just call me soccer mom

So, it's that time of year again.
Don't ask me how...but I managed to get myself ensnared as Kela's team mom.
That's what I get for being early to the first practice!
Don't worry. I've taken note for next season!

And although Anna hasn't started yet ( her season begins in another 2 weeks), Kela had her very first game on Saturday.

Go! Pink Angels Tigers Cheetas!

Sheesh...7 year-old girls are SO indecisive!

So...while Mitch is busy refereeing the game, my job is to keep these kids entertained.
Because apparently, the GAME isn't enough.
So, we pitched our giant umbrella (which although blocked the sun, didn't block the heat all that much...) and busted out our new chairs and of course, our iPhones as well.
Oh, and don't forget the food.
Popcorn was on the menu for this week.

This guy, however, wasn't amused with any of those previously mentioned entertainments.
No.
He only wanted me.
To stand.
Outside of the umbrella.

LONGEST and HOTTEST 40 minutes-EVER.
And to think the game was at 9am!

I'm SO dreading the NOON game!!

Anyway, here's an action shot.
Kela did great! She's really improved since last season and has begun showing a bit more aggression and assertiveness.
Her coach is nice, and the coach's daughter is one of her classmates so she's really enjoying the season so far.
The score for her first game?
8-2!

Woo Hoo!
Way to start off the season on a positive note!

since school has started...

Kela has started soccer practice.
While I somehow got delegated to be team parent.

yay!

(enter sarcastic voice and rolling of eyes...)

But seriously...Kela is excited for her season to start and I'm bracing myself for some HOT and LONG days in an open field ahead.
That's because Anna also starts her soccer season soon...though I'm still waiting to hear from her coach.

Also new to these past weeks is Anna learning the art (or, lack thereof) of a Karate kick.
I'd post the video, but all you'd see is her kicking her leg up in the air...and then losing her balance and falling over.
Repeatedly.

So, while Kela and Anna are in school, I started heading out-of-doors with these two.
(like Jolee's choke-hold on Kaden? Hence, my supporting hand)

Usually, I'll let Jolee play around at the playground...

After jogging around with this loaded stroller.
Which, by the way, is around 70lbs (stroller + Jolee + Kaden).

My POV.

Oh, and did I mention I got a new camera?
I did.
And It does funky things like this.

And finally...Kaden is now 7 1/2 months old.
He's getting stronger!

And has gone from doing this...

To THIS!

Oh boy.
I think it's time to bust out the baby gate for the stairs!

first snip, snip!

It's no secret that all of my children have been born with a healthy head of hair.
It's also no secret that I had 3 girls in a row...before being blessed with a precious little boy.

And in case you can't put those two facts together...let me spell it out in plain ol' English.
Despite having 3 kids...I've never had to cut a baby's hair before.
Until now.
Despite Mitch's insistence that Kaden's head of hair looks "fine the way it is," my sister Elika disagreed.
As did I.
For starters, baby hair rarely grows evenly. Am I right?
So as Kaden's hair has grown...it has also grown unevenly.
As in...long on top, short underneath...it started looking like some weird reverse mullet!
And I just could not, in good conscience, allow my only son to be sporting some funky reverse mullet in public!
And secondly, he's a BOY!
And I just think boys should "look" like a boy (and not like a girl wearing boys clothing and in need of a rubber band for their pony tail!).

Furthermore, since neither Mitch nor I have any experience cutting baby (let alone a baby boy!)'s hair, we enlisted the help of someone who does.

My brother, Atau.

(He does, after all, have 4 boys of his own!)

So here Kaden is as we were getting started.
Happy as a little clam.

A couple minutes into it...still pretty happy and kicking his tiny little feet.
...getting a bit antsy...

...antsy-er...and biting the cape...

....reaching the boiling point!!
(notice the cape is gone...he ripped it off...)

Complete melt down!

(Good thing, we were all done!)

See?!
You probably can't even tell the difference!

But let me assure you...there IS a difference.

It's nice and short, but not too short.

And best of all...NO reverse mullet.

back to school!

Anna has started school this year as a brand new kindergartener!!
I can't believe she's already old enough for school!!
This picture was taken on her assessment testing day...she's super excited to join her big sister, Kela at Pearl Ridge Elementary!

Here they are...Anna's first day of school.
(Kela started 4 days ago, but since this was Anna's first day...only one picture. Sorry, Kela.)