Soccer is Back

This is Jane's first year of soccer. Charlie and Jane were able to be on the same "team". Really it's just a practice where they learn certain skills. Their coach is an adorable English Fellow with a great accent. He captures the kids attention (and all of the adults for that matter). I should remember to get video. Probably won't happen.

This is me, man-handling Charlie. He sometimes does this thing where he acts goofy and tries to make all of the other kids laugh. It can be disruptive to the coach or anyone else for that matter. Weird.
He must have inherited it from the Crosland side.

Jane
She begged to be in soccer but the truth is she really doesn't care. I don't think that she knows it though. She has good intentions but is easily distracted. I often find her on the side lines staring at a dog or baby or small child. She has even come to sit on my lap in the middle of a drill.

Charlie

Gets it. Loves it. And is pretty darn good at it.
And click on this picture because the view is so out of this world.
I live in a very beautiful place.

Another Visitor

We have a new visitor today named Tom.

I almost hit him with my car while driving the kids to preschool.

When I realized that he wasn't a rock in the road I slammed it into reverse, picked him up and handed him to Charlie.

We've had fun playing with him today and we are trying to make our front flower bed into a nice outdoor habitat for him. I'll post pictures if we can get it figured out.

Tom seems friendly and hopefully we can teach our children to be friendly also. His hard exterior makes them believe he is indestructible.

Tom and Maggie

Charlie, Jane & Maggie

Katch Up

• grandma and grandpa visited for two weeks
• started going to a personal trainer with some girlfriends - sore
  
• charlie is loving preschool, thanks to a new young man as his teacher
• took away maggie's binki - naps and night time aren't quite the same yet
• uncle brian, aunt leslie and cousin chandler came out this way on their spring break
• conference was enjoyable
• easter was fun
• toured mt. vernon for the first time
  
• spring has sprung and we are outside in the yard every day
• tadpoles are in season and we are catching a bunch of them
• a little turtle was captured but now we can't find it
• caught a crawdad - he lost a leg after being man handled too much
• played and toured with another visitor, girlfriend audra
• mike's been working hard in the yard - looks good
  
• get chewed out by maggie, can't understand a lot of it but she's definitely angry
• mike's convinced she has tourettes
• i think jane is the one with tourettes
• for not being able to understand mags she can say "cookie dough" loud and clear
  

Reading

Mom: "Would you please just focus and read the next line."

Charlie: "Lame, lame, lame. Reading is lame."

That's when I knew it was going to be an enjoyable reading lesson.

Plug It

So you know the cute aprons that you've seen my children wearing in pictures on my blog? Here's a reminder.

I bought them from my friends, Tami and Lynette, who have a little sewing business called All The Trend. They sew and make all sorts of 'boutique style' baby and toddler items. Aprons (like the ones in my pictures), appliqued tops and onesies, infant car-seat blankets, and all kinds of hair accessories.

They are calling April their 'Spring Sale Month'. Each Monday in April they will be having a killer sale featuring a different category on their website www.allthetrend.etsy.com. This Monday, April 5th, will be the day they are featuring their 'Just Like Mommy' Aprons. They usually cost $9.95, but for Monday only the aprons will be on sale for $5.95. That's a great price for one of their super cute and functional aprons. We use them every time we bake cookies, craft and sometimes when we eat. I can get Charlie and Jane to put them on for a messy meal because they are not "bibs", they are aprons, for big people. So check them out, they make great gifts too.

Piggies

Who's got the cutest pigtails?
You decide.
Jane?

Maggie?

Or Mike?

Don't worry. This convinced him that it was time for a hair cut.

Happy St. Patty's Day

charlie, grandpa, jane

Pot of Gold at our house.
Grandpa and Grandma are here for a visit.

Great Friends

Charlie and David

These two boys have their own little world that no one else is invited into. They are Mario and Luigi. Their pretend world can go on for hours. Yes, it all started from a video game but they live it out here at our house. I have no idea how they keep themselves entertained for so long but I enjoy watching them play pretend.

My Sister Trish

Kimber and Trish

My sister, Trish, came to visit us for a week. She came with books and games for the kids. We celebrated her birthday, played, did some projects, toured DC and she spent most of her time spoiling my children.

Jane, Aunt Trish and Charlie

And of course, we danced.

Charlie

I would often find Aunt Trish sneaking into the cookies and treats. Don't get the wrong idea. She wasn't getting them for herself. She was usually on a "secret mission" from Charlie. Whenever he could get her alone he would tell her to "sneak like a snail" so Mom wouldn't know. Then he would request cookies, treats, chocolate chips in a bowl or more story books. Trish was always laughing as she would tell me not to notice her.

Maggie, break dancing, this is her favorite move.

Mags would warm up to Trish whenever she would sing or read her a book.

Jane
Jane spent most of her time being near Aunt Trish. When Aunt Trish would go to her room for privacy.... Jane would find her. Jane would go down to her room each morning and Aunt Trish would snuggle and read to her. They played, visited, read books, did puzzles, even learned to read some words.
Jane, Aunt Trish, Maggie

Aunt Trish spoiled all of us. We were sad to see her go. After dropping her off at the airport, Jane said "I'm really going to miss Aunt Trish."

Then Charlie chimed in with, "Aunt Trish did whatever I asked!"
Yes, she did and now I'm paying the price.

More

Maggie and Jane

More and more, Maggie just loves to be big and be included. It's always nice when Jane is in the mood to play with her too.