Daddy's Big Boy

Well, Ben has his first soccer game on Saturday. Andy wasn't able to come, so I was very prepared with both the video camera and the digital. However, about 30 seconds into the game, the video camera died. Isn't that just grand! I did get some good shots; the kids really aren't moving fast enough to blur the images. :)

This little boy bumping into Ben was only in it for the physical contact. I don't think he kicked the ball one time, but he did shove Ben in the back hard enough for my little boy to come off the field crying (after he'd down a face plant in the grass) - not an easy task for this kid! We didn't score but the other team got about 10. They had one little girl that knew what she was doing and would just dribble down and kick it in the goal. Ben didn't seem too discouraged and was thrilled with the blue snowcone that Aunt Jamie bought him after the game. :) As a parent this is going to be very hard - to watch these games! This little boy below caused my tame, mild-mannered sister to yell, "Who's kid is that? He's pushing all over the place!" It was a good thing the quarter ended when it did because I greatly feared that Ben would turn around and deck him. I don't know how my mom did it, child after child...

Another Morning at the Arboretum

Ben is trying to rope this steer. This has to be the funniest thing I have seen! He twirls the rope above his head and his hips are going a mile a minute. He had all the workers covertly laughing. It took Emily a few minutes to warm up to the sheep and chickens, and then she was in love! They had brushes for little hands that she 'used.'
It was a cloudy day wtih scattered thunderstorms predicted. We got caught in a downpour and had to hoof it to the covered gazebo. It seemed like a good time to eat lunch (who doesn't like to eat lunch at 10:30?) so we rested for a bit. Thus - the wild hair!
The flowers are just beautiful! It took me a few minutes to figure out what Annie was saying. She wanted to see the lollipops! Translation - tulips! She's a girl after my own heart!

She's Almost There

Emily has been trying to walk for so long. She has taken 2 or 3 steps several times. Here, Ben is trying to help her. She loves to hold onto hands and walk around the house, in the yard, wherever. If she wants to get to something quickly, she knows that she needs to crawl. However, yesterday afternoon we went to the Arboretum with some friends (post to follow) and she took 12 steps, with shoes on, going downhill! What a treat! She is much more confident today and probably even more so tomorrow! Andy is my organizer. I tend to buy a lot of something when it is on sale, and Albertsons has had some fabulous sales lately. So while he was organizing, Emily pushed the stool over and climbed right up like she belonged! It was the cuteest thing; I love her hands!