Ian loves me...sort of.

Ian loves me enough to draw me a picture where I'm having fun and diving into a pool...into 6 feet of water (see the depth marking on the side of the pool? Nice.). Huh. Good thing he's only 5 and doesn't get that whole thing about needing 20 feet of water to dive into safely. Guess he does love me after all!

Meet Shelly

The boys went to Build A Bear and built a turtle for the baby whenever he or she arrives. They named the turtle Shelly. (We won't discuss the fact that I didn't make the connection between the turtle's name and the thing that it lives in until days later.) A few days later Sam drew a picture of Shelly for me. I thought it was a porcupine fish, but he kindly explained that it looked nothing like a porcupine fish and exactly like Shelly. I dunno - you decide:

Shelly

Porcupine Fish

Ceiling Art

Yes, those are foam bath letters - stuck to the ceiling over the shower. I guess the boys think they are decorative elements. They went up a few weeks ago now, and still today there are three stuck up there. I don't even want to venture a theory as to why or how they are still attached to the bathroom ceiling. It was only a short while ago that these same letters and numbers were use for Bath Math by Max. But now it seems that they have been converted into some sort of water bomb. Ahhh...boys. Gotta love their creativity though - the numbers and letters tuck to the bathroom ceiling will turn into tissues (or whatever else they get their grubby hands on) stuck tot he classroom ceiling in school. One can only hope that they have the good sense to toss them up above someone else's desk.

My Obsession

Well, what else was I supposed to do when FSU and Texas were playing at the same time? MISS A GAME? Dare not. My darling husband hooked me up (literally) with a poor man's picture in picture. He even plugged the cable in a room away and ran a long, long cable out of my office, down the hall, and across the living room. I love that he feeds my obsession! And yes, Texas beat Rice, but FSU lost in a terrible, terrible game to Wake Forest.

WAAAAAAAAH!

You remember those great 19870's Tupperware colors? You know, the lovely oranges and greens: Well, I happen to LOVE my green Tupperware with the burpable lid. It came from Tom's family somewhere as a passed down piece of plasticware, but it was our popcorn bowl, our grape bowl, and our big bowl for anything that needed a big bowl. But apparently when you drop a 30 year old bowl on the ground it breaks - even if it is plastic.
WAAAAAAAH!!!! All I have left is my burpable lid. WAAAAAAAHHHH!

Max's Soccer Game #83

I've honestly lost track. Max has been playing soccer almost year round since he was four years old. when we moved to Virginia he started playing indoor soccer too, so who knows how many games he has under his belt. Regardless, he played his second game of the current season and his team really showed up for the game. They won their first game after only one practice, and half the team doesn't know each other. Seems that the magical one game and two practices did the trick - they were a scoring machine - all of them.



The other cool thing is that Tom is once again coaching Max's team. His focus has always been on teaching the kids a love of the game, as well as teaching them the basic skills. It's nice to see that the kids are having fun AND winning. Good reinforcement for both the kids and the parents! This season they are refereed, the score is kept, and they are ranked. After the third game we will all have rankings and will play a bracket type tourney at the end of the season. Weird to think that we'll add the competitive part in this go round as we've never had that in the past (well, except for the one coach who told the 5 year olds that they LOST by a score of 12 to 3, and that they'll do better next week - terrible, TERRIBLE way to teach them a love of the game). Anyway, Tom has struck a nice balance between encouraging and acknowledging the win and getting back to the idea of the love of the game and the skills. Good job man, good job.

First Soccer Game

Ian and Sam, like their older brother Max, are soccer monsters. They both played in their first real soccer game this past weekend and both did a FANTASTIC job! Ian was a defensive predator, and Sam was a scoring machine. They have picked up on the game and are taking everything they know about soccer and are leaving it on the field. It was great fun to watch their team play - all the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves too!

Ian taking control of the ball!

Sam cruising down the field scoring his second goal!

Dang Deer

THESE two are the culprits:

And this is what they are doing:

Dang deer.

A Teachable Moment

You never know when one of these come along, but low and behold here's one now:

Bad mommy.

We have no milk, and no bread, it's 11:58pm, and the boys have a need for lunches at school tomorrow. I tried to remember today to get milk and bread, but no, it just didn't happen. It's not like I really did anything else, but apparently I'm easily distracted. I can't even imagine what my children will eat for lunch tomorrow. The milk we can do without for a small bit. The bread, well, two eat sandwiches and we really don't have anything else for them to eat aside from cold Mac N Cheese or cold chicken nuggets (that's the preference of the third kiddo). So we'll see how it all falls out in the morning. Am I going to be running to the store in the morning, or will the boys figure out something else to take in their lunches? Am I the bad mommy tomorrow, or will I swoop in and somehow save the day? Cross your fingers that we all work something out, but I'm sure we will.

Maybe I can get myself a milk man..and bread man...hmmm...

Soccer Game #1 - Max!

We have three boys playing soccer this year, and Max's team is now keeping score. Tom is actually coaching both teams for the boys this year - they were short on U-6 coaches and my kind hubby offered himself up. It's actually pretty cool that he gets to work with all three - he's a great coach and really instills a love of the game in the kids.

For Max's team this year they are playing U-8. It's competitive - they really do keep score now. The first game went swimmingly - considering that the kids only had one practice due to a rain out, and we have two kids that haven't ever really played before. They all kind of got it, and that was neat to see. Max not only scored a goal or two, but he played well and had fun. Can't ask for more than that!

Max working his magic!

(The big guy in yellow is the Ref, not a giant 8 year old, and no, Max

doesn't have a "tail" - it's the glasses holder hanging down in back!)

Go BOYS!

Stunning touchdown passes, premature celebration (resulting in dropped balls but eventual touchdowns), record breaking plays, crazy fumbles, penalties, rushing touchdowns, incredible number of first half points, and my beloved Dallas Cowboys playing the last Monday night game at Texas Stadium. As D.D. Lewis said years ago, “Texas Stadium has a hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team." And to top it all off, a 41-37 win over Philadelphia. Someone must be smiling.

Finally time

It's finally time to spill the beans and share our big news. We are in the process of adopting a child! We have completed our home study and are in the process of waiting. We are working with an agency and they are sending out our profile to expectant moms and dads here in the US, but basically at this point we wait. In the meantime we're getting our home ready for another kiddo. We have an extra room in our house, and it will become the baby's room - complete with baby gear and cute critters all around. We are slowly collecting that baby gear - the big things - as friends and family give the items up. We are all thrilled beyond belief - Ian wants a sister, Max offered up his room to share, and Sam is making big brother plans already. Tom and I are very excited about the prospect of raising another great little kid and are ready to get going! So, keep on eye on us here - one day soon we'll be a family of SIX!

Not cool. Not cool at all.

The boys and I were in the cars a few days back and we were having a conversation about the cars around us as we do quite often. The boys are into counting Jeeps, VW Bugs, and Mini Coopers. In the midst of the car counting Max dropped the big Momma bomb on me. I said something about how cool it would be to drive one particular car (can't remember which car it is now, but it was some sort of fast, sexy looking convertible), when Max said ina matter of fact voice "Moms think that minivans are cool."

Yeah. Right. Minivans are cool.

Poor kid. didn't even see me coming at him as I flew over the two rows of seats and grabbed and shook some sense into him. (Not really - I was driving at the time.) After sucking back in all the air that rushed out of my body I explained that most moms would rather be driving that sexy looking convertible, that luxury car, or that big truck (well, that's my vote) than this minivan. And dear child, minivans are not cool -in anyone's book.

Sigh...there's still work to be done.

Back to school - but not in the traditional way

Why on earth would you want to ever go back to high school, and at 33 years old even???!!! This woman did. Yikes. Just yikes.

Individualy. Wrapped. Prunes.

Now I've seen it all - what's next though - individually wrapped raisins? I saw these a few days ago at the store, and honestly, I wasn't terribly surprised. I mean, after seeing individually wrapped potatos you aren't surprise by much in the grocery store aisle. So go grab that ONE prune that you want to have. Who eats just one prune?

9/11/01

Our country changed that day, and while the kids are too young to remember (the little boys weren't even a twinkle in our eyes at that point), it is still important that they understand. So each year we do something to thank the folks who risk their lives on a daily basis to protect us. This year, like last, we took cookies to the fire station (NO - I didn't make them myself - that would be cruel). It's a little thing, but it shows them that we care, and that we really do appreciate what they do for us. And the best part - the boys get it.

So thank you local firefighters. and thank you to all the others that make life safer for all of us.

This one's cute!

Thanks to The Lady Bug for sharing this one! That said, my profile probably sounds like it fits you too - but go get your own! It's fun!

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

HBDC - The Inventor

Humanity, Background, Detail, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to humanity. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that is affected by the details of life. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on humanity, you tend to seek out other people and get energized by being around others. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are highly focused on specific goals or tasks and find meaning in life by pursuing those goals. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

The Telly Button

Betcha didn't know that Ian had a telly button:

Meet our little friend

He's currently hidden among the pumpkin vines.

Now cross your fingers that those darn deer don't see it!

Fifth Tooth

What happens when you lose your fifth tooth? Well, it sits on the hutch for three days until you FINALLY remember to put it under your pillow so that he tooth fairy even has a faint clue that you've lost the tooth. Then, the tooth fairy brings you a shiny dollar coin! Max is well on his way to that full rack of adult teeth now. He's once again the grinny guy with the big space in his mouth!

OOOO! Politics!

Gotta love when folks get together to rah-rah their parties and drum up support for their candidates. I just can't get enough of all of this, and even my kids have gotten involved: Lookie Who is Running For Office

Our Season's First Visitor

No, it isn't the lovely holiday season that spans the new year. And it isn't the warm summer season where friends come to visit. It's Hurricane Season, and for the first time since living in the DC area we have one headed right towards us:

We used to live in Florida and survived much larger more direct hits, and several not so direct hits. But since we've been here there haven't been any hurricanes that have headed this way. Hanna, in a slightly drunken path, is heading here day after tomorrow:

And while Hanna looks like a big storm, it's really this one that makes me nervous:

Ike is a scary looking, well formed storm. Who knows what he'll look like next week, but cross your fingers for just about everyone that he takes a wicked right turn and heads back out to sea. Those poor folks in Haiti and the Caribbean have had enough this year and there are still 80+ days to go. I'm not so concerned about the DC / Virginia / Maryland area, but about the folks who have lived through two storms. The ones who lost everything, some including family, and who are looking down the barrel of a loaded gun. Can't imagine how tough that must be. So keep your eyes on Mr. Ike and hope that he has the good sense to give up before he hits land.

First Day of School: 2008 Edition

Like last year, Max wasn't very forthcoming about his first day of school. But he's in third grade now, with the same teachers from last year (dual age immersion program) so it was all old hat to him and we weren't expecting much info.

Max

Ian and Sam however, started Kindergarten this year, so we were hoping for more info about the first day of school. They were both very excited that morning - slightly more obnoxious than normal, but all set to start school:

Ian

Sam

We threw them on the bus with Max and sent them on their way.

And what did we learn from these three jokers about their first day?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well, after a bit of teeth pulling we learned that they had recess...ummm...they ate lunch...OH yeah - they rode the bus to school (but we already knew that because we put them ON the bus that morning)...and well, that's pretty much it.

All three seemed to have had a pretty good day, and after gymnastics class for the little boys, all three were pretty much done. So, I'll chalk this up in the win column for the Phipps family. Not going to complain about three basically happy kids, exhausted from their first day, and full of little to no information.

And yes, like Max's first grade year I'm reporting a bit late in the game, so I can say that the second day of school was full of just a little more information. Pointed questions always help, along with the requisite note from the teacher! Seems that at least one of our kiddos actually did stuff on the first day of school. The rest, well, they're happy so no complaining here!

How to make a newly minted 8 year old happy

It's a simple formula - take a cool present, toss in some wrapping paper and some tape (might need some scissors too), and you are set. Here's our stab at the recipe:

Believe

So this last day before the end of summer when all the kiddos go rushing back to school, take a peek at this video:

And remember, believe.

These are good:

No, I mean REALLY good. Try some - you'll thank me. We can't get enough of these in our house - we tear through the big huge cartons. Watch out though - they are highly addictive. Must be laced with something - other than cheese that is.