Our Staycation, Homeschooly, PlayDates Spring Break 2016

We knew we weren't going anywhere for spring break, so I decided to spend the time finding a playdate every day for us (fun while staying home and not spending money) and then also doing some homeschooly stuff. I normally reserve the homeschooly stuff for summer, but we essentially had a week of that... no school, no BSF, no dance, no schedule. The weather involved pouring rain every day, so we couldn't spend much time outside and all the places to visit were packed because 1) rain 2) spring break. So 3 out of 5 days, we had a playdate and then did some activities too. I started us out small and increased the amount of "work" each day. Pretty much everything I did with them was a success. I forgot to take pictures during most of the playdates, but Major Thanks to Cyndi, Monica, and assorted ladies from the PTA who kept me sane!

Graham would have a bunch of 2-piece puzzles and Austin would have a 9-piece puzzle to do. 

Then we had to color the cap the color it was asking us to.

Next some writing practice--staying in the gray space and making a straight, dark line.

Each day, I had more work for them to do and an example of the increased load is that the number of 2-piece puzzles Graham had to do kept getting higher.

One afternoon we did a science experiment I had been wanting to do with them for quite awhile. Vinegar, food coloring, and baking soda in a flat pan.

I was so surprised by the fact that they didn't mix immediately.

Here's a video of the action. 

Here's a second video of the action.

The last day was tons of 2-piece puzzles for Graham. I had to take away all the green pieces because he was getting too frustrated. We talked about doing the ones you can do and then worrying later about the ones you couldn't do before. I gave the green ones back when he had done all other colors and he could easily complete them. Austin had more cutting than normal which then involved a game of memory which they are really good at.

He was very proud.

I love the faces he makes when cutting. ha!

The last thing we did was some drawing. I would draw something, piece-by-piece and expect them to follow me. It was an activity in watching and listening. I purposely drew people differently to have them follow my steps. I would say "In this part of my paper, I'm going to take my brown marker and draw a circle for Daddy's head." and then do that. etc. The boys did pretty well. 

The first page is of our family and the second is house, cars, and a tree.

Graham above, Austin below

Austin above and Graham below. 

Austin's house made him start crying because he was so upset with the quality.

I tried doing a similar activity with them just hearing what I'm saying. It did not go well. Certainly nothing to take a picture of. Guess we're too young for that skill yet.

The boys sat around in jammies for a long time Friday morning and then Austin dressed in Packers so I decided to try to get a shot of them all in matching outfits. Not sure they'll let me do that much longer. Graham was already throwing a fit over it.

The best he has ever done!

Soccer Season 2016, post 1

Well, Spring is upon us and that means that Soccer Season is upon us. The first game was actually the last Saturday in February which feels like it should still be winter to me, but the weather was great and I actually paid the price for having forgotten to put sunscreen on us. I had a major Farmer's Tan sunburn on my right arm. Just my right arm.

We decided to start Graham in soccer this year just like we did Austin at that age not because we expect them to be professional or something someday, but we think it's a good chance to work with your team, learn how to cooperate, listen and obey authority and plus it burns tons of energy (well, it does it they actually run the field). This year, Austin's team from last year was going to stay a Rookie team which meant Austin was too old and most of the last year's team just handed down their spots (read: shirts) to younger siblings and Seth is the coach and I'm the Team Manager. lol (How has it been 2 years since Austin was Graham's age playing his first season?) Austin had briefly expressed interest in t-ball instead of soccer, but we preferred (for at least this year) to have 2adays every Saturday instead of Game Saturday for 20 weeks instead of just 8-10 weeks. Remind me to write down how we feel about that once the season is over.

Before the first set of games, I tried really hard to get some good pictures of the boys sitting on the porch. Austin seems to have lost his On Command Smile, so I had a hard time with him, but I did get a few decent ones.

Graham, the Spark

Austin, the Red Shark

And then a brothers shot, of course. 

(Austin looks so old! gah.)

The first game the first week was a Sparks game. It involved A Lot of tears throughout the game from pretty much every player on the team. It's hard for them to want to run the field without their parent and the parents are not allowed on the field during the game. This meant that kids would wander off the field or come crying to the sideline because they didn't want to be out there. I was so excited we got the best ref for the first game because she's super good with kiddos so young (plus it was like seeing a friend, we used to go to The Village with her).

I kept putting that foot out of the sun,
but he moved it right back.

Graham loved running the field and wasn't bothered by the fact that I was waiting for him on the sidelines and was only a little bothered that Seth was paying attention to everyone on the team, not just him, but was extremely bothered that people would kick his ball and not let him have a chance. 

I know this is a sad picture, but the lighting was too good not to share.

She lured him back out but it didn't last long. 

This kid wears his emotions on his entire shirt, not just the sleeve!

Coach Seth hard at work, and then Graham saw a chance and sprinted out toward the ball from the sideline.

Reed, Jay, and Graham headed toward the goal!

Go Graham! I love Austin's face watching his brother's game.

Little Brother chilling the whole time at back to back games.

We grabbed our snack and hopped in the car to go to the next game. Having games that only start an hour a part (like 10 and then 11) makes for a really tight situation and we were late to Austin's game. The coach had to hold his younger son the entire time and I just kept thinking he was chanting "I need a drink" in his head. I have no idea how he actually felt, but if I was running the field while holding 30 pounds because he wouldn't be put down, I would be doing some daydrinking later.

I love how they're both in this picture.
Austin waiting to go in and Graham eating his snack.

love my boy(s)

Go Austin!

The next week, Austin had team pictures followed by his game and then two hours later was Graham's. We were excited about having this big break between to eat lunch back at home, but between games I ended up running a friend home who's husband had left for a family emergency and she needed a way to get home. I drove her home and her husband and thankfully left the front door unlocked so she was good once I got her and the three kids home. It worked out so well since we each have three kids and the ages are basically exactly the same.

This has now prompted my NEED to have access to the house if I'm dropped off sans keys. Seth's going to research getting the garage code thing to work. Anyways, I'm sharing that story in case y'all don't have access like that, please consider figuring out a way just in case. If there's an emergency and you can get home, can you get inside?

I didn't bring the camera that day, so I got basically no pictures. I'll be taking it again later in the year to try to catch some more fun action shots of my soccer players.

I'm excited to see how this turns out from the professional.

I asked on Facebook what people store/transport all the soccer gear in and I loved this option Cyndi suggested. First, I love that it's mesh and I can hose it off if I need to and also so that everything can air out. Secondly, it was $7 at Target, so I loved the price. It has a little exterior pocket I keep my phone in and it's large enough to store both pairs of cleats and shin guards plus the ball and sunscreen, a box of tissue (seems like we always need a tissue!), etc. I wanted to include it here in case anyone else has a need for something like this.

Are y'all doing any Spring Sports?