Easter

Easter this year was very low key for us. The week before everyone except Matthew got a 24 hour stomach bug. By the time we were supposed to leave to be with family we were all wiped out. We stayed home and had a small egg hunt at home. Eric and I were being really lazy and didn't bother digging out the plastic eggs or the boys easter baskets. We just hid candy around and had the boys use whatever container they could find for their basket. Even though we kept things simple we all still had fun.

Rebecca watched us hide the eggs and tried to get a few for herself. When that failed she attempted to raid her brothers' basket.

I went to three different stores with all the kids to find bunny ears for Rebecca. I wanted to have her easter pictures taken. Once she tried them on the boys had to model them as well. 

 My little easter bunny

Rebecca likes playing with mirrors. She likes laughing at herself and giving kisses.

Soccer

I've always wanted to be a "soccer mom." It's one of those titles that makes you feel older and for me is like a parenting milestone. This year I signed William up for soccer. He was a bit nervous about playing. We got the gear and went over some basic rules. We also watched some youtube videos of others kids playing soccer so he would know kind of what to expect.

 

William is on team #1 with Coach Voss. So far there's eight kids on his team and William is one of three boys. They did some practice drills, Shark and Minnows and a mini game. When he first started William seemed timid about going up to kick the ball. He watched, and waited for his turn with his hands behind his back. But once they started doing more games he got right into things. He stayed with the ball while some of his teammates hung back during the skirmish, playing more of an attack position. By the end of the hour practice he was sweaty, thirsty and smiling from ear to ear.

The field is walking distance from our home so all of us went to support William. Unfortunately Eric was sick that day and was curled up on the couch when we left. But the rest of us enjoyed some sunshine. Matthew and Samuel had fun running back and forth and Rebecca was just happy to be out with the boys. We all had fun on this first day of practice.

Samuel's 4th birthday!

 Little Sam Sam turned 4! His birthday theme was monsters specifically Monsters University by Disney. 

Love his face! "Oooooohhh money! Thank Nai Nai!"

Samuel stats:

- At his four year check up the doctor said he's in the 75% for his weight and the 22% for his height. We knew he was short for his age but this just proved it! Hopefully he'll hit a growth spurt soon.
-He is much more adventurous than his older brothers. Case in point: climbing up a ladder to the platform that you jump off of using the zip line at Papa's house. He got up there, looked down and just stood there. There were no railings of any kind. Thankfully he just waited there while an adult came to rescue him.
(He was scared to go down the ladder himself.)
-Silly Samuel is an appropriate name for him. Constantly making silly faces, moves and doing silly things. Like jumping up and falling onto his butt and then getting up and yelling "oh my boo boo!" on purpose.

-Since turning four we've told him he needs to start doing bigger boy things, like not pee/poop in his nighttime pullup and stop sucking both thumbs. So far it's worked. He has been dry each morning and is only sucking one thumb now.

The last time we were at the mall there was a childs' train going around. We couldn't find the station so the boys didn't get a chance to ride on it that time. Samuel was particularly sad. He loves trains, calling them "chug chug choo choo". So this time we made sure to locate the train station and let the boys go for a ride. They we all really happy, especially Samuel.

For Samuel's birthday dinner he picked to go to Red Robin. I think he got this idea cause when I asked him where he wanted to go eat there was a Red Robin commercial on T.V. No amount of persuading could change his mind. We all had a good meal and Samuel was sang to by the staff and got a free sundae, which of course his big brothers had to "help" him with. They only got two bites each before Samuel shooed them away.

 Happy happy birthday Samuel! We love you!