Tucker Soccer...

Tuckers soccer season this year was a bit more dramatic. At the end of last season, his coach told us that he wasn't going to be coaching this season because he was having his son play with the Spokane Soccer Club Shadow team. The Spokane Shadow is Spokane's Minor league soccer team. They have a youth league and kids can start playing at 8 in the U10 league. It's a non try out league, and then at U11 or U12, I believe they can try out for the club team. Anyway, I thought it would be really good for Tucker because the coaches are better and more skilled, and they have more training sessions etc. So, I signed him up, which was a lot more than the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Assoc., and was super excited. His coach was awesome, the other parents were so great. He was a lot younger than the other boys, they were all 9 turning 10 and he was 7 turning 8. But I quickly learned after the first game that he just wasn't up at the same level at the boys. The field was a lot bigger, he wasn't used to the positions, or having goalies, things like that. There was a lot he still needed to learn. But I still wanted to give him a chance. We learned after the second game where Tucker hardly played that maybe this wasn't the league for him yet. So, after much thought and discussion we decided to pull him from the league. It was hard, and I didn't want Tucker to feel bad. But he was awesome through my whole dramatics and luckily is still innocent enough that he had no clue, and just really wanted to play soccer. And, I was worried that we'd be out $300. 

Anyway...I thought for sure we had $300 down the drain, but luckily, even though we were two weeks in, they let us cancel the season, and the only thing we couldn't refund was the $50 uniform (that was separate from the $300 season fee). So, we were $50 down, but I knew that Tucker still wanted to play soccer. So...I called my friend Meg, whose son was playing soccer for the SVJSA still, and I was just praying and praying that they would let us join. I called the SVJSA, and even though the deadline was already passed by a while, after begging and begging and telling her I already had a team for him, they let me register him. He had only missed one game in this league, so he wasn't that far behind. Also, the team he joined happened to have a whole bunch of his friends on it, so he was so happy, and I was happy that he can still enjoy soccer at least for a few more years. Then he can get more serious about it, if he wants.

Anyway, it was a good decision for Tucker this year, and I'm happy it all worked out. (except for the $50 uniform I bought for absolute no reason! That totally blowed- I ended up going back to the practice for the SSCS team, and gave it to the coach to use as an extra uniform for the season!) :)

Tucker practicing him some goalie moves. I think that this was their first season playing with a goalie, so Tucker was excited to try it out.

Tucker is such a sweet big brother. I love this guy so much, and I'm glad that he just enjoy's life so much, and is so easy and go with the flo. He didn't stress about anything, as I was just stressing and worrying about what to do with him this soccer season, he was just totally go with the flo and happy about. And he's so sweet and would do anything for his baby brother.

We got to one game a little early, and he sat and played with Jackson for so long. Jackson still isn't using his legs at all, but boy does he sure LOVE balls.  I was picking him up and holding him up and he was kicking that ball and kicking that ball and was so very happy. I can officially say that he was kicking balls around before he was even walking!

Playing around with his dad before one of the games:

I sure have loved watching him get better and better. He really does love the game, and when he's ready we'll go up to the other league, we'll do it.

Oh man, it was so cute, Taylor was playing with her friend, Ollie. Who was in her preschool class last year.

So, I went over and told them to smile for a picture, and this is exactly what they did! Ha ha! I was dying. Ollie was so annoyed and NOT going to smile. Taylor looked all cute, and looked over to see if Ollie was smiling! :)

Tucker making a goalie kick:

The peanut gallery watching the game together: Mike Thompson, Ben and Brady Nelson. These men together watching the games is a riot!!! :)

Cute Ezra wearing Taylors vest when it got cold one day:

This boy and his balls:

And he loves his daddy, too:

My cute fat boy and his ball:

I love me a good cloud picture, and the sky was looking so cool one day:

He did hurt his ankle one game, so that was a bummer. I'm such a good mom that when it happened during the game, I was like get back in the game and shake it off. And he was crying and I was not having the sympathy for him I should have. Then when we got home that afternoon, his poor ankle was all black and blue and swollen! Mother of the year!

Poor baby boy!

Oh, and he plays with heart, which I love.

There is quite the group of sisters playing while their brothers play soccer. I'm glad that Taylor has something to do during Tuckers soccer games.

I just want him to enjoy sports and find something that he loves doing. I don't want him to feel pressure yet, I mean he's only 8 years old, right?!

Grandma even got to come to a game, and of course, had to play with her Jackson boy. There he is kicking his soccer ball around like he knows how to walk!

Love my soccer lovin' boys!

Taylor Soccer...

This year, Taylor got her first taste of  Soccer. She loved it. Before the fall soccer season for Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association, some friends were chatting about the league, and deciding if they wanted to put their 4-5 year olds in the program. One of them, my friend Heidi didn't want to put her twins in that league because there are no co-ed teams and she would have two schedules to figure out. They all started talking and decided that they would put together their own little 'league'. One of the dads, Spencer Bringhurst, husband of my friend, Becky said he would be the coach, and they invited a whole bunch of us who had 4-5 year olds. It was so much fun. Spencer was the best coach for these little 4-5 year olds. We had it every Tuesday up at the park in Morningside Heights.

Spencer and the kids:

Jackson enjoyed sitting in the grass and playing with the balls:

Taylor had to wear Tuckers old purple jersey from his last soccer season:

And what I loved about it, was that there were NO Saturday games! They would practice the first half hour, and play their 'games' the second half hour of the night. It was so much fun watching her, and she LOVED being a soccer player, and having her own practices and games. I love this girl!

And this is what she usually did during Tuckers games:

Practiced her gymnastics:

My silly girl!

da Fair...

The fair came to town. These are the types of things I always think will be so fun to take the kids to, then I get there and I remember that, yes, while it is fun for them, it is miserable for me and so freaking expensive!! But, grandma was in town and Kayla and Kenzie and Burton were still here, so we all packed up and went. The weather was perfect and the cotton candy was delicious, so we lucked out! :) ha ha.

Tucker enjoyed the big slide. He is definitely the one who enjoyed this place the most.

It was funny, my mom took Taylor up to take her down the slide and they wouldn't let her sit on my moms lap, but Taylor wouldn't go by herself, so Taylor walked back down the steps, and I assumed my mom would walk back down, too. You know, to save some tickets for the kids to go on the rides.

But, nope. She hopped on sack by her self, and had herself a grand ol' time riding down the big slide! :) I was making fun of her for that one!

I am so glad that Tucker is finally enjoying carnival rides. I always thought he needed to be a little bit more adventurous when it came to these rides. Like I should talk, I can't even get on a swing without feeling like I'm going to throw up from motion sickness. Anyway, Tucker is definitely loving these carnival rides more, and I couldn't get him to stop. We had gotten him a bracelet so that he could go on all the rides he wanted, and we definitely got our moneys worth out of him! Ben is glad to have a ride buddy when he grows up. And I think Jackson will love them right off the bat, he is already our more adventurous and brave one.

Taylor on the big swings:

Somehow I missed getting a picture of the best part of our night. The food. We had bacon cheeseburgers on doughnut buns! And, while it was delicious, it wasn't the best thing I've ever had, like I was expecting. I mean, bacon cheese burger AND doughnuts together, I thought it would be perfection. Root Beer floats, fries, some delicious BBQ pulled pork and corn on the cob, and our official yearly fair dinners were perfection.

The kids wanted to ride the pony's. I'm allergic to horses, so they've always been my least favorite animal, so my mom had to step in and help Jackson, but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

This game. Tucker had his eye on this game all night. All he had to do was throw a ball into one of those big huge buckets and he could win a huge stuffed animal. I kept on telling him that that is a scam. They want you to believe it is easy, and then spend all of your money! He tried and he tried, and grandma, of course, kept on giving him just a few more dollars. I was done. And, the carny was so nice. That's usually not the case. She was so nice, and finally told him that she would add up all of his wins together from all of his games, so he could win the huge snake he wanted. He ended up happy, and kept on telling people he had done so good and won the snake on his own.Since I am here to keep him humble, I kept on gently reminding him that he would not have that snake without the generosity of the carny. That's what moms are for, right! :) ha ha

And, finally one of my most favorite pictures ever, Jackson's face of pure joy and happiness on the carousel. I mean, this boy could not love them any more. He gets so freakin' happy, and wants to go again and again and again. Luckily that was grandma's department because I get so motion sick so easy.

It was getting so late, and the kids were done. And we literally had to pry this poor little guy's fingers off of the caroseul. He loves them so much. He cried the whole way home wanting to get back on that thing.

And that was our fun yearly fair adventure. Every year I tell myself I'm not going to go. Then I get roped into taking the kids somehow, and while fairs just aren't my thing, the kids have a blast. So, we'll see how long I have to do this yearly tradition! :) ha ha. We didn't even make it into the animal exhibit this year, their favorite, my least favorite. Thank heavens. :)

The Croskrey's visit!!! YAY!

Another MOST EXCITING thing that happened in September is our long awaited visit from the Croskrey's. Angie Croskrey, Jason's mom went down to visit Jason and Kayla and brought Kenzie back to Spokane with her. Jason and Kayla were coming up a few days later, but Kenzie got to come early. And.. Angie and Dallas both work full time, so I got her during the days! I love this girl so much! She is the funniest thing ever. So sassy and funny. We got to go up to Papa's house and play and sidewalk chalk all over his driveway...

Then I took them on a fun date to fro-yo. And I swear that Kenzie was having a good time! :) ha ha

Jason and Kayla finally got here and we finally got to meet this cute little man. He is the sweetest, best, cutest baby I've ever met. I fell in love. They came up to get him blessed, so we had a little BBQ to celebrate. Oh, I just love that little face!

My mom came up for the blessing, and had fun playing with the kiddies at the park. I think that this was Jackson's first time going down a slide! :) I haven't been able to stop him since.

Oh, we just loved on this little man as much as we could. He had just been born in July so he was only 2 months old. He made Jackson seem SO very big.

Oh, I could have just held him all day, or at least watched him sleep all day! :)

Jackson is getting to such a fun stage. Still not walking yet, but those facial expressions of his are killing me right now. I love it.

He is so fun, and his little personality is hilarious. Looks like we have another crazy baby in the family. Not sure where they get that from, but it seems that we have three kids FULL of personality.

The Croskrey's before the blessing. They ended up doing at my dad's ward, and so that was fun, seeing a whole bunch of people I grew up with. The cute Croskrey family:

This guy loves his cousin Kenzie. They are so cute together.

The boys who were a part of the blessing:

Jason and his baby boy, Burton Royal:

Baby Burton Royal and his namesake great grandfather, Dale Royal:

Kayla and her baby boy:

Oh my big boy is getting too big, too fast! I love him so!

The whole gang:

We couldn't let a visit from Kayla and Grandma pass without a trip to our favorite, Rancho Viejo!

Another visit from Aunt Lorraine, Rachel and Leif and of course, a trip to Cafe Rio:

It's always too quick when the Croskrey's come to town. I just loves those babies of hers so so much!!

First day of School!!!

Finally it was time for school to start. WE WERE READY! I was ready for some schedule and organization to my days. I was ready to not have someone talking back to me all day long, and thinking he was in charge... :) And he was ready to be around someone else, I'm sure, for the majority of his days! :) Of course, just a few days after school started, both of our attitudes changed, and now I wish that he didn't have to be gone so long every day. But change is good, and it was good for us to be back at the school thing. We had found out a few weeks before the school year that he had gotten Mrs. Barnes as his teacher. I, of course, had no idea who she was, but no joke, EVERY SINGLE PERSON who I told this to just raved about her. All of my friends, people at church, whoever it was that I was talking to would ask me what I had to do to get him in Mrs. Barnes' class.  It made me really excited for him and for the school year. Another major bonus is that his good friend, Carson, also got into Mrs. Barnes' class. He was so super excited about that. And I was happy that he had a friend, it's always nice to have a friend when you're starting out a new school year. Also, back to school night came the night before and it was SO fun to see friends again. It got me so so so excited about the school year. The first day came, and it was a cold rainy day. I guess it was a good sign that the summer was over, and school was in.

You will notice in the background of that picture above that my dad's car is in the driveway. On our way to Milton-Freewater to the reunion, my check engine light came on, literally as I was driving through Spokane to head down there. I called Ben and he met me at a gas station downtown and switched me cars. So, I took his truck to M-F, and he took my van to the shop. Blah blah blah, finally like 3 weeks later, we got the van back...blah blah blah...coil replaced, blah blah blah...took three weeks to fix our van. Luckily, my wonderful and extremely generous father let me borrow his Avalanche for those three weeks. I'm sure he would have rather paid for a rental for me, than let my three kids loose in his truck, but he did it and we were EVER so grateful!

Anyway...my big handsome 2nd grader:

I, of course, had to walk him into his class on his first day, so I could snap a pic of him and Mrs. Barnes.

She really is so wonderful. She loves the kids and she is so so so nice. He came home from school on that first day and said, 'mom, everyone was right, Mrs. Barnes IS the best teacher in the school!!' It was so cute, and I'm so happy that he has a wonderful teacher and is excited about the school year.

This lady also started pre-school with Teacher Barbara. She was so very excited to be in real school, I didn't have the heart to tell her that it wouldn't really be that different from last year. But she was so happy and I was so happy for her! I just love this beautiful pre-schooler of mine:

Taylor and Teacher Barbara. We LOVE Teacher Barbara:

Taylor looked so cute on her 2nd day, that I had to take a picture of her on her 2nd day, too!

I just can't believe these cute kid-o's of mine are getting so big. They are so much fun now that they are getting bigger. Well, they are fun at all stages, but I love being able to chat with them and laugh and joke with them. They are fun smart kids!

Edvalson Reunion Part 4...Monday morning...

We ended up staying so late on Sunday night that we ended up spending the night. Taylor and Tucker (and all the older kids, really) ended up falling asleep in the living room as we played murder late into the night. I put them on an extra blow up bed in the basement where Jackson was already sleeping, and all four of us ended up sleeping on it. Although, I didn't get to bed until REALLY late that night, and actually, I think Tucker stayed upstairs and slept on the floor with his cousins. So, we were there bright and early the next morning still, wearing the same clothes, ready to go through some more things, and say good bye.

These boys are like two peas in a pod. Both a little crazy! Trying on some of grandpa's hats.

The two Sawyers, saying goodbye:

These two became fast friends, and that Jayden is one of the funniest little girls I've ever known! I'm glad that they got along so well!!! :)

Hug after hug after hug...

One last game of spoons by the big kids before saying goodbye:

Jackson got to go through some boxes of grandpa's old ties. Yes, this is just two boxes of what was left. This is after hundreds had already been taken. That man had so many clothes, he puts me to shame! 

Sweet Janell found one of grandma's kitties to take home:

And these kids all found vases that they wanted. Grandma had quite the collection of vases. These kids took these, and there were still plenty. I actually took all of the green and blue hued ones that were cool, and they will be really great to decorate with. I guess that's my inheritance! :)

Brad found his inheritance, a hawaiian shirt with matching hawaii hat! :)

Matching Hawaiian shirts and Hawaii hats...

And just like that the fun weekend was over. We all had to get back to our lives, and school!!! It was a great weekend with family. We had plans to come back every year to grandma and grandpa's house, because we were skeptical that it would actually ever be ready to be sold, but it looks like they may already even have some buyers, and so maybe this will be the last hurrah at the GG's house. Either way, it was a great way to end a lifetime of memories there with my wonderful and crazy Edvalson family.

Edvalson Reunion Part 3...Sunday....

Sunday was spent just hanging out. In the morning, most of us went to church. After church and a change of clothes we headed to the park. We went to the local Milton-Freewater park, Yantis park. We had many a family gatherings there growing up, and it was fun being back with my cousins.

The last three Edvalson sisters:

This is more like it:

It was so cute, Jackson was just having some fun on his own, crawling around everywhere. All of the sudden he stops in front of my uncles, Uncle Brent and Uncle Kent. He looks at them...

He crawls over to them, sits in front of them with his arms up...

They picked him up and he sat up with the big boys. He was so happy with himself. And, in true man fashion, they kept on chatting while he just sat there as happy as a clam! :)

My cute cousins, Janna and Lindsay. I love these two ladies!

Lots of cousin play time; Charity and Janell:

The men folk playing an intense game of UNO:

My sweet boys:

Sweet Scarlett snuggling with her mama:

the 4 year old club house (and Tucker) They let big kids in every now and then.

The big girl cousins; Heather, Amarae and Sawyer:

I just love that round little face!

Baby Scarlett and Baby Eli getting a swing together:

More ultimate frisbee was played and then an intense game of Duck Duck goose. Tucker trying to get Aunt Lorraine:

And here, Jackson is hitching a ride with my cousin Todd:

Apparently Jackson found himself a surrogate father for the weekend! :) ha ha. He became good little buddies with my cousin Todd. Good thing, too Todd needed some practice, his wife is having their 4th in just a few weeks.

We came back to grandma and grandpa's house and hung out a bit. Taylor got a ride from Josh:

THEN...the real fun began. Super intense game of BINGO. And you haven't lived until you've played a game of BINGO with my Aunt Sherry. SO much fun! :)

Josh was our first winner!!! I somehow became the announcer, so I didn't even get to win! I had to work the whole time!!!

Grandma Kelly was a big winner that night!

Then the winners just started rolling in. Shastene, Tucker, Devon and Alex. All big winners in my book! :) (Also, I'm not sure why, but my two big kids are both in their swim suits in these pictures. And, I, for the life of me can't remember why they are the only two in their suits--my kids are crazy though, so it doesn't surprise me!)

Amarae and Sawyer...BFF cousins:

Poor Alicia had sprained her ankle the week before the reunion. Actually, maybe even longer...I think she had been injured for a while and it just wasn't healing. Poor thing on those crutches all weekend! Boo. :(

Taylor picking her prize. Aunt Sherry had gotten all sorts of prizes for people of every age, and the kids loved getting to pick out something when they won.

Brad was excited to win!

Janell's victory dance:

Tucker wrestling with my cousin, Ryan. He has two daughters, and grew up with 4 sisters, so I'm sure he loves being around boys as much as he can! :) Also, you'll notice the spoons game going on in the back. That was the kids game obsession all weekend. Anytime we were at the house, and there was some down time, Jackson, Tucker, Amarae, Sawyer and all the middle to older aged kids were playing. it. They played it that night after we ended our bingo game, and then we played some SUPER fun rounds of Murder. I love my family so much, we just had the best time together, laughing and playing.

This guy was happy as long as he was getting the attention of one of his lady friends!! :) I love this round little face, too! :)