Rocking and Rolling: Soccer and Piano

Music is a big part of our lives.  Matt loves music, and is very talented when it comes to… well… All of it?  Playing instruments, having a great signing voice, and with perfect pitch and great rhythm, he's a natural when it comes to composing his own songs.

Isaac has been taking piano lessons for the last 3 months.  He's been really excited to learn an instrument and share in Matt's music love.  The two littles have taken a greater interest as well.  I've tried my best to expose them to music, but I can only take it so far (I much rather listen to talk radio/books on tape, or just have it silent.  I have to remind myself that playing music is an option).  With Matt around much more, so has music.

Isaac had his first piano recital, and he did really well!  After his duet with his teacher he asked if he could play Old MacDonald.  Sure, why not.  He was proud, we were proud, and his brothers were proud.

The boys have also been grooving with soccer.  

Soccer.  ALL THE TIME.  

We're over halfway through the season.  Which, to be honest, I'm grateful for.  Each of the boys play at the same time on the same big field.  It's a little exhausting, but that's what raising three boys at the same time is going to be like!  I suppose!  

Isaac is starting to be more and more comfortable in getting in the game more.  He's starting to take the lead.  He still hasn't scored a goal, but he's come mighty close!  

Eli is physical and has never minded getting in to the thick of things.  However, he doesn't pay attention to the ball, so he's never had an opportunity to score.  He's a lot of fun to watch, though. 

Titus has not improved.  He's just a happy little goof on the field.  He runs around, in his own world, giving hugs to friends and loves playing his own imagination game.  

Matt's been able to make it to more games, which has helped in being able to keep eyes on each of the boys during the games.  Though, to be honest, when Matt's not there I just have to hope that the boys will be mature enough to handle themselves when I'm not around.  It's a lot of walking around and spying on each of them as I go to different games!  Three kids, on three different teams, each playing at the same time.  Phew!  

These Boys are Silly. Also: Poop Story

We have a lot of fun with these boys.  I feel like we play as a family well, but I think these boys are naturally just silly and imaginative!

Like Titus.  After his part in the Primary Program he started cheesing to everyone!  A friend snapped a pic of him.

Like Eli.  Climbing over chairs with lightsabers and trying to show amazing Luke Skywalker skills (and falling in the process).

Like Isaac.  Figuring out an epic "American Ninja Warrior" course on the bleachers, having his brothers follow.

And now the Poop Story

In the car rider line, Eli says he has to go poop really bad. We are blocked in from all sides--unable to get to a building in time. So luckily I have a subway baggy, he drops his drawers in the car and does his business in the bag I'm holding. I look up and Titus is gagging.

Yup. Raising kids is really gross….

And then a week later Titus has to go poop really bad in the car rider line.  This time the line is moving, and I can't stop and help him out.  He poops his pants.  Seriously!  

But I found poop baggies on the side of the road and put them in the car.  Apparently we need them.  It's a small gift from Providence.  

We Spy with Our Little Eye: A Really Young and Dumb "Rein"deer

Every. Day.

Everyday as we drive Titus to preschool we pass a small meadow.  And everyday as we pass we spy a young deer---which the boys like to call a Riendeer.  

It's a young buck with little antlers.  And it's sooo dumb!  Running back and forth on the side of the road.  One day it's going to get hit... And I hope I'm not the one to hit it, and I hope that the boys won't whiteness the death!  

My Secret: My No Like Autumn

I know, it's weird.  But it's true.  I really don't like the season fall.  I actually got really mad about it the other day and was in a big bad mood!  

I can try to explain, but I still don't think people get it.  

I just don't like how I KNOW it will get cold for months, and everything will turn brown, and everything dies.  It's stupid.  I KNOW the heat in the south is oppressive, but I feel like I can do so much more with the boys during the spring and summer than the fall and winter.  

So there it is.  I hates autumn.  

I've been trying to be in a better mood about it, and since the weather hasn't been so hot we've been doing a lot of bike riding and walks.  I've also picked up running again.  

And who doesn't love restocking her pantry with baking goods?  I've been trying perfect my pie making abilities.  I've tried a few different crust recipes and ideas.  Most have failed, so I am really grateful for my mother-in-law's "no fail pie crust".  It truly is!  Yay!  

Deanne's Never Fail Pie Crust

One 8or9in pie crust 

1/3 cup +1T crisco 

1 cup flour 

1/2t salt 

3T cold water

Preheat oven 475 

Blend crisco, flour, salt together with pie blender till crumbly.   Add 3T of cold water.  Roll out in-between two sheets of parchment paper.  

Before baking fork sides and bottom of pie crust so it will not shrink.  

Bake for 8-10 min. 

for two 8or9in pie crust, double each above ingredient expect for cold water.  Increase the water amount to 5T cold water.  

Isaac's Birthday and Family Fun!

Isaac's birthday is midway--to the last half of September.  And this birthday was a BIG one.  I mean, turned 8!  In the LDS (Mormon) Church turning 8 means the opportunity to be baptized.

Age 8 is the earliest age to be baptized, is done by full immersion in water, and usually performed by the child's father or close relative.

Anyway, it's a really great age to turn.  And luckily and happily a lot of family came to celebrate this special time with him!
Nana and Mume came from Boise Idaho
Grammie and Gramps from B'ham Bama
Ashley and Dave with Luke and Piper from Aubrun Bama

Nana and Mume stayed from a Wednesday to the following Tuesday.   They were awesome to have!  Each child took a turn or two out from school and had a special day with their grandparents out on the town.  Which equated to going to Chick-Fil-A and then to a store to pick out a toy, and a movie too!  Super fun for the boys.

Grammie and Gramps arrived Friday night and stayed in a hotel (celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary!  Wow!).   And Ashley and Dave with Luke and Piper came over late Friday night.

Wednesday was THE day of Isaac's birthday.  He wanted to wait till Saturday with all the family to open presents and have the cake, so with Nana and Mume newly arrived we just had a good home cooked meal and the celebrated his birthday with the leftover cupcakes that he had taken to school.

Saturday we woke up early, and started getting everyone ready.  The baptism was to start at 10:30am, and Isaac wasn't the only kid being baptized that morning.  There were two other 8 year old girls from his church class.  So they were all able to share the day together!  (None of us moms wanted to do a big formal reception afterwards, so we decided that donuts and chocolate milk was the way to go.  Worked great!)
All the different responsibilities were shared between the three families and it worked great.  Nana played the piano, Grammie was the music leader, and the grandfather's were able to be the witnesses.  Matt performed the ordinance of baptism with Isaac.  Just one dunk!  (I think Isaac was the 2nd kid to be baptized).  Dave, Gramps, Mume, and Matt along with the bishop blessed Isaac with the holy ghost.

After the refreshments we all changed (some having to go a store, others back home for clothes), and headed to Tybee Island.  It was a cloudy and "cool" day in Savannah!  We stayed at the beach for a total of an hour.  It was windy, and rainy, and the ocean was rough!  But so much fun nonetheless.  The water was actually really warm, considering.
Once home from the ocean and all rinsed off we had cake and ice cream and birthday presents for Isaac.  Oh man, he loved it all.  Especially all the money!  The toys were cool too, don't get us wrong, but money is starting to be a really prized possession.
Saturday night the kids stayed up till 9, and the adults even later.  There were some really great football games, including a FSU game and a BSU game.  Yay!

My side of the family left Sunday morning.  The rest of our time with Nana and Mume was filled with just great family time.  Food and fun and laughter!

*** A side note about FOOD LEARNING that happened that weekend.    

One,  when tripling a batch of rolls, the rising rate will be amazing.  The pic below is only 30 minutes in and it had an hour to go!  It ended up being alright, but it was amazing! 

Two, the first time I worked and made fondant.  It's a beast!  I learned a lot, so hopefully next time (if there is a next time) it will go easier.