Soccer Season

April and May are filled with soccer practices and games around here. The boys are enjoying their seasons, and it has been fun watching them play.

Graham runs all over the field. When he learns to pass, he may be less tired.

Chase loves the social aspect. He can frequently be seen playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie or Duck-Duck-Goose on the sidelines. He also likes the snack at the end of the game.

Tech-Savvy Savior.

The kids and I are making icing yesterday when I mention that we are going to Skype with Grandma that evening. Out of nowhere, Gabriella asks if we can Skype with Jesus.

Slightly taken aback, I launch into an explanation about how Jesus is in heaven, but we can pray to him, etc. etc. She looks at me quizzically and I can tell that she is wondering why anyone would pray when the obvious choice would be to dial him up for a little face-to-face chitchat.

I hear the garage door. "Why don't you ask Daddy?" I say.

Will walks in. "Why can't we Skype with Jesus?" Gabriella asks.

"Because He doesn't have a Skype account." Will answers.

"Okay." And she walks away, fully satisfied with that explanation.

She was sick and tired.

Gabriella has an unfortunate spring cold. I put a box of tissues in her room and when I went back to check on her, I found that she had had a bit of fun with them. (But really, haven't we all wanted to do this at one point?)

Budding Author

Some of you may have already heard this, but it's worth repeating.

The kids have been potty trained for some time, but every once in a while, someone has an accident. Gabriella came up to me a while back as I was sitting at the kitchen table. Here was the conversation:

Gabriella: Mommy, I wrote a story, do you want to hear it?
Me: Sure!
Gabriella: Once, there was a little girl named Gabbyella. She wet her pants, so she took them off and got new pants. The End.
Me: Wow.
Gabriella: This is a true story.
Me: What???
Gabriella: For real.

Sure enough, she had had a tiny accident, but took care of it herself. I'm not sure we've had any since. Maybe she just needed to get that off her chest.

Yippee Ti Yi Yay

Driving back from getting groceries tonight, we were listening to an old cowboy song (The Old Chisolm Trail), which happens to be one of Chase's favorites. When it got to the part about "punching cows", Chase made a career decision.

Chase: I'm going to punch cows when I grow up.
Me: Oh, you're going to go out West and be a cowboy?
Chase: Yep. Mommy, if you were a cow, I will punch you.
Me: Thanks, Chase.
Chase: It will hurt.

Tricked you!

I took the kids for a bike ride the other day through the parking lot behind our house. As we were walking, I noticed that a black vulture, which is not native to our area, was flying over. (I am no bird expert--my dad pointed them out when he was here.) I mentioned it to Graham, who was mostly unimpressed. The bird flew away. I headed for home.

When I turned around, Graham was lying on the ground by his bike. I walked over to see what was wrong. He said, "I'm being a dead carcass to see if it will come back."

In my opinion, he was very convincing. Maybe that is how I can get him to lie down for a nap.

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man...