Tucker Soccer...

So, I guess I did take some pictures at at least one of his games, whew! :)   I love watching Tucker play soccer. He's getting a little bit more confident, and with more players on the field and a bigger field, the experience is so good for him. He seems to really enjoy soccer, so I'm excited about that. We'll see how far he goes with it. Hopefully, he continues to grow and learn. He could be a bit more aggressive, but that will come with time and with more confidence. 

 

 

He gets quite a bit playing time, so its fun to watch him out there...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He had a nice assist to his friend, Joseph on his team:

 

 

The goalie thing is new for him, he's getting used to not scoring a ton of goals every game, or even one. That has been a disappointment for him as when he was younger was was getting multiple goals every game. But that's what happens when you grow up, and he's getting used to it.

 

 

I do love his hustle and love his heart for the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Tate Nelson helping take care of Jackson...

 

My perk for Tucker being on this soccer team are that all my friends have kids on the team and that I get my socializing in during the games. I sure do love these friends of mine. We are all so lucky. Cute little Ollie and Jackson:

 

 

And sweet little Eva taking care of Crosby, looks like I captured a special moment. Love Crosby's TMNT hat! :)

April Happenings...

Where did April go??? These months are just flying by. I'm still working out at the gym, although Abbey, Meg and Tara all went to Mexico together and left me alone to work out in the mornings (ha! yeah right!) so it was a rough week without them. I did go once, though! I can feel the excitement and dedication for a 5am workout class slowing fading! While they were in Mexico posting all of these fun pictures together eating homemade guac and dancing the night away, I sent them this photo, of SNOW on my windshield!!!! Why oh why did we not go with them????? Totally regretting it! :(

 

Besides the bits of snow flurries, the days are starting to warm up. Ben and the kids on the trampoline:

 

I was cleaning my kitchen the other day and looked over and thought, 'Dayum, my friends have some good looking kids!' Jenna's wedding announcement and Madison's college grad/baby gender reveal announcement. Those are some beauties!

 

Lots of jammie snuggle time. Which is my all time favorite thing ever with these little ones. Probably watching Paw Patrol together:

 

The two older ones are just as smitten with the baby one as I am. He seriously still has us all wrapped around his finger. I think he's starting to figure it out and use it to his advantage. Listening to music with big brother on his Kindle. Tucker is kind of obsessed with getting new music on his Kindle. I kind of love that he loves music!

 

 

And, of course, their favorite thing to do is to attack daddy when he gets home from work:

 

Ben really does love it, too. Even though his face says otherwise.

 

Taylor's preschool gets out at 2:40. Tucker gets out of school at 3:10. I'm always in conflict about picking him up. If I have a quick errand, I'll do it. But a half an hour isn't too much time. Plus, parents are already lined up at 2:40 when I go to get Taylor. So, some days we just sit at Sunrise for about a half an hour waiting for Tucker. It's kind of annoying, and kind of nice sometimes, the kids play in the car, and we listen to music and sing. (and take pictures) About 75% of the time, we will have been there for 20 minutes and Taylor will tell me she has to go to the bathroom. So, then I'm at another conflict on weather to lose my place in line to run her home, totally making the last 20 minutes worthless, or making her hold it for an extra 10 minutes. She usually wins and we head home, she goes to the bathroom, and we're last in line. :(

At least she's cute!

 

 

The sister missionaries love to leave me little love notes. They have heart attacked my door, my car, my garage door. It always makes my day. They always tell me how wonderful I am, and I definitely don't mind hearing that! :) HA HA

 

I finally added to Jackson's J wall! YAY! You know the one I started before he was born. It only took me 2 years to add 4 more J's to it! :) ha ha. One day it will get to be what I had envisioned for it! :) Probably about the time he moves out!

 

I took this beautiful couple's wedding photos. Can you say models??? I was dying at how beautiful this couple is!!!  Not a bad shot in the bunch! I never look forward to shooting weddings, but these guys made it easy peasy!

 

I had to document as proof that my husband likes to use our sink as a garbage. It drives me crazy! I can't tell you how many times our garbage disposal has been stuck with something in there jamming it up. So, I have to get out a flashlight and feel around in there, usually when it's all full of nasty old food, and try and figure out what is stuck. THIS IS WHAT I FOUND THIS TIME:

 

This man is going to be the death of me!!!

One of the many reasons I love social media is to be able to be uplifted by my friends. I love these little thoughs that brighten my day or make me think. I've been screen shotting like a mad woman,this is just one, I'll share more in a bit. Maybe I'll keep them and do a whole post on my inspirational screen shot messages! :) I loved this one from my friend, April:

 

 

Happy April everyone, and let's bring on May! My favorite!!! :)

Tucky boy...

Tucker. This boy. I know I've been posting a lot about him lately, but for reals. This boy. I don't even know where to begin with him most of the time. I've never met a boy who is such equal parts silly and smart. He is so much like his dad in that way, it's crazy. All the things about Ben that drive me nuts about his silliness and childness Tucker possesses ten fold. And all the smarts that Ben possesses, like his wit and sense of humor and his ability to learn quickly and retain things Tucker also possesses ten fold.  He's social, friendly, loving, wants to be obedient and do good most of the time.

Tucker and his friend, Brayden. Brayden and Tuck were in Mrs. Larsen's class together their first grade year. In fact, I'll never forget that Brayden was the first kid that Tucker mentioned as a friend at Sunrise, and they've been buddies ever since. Not super close, but good little buddies.  It just so happens that Brayden's little sister Lindsay is in Taylor's preschool class and their cute little friends, so we had both of them over after school one day. They mainly played outside shooting hoops. Brayden was on Tuck's basketball team. Anyway, I just thought these were cute pics, just some boys eating snacks on the front curb while playing basketball. I wish more of my kids' childhood memories were like this. Unfortunately, they aren't. I need to work on that! :)

 

Of course, Jackson had to join them. If it's outside and involves his older brother and balls, then he's in! :)

This dude finally decided to stop for a minute to officially figure this out. FINALLY! He's been casually working on it for years. Now, we can say he is an official shoe tie-er! :) woo hoo!!

 

Tucker got a birthday invite from his friend, Carson and I had to laugh at the invite to Tucker/Grandpa. Now that we know about his alter ego at school, I am noticing little things like this. Crazy boy!

 

And, once the birthday day came, I handed Tucker an empty card and told him to write Carson a birthday note. Tucker asked me what he should write and I told him, I don't know, whatever you want to write to Carson to wish him a happy day etc..

I got the card back and this is what it said:

 

I also just randomly got this email from him. Ben started him an email and now we get these random ones all the time! :) They just make me laugh.

My Taylor girl...

This Taylor girl of mine. Sometimes I don't know what to think of her shenanigans! Between going through my grandma and grandpa's house, and Kathryn and Papa's house she has inherited a lot of different types of animal things and statues and knick knacks. Things I would have just thrown away, she loves and loves and wants to hold onto forever. So, her new desk now looks like this with all of her animals. I have to admit, that it kind of creeps me out whenever I walk in and forget that they're all there staring at me! 

 

I just watch her walk into teacher Barbara's house like such a big girl and I can't believe she is so big and independent. I just love her so freaking much!

 

And don't get me started on gymnastics. I love wathching her do gymnastics. She loves it so much and she is so good. She is so buff, that I think it's kind of natural for her. I love her coach, James. And I love that she loves it and gets excited about it.

 

I love her class right now, too.  It's every Tuesday morning from 9:30-10:30, so we don't have to be there in the evenings anymore when it's so freaking crowded. I love being there in the mornings, and her class is just two other girls, Lilly and Claire. And their moms and I can just chat, and really, it's been such a great time with them. They are awesome ladies, and I'm learning the value of connecting with the parents my kids are involved with. It has been so nice to have them, and I really feel like they are good friends. Kathy, Lilly's mom and I are becoming great friends.

Anyway, enough of the sentimental, Taylor loves it and that's all that matters. One morning while we were there, there was a news crew filming one of the older girls. Usually, the gym is empty in the mornings, and this particular morning, Mike, the owner, was there, and this older gymnast, along with KXLY news crew. They did a segment on her because she qualified for nationals, so that was pretty cool.

 

Taylor and her friends going to class:

 

This little lady had the snack pig one day and was so excited to help put together snacks:

 

She chose the treats, leftover Easter candy, Ritz crackers, goldfish crackers and fruit loops! :) ha ha

 

She inherited this really cool stone fish from my dad's house, that my grandpa Howard game to him. I think it's pretty cool looking, and, of course, Taylor wanted it. I came into her room and saw that she had put some washi tape on it. I asked her why and she said that it was cracking, so she put the tape on it! :)

 

I love this sweet, helpful, silly, hard working girl of mine!