed upstairs and watch TV while I got the kids going for school. Later in the morning, I was wondering where Aubrie was, and I found her upstairs with a bowl of water on the ground and her tending to Sophia's fever with a cold, wet washcloth. Typically the kids blow through their chores before school so thy can play video games, get on the computer, etc. What a sweet sister to spend that extra time tending to her little sister. Aubrie has such a nurturing spirit about her. I'll admit that she does not get that from me. I'm a little more mechanical. "Fix it up, give a kiss, and off you go little one!" I know she got it from my Mother!

Thursday, Ben brought home some new football jersey's for the boys. You could tell they were excited to wear them the next day, because they laid them out the night before. Friday morning I happened to walk with the kids to school. I got ahead of the boys, and when I looked back to check on them they were walking down the street with their arms around one another talking about their jersey's and football. Just the sight of the two of them forgetting their surroundings and putting down all pretenses was so sweet!

Another gem of the week was Friday, right before Ben and I left for date night. A few days prior, Ben had found an old ipod docking station/player and put it in the boys room. The boys have enjoyed getting ready for school with their music. Well, when Ethan came home from school on Friday he went upstairs and turned on the music. I was busy getting ready for the temple and didn't realize what he was up to, until I decided to go ask him to turn it down a bit, and found him and Sophia dancing in his room. They were having so much fun together. That isn't all. Right before we left he asked us to come and watch them dance. He had set the "stage" by pulling down his shade, and setting up "seating" with a few blankets and pillows. When we commented on how great their dancing was he said, "You can leave money over there if you want." He had set up an empty square tin on his bookshelf right by the bedroom door! LOL Ben and I had to turn our heads so he couldn't see us laughing. He then said, "I prefer coins!" Ben then hurried to our room to gather some coins to drop in his tin collection box! That kid is a piece of work!

The last great moment of the week was on Sunday. Before church, I was helping Boston go over his Faith in God book, and he picked the activity where he had to plan and make a nutritious meal. It came to no surprise that he picked Spaghetti and Meatballs! I had to help him think of some other side dishes and then we decided to make it for dinner that night. Over the past month Boston has taken more of an interest in cooking. Nothing big, but coming from not even wanting to make a PB&J, making brownies and Mac & Cheese was a huge step for him. And the fact that he wanted to do it on his own was surprising. So I knew with that new interest, making dinner with him would not be a painful experience. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He was so good at following directions. When I told him to keep an eye on the noodles and to stir them, he was on top of that amongst all the other things he was doing in between, like setting the table etc. He made the sauce and made the salad, too! He even used the sharp knives to cut tomatoes. I guess this was a great moment of the week because, typically, Boston likes to rush through things, and doesn't like to spend a lot of time learning something new. That is the result of things coming easy for him. So for him to take time for me to teach him something, and enjoy all the steps in the process was awesome! It was great and productive Mother/ Son time!