Our Year in Sports

I neglected posts on our sporting activities all year. So we'll hit the highlights.


SOCCER

Sterling took an 8-week soccer class through a city program. He loved it and had lots of fun. It's amazing how much faster the younger kids pick up sports skills just from watching their older siblings. Sterling did great out there and was so proud when he received his very own ball at the end of the class.







BALLET


Audrey's spring activity was ballet. She had been asking to take a ballet class for a while so we signed her up. She had a good time but didn't seem to be as thrilled about it as she expected. I wasn't totally thrilled with the class either. There didn't seem to be very much instruction in basic steps or technique; it was mostly just leaping around. Oh well. We tried it. Maybe we'll do something else next time.






T-BALL

Dallin played Little League t-ball again. This time he was on the Rockies. Melvin was his coach again and they both had a fun season. We could definitely see an improvement in his skills from last year. As always, the games were entertaining to watch. By the end of the season, Dallin's team was doing pretty good with not having the entire team chase after each ball.




Hat night for this next season of t-ball is coming up. Both Dallin and Sterling will be playing t-ball this season. Their age difference won't allow them to be in the same division, so practice and game schedules might be tricky, but we're looking forward to watching them play.


FALL SOCCER

Both Dallin and Audrey played soccer again this fall. They both did great. Dallin's team was named the "Tough Customers." Six of the nine players on Dallin's team, including him, were on the same team last year, so he was comfortable with his teammates and coach right from the start. He was a lot more aggressive this year and really got into the game. He scored several goals throughout the season. His team had some great athletes and they creamed every team they played. (Actual scores aren't kept in his division, but his team never had fewer than 10 goals. It was fun to watch, yet we felt bad for the other teams.)

Audrey played for the "Red Hot Chili Peppers." She's getting into the older, more competitive divisions where scoring goals is harder, but she scored her very first goal in a game and was so proud of herself. We were proud of her too! She learned some really good skills and developed a better understanding of positions and strategy. And of course, she had fun. Audrey is fast and loves to run down the field.

AN EXTRA

Of course, throughout the year we had plenty of unorganized sports activities. Swimming in the neighbors pool, ball games in the street, and a little backyard football with cousins. Michael or Ruth caught this picture of Sterling fending off his opponents at grandma's house.

Maren's Birthday

Maren turned 2 this year. (Well, last year. November.) I can't believe how big she is getting. And I'm happy to report that she has finally got past the constant sullen, pouty face stage that she was in for so long. (She still wears that look from time to time, but at least it's no longer permanent.)

We made cupcake cones for her birthday. It was a disaster. They kept falling over and frosting was everywhere, but they tasted fine and the kids had fun. If we ever do it again, I'll have to find a better method.







Maren got a doll stroller for her birthday, along with a baby doll that she can take in the bath and a pillow pet (every child in this house desperately wants one). She was a happy girl.




Some things about Maren at age 2:

• She still carries around and sleeps with Audrey's shirt (did I ever mention that? Sometime around the 10-month mark, Maren crawled into Audrey's room and swiped a polka-dotted shirt out of Audrey's drawer. It became her security blanket and she has never given it back.)




• She is teaching herself to use the potty. She's not ready to be totally potty-trained but I feel like I'm ahead of the game with her in that regard.



• Maren loves her siblings and is always happy when they include her in their activities.



• She plays by herself really well. And usually doesn't get into too much trouble. Unless she's in the bathroom, squeezing out the entire tube of toothpaste into the sink.



• When you ask her a question to which the answer is yes, she says "Uh-huh" or "Mm-hmm." It makes me smile every time, it's so cute.



• Thanks to her older siblings, she says things that none of my other 2-year-olds have ever said. Like "Goodbye underpants!" or "meanie-head!"



• She can't say words that start with "s" and always puts her pronouns in the wrong spot. So when she wants her shirt she'll say "Where hirt-y me?"



• Whenever we pass Melvin's workplace she shouts, "Helloooo Daddy!"



• She still has the longest eyelashes I've ever seen that weren't stick-on.



• Her smile can light up the room.

Melvin has said a couple of times to me, "I bet you were just like Maren at that age." Which I interpret to mean "really stinking cute yet totally exasperating." We love you, Maren!

Halloween

As usual, I'm way behind. So I'm just going to do some quick documenting here to try to get us up to speed. I've got a lot of catching up to do!

A trial run to see if Maren would wear the costume. She looked so cute running around Halloween night with her little tail wiggling behind her!

The kids had a ton of fun on Halloween. Audrey dressed up as Snow White (although she wouldn't do anything to make her hair black, not even a wig. "No one will recognize me!"), the boys were SuperDallin and SuperSterling (which means they dressed as themselves with the addition of capes), Maren was Nemo (although for some reason she was often mistaken for a pumpkin), and Camille was a tiger. Our camera was acting up and so our pictures didn't turn out, but you can get the idea.





It's getting harder and harder to steal candy from the kids. As soon as we got home, they dumped out their loot and started sorting and taking inventory. I'm not joking! The three older ones knew exactly how many Reese's Peanut Butter Cups they had in their pumpkins. How do I sneak one if they are keeping count?

She's Here!

Camille Adelle joined our family on Tuesday, September 27, at 9:04 AM. She is a healthy baby, weighing in at 9 lbs 2 oz at birth and measuring 20.5 inches. I'm not sure where all the weight is because, besides having a round face, she's really not that chunky. So far she looks nothing like our other babies, especially with all of her dark hair. But she is a sweet baby and we're so happy she has finally arrived.


Meeting Camille

We came home Wednesday afternoon and everyone was so excited to meet her. All of the other kids are really sweet with her. Maren makes sure to notify me anytime Camille cries, then will say to her little sister, "Shh. No crying baby." She also loves to "pat baby" and hold her fingers. Maren can say half of Camille's name and it comes out sounding like "Meal." The boys are always asking to hold her and saying "she's so cute!" Both Dallin and Sterling have been big helpers. Audrey has been a great help, too, holding Camille, getting me diapers and things, and taking good care of the rest of her siblings. We have such good kids and are so blessed to have all of them in our home.

Sterling waiting patiently for his turn to hold Camille.

Maren waiting not so patiently.

My mom was able to be here all last week and we are so grateful for her help taking care of everyone while Melvin and I were at the hospital with Camille. We're also so thankful for everyone who has helped us with meals, driving kids to school and back home...a big thank you to all of you!

Happy Birthday Sterling!

Yesterday was Sterling's birthday - he turned 4. He must have been really excited for his birthday because he got up just after 6 am. This is the kid I usually have to wake up around 8:00 to get ready to go to preschool.

He had a pretty good day. He took the "monster" cupcakes that he and Dallin helped me decorate to preschool and got to pick his job for the day. After preschool I took him to Baskin-Robbins for his free birthday ice cream. Ice cream for lunch, yum! He could hardly wait for Dad to come home so he could open presents. Sterling requested peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. Gotta love it! I was game since Baby #5 is due in a few days and cooking dinner wears me out. No one else wanted a peanut butter sandwich since they had one for lunch, so I made the other kids mac & cheese (yes, from a box) and Melvin and I had the rest of the leftovers in the fridge. Then we had some monster cake, played some more with Sterling's new toys, and went to bed. Doesn't sound like much, but Sterling was happy, which is what matters.

He got a set of dart guns and quickly passed one to each sibling so they could all play. There are darts stuck to walls and windows everywhere.

Grandma and Grandpa Alaska and Uncle Rick got Sterling a pillow pet, which he has been asking for forever. Now the other siblings are jealous. :)

I've been meaning to do "interview" the kids on their birthdays for a while but somehow never manage. Today I copied Shannon's questions for Alyssa (plus a couple others) and asked them to Sterling. So here are his answers.



I am ... Sterling.

I am afraid of ... monsters.

I like ... toys.

My favorite color is ... green.

I can ... play around.

I like to eat ... pizza.

I know ... Dallin.

I like to watch ... Looney Toons.

I like to go ... to Chick-Fil-A.

I like preschool because ... I like to go there.

I cry when ... somebody hits me.

I can't wait for ... my candy.

When I grow up ... I want to drive.

My hero is ... Daddy.

Mommy gets mad when ... Maren gets cranky. (First he said, "That's a hard one." Too many choices?)

Mommy is happy when ... we be nice to each other.

My favorite stuffed animal is ... my dinosaur sleeping bag and Hopkins (his Webkinz frog).

My favorite place to go ... is Chick-Fil-A.

My favorite song is ... "409" by the Beach Boys.

My favorite church song is ... "Praise to the Man."

Mommy makes me happy by ... helping me tie my shoes.

Daddy makes me happy by ... making me a peanut butter sandwich.

I know my Mommy and Daddy love me ... because you guys gave me some presents.

Grandma and Grandpa Beach brought Sterling a dinosaur pillow that has an attached sleeping bag which stuffs inside the dinosaur. He loves it.

Sterling is such a nice boy. He is always sharing with his brothers and sister. He got some candy for his birthday and while at the doctor's office with me this morning he shared his M&Ms with Maren. He literally gave her every other one. Sterling is a great helper too and such a funny boy. He's always saying things that make us laugh. One day he watched an episode of Looney Toons where Daffy Duck starts arguing with himself (there were two pictures of Daffy in a filmstrip). Daffy 1 said to Daffy 2 "Don't let that bother you Jack!" Sterling called to me and said that Daffy Duck's brother was named Jack. I had a good laugh from that. I love to listen to Sterling sing (The Beach Boys are his current favorite and he knows several of their songs) and say his prayers. He is a sweetheart and we sure love him. Happy birthday, Monster Man!

Queens Over Kings

This post has been a long time in coming. I've been meaning to do it for months. But you all know how good I am at posting.

Most of you who read this blog probably already know, but there are a few of you that I haven't seen or chatted with in a while. So the news is: we are expecting another baby - number 5! - at the end of September. I know. I'm almost through with the pregnancy and am just now telling people! It's no secret if you've seen me anytime since about March though. :) I used to be able to "hide" my pregnancies until about the 4th month or so, but that's not the case anymore.

Anyway, the ultrasound technician told us that it's most likely a girl. Everyone is excited but Dallin is still holding out hope. Since a definite answer was not given to the boy/girl question, he tells us there is still a chance that it is a boy. Either way, the constant discussion in this house about whether "boys rule and girls drool" or "girls rule and boys drool" will finally be answered, simply because one will outnumber the other.

Do you think we can fit one more kid on this motorcycle?

We're planning for a girl. So if anyone has suggestions for girl names, send them our way. There are a few names on the list, but aside from the oft-suggested "Ricki Sue", "Garthina", and "Duanella", we've pretty much got...nothing. And with less than seven weeks to go, a little help would be great!

Oh, and if you have anything to say other than "congratulations" or "I'm so happy for you" (or a name suggestion), let me suggest that you keep it to yourself. Because, believe me, I've heard it all already and don't need to hear it again!

Here We Go

Looks like my kids and my blog took a vacation for summer. But...summer is over (what?) so it's time to get back into the swing of things. Yep, school started yesterday so even though it still feels like summer outside, the official summer break here is finished.

Audrey started second grade, Dallin started kindergarten, and Sterling started preschool three days a week. (He'd been going two days a week since January but has moved up to the pre-K class.) They were all super-excited to be going.

Since Sterling's preschool starts five minutes after the elementary school starts, I knew I'd need help getting everyone where they needed to be on time the first day. Melvin was nice enough to take the day off and help me shuttle kids. I took Sterling (and Maren, the tag-along) to school while Melvin took Audrey and Dallin. He wanted to be able to walk Dallin to class on his first day, since I will be doing it most other days. (Actually, I walked him to class today, and might tomorrow but most of the time Audrey will be walking him to class. It's even her choice. Nice to have a helper.) And perhaps because of the novelty of it, and the fact that the kids love to have Dad pick them up, Melvin picked everyone up from school. Three separate trips to pick kids up. I wish he could be home to help every day.

So...the day went well, everyone had a good time and is still excited to go back. Both Audrey and Dallin are in combination classes - Audrey is in a 1st grade-2nd grade class, Dallin is in a Kindergarten-1st grade class. I guess that means that my kids are independent learners and can handle being in a class like that. I think they will both do well. The good thing is that the teachers for these two classes are two of the best teachers at the school. So we lucked out in the teacher department.

Right now Sterling and Maren are entertaining each other, which is nice. And for the next six weeks or so, I'll have three hours three days a week where it's just me and Maren. I'm not sure that I'll know what to do with myself. Maybe I can actually get stuff posted on this blog! Or get my house clean. Or just spend one-on-one time with my youngest child. What an idea!