Rice Cereal 101

Last week I gave Juliana her first taste of rice cereal!  True, it was more breastmilk than rice, and it was more of an intro to the spoon than the food on the spoon, but hey, we've got to start somewhere!

The verdict:  she didn't NOT like it!  She was extremely interested in the spoon, the basket of napkins on the table, and, really, the table itself.  Cubby is going to get the high chair out of storage tomorrow so we can try again, hopefully with more interest in the cereal itself :-).

Of the other three children, Christian was the only one who liked the cereal somewhat.  I have high hopes for Miss J though!  It's hard to believe that she's already big enough (5 months this Monday!) to be moving toward solid foods--oh boy!

Bend it like Christian

Christian's first soccer game was last weekend.  It was a beautiful morning and he was VERY excited.  Originally, he was going to be on the same team as his best bud, Henry.  But, another team needed a coach and they asked Henry's dad to be said coach.  So, the boys ended up on different teams...playing one another in their first game.  Did this cause a problem?  No way!  Christian and Henry were both thrilled to be playing against each other!

 Through both the warm ups and the game itself, Christian ran full-out, with a HUGE smile on his face.  The.whole.time.  It was so cute.  He was just having so much fun!


Here is he his, getting ready for a "corner" kick

 

 The first half of the game he played forward...with the rest of the team.  (They're learning about different positions, but they're 5 yr olds and still play "bunch ball.")  However, the second half of the game, when he saw the other team scoring too, he decided he wanted to play defender and had a couple of really great saves!  Again, smiling the whole time!

They don't keep score, so honestly, I'm not sure who won.  And, by the look on Christian and Henry's faces, I don't think they know either!  Go team(s)!

Slice of Heaven 2012

Last Friday night we went to the Flynn's orchard for our annual apple-picking!  A couple other of our friends' families came along to check out for themselves why we call this place a little "slice of heaven." 

 The weather couldn't have been better.  I mean, we're talking one of the top 10 evenings of the year.  Perfect for picking!

 This was also Juliana's first trip to the orchard!  She did great!

 Here are the obligitory kids-having-a-ball-in-the-orchard pictures.  Big smiles, big time fun.

 Kari-belle.

 (She was the only one of our kids to actually eat an apple.  Yes, my kids are weird.)

 Emily

 Here is Kari and her best friend, Alexa (or, "Lexi" as she calls her).

 Emily and Miss Brooklynn.

 Here is our little family!

 Almost all of the kiddos from the evening (Em's friend, Ella, came late from a volleyball practice).

 How many kids does it take to fill a gator?  (I'll let you figure it out.)

And, here is my sweet baby and me! 

What a beautiful night.  What a wonderful blessing it is that we get to go make such great memories with our children and friends each year.  We are truly thankful to the Flynns for always being so generous in opening up their orchards and sharing so much with so many.

Gold Medal Performances

This summer brought the 2012 London Olympics!  The kids really enjoyed watching the various sports and on more than one occasion, re-enacted what they had seen.  (And I got a front row seat!  For FREE!)  Yup, I definitely got the deal of the century. 

Now, in this picture, each had given a gold medal routine (the individual sports that they were representing are alluding me at the moment...gymnastics and diving??).  They then held relay races around "the loop" of our living/dining/kitchen areas.  Yeah, we were waiting for Daddy to get home from a trip and it had gotten a little late.  Kids got crazy :-). 

 The REAL gold-medal performance, however, was the following night when Emily sat down and read to her younger brother and sister.  So.very.sweet.

In my book, my kiddos are all winners.  Not only for their killer couch-diving skills, but also for the little ways they are learning to love and serve one another.