Tristin's first soccer game of the season!

Tristin's first soccer game was September 9th. He played Botkins @ Botkins.



Because he was one of the top five oldest in his class...he was able to get bumped up to the U14 team. Boy was he happy. As his momma, I wasn't quite sure I was as excited. AS you can clearly see, almost all of the boys have a bit of a height advantage.

But all is well! He is on a very nice team with wonderful boys and a great coach. Tristin has been enjoying his practices which typically are Mon. Tues and Thurs.

We on the sidelines cheer hard (when we are allowed) and play hard!

Crazy Mr. Kolton and Grandma Thompson with Lola....



Tickle time with Natalie and catching Grandpa Thompson in a picture....

I just love them!



I was trying to capture Kolton's hair...but my camera didn't. He had preschool the day before and we caked his hair with gel. The result (since we didn't take a bath that night) was a head full of flakes! Yes, your Mother noticed but publicly displayed you that way. -sorry, I do love you!






Kolton and Grandpa (oh and Keith and I were there too! HA!)

The team

GO RANGERS!

(sorry Tristin, the team lost 9 - 0...but you had fun and had an awesome/almost goal kick!)

Labor Day!

The boys were off to a race at Eldora Speedway

and we had heard of a very special visitor {aka Gma Roop}

at Grandma Shopps, so the kids and I spent the afternoon

at the Farm.

I wish I would have taken more pictures.

The kids took turns climbing the windmill for the first time!

Your not going to leave Kolton behind...but he got a little fussy

when Momma told him he couldn't go any higher.

The kids even got a couple pictures of me.

I almost didn't put them on here...but figured they might

want to remember what I looked like too!

HA! =)



We had bunches of fun.

The corn crib is a favorite!

Jill and the girls came over and we had Market/Gas Station pizza for supper.

We had a 16" deluxe and a 16" pepperoni....I only add that for a personal note

to myself to order more next time! They were hungry!!

Blessed and Loved,

Tina

World's LARGEST Pickle!

What you are looking at is two very spoiled pickle lovin' kids!

Grandpa and Grandma Thompson has kept us WELL in supply of fresh from the garden pickles and salsa. They are a FAVORITE and the pickles have become a regular on the table next to the ketchup. We all know what a place of honor that is in this household!

Well Grandpa hooked them up with the largest pickles of the year! Four pickles filled a quart jar. Mouths watered over them....they were savored...they were LOVED!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!

Our two pickle lovers cherished every bite!

The butterflies are still here!

The butterflies are still going strong...and we are loving them!

My Beautiful Flower!

My Miss Lola~

I tell you daily that you are my beautiful flower....

You are confident in who you are and what you love.

Oh how you bring joy into my life!

I love you so....

Mommy

Kolton's 1st day of Preschool!

Dear Kolton,

Monday was your first day of Preschool! You go to Care-A-Lot Learning Center, which is the same preschool that your big brother and sisters went! Miss Brandy is your teacher. You couldn't WAIT to go!! When I said it was time for school you went and got your shoes and backpack immediately! Mommy made a mental note to wait a little longer to tell you next time because we had at least a half hour yet before we had to leave. I think the most dramatic part of your morning was when I had to wet and comb your hair. We both know that I don't slick you down very often...sorry.

When it was time to go, you wanted to sit in Lola's car seat. I let you because you are such a big boy (and you DO weigh over 30 lbs). It was very special for you!

Here we are outside of Preschool.

"CHEESE!"

Hanging up your Toy Story backpack in your locker.


Finding your name tag (with Mommy's help)

...and humoring me taking your picture so much.

This one cracked me up! You wanted to look around SO BAD at all the toys but I kept telling you to smile at the camera. This was your attempt at doing both! =)


I came back a little early because I wanted to peek in and see how you were doing. Of course you were doing great! You were sitting at your table drinking an apple juice box. You also had a cheese stick which you pointed at and said YUCK! You listened when the teacher said to throw things away and even asked to be excused, though Miss Brandy didn't understand what you were asking! HA!

You stood and followed in line for the very first time today.

You rode the bikes outside on the playground that went around and around. I think this was your favorite because you spoke about it often and it was the first thing you told Daddy.

I think you had a very good first day! You were very tired and ready to go home, but today is your second day of school and your excited to go back again.

You are such a big boy!

I am very proud of you!!

Love,

Mommy

I will NOT give up! =)

It has been a few days since I last posted. I will NOT give up! =)

This morning Lola woke early and went downstairs. I was still in bed but heard someone get up and go down. A few minutes later I got up and noticed someone on the couch but it was dark and I didn't know who it was. I went about my business. About five minutes later Lola comes out to the kitchen holding her Bible. She said, "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I would get up and have a little quiet Bible time." I smiled. "In the dark?" I answered. "YEP!, I thought it would be good since I couldn't sleep." I agreed with her. She and followed right on my heels. Talking...talking...talking... I was not in the talking mood! But I listened, smiled, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and sipped coffee while she went on and on. She spoke a lot about my morning routine. Like she was curious about what I did before they got up and she helped with every bit of it. It was hard for me because I treasure those quiet morning moments before all ciaos breaks loose. But the Holy Spirit gently reminded me to treasure these moments and filled my heart with joy.

That is the purpose of this blog. I want to remember all the sweet blessings. Too much time has past from the moment Tristin was born and too many memories and little details forgotten.

So someday, Lola as you read this post, remember how much I love you and treasured our early morning together! And thank you for putting away the silverware.... =)

****************************************

Lately we've been blessed with an abundance of butterflies...or maybe moths...but we call them butterflies.

There have been over a hundred at a time on the stone crop that runs along our driveway. It's always been a butterfly favorite, but never like this.

The kids noticed them first and would run along the plants with their arm stretched over top. It looked like something in a movie, they way they all flew up. Pretty awesome!

(See the praying mantis? They LOVE the butterflies too!)

We had the tent up because Tristin wanted to make a fort out of it in the yard. I was busy on the porch finishing dolls and I hear them laughing and going back in forth from the front flower bed to the back yard.

I went to check it out...

They were catching butterflies and putting them in the tent!

It was an afternoon of great fun!!

They had loads of fun! Kolton enjoyed it as well and would scream every time a butterfly landed on his finger (he was taking a nap when these pictures where taken). He would catch them by the wings and let them go. Once he was trying to catch a butterfly and they kept flying off. He turned his back to me while chasing after them and two butterfly's were on the back of his shirt! I guess they felt like that was a safe hiding spot!

It was a great Sunday afternoon!

Loved and Blessed

Tina