Time for Soccer

Fall soccer has started. Marshall has moved up to C league. Marshall will be playing with the offside rule enforced this year. He is on a new team and is looking forward to developing additional skills. He realizes that it will be hard to top his 5 goal game from last year. In his words..."I just want to have fun and hopefully win a few games."

Sydney returns for her second full year of soccer. She is still in A league and will be on the same team as she was last spring. With me as her coach! Sydney has worked very hard this summer to improve her footwork and shot placement. She is excited to see how all of her practice this summer pays off in games.

I am very thankful that I have been able to coach both Marshall and Sydney. It has been a great experience and created special memories that can not be replaced. I look forward to coaching Moriah...many years down the road.

Sterling

B-I-N-G-O

We frequent the Overland Park Community Center, so we were interested in a flyer advertising Summer Bingo. It was during the week and during the school day, which was perfect for Sterling and I. We thought that Moriah could just tag along, while we had some fun. We had never played BINGO out before and thought it might be a fun story to share with friends. We probably shouldn't have been surprised when we showed up and it was 50 Plus BINGO. I swear the flyer didn't mention the age portion. So not only are we playing BINGO, but BINGO in a room of senior citizens. Needless to say, we had a good laugh and surprisingly a GREAT time!

First Day of School

Today was Marshall's and Sydney's first day of school. It was especially exciting for me, because I got to walk them to school with Dad and Moriah. I got to walk both of them into his/her classroom on the first day. This is really special to me because usually I have twenty some students waiting to meet me in a classroom of my own. It was great to just be a mom on the first day of school.
After school, we continued our family tradition of eating out on the first day. We had lunch at Margarita's. We heard all about the first day of school. Marshall and Sydney both LOVE their teachers. It's going to be a Super School Year!!

Twelve Years Ago Today

Today, Sterling and I celebrate our twelfth wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has only been twelve years and in the same breath the time has past so quickly. I remember that day so vividly and marvel at the path we have traveled to get where we are today. It hasn't always been easy--but we believed in each other and kept faith that our love would bring us through. We have made a family and have celebrated so many special events. We have started traditions and made valued friendships. We have taken trips and reached goals. We are so blessed for the life that we have together.
It is almost impossible not to look to the future and wonder what it holds for us. I am sure that excitement, adventure, and challenge wait for us. I rest easy knowing that together, my husband knows that I am always--"eager to the task". The words of one of our wedding songs says it all "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be". I continue to cherish the time we spend together and look forward to growing older and greyer with my turtle. I love you, Sterling....endlessly.

Adventure Oasis Water Park

If you haven't already, check out the Adventure Oasis Water Park. The price is very reasonable ($25 for family of four) and it is the perfect size for a younger family. Marshall and Sydney had a blast on the the three large water slides. They also enjoyed the splash playground. The day we went they gave out free popsicles all day long. The have lots of shaded areas to beat the hot sun. Even the concession prices are very reasonable! It is definitely a place we will visit next summer!!

Click for our slideshow:
Water Park

The Expendables - Date Night

Shauna and I shipped the kids off so that we could have a "date night". We are not ready to leave Moriah yet so she got to come with us. I have been waiting all summer for The Expendables to come out. We decided to take Moriah to the movie and hoped she would sleep through most of it. Moriah was PERFECT and slept through the entire movie!

**Side note....Shauna and I both enjoyed The Expendables. It was a great action flick that you could just relax and get lost in. Required no thinking or effort to follow the story. It was a bloody and violent mess but exactly what I expected. Just what I wanted it to be!**

After the movie we went to Red Robin and Moriah continued to sleep. With Moriah sleeping (being very low maintenance) it allowed us to talk and truly enjoy our date night.

Sterling

Pool Time

So we loaded up in the car and decided to try and beat the heat at the pool! Kids loved the slides. Marshall prefered the slide with the big drop. Sydney liked the "twisty" slide. Moriah and Shauna couldn't play but are excited for next summer when they can join everyone

Sterling

Happy One Week Birthday Moriah!

We celebrated Moriah's one week birthday at Chen's Super Buffet. Sterling gave Moriah a choice between Chinese and Mexican. He held up his right hand and said "Chinese". Then, he held up his left hand and said "Mexican". The choices were repeated over and over. The kids and I sat and watched with great anticipation. We cheered at each move towards a hand. Moriah took her time and then finally she went for the right hand. Chinese it was.

Deanna Rose

Previously, many trips to Deanna Rose included conversations of visiting the farmstead with our new bundle of joy. This week, we remembered those conversations as we toured the park with Moriah. We all took turns pushing the stroller and dodging the sprinklers. The most time was spent feeding the "gaggle of goats", a definite family favorite.