Football: We've Found His Sport

I didn't know I like football until I saw him play. And practice...and practice...and practice. This kid puts in his time (and I put in mine - driving him there and waiting for him and picking him up :) ) He has practice 4 nights a week for an hour and a half. He has 2 hour games every Saturday. He comes home sweaty and dirty and tired...and HAPPY. He LOVES football. And he is good at it. Really good. More than that, football has really helped Landon in other ways too. He's realized what it means to work for something - not just put in your time but REALLY work for something. And he has to work hard every time he is on that field. The team doesn't always win but he still feels the rewards of his hard work and that makes him happy... and me and Cameron.

Football season started the last week of July at Football Camp. We were all impressed when Landon brought home the first place in the "punt, kick, pass" competition. It was kind of surprising to all of us since he hadn't played before. He played it cool and acted like it was no big deal, but his HUGE smile told us how happy he was for winning. A special bonus was that my dad and brother happened to be here that weekend and saw him play. It means a lot to Landon to have people around cheering him on (especially his grandmas and grandpas!)

I love how tough he looks in his uniform...

...especially when he's got his "game face" on. For some reason I LOVE this picture of him. He just looks tough and ready to play.

I've always been weary of my boys playing football. I'm worried about him being around the stereotypical "football playas" and I worry about him getting hurt. I gotta say, though, football has been so good for him. It's been a long season and we still have a month to go. His endurance hasn't faltered. He's so much stronger physically and mentally. He hasn't said once that he doesn't want to play, in fact every day he is excited to get out there with his team. I can't help but be that crazy fan on the sidelines cheering him on (although I try to keep it under control! :) )

Too Fast

I put her hair in "pig-tails" the other day, just to see if her hair was long enough. She looked like a completely different girl. A kid - NOT a baby. Then she looked in the mirror and said, "PREE!" I thought she was saying "pretty" but I wasn't sure. She's said it every day since - when she looks at her bracelets or my necklaces and especially after I do her hair while she's looking in the mirror. I miss her curlies...and her baby face. Pig-Tails are going to have to wait. I can't do it. I don't want her to get big.

I do love her new words though. She says a new word everyday. Today, while we were shopping at Costco, I grabbed a box of diapers and she said, "daper!" Later in the day when I changed her she handed me one and said it again. She is getting big too too fast.

Oh, Baby...please stay a baby, please?!

this weeks project

Am I STILL 4?!

Isaac turned 4 a week ago. He was the HAPPIEST birthday boy I've ever seen. Really. EVER. He is SO happy to be 4. He asks me every morning if he's still 4. Today he said, "am I? Oh yeah. I am. I'm 4!"

Isaac at 4:

LOVES: to dress up as a super hero, ride his bike, play games, be the center of attention, fruit salad, changing his clothes 2+ times a day, motorcycles (toys and real ones), legos, riding on the tube when we go boating, to be a BIG brother, when someone is proud of him, SINGING, making people laugh, watching movies, sleeping on his pillow pet, wearing pj's all day, reading books and being read to, listening to CD's to fall asleep for naps, dessert - he asks for it almost every night, one on one attention from Mom or Dad, going on walks, playing outside

DOESN'T LIKE: waiting his turn, not being in kindergarten, anyone to tell him what to do, being a LITTLE brother, taking naps

5 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HIM NOW: passionate, energetic, excited, funny, singing

We threw a little family-style birthday party for Isaac. Pizza and cupcakes. (side.note. just found this recipe for GlutenFree cupcakes and they were AWESOME! It made me happy that I could give Austin something good and the rest of us loved them too. Isaac was thrilled by them and Austin was over-the-moon happy he could eat a "real" cupcake!)

Isaac directed the whole party, "First we'll eat dinner then sing 'Happy Birthday'. No wait. First dinner then PRESENTS!! Then Cupcakes, and THEN sing me 'Happy Birthday'." So that is what we did.

I need to take a picture of the Spider Man movie he got. It's hilarious. I sent his picture in and they put his head on Spider Man's body. It cracks me up every time I see it. The kids love it and Isaac watches every day (OK fine, yesterday he watched it 5 times - I was canning peaches and TV time rules went out the window. But seriously 5 times? Yeah, it's THAT good! :) )

I loved how excited he was for his "Talkie Walkie Talkies"

Isaac also got a Spider Man themed birthday party with some of his little pals. His first "friend party" ever. It was time. He LOVED it. He wore his Spider Man costume. We made super hero masks.

There was Silly String - the kids sprayed webs that I drew on our windows. Some of the kids had a hard time working the cans. Landon and Austin were happy two kids didn't come so they could have the extra cans. Landon's can lasted about 30 seconds.

There were Spider Man cupcakes (SO not Gluten Free :) luckily we had some left from the day before...)

There was a pinata. I filled it with leftover goody bags from his preschool class. He was into goody bags for some reason. He wanted them in the worst way. I was glad we had extra so I didn't have to buy more candy to throw away. (don't tell my kids I throw their candy away when they're not around!)

Of course there were presents. Here's the thank-you card we're giving out. Isaac spent the afternoon making his own cards (a piece of paper he colored, then waded up and stapled into a crazy ball, shoved into an envelope taped together with green painters tape) so I thought I'd make these to go along with his cards.

For days he's been saying, "my friends are so awesome! I got the best presents!"

With all the anticipation leading up to his birthday, I was worried Isaac would somehow be let down. But I think I can safely say that this year he was NOT disappointed. Hopefully all his little dreams came true!

{SMILE}