Kurtis has some competition

Three lacrosse games in less than a week. I'm really making up for lost time. Of course knowing we'd stop and eat at Maddox Steak House after one of the games was an incentive to go too. Yum. 

Any hoo.

The kids and I drove up to Smithfield to watch Kurtis' last regular season game. It was rescheduled to be a home game, which worked out fabulously since my sister-in-law was going to have her baby the next day. Excellent. I get some good sister points for coming and I get to hold a baby niece we've waited a very long time for! 

Kurtis played a really tough Herriman team. They lost but man was it a fight. Of course the officiating totally SUCKED! Case in point. You see that beefy #11 on the Herriman team? Well. He totally wiped Kurtis out from behind {which is illegal} and then proceeded to land and intentionally squash him as Kurtis was taking a shot on goal. It wasn't pretty. I stopped taking pictures when Kurtis jumped up - I've never seen him move so fast - and we all said in unison, Kurtis is going to hit that kid! I've never seen Kurtis get so angry. He got this crazy look in his eyes and you could tell from his body language that it took everything in him to not deck the kid and just walk away. 

It was cool though when one of our players totally knocked the opposing team to the ground. And I got it on camera. Boom.

Kurtis scored another goal this game. I'm not sure there are many games that go by that he doesn't score a goal or two... or three or four. He's good. 

But in a few year's Fern-boy is gonna give him a run for his money. That kid has been begging for a lacrosse stick like Uncle Kurtis' for months. I finally caved and bought him one and he played lacrosse all through the game and then for about two hours after we got to my parent's house. He totally kicked Uncle Jesse's butt. Although in my brother's defense, he's more of a soccer player.

Cole is such a stud muffin. He even walks with swagger.

And he simply adores his Uncle Kurt.

I'm a pretty big fan of him too.

On to State!

Sister Guilt

My little brother is a Senior this year and how many of his lacrosse games do you think I've been to? 

A big fat ZERO.

This season all of his games have either been an hour and a half North or an hour and a half South. We were spoiled last year when we could just walk across the street to the park. Well, with one of his last games against one of our high school's arch rivals, I decided I had to go. I packed up the kids, left work early, and drove to Cache Valley.

Apparently not coming to any of the games previously brings a curse upon you because they lost. I felt really bad. Especially because they had rocked it the game before against the other valley rival {and Jeff's alma mater}. The kids had fun running around with their soccer ball though. 

And I did help my parents out by taking pictures of the game. My Dad was so intense with the plays, that left to him alone Kurtis wouldn't have any pictures of his season.

But Kurtis is a stud and scored two goals just for me.  I swear he had a third goal but he says it was another kid who ended up scooping it in. And he would have had another one but got slammed hard when he was shooting the ball. Did I mention the officiating sucked? Well, according to those on the sidelines who actually understand what's going on. I better get these lacrosse rules figured out soon because Cole wants to play lacrosse just like Uncle Kurtis.

I remember those days... it brought back a lot of memories of my own high school sports years. Even with the emotions of losing a big game, Kurtis was a good sport when he saw us and gave me and the kids a big hug.

I love my little brother. I still think he's five and have a hard time believing he really is growing up but underneath those sexy beast calves {both of my brothers have the same looking calves} and wicked lacrosse shot, he's a sweet kid with a big heart.

I'm pretty lucky to be his favorite sister.  Wink wink.

It's Come Full Circle Now

It's come full circle now.

I'm the soccer coach.

When the rec center called to see if I'd be willing to coach Pearl's soccer team, two thoughts ran through my mind. First, maybe this would help Pearl and I to get along better. And second, with all the time, money, and vacation hours my Dad spent coaching and cheering for my soccer teams growing up I guess it's only fair that now it's my turn.

So I said yes. 

Our first week of games was a Utah spring in full force. Pouring rain and freezing cold. But the kids were so dang excited that after a few minutes we hardly noticed the uncooperative weather. 

My personal goals for the season? Have fun. Learn every kid's name. And teach the kids to not grab the ball with their hands. If we can accomplish all three, then I'll say we had a successful season. Pearl's goal in her first game of soccer ever? Well. That's just a bonus.

Now Fern. I wasn't about to coach the three-year-old's. Complete and utter chaos with kids running on and off the field as they please, crying, wanting snacks and their moms, and everyone bunching around the ball. 

Mr. Grouchy Pants didn't want anything to do with pre-game warm ups.

But once that whistle blew to start the game, we couldn't get him to come out. The best part about watching Fern? His breakaway goal... for the other team! It was so funny and I cheered and cheered for my little soccer stud. 

Soccer season is going to be awesome!

BFFs

Everyone needs a best friend who lets you use them as your personal punching bag, doesn't care if you peed your pants at school, and actually welcomes your messy, food covered face and fingers.

Cole loves his "Sweetie" as he calls Blu. He has to be the only one who opens the door when we get home to go find where she is hiding and the first to run over to her yelling, "Sweetie!!! Sweetie!!! Boo! Boo!" Blu tolerates all the pokes, pulls, pinches, and tackles. Which happens a lot. On those rare occasions when the kids aren't home, Blu wanders from room to room looking for them.

 

They'd be lost without each other. And it makes my heart melt to see them loving each other.

A little big

I think Cole's soccer uniform is a little big.....

Does anyone have some safety pins we can borrow?

Hide & Seek

For a 100+ year old TINY house, we sure found a lot of hiding places for our game of hide and go seek. 

I'll admit I surprised even myself with all the hiding spots we came up with for three kids {cousin Ruby was visiting for the evening} and two adults. 

Like the top of the washer and dryer.

Inside the laundry basket.

Under the table.

On top of very high closets... Mom did NOT put the kids there!

Buried under the couch cushions.

Behind the curtains.

In Jeff's favorite hiding place... for real, he hides under there to get warm {the heat vent is right there} and to hid from all of us.

Under the tablecloth.

In the coat closets.

Beneath all the pillows.

And under the bed. Among a few other places that shall remain a secret.

I hope the dwarfs remember this for a long time... I know hide and go seek games with my cousins are some of my favorite childhood memories.

How long does it take an 18-year-old boy to find 9 Easter eggs?

How long does it take an 18-year-old boy to find nine camo-colored Easter eggs?

Any guesses?

Longer than you think. Especially when his brother-in-law is helping to hide your eggs. 

17 minutes 35.6 seconds to be exact.

Poor Kurtis. As a little boy he was obsessed with anything army. So when I started the egg hunt tradition, I found a pack of camouflaged eggs so Kurtis would have his own eggs to find. We've lost one or two in the years since, but I'm pretty sure he will never outgrow finding camo eggs.

I mean, how could I not keep hiding these eggs when you see a reaction like this!

My Dad felt bad that we ran out of candy and brought out a giant jar of pocket change to stuff in the eggs. He coughed up a few dollar bills too. Cole found most of the money eggs, although we did plant a few strategic money eggs for Kurtis to find. He needs a J.O.B. :)

Kids and olives. 

Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting Easter this year!