Family Pictures

May days

May has been a long month of homework and meetings and Dan traveling. Here are some pictures from our day to day lives.

My kids love dry erase markers. Probably because they are the most expensive marker they can ruin! Anyway, here is Macey drawing. We can't exactly hang it on the wall, so snap shots are the only way to capture these images. (Is that a waffle by the computer? Surely not, that breaks house rules...)

Here is our whole family. She is really getting big. She wrote her name all on her own last week. Yikes! I've got to actually sit down and teach her a few things before she learns it all on her own. :)

Last week I noticed that our front yard had become infested with clover. I have many fond memories from first grade looking for 4-leaf clovers during recess. I took Macey outside for a hunt, not expecting much. She comes over to me and says, "I found one." Not believing her, I told her to bring it to me. She walked back over to where she was and picked it and brought it to me.

She must have a good eye to have walked AWAY from her spot and then be able to go back and immediately locate the same clover again. And wouldn't you know it; it really was a four leaf clover! The only one found that day. If I ever need luck, I'm bringing her with me!

Sundays are family days. I recently realized that they should be HOLY family days, but for now our holiness is limited to 3 hours of church. Maybe we'll add to that in the future. Anyway, by having this designated as a family day, the boys know they get to play with each other exclusively (without electronics for the most part). Some Sundays my boys take over the kitchen table for Lego battles. I'm not sure how this game is played exactly, but they build castles and launch attacks on one another.

Don't they look so handsome in their dress clothes? We have 11:00 church. It is nice to have time to get ready in the morning and still have time to play.

Strikers post season

 

 

Alex's soccer season went on and on. The spring rains dragged the season out 2 extra weeks. Then the boys made the post season playoffs. Their first game was an awesome affair. It was a beautiful day for soccer. The boys played the best soccer they've ever played. They won the game 3-1. It was on Dan's birthday and he requested a birthday dog pile. I didn't get that on video; I'll have to ask a Oscar for a copy. 

Their next game was the semi-final. They were up against the 2nd best team in the league. They held their own for the first half, but after a score and then a PK, the boys deflated and gave up 2 more goals to loose 0-4.

They ended this season 6-2-2. They have really come a long way from that first season. I think if they could stay one more season in this division, they could really make some great progress, but chances are they will be moving up to an older division in the fall, with more players on the field while playing on a bigger field. It could be ugly for a few seasons as they adjust to that.

But really, the boys enjoying playing. Sure they love to win, but they quickly bounce back from loses. They are building character and self esteem. They are Strikers! 

Macey's surgery

Macey had to go to an oral surgeon to have a lesion removed from her gums. The lesion doesn't seem serious. And the surgery was a 5 minute affair with a laser. But she did have to be put under in order for the Dr. to get it done. This is sister coming up out of the medicine.


She recovered slowly through out the day. We watched lots of movies and ate pudding and scrambled eggs. No pain; no complaints. Hopefully she'll keep her hands out of her mouth to keep from getting another one.

Happy Birthday Dan!

 Mornin'! Alex made Dan breakfast (sunshine toast). While we were cooking Ryan said, "I'm just going to peek in Dad's room to see if he is awake.' I told him 'no' twice. But the third time he just snuck back there. Once we were sure he was really awake, we stomped in with our warm wishes.
Everyone had a gift to give. Macey's was this video. She and I made the script.

Alex gave Dan a voucher to go to the movies with him. Ryan gave him a playground ball perfect for 4-square, kickball and other random ball sports.

Dan did all the work of getting my gift for him. He wanted roller blades and safety gear. I'm a little nervous about letting our bread winner try this new sport. Hopefully he'll learn quickly!

We had the Contreras...

and the DeLucias over for dinner. Fun! Rosa brought Dan her homemade flan for a gift, and John R gave Dan a box of Monster Inc's mac n' cheese. 'Who doesn't love Monser macaroni and Cheese?'
Ryan and Nico put on a little magic show. And the men/boys all went out back to play soccer past dark.