That's A Wrap!

Another youth soccer season has come to a close. This past Saturday Brandon's soccer team had their 2nd to last game and celebratory pizza party at a local pizza parlor. The kids received their metals and chowed down on pizza, pop, and ice cream. Does it get any better than that?? Just look at that motley crew! The kids had a blast. Surprisingly, we were the only team in the restaurant - which is very rare for Valley View. Usually there are about 4 teams squeezed into this tiny place. For being the only team there it sure was noisy! Don't mind Dad in the background...he really is happy to be there.

Last night was the final game. Brandon scored two great goals and played amazing defense. Here is Brandon after he scored his last goal - looks like a ballet move to me, quite graceful. The league hands out a Sportsmanship award, one for each team. They don't tell the coaches how to select the player deserving of this metal so Scott had the parents choose. Now, most would say that every parent will vote for their own kid. Surprisingly, not all of them did. Out of 9 kids on the team 4 of the parents (one vote per family) voted for Brandon - and I wasn't one of them. Brandon received the Sportsmanship award for his team! He was very humble upon accepting his metal but mostly I think he was concerned as to whether there were duties that came with the award, much like being crowned Miss America, or something along those lines. To say the least, he was proud...and so was I.

During last night's game, Alexis was at karate class learning her weapon kata - she will be feared one day! - and crushing on an older man in her class, he's in 8th grade! I was wondering why she had to do her hair and look "cute" for karate class...Aye Caramba! And Christopher, well, he was busy yelling at me (MA!) to get him out of that confining stroller so he can run out on to the field and show those kids how to kick a soccer ball! This poor little guy has been a trooper through this season. It will be no time until I'm posting his soccer pictures up here!

HYEEEEE YAH!

Alexis and Brandon have started karate. Alexis has gone for a few years but took a break to do other activities like cheerleading and basketball. But now she is BACK! She has earned her orange belt and is ready to mooooooooove on up. Brandon seems to really like the class. He earned his white belt yesterday!! He was so happy, and I was so proud. He is in a class that is geared just for little guys, teaches them the basics. It is so cute watching them. Stay tuned for some pictures. I keep forgetting the camera! :(

School is going great for both kids. Alexis is trying to get involved in all sorts of school groups and activities. Her grades (from what she says) are great. Somehow she was placed in a math class with "all the smart kids". I picked her up from school yesterday and she says "guess what, I have the highest grade in math class!". WOO HOO!! I was keeping my fingers crossed that the highest grade was a good one. I recall one time in English class my Junior year in high school where the highest grade was a "D+". So, I was very glad to hear the second highest grade...100%! Alexis did some extra credit to currently hold the top position with a 104%!
Honestly, I think she was switched at birth because she is WAAAAAAY to brilliant to be my kid! He,he,he!!
Brandon is loving kindergarten, thank goodness!! The kids are eating their way through the alphabet. Each child is assigned a letter and on their specified day they have to bring a snack that starts with that letter. Brandon has the letter R. I feel for the parents of the children that were assigned the letters Q and X. EEESH! Brandon will be bringing in his R food on Monday the 29th. Sure, I had thought about bringing in something healthy like raisins but who am I kidding most kids won't eat those. So, I have joined the list of "Pain in the Butt Parents" and will be bringing in Reese Cups. Poor Mrs. Weaver...

Let the Games Begin!

Last week Brandon started his second year of soccer. Scott is coaching his team, again. While for Scott this is a rewarding yet challenging task for him. His team consists of mostly 4 year olds with a few 5 years and most of the kids have never played before. There are two boys (mine included) that have played before and basically dominate the field. There are a couple kids that while the teams are taking their positions on the field they are playing Spider-Man or -Woman in the soccer net. There is another little boy who would prefer to just sit with mom on the sideline and rejoyce when his team scores. Then there are the girls, ah, the girls. One just can't accept the fact that picking up the ball in the middle of play will result in the other team getting the ball. She will pick up the ball, throw it, and turn to mom and dad on the sideline and look for the approving thumbs up...she doesn't get the thumbs up :( Finally, there is one little girl in particular that, I believe, Scott finds the most challenging of all. This little girl was in Brandon's preschool class and, according to her father, just loved "Brandon Scott Wolf" - as she would refer to him. She really does not care to play soccer. It seems as though she sees this time as social hour with her friends and, of course, Brandon Scott Wolf.

All in all, the kids have a great time and really enjoy being on the field. Brandon has improved tremendously from last year. For him it is all about the game, but on the down side, he will get a little too hard on himself if he didn't score his 10 goals like he vowed he would do.

Tally thus far... 1 win; 1 tie; 0 loses! But no one is keeping score here, right???

And We're Off...

Well, here we go! Another school year has begun. Alexis, my 12 going on 22 year old, has started 7th grade. Last year, I will just say, she was a little genius! (Not sure where she got that from??) She was on Honor Roll all four quarters. I couldn't have been prouder of her. This year she is starting off with a bang. She was ecstatic to find out that her most favorite teacher, whom she had in 4th grade, was moving up to teach 7th. She hoped and prayed, as did we all, that she would get her again this year. Low and behold, she did!! So, we have Alexis off to school, now comes Brandon...

Brandon was very excited and very nervous for starting the Big K (Kindergarten). He loved his Preschool teacher and the secure environment it provided him. He had preschool in a retired teacher's basement of her home. It was an awesome experience for him, she was an excellent teacher! So, he goes from someone's basement to a new school that holds grades K-5 and tons of new kids. He was thrilled, however, to find out that his best buddy from preschool was going to be in his class. But, yes there is a "But", on the first day of school they split up the class so only half of the kids started on Sept. 2nd and the other half started on the 3rd. Yes, Brandon and his good buddy Owen were starting on different days!! UGH! He was not a happy camper (as you can see from the picture) :( But, at the end of the day he was all smiles. He had a great first day of school!

While Alexis and Brandon are off becoming geniuses at school, Christopher is at home reminding me everyday how easy Alexis and Brandon were at his age. LOL! Each of my children have been different. They each have their very distinct personalities, likes and dislikes, and level of curiosity. It seems that with each child the level of, let's call it curiosity, grows stronger and more advanced. Alexis was my laid back, didn't get into anything she shouldn't have, only cried when she was hungry or hurt, easy going first child. Brandon was my more determined, curious little explorer, that has to learn his lessons on his own but it only takes one time for the lesson to be learned second child. Christopher is my extremely determined, do things in his own time, has to learn his lessons on his own but it could take three or four times for him to actually accept it, third child. Christopher just amazes me everyday. He is so smart and yet so sneaky at his age. As a friend of mine says about his youngest daughter, I just hope he uses his powers for good and not evil. All I can do is my best to raise to him into a gentleman and hope and pray for success!