Soccer is among us

It's a sure sign the weather is about to change when soccer season starts up.  Howard is involved in 2 soccer organizations right now, the 2 Valley soccer leagues.  Brian is even coaching one of his teams, which Howard thinks is the coolest thing ever!  It helped him realize how cool it was when one of our 8-year-old neighbors told him that he thought it was SO COOL that Howard's dad was coaching one of his teams.  :)

I'm not too sure how I feel about all this soccer.  I mean, Howard loves it, he told us he wants to play soccer 15 days a week.  Right now with the 2 leagues, he has practice 3 days a week and a game or two, or even three every Saturday.  It is taking its toll, Howard is exhausted, but insists on playing it all.  We are taking it day by day, if he's too tired, we hold him back.

Here's some pictures from his game this past weekend.  I'm sure you'll see lots more as the season goes on.  ;)

It feels like fall

Yes, it feels like fall.  BUT, I was watching the weather report and it's expected to be 90 degrees this coming Saturday????  WOW!  I'll take it.  Another day of warm bliss....  ahhh.

Hazel is growing so fast!  I bought several clearance summer items for her for this summer and next summer at the end of last winter.  After having to give away some of the things I had bought for her for this summer because she was bigger than I thought she'd be, I pulled out some of the items I had stashed for NEXT summer, only to see that they are going to just fit her now, at the end of this summer.  So, I had to snap a picture of her in this super cute watermelon outfit that she will get to wear a time or two before it's too cold.

Howard has wanted cowboy boots for as long as I can remember.  We always look for a pair at the used kids stores when we visit.  We have found a few pairs, but his feet are just too tall to get into most boots.  That is... until we found a pair last week that FIT!  He was so excited.  He has worn them a lot, even to school once.

First day of Kindergarten!

I am pretty sure almost every mom finds themselves wondering how the last 5 (or 6) years went by so quickly when their sweet angel enters kindergarten.  I found myself wondering that very same thing!  Really... where did the last 5 years go???  Howard was SO excited to start kindergarten.  Many times during the summer, he would ask, "Do I have preschool today?  Oh wait, I'm a kindergartener now!"  He was half kidding asking about preschool, but he was sure to remind us that he is growing up!

At the end of last school year, Howard was going to preschool 4 mornings each week, so I was pretty sure I was ready to send him off to kindergarten without tears.  I made it through the morning tear-free, however I have to admit, there were so many worrying moments!  Howard is going to Summit School.  Many Spokane area schools offer kindergarten 5 days a week for 3 hours (either in the morning or afternoon).  Summit School has kindergarten 2 days one week, 3 days the other week, it alternates, but they go for full days (6 hours).  I found myself wondering who was going to help him if he couldn't open his juice pouch at lunch?  Or who would help him if he got lost in the school building?  All the little things that weren't concerns for us at preschool.

Howard picked out his first day of school outfit, which included a t-shirt with a pocket on the chest.  He told me he wanted that shirt, "so I have a place to hold my pencils during the day".  :)

I'm happy to report he had a FANTASTIC 1st day!  He got to school and knew 2 class mates - Jacob (a buddy we've known since he was born) and Luci (a friend from karate class).  The play ground was a little overwhelming at first, but as soon as Jacob showed up, I was given permission to leave (by Howard).  He told me his favorite part was recess and his not-so-favorite part was writing the big letter S.

Here's some fun pictures from his first day.

 With his teacher, Mrs. Ellis -

 The play ground is SO BIG!

 Sitting with Jacob.

Sandpoint!

We make a point to go to Sandpoint at least once during the summer.  Last summer we made the trip when Hazel was just a week and a half old!  We made our annual venture this past Saturday.  Joey (Howard's 2nd cousin) was with us for the day while his mom moved into a new apartment.  We decided Sandpoint would be a fun way for the boys to spend the day and if Hazel got tired or fussy, Brian and I could take turns pushing her around town in the stroller.  We found a great shady spot right near the water and set up our stuff.  We packed a lunch and let the boys play.  They played for over 4 hours in the water!  They found lots of fun stuff from logs to the shells of very small shrimp.  It was hot and sunny, a perfect day to be at the lake.  Hazel thought it was just ok.  She ate some sand (her signature "thing" to do at the beach) and enjoyed strolls around town.  After the beach, we all went to Jalapenos, our favorite Mexican restaurant in Sandpoint.  A fun day, for sure and everyone slept incredibly well that night.

Fancy new camera

When I was in high school, I was the head school photographer for 2 years.  I "ran" the dark room at school, with 3 other photographers working with me.  We took, developed and printed photos for the school newspaper and year book.  I loved every second of it.  The dark room was my 2nd home and I loved learning all about pictures and processing.

After high school, I went to college and still held onto the thought of getting back into photography someday.  Well, that day has finally come!!!!  We just bought a very nice, very expensive new camera.  After talking to a lot of people who are into photography, we bought a Nikon D3100.  I have 2 lenses for it and have been practicing taking pictures as much as people and time will allow.  I am falling back in love with it all over again!  I have the pipedream of someday getting into business for myself with children, wedding and senior pictures.  In the meantime, I'll be taking as many snapshots as I can to practice. 

I'm also starting to play with editing software a little, to enhance photos (you'll see a sample of it with Hazel's photo below).  I have a long way to go, but I love having this hobby for just me.

Here are a few shots from this weekend.

Raw image of Hazel:

 Enhanced photo of Hazel:

 Howard wearing a goofy grin, I had the wrong lens on to make this one enhanced much:

Our new favorite hang out

Let's just get this out of the way - We Love Liberty Lake County Park!  I drove out there 2 springs ago, before the park opened to check it out.  I couldn't get into the park, but I drove up to see where it was.  Then a friend called a couple of weeks ago and invited us to go swimming with them there.  I had completely forgot about the park.  And boy... have we been missing out!

We have been going to the park a few days each week, swimming, playing in the sand, and enjoying friends and wildlife.  It's a very affordable way for us to spend a fun day away from TV, video games and the every day life at home (it's $2 per person per day over the age of 6 to get into the park).  Here's a few memories from the park so far this summer.

Howard and Joey getting water for their sand creations!

 Lunch!

 Even Hazel loves the water.

 With Howard's cousin, Nick, the boys have fun digging.

 Howard and Jacob "boating".

Fun stuff

It's been a while since I posted just random fun kid stuff, so I thought I'd post a few pictures and snippets from our past few weeks.

Perhaps the best quote of the month was from Howard.  He asked me about being on TV and what someone would have to do be on TV.  I went through an editted but lengthy explanation about acting, trying out and then moving to a city where they film.  He listened intently, then said, "I just want to be on TV playing soccer."   SO CUTE!  He and Brian watch European games and I think his desire comes from watching the pros play.  :)

Last week my cousin's little boy, Joey spent the week with us.  His day care was closed for the week and my cousin's back up sitter cancelled last minute.  So Joey, who is 3 and a half, came over and we had so much fun with him.  He and Howard played great together.  Howard taught him how to use the Tag reading pen, they rode bikes and scooter and we spent a ton of time at the Liberty Lake County Park, swimming and playing.  We also had a play date with Howard's buddy Jackson.  Joey is 1 cool kid!  Hazel enjoyed the lake right along with the boys.  She would have stayed in the water all day if I would have let her.

Howard has been a busy swimmer!  We have him enrolled in swim lessons through the City this session and next.  We switch off between the city and the YMCA lessons.  Both are pretty consistent and he loves the variety of outdoor vs. indoor swimming.  He LOVES going off the diving board.  He now does what he calls a "running cannon ball" off the diving board, it's pretty sweet.  Hazel and I chill poolside during his 30 minute lessons.

It's been a month of birthdays!  Brian celebrated his birthday 4 days after Hazel.  Howard can't wait to bake and decorate Brian's cake every year.  This year we found some fun decorations and celebrated his birthday after he went cycling with one of his work buddies.  He worked off the cake before he even ate it.