We had a ball

It's only a few times a year that Nic's side of the family gets together with everyone. We're all kinda spread out pretty good. So we were all looking forward to Aunt Jane and Uncle Carl's annual picnic and kick ball game at their house near Ft. Myers. The girls were looking forward to the day despite the fact that they don't particularly care for long car rides. Kristin is usually pretty good... it's Kaylee that gets car sick! However, we made it there and back with no queasiness, so all was good! It was nice to make the drive with Bill and Marquel as well seeing as how we haven't seen much of Marquel lately. It was nice to catch up and chat along the way. As we pulled up, we were surprised to see that Aunt Yvonne had made the trip all the way from Indianapolis for the gathering (it also probably helps that she has a new grandson, Max down here to get her hands on too!). The weather could not have been more perfect to be outside. It was gorgeous!! Aunt Jane and Uncle Carl's house is on a huge piece of land where the kids can safely run all over the place and I don't have to worry. They LOVE that freedom!! Soon after we ate, Aunt Jane made sure that every tennis shoe wearing individual was out on the field for a fun game of kick ball. I totally missed this, but somehow, Nic and Bill end up being captains. As expected, most of the men get picked first... Todd... Uncle Mike... Greg... Uncle Carl...etc. then Melinda in her soccer cleats......I'm still standing there.... all the little kids get picked and my own husband has STILL not picked me!! Finally I was picked (LAST) by Bill (thanks for throwing me a bone, boys!). Which is just as good anyways because after I kicked once and made it to second base, I was on kid patrol since Kristin had no interest and wanted to play elsewhere. I was impressed with Kaylee and her endurance as she played the entire game and worked her little legs hard each time it was her turn to kick. After singing Happy Birthday to Grampa Weitzel, who celebrates his 85th birthday this April, we said our goodbyes until the holidays and headed home.

Kristin posing for the camera (which is a rare and unusual occurrence so I'll take it when I can get it!)

My little leprechauns

Here's my little leprechauns after school today. The girls were super excited to go to school today as they knew there were St. Patrick's Day activities planned. Kaylee was looking forward to dressing up in their leprechaun masks and delivering gold coins to the other students and staff throughout the school. Kristin didn't know what her teacher had planned, but was just excited to being wearing green for some reason! However, after school Kaylee was very concerned that a leprechaun could possibly come to our house and make a mess as he did in her classroom this morning. She thought it was very unfair that they had to clean up the toys, books, and other things he left out on his mischievous little trip through her classroom. She was so anxious about the possibility that a leprechaun was on the loose, that I had to escort her to the bathroom when we got home for fear that he may be in the house. I reassured her that he was already back in Ireland and had nothing to worry about.

Today was Kristin's second day of preschool. Her enrollment came sort of last minute. She is actually already enrolled for next school year. She was able to start at age three, but I really wanted her to finish up the year at Gramma's daycare. However, over the past few months, her and Diane have taken a few newborns that obviously require more of their attention. With Kristin being the oldest child there, she has become quite bored on a daily basis. I know how much she loves going to Gramma's each day, despite the fact that she gets so bored, so I figured she could just finish out the school year. However, after the countless day in a row of me picking her up to hear how difficult she was being during the day, Nic and I decided it would be in her best interest and development if we started her at preschool as soon as possible. I called a friend of mine who is in charge of registration and enrollment, and arranged for Kristin to begin on Monday. We both knew she just needed the stimulation, structure, and education that preschool is able to provide. Plus, with Kaylee at the same school, I thought it would be helpful to Kristin while she makes the transition, knowing that her sister is there too. I have to admit it was a bit emotional for me as I originally thought I would have the whole summer to prepare her (and me!) for becoming a preschooler. But in all honesty, she did GREAT! We picked up registration forms the previous day at church so I had everything filled out and ready to go. Nic took her yesterday as I have to be at work earlier than her school starts. He said she went right in and found her cubby and her spot on the rug. Her teacher was anticipating her arrival and told the class she would be coming that morning. Apparently all of the little girls were excited because the new student was a girl. Go Girl Power! When I picked her up, she was standing right there in car circle line with all of the other big preschool kids! So cute!! When I asked her how her day was, she just got all embarrassed and shy. She wouldn't speak at first, but as the night went on, little pieces would come out here and there about her new friends, and nap time, and snack time, and computer time. So I think I was worried for nothing as she has adjusted quickly and I think she truly loves it. I was worried for nothing!

So in this day of luck and rainbows and gold, it's a great feeling to know just how lucky I am and how everything always works itself out! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A free weekend

I couldn't have been happier when last week, around Wednesday, I checked out the calendar and saw that this weekend was completely BLANK! Counting back, it has been a whopping 8 weekends that one of us family members has had something to do, some place to be at, and/or some commitment on the calendar. In actuality, we haven't had a free weekend in the new year yet. Well, what to do with a free weekend????..........Well, cram it with fun of course!!!

Our weekend started right after school Friday with Kristin's first soccer game. Not only was this her first soccer game, but her first of anything as far as being in an organized sport or activity. Did I say organized? It actually was a bit of mad soccer chaos. Kaylee's soccer season ended about a month ago and her impeccable and irreplaceable coaches really set the bar high for any coach we have in the future. So I knew going into Kristin's soccer season, my expectations were a bit too high. I had heard that this league focuses more on fun and is much more laid back than the rec soccer league Kaylee was a part of. However, with Kristin's September bday, it would be another 2 soccer seasons before she would be old enough to play with Kaylee's league. I figured since this league took three year olds, at least she will be playing... something she longed for each and every practice and game of Kaylee's. So my expectation bar dropped a few when I learned that the team "practices" about a half hour before games--NO separate practice nights. So after all players get there (no formal coach introduction let alone player introductions), "practice" begins. Not too bad at first, a little kicking, a little passing, the expected soccer drills. Then the game begins. We started off with 4 players vs. 4 players. These kids don't have a clue, and the coaches don't have much more of one. As the ball goes out of bounds, no game play is stopped and maybe used as a teaching moment to show how to throw back in, a coach picks up the ball and throws it in the middle of the field as if he were playing fetch with a dog. Kids pulling other's jerseys, tackling each other, using their hands... pure madness!! Nic and I stayed back and kind of just took it all in and observed. Kristin ran after the pack and didn't really touch the ball much as I think she was a bit intimidated by the madness. We were okay with that as it was getting kind of rough. We are hoping that the coaches will go back and come up with some sort of plan as to how they are going to make this season a balance of fun, skill, and control all at the same time. Regardless though, she looked darn cute in her uniform (and she knew it too!) and had fun (which is the most important thing). I know she just felt so important because this was the first time it was about HER! She's been a spectator and supporter for her sister in so many different activities, that I know she was beaming inside to know we were all about Kristin for a change!!
She decided to sit and pick the grass as the madness chased the ball down the field. She had had enough already!! So cute...my little soccer player!!

Saturday morning was so beautiful that we had to take advantage of the nice weather and lay out by the pool and play a bit outside. The girls were excited to finally be able to swim! Our sunning and swimming was cut short a bit because we had made plans to visit the Thornbury's for a family play date.

We are always so grateful to spend time with Brian, Sarah, and their daughters Grace and Hanna. Nic and I have been good friends with Brian since high school and have kept in touch as our families have gone through so much over the years. We don't get together as often as we would all like to, but when we do, it's definitely quality time that we all enjoy, including the kids. The four girls get along so well and have the best time together. Every time we get together, it's like we pick right up from when we last saw each other. Good times!! This time, we made the half hour drive over to their house and the girls all played a bit while us adults chatted. We decided to grab a bite to eat at Beef O'Brady's and then go bowling. We've never taken the kids but have been wanting to for ages. Everyone had the best time!! I think I surprised everyone (including myself) at just how good of a bowler I am! Nic claims it is just luck, but I truly think I have skill! I was bowling strikes and spares left and right! I even beat Nic in one of our games!! If you know anything about my husband, you know he hates to loose- especially to a girl!! So I'm definitely not letting him live that one down.

We ended the night pretty late at Cold Stone for ice cream and headed back home for a good night's sleep.

After church on Sunday, we decided to take the girls to Busch Gardens to enjoy yet another beautiful day outside. Since we have passes, we've decided to go for only a few relaxing hours at a time and just do a little something different with each visit. We explored the new area, Jungala today. It consisted on a huge canopy type child area in which you climb on rope nets and bridges. Needless to say, both Kaylee and Kristin decide once we are at the top that they don't like it and start to panic. Add this to the fact that I have flimsy flip flops on that are the perfect size to get stuck in each step of the rope netting. So Nic took each one down individually and came back for the other. They both vowed NEVER to go back to that part of Busch Gardens again. After a quick trip around the Land of the Dragons, we called it a day. Kaylee wants to come back next weekend and stay into the evening when it gets dark.

Overall, a busy but fun weekend with the family. I can somehow always manage to keep us busy even with the rare free weekend that we get. I am just thankful that we have the opportunities that we do and that we are able to spend it together as a family!

What's my purpose here?

So I've recently been intrigued by the whole blog phenomenon... I mean a few months ago I had no idea what the REAL purpose of a blog was. Then I stumbled upon a great blog of a friend of mine. After perusing a few of her posts, I was hooked. Reading each blog post was like chapters in a book to me. Now there are a few things I feel inclined to mention... (1) at the beginning of her blog archive her and her family were going through the process of an international adoption (hence the inspiration and initial PURPOSE of her blog)---so VERY exciting information to read about, and (2) her craft of writing is amazing and alluring... it draws you in as a reader and makes you want to read more. But as I continued to read it, and as her daughter's adoption became final, her blogs turned into scripts and details about their normal day to day family life. I mean we all live it, right? But it was still fascinating to read for some reason.



Well, after a recent conversation with her about her blog, she told me the coolest thing ever. At the end of each year, she gets her entire blog posts and pictures just as they are online published into a coffee table type book. Seeing as how I am literally YEARS behind in my scrapbooking, I thought this was the solution to my problem. When something happens that I want to remember, I can snap, crackle, pop it onto my blog and voila, it's documented with journaling and pictures and all. AND better yet, my thoughts on the event or whatnot is fresh in my mind so it's truly journaling right from my heart. Unlike trying to think back to a moment that happened three years ago with my kids and "fake it" as I write what was going on in the picture. I was SOLD!!



So here I am with my first post and I've come to the conclusion that my PURPOSE of creating and (hopefully!) maintaining this blog is to first and foremost document my family events and day to day life to preserve and cherish the memories because I know it slips by way too fast. And in the process of doing this, I also considered the fact that what better way to keep family and friends that we don't talk to all that often in the loop? So here we go.......The Rasmussen 411 has begun!!!