Finally

Soccer....finally. Jake has been waiting to be able to play soccer for 2 years. This is the first year that he has been old enough to play and we have heard about it since spring. He did a short clinic this summer for a week and loved it. Now he gets to go every Tuesday night for practice, then has games every Saturday for a few months. He loves to run around and kick the ball, play with the other kids and to finally have something that "he" is involved in. (rather than Amaya) He has certainly been through many things with Amaya. (school shows, talent shows, gymnastics, choir, and her brief stint with soccer before the broken arm) It is now his time to shine, and he is just bursting with pride.

I think the BEST thing to him is that his friend Charles is also on the team. You are not allowed to pick which team that you are on, or where you practice, you just get what you get. There are 19 teams with his age kids on them. It is so crazy that these 2 boys are on the same team. They were in preschool together, now are in the same young 5's class together, and now the soccer team. I think that it is meant to be. Plus, another opportunity to car pool!!! Loving it!!

Stretching out the first day.

Jake's coach is really nice and is so good with all the kids. It is so different in comparison to Amaya's coach. I am so happy for him to finally be doing a Jake thing. Way to go Jakers!! Have fun!!

Of course, I had to take a few pics of Ryan who was at the practice too. He was so good, and just watched most of the time. He is such a cutie patootie!!

Free Time

Alone with Ryan...I get to be alone with Ryan in the morning now because Jake has school til around 1200. The first day was a bit rough, as he was in to everything, and making messes everywhere, but after that the time alone with him is so fun. We read books, go for walks, play outside, or just hang out inside. He has become a cuddler, which is my favorite! His speech is exploding with new words each day. He repeats all the time, even if you are talking on the phone, you catch him saying what you are, it is so cute. He is such a sweet boy, but can also be a little handful, just like Jake. I always thought he would be more laid back than Jake, but now I am not so sure. Time will tell.

He likes to play with the pretend kitchen and cook. Then he pretends to eat, cook more and get drinks. It is so cute, his pretend play. He is growing so fast, my little baby.

Life Lessons

Amaya came home from school today and told Scott "It's too easy, I don't like to go anymore!"
"I already learned this stuff in the first grade!!"
Poor Amaya, the little genius, has to endure all the new school stuff. The teachers haven't had time to assess the students yet, and they filled her folder with reading material that she was reading in kindergarten. It is actually kind of funny to me. I love that she is smart, and LOVES to learn, but one thing that she really needs to learn is patience.
I talked to her teacher yesterday and they are all just getting accustomed to being back in school, meeting all the other kids and learning classroom rules and schedules.
She will be fine in a couple of weeks.

GI Joe

Please check out GI Joe's blog and wish him well wishes in his comment section. I just want him and everyone he is with to know that we all have well wishes for him and are thinking of him. He is on his way to Iraq.

His comments aren't posted, but he gets them and is able to read them!!

Thank You.

Ah Sunflower

Sunflower

You're expected to see only the top,

where sky scrambles bloom,

and not the spindly leg, hairy,

fending off tall, green darkness beneath.

Like every flower, she has a little theory,

and what she thinks is up.

I imagine the long climb out of the dark

beyond morning glories, day lilies, four o'clocks

up there to the dream she keeps lifting,

where it's noon all day.

I am not sure of the author, but I did take the picture.

Growing up

Wow, another school year has come upon us. Amaya is in 2nd grade, and Jake is starting Young 5's. 2nd grade, it sounds like such a high grade, like she must be older. She is 7, but it seems as though she is still my little baby. She will always be my baby, but again, it just doesn't seem that she is old enough for 2nd grade. She is independent, strong, quiet, smart, and yet, is such a home body. She loves to be at home and have all her family here. She doesn't like change, but loves school. She was so ready to get on the bus yesterday, not a moment of hesitation, and she just hopped right on. It seems like it was just yesterday when she was writing her name on the driveway, by herself, with chalk. She was 3. Fours years have gone by since then and she has learned so much more. What am I going to be thinking the first time that she drives out the driveway with a liscense, or goes on her first date? My little girl. My Amaya Marie. My little punkin.

Amaya getting on the bus and telling Mickie (the bus driver) that she missed her, then she gave her a hug. We really like having Mickie as our bus driver, she is so nice and always talked to Jake, even when he wasn't a student.

Getting off the bus at school. (yes- I met them there to make sure that they got to where they needed to go, and NO, I didn't follow the bus there!)

Amaya and her new teacher, Mrs. Clauss.

Getting ready for the big day, Amaya and Jake stand in front of "the tree". It is a dogwood that my parents gave to us when Amaya was born. We always take their picture in front of it on 1st days of school. It is fun to see how the kids and the tree grow each year.
At our bus stop. This year, our neighbors, Sean and Mckayla are at the same bus stop as us. The stop is at the end of the driveway, where I love to have it. It is so convenient to have it stop right at our house. McKayla is in 5th grade and Sean is in 2nd with Amaya. He is even in the same exact class as her.

Jakers, our little man. He has always seemed older to me than his real age, but this year I notice the youngness about him. He is in young 5's because of his birthday, but also because of his immaturity. He is a comedian, a talker, a very outgoing little guy, who is a natural leader. I am happy that he is in school, but sad because this is the first year that he is away from me every day of the week. I am going to miss all that cuddling in the morning that he does. He always comes in, gives a hug and a kiss and says "good morning mama". It is just precious. He has still come in the last few days saying the same thing, but the extended cuddling has halted so that he can get ready.

Jake, too, had no problem jumping on that bus. Not a bit of shyness or hesitation. He WAS a little apprehensive once we got to the school because there were kids everywhere and we weren't sure just where to go, but we soon figured it out.

Getting off the bus at school and happy to see his mom.















Jake spotted TJ right away and gave him one of his famous hugs. TJ is also in Amaya's class.

Once in the school, Jake spotted his great friend, from preschool, Charles. The two boys are like peas in a pod. They speak their 5 year old "poopy diaper" language and have nonstop giggles. They are in the same class once again.

The boys checking out their frogs that they placed on the board in front of the classroom the week before at "meet the teacher" night.

Jake with his new teacher, Mrs. Ward.

Let down

Losers: Julie and I, were not able to donate today because our hematocrit's were too low.....
We felt quite dumb. Oh well, maybe next time we can save some lives.

Donate

Hey- Julie and I are donating blood tomorrow between 1 and 3 pm at the Muskegon Red Cross, just as walk in's. Anyone who wants to join us, give us a call!!!

Address: American Red CrossMuskegon - Oceana Chapter313 W. WebsterMuskegon, MI 49441
E-mail: lipant@arcmon.org
Phone: 231-726-3555
Fax: 231-722-4126
Web site: http://www.arcmon.org/


To learn more blood donation opportunities, visit http://www.givelife.org/ or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).
Want to know if you're able to give blood? Review the donor eligibility guidelines.
We all expect blood to be there for us, but barely a fraction of those who can give do. Yet sooner or later, virtually all of us will face a time of great vulnerability in which we will need blood. And that time is all too often unexpected.

Julie (and Don's)

Our family went to Ada to visit Scott's cousin, Julie and her family on Sunday. Before we got married, Scott did so much with Julie and Don, then after we got married, we continued to do a lot with them. Since having children, our times together have decreased immensely. We only see them about once a year. They are very fun to be around and make us laugh all the time. You know, those witty people that come up with the one liners all the time....that's how they are. They have 2 kids, Sydney-12, and Seth-7. Our kids played together like they were best friends. Sydney, being 12, is obviously a bit older, but when it comes to the Jonas Brothers, or Hannah Montana, we are talking the exact same language. Amaya was in complete awe in Sydney's room. She has a crush on Joe Jonas, and Sydney's room is covered with posters of the group. Sydney even shared some of her posters with young Amaya. It was so nice.













Jake in all his glory because Seth likes playing with Star Wars Lego's too. Man, it's just like our house.













Jake and Seth ran around playing army, squirt guns, tormented the girls and made prank phone calls to Julie, and Grandpa. (I am not even kidding) I didn't even know that they called Grandpa til last night, when he told us.

Julie and Scott floating peacefully in the pool, catching up.

Sydney and her friend, Kailey dressed as Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. Another favorite of Amaya's.

Ryan trying his hardest to push Scott in the pool .

Don came towards the end, had dinner with us all and just hung out for a while. It is great to see them, and we can't believe how big their kids get each time that we see them.

Mark & Kelly's

We went to Mark and Kelly's on Saturday, for some last minute fun in the sun. What a beautiful day again!

Ryan got very daring on this day. He decided that he could jump off of the diving board. What a little dare devil.










Cole

Uncle Mark trying to get into the most relaxing float of all....a boat.

Kelly floating around on the noodle.

Paige.

Ryan jumping off of the diving board to Daddy.

The kids are finally getting to the age that it is not much work at all to bring them places. They LOVE to swim, and beg to go somewhere daily. It was so relaxing to just go over to my brothers, but sadly, this was the first time that we have been over this year. The kids all played together, and all kept an eye on Ryan. Paige and Cole don't get to see him that often and you can tell that they both love little kids. They were so good with him. After swimming, we grilled out and just enjoyed more sun.

Dad

Dad is home doing well, and hasn't smoked since the day of the attack!! I am so proud of him. That must be hard!!!
He is still tired, but in good spirits.

Thank you to all for your prayers, thoughts and well wishes. It is so awesome to have friends to be able to count on! LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Check out the older blog of Acute MI, where I added in the pics from the before and after of his catherization. It is pretty neat to see, sad that it was on my dad, but scientifically cool.

What personality do you have??

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - incorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

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