Ryan's Flag Football Team

This weekend will be the last of Ryan's flag football games for the year. He has been coaching the Flag Football team here at Park Avenue Christian School this season and loving every minute of it. The kids and I have mad it out to a few of the games, and even though the boys do play most of the time at the park, they seem to enjoy it! I get to see some of the game, and we all enjoy cheering for the team. Ryan's team has done pretty well this year and his guys have given it their all!

Here's the coach himself, warming his hands, and one of his players coming back off the field. (Pastor Hess was keeping time for this game.) It was a pretty cold day for football!

Some of the fans from our church. At some of the games they really set up camp--they bring everything from sloppy joes to sleeping bags!

Sammy LOVES the park! He runs from one thing to the next and cries when it's time to leave--not matter how cold it is!

Alex LOVES "hootball" games, hanging out with Daddy by the scoreboard, playing with the big kids, and getting to eat his snack on a blanket picnic style!

20 Month Old Pics

Here is a serious face from each of the boys at 20 months old.
Their chins are similar, but not much else!
Could two brothers be any different???

We Love Fall!!

It's Time for Footy Pajamas Again!

It's getting pretty chilly out here in Nebraska, so we pulled the footy pj's out!! The boys love them. The first night they had them on they kind of ran around for a while -sort of highstepping- getting used the feel of them on their toes all over again. It was cute!

Alex's Day Out With Thomas

Alex's birthday present from his doting Aunt Jen-Jen was a ticket to go to "A Day Out With Thomas." And let me tell you, he loved every minute of it!!

We're Still Working on Table Manners...

Sam LOVES noodles...

and cupcakes...

and baked beans...

and especially chocolate pudding...

lots of pudding!!!

Our "Soccer Champ"

Alex had his first game of Itty Bitty Soccer at the YMCA on Monday night. Some friends of our from church are his coaches and two of their kids are on Alex's team, so he really enjoys that. We spent some time over the last week or so practicing with him and he LOVES his shin guards and special soccer t-shirt.

However, when it comes to any kind of skill on the field...well, we are still working on that! At home he does great and gets some really good kicks and dribbles going. But during the game he pretty much ran around in circles and showed off his "mad break dancing skills" to all who cared to watch! It was really hilarious. I guess we have some more practicing to do!

Daddy explaining to Alex what it is to substitute in and out of the game. A good lesson in taking turns!

Here is Sam hanging out in "stroller jail" with his buddy Nathan--both wishing they were old enough to play soccer!


He was getting so tired and overheated (it was VERY hot) that he just layed down on the ground at one point and covered his face! His coach sent him off the field and Alex told me, "Alex tired and sad!" It was quite pathetic!

All night after the game he kept yelling "good game!" like they did when they lined up to slap five with the other team when it was over. Obviously the kid had a good time!

Monet meets Picasso

Alex has suddenly taken a huge interest in painting. He wants to paint all the time, and it is a great activity for while I am cooking dinner because both boys are strapped in to their chairs right here by me doing something quietly and I don't have to worry about them killing each other or themselves!! Sam enjoys playing with the paints, brushes, and water, but rarely ever gets any paint on the paper. Still, for kids I figure it's the experience that counts, not necessarily the finished product!

Our Own Little Bookworm

Sam has started "reading" books, and he is surprisingly gentle with books in general, no ripping or destroying which is unusual for Sammy! Actually there has been a lot of reading going on here lately and I have some cute pics to post later on that score, but for now hopefully you get a kick out of this video.

Water Babies

In these long hot days of August the boys have been playing in the water a lot. Especially in the evenings after we take our little neighborhood walk we like to fill up the kiddie pool, bring out the sprinkler, or just play with the hose while we water the flowers.







Both boys love the water in their different ways. Though Sam is usually our dare devil, it takes him a little longer to get brave with water, especially the pool. He tends to step into it for a second and then get right back out. He has started splashing with brother a little bit lately. Alex is like a little fish---he could play in the pool or sprinkler all day long!

"Hoppy" Days

Grandpa found a Toad outside and took a few minutes to give Alex & Sam a little nature lesson.

Alex didn't really want to touch the froggy, but Sam wanted to squeeze his head in!!