Counting Down to Summer

A school year has ended! Having kids gives me the same feelings as actually living it; our lives revolve around that school calendar. The last two weeks took forever as we counted down to the start of summer. I love all the staying up late, the family vacations, the swimming, the sleepovers...I love having my kids home every day!

Our Spring was all about soccer. Well really, you could fill that in with any blank, our Fall, our weekends, our life. And it sounds stereotypical, the soccer mom and all, but I love it. We've become a part of a whole new community. Kellen turned 5 and one of his favorite phrases as a four year old was "when I'm five, I get to play soccer." He had plenty of stare at the sky moments and when is snack time questions, but still finished every game saying he loved soccer. 

The familiar tongue-out expression of concentration that we always see while Trenton is playing!

Sawyer got to play Parks and Rec soccer with one of our good friends as coach. It was quickly apparent that he was old for his grade and that he had an older brother teaching him skills.

As his scoring increased, we noticed a slight influence from those MLS games he's been watching. Uh Oh. 

Trenton ended his season with two big tournaments. Hot Shots is our local, club-sponsored tournament and our U9 team placed first against Coeur d' Alene, Sandpoint, and Spokane teams. Coach Kevin got to reward each of the boys with a medal.

Then at the end of May, Sting put together a conglomerate team of U9 players and we played in a silver U10 bracket in Kalispell, MT against Flathead and Canadian teams. These 11 boys had not practiced or played together as a team and yet once again placed first in the tournament.

Such an amazing end to the season that has us looking forward to the next one!

Easter Sunday I had to work, so Saturday we spent the day as a family to celebrate. The weather cooperated, so we played at the kids' favorite park, checked out books at the library, walked the floating dock, ate Hudson's burgers, and ended the day at a different park. It was a long, beautiful day. I also got some of my favorite pictures!

Easter Sunday

Kellen's preschool year ended with "Moms and Muffins" and graduation. He was so excited when I walked in the room, and explained with a grin, "Mom, I got you a blueberry muffin because I know you want to be healthy...but I get sugar, so I picked chocolate chip!" 
They finished by singing, "You are my sunshine."

Graduation was especially sad because Trenton, Sawyer, and Kellen all had Miss Tammy for preschool over the last five years and she's moving to Iowa. 
We will really miss her when it's time for Elliot to go to school.

We took one final picture in his classroom after the ceremony. I can't believe this boy will be at Ramsey with his brothers next year as a big Kindergartener.

Now we head into the summer, ready to play!