Yet more soccer and a gymnastics routine…

"I think that the best thing we can do for our children is to allow them to do things for themselves, allow them to be strong, allow them to experience life on their own terms, allow them to take the subway… let them be better people, let them believe more in themselves."
-Joybell C.

James’ soccer team has a new club level coach who has lengthened the practices and started teaching new skills.  After only two practices we can already see a difference, although they still have a long way to go to catch up to the other teams.  As long as James keeps having fun and playing hard, we have no doubt he’ll improve quickly.

James had a birthday party to go to and while he was gone Ashlyn thought it would be fun to fix up Isla’s hair.  I tried to take pictures but I got yelled out every time I did.

After Isla’s hair was done, Ashlyn came up with a gymnastics routine and trained Isla on the steps.  When Mommy got back home, they showed off their new routine.  Afterwards Ashlyn celebrated by standing up on top of the bar and balancing there for a few minutes.

Isla continues to find ways to entertain herself while her older siblings are in school.  Her more recent activities include posing in her new leotard, posing in sunglasses, and setting up picnics for Sadie. 

More soccer and gymnastics meets…

"James, other way!"
"Oh!"

James continues to improve his soccer skills every week.  This week he had a few breakaway moments where he got the ball out and ran ahead of everyone else to the goal.  He was more focused, other than a brief moment where he got called into the game when he wasn’t expecting it and didn’t realize the direction changed.  He hustled, fought for the ball, and had fun doing it.

Ashlyn went to her second meet of the season this weekend and had her best showing yet.  She placed 2nd on vault, 2nd on beam, 5th on bars, 7th on floor, and 4th in all around.  She also had the highest all around score for her gym.  Ashlyn was very happy with her overall performance, and she should be.  She did great.

Skating, soccer, and a gymnastics challenge…

Isla: "Do we have vanilla yogurt?"
Mommy: "No, I didn't buy any."
Isla: "That's ok, I still love you."

The kids were invited to skating party this week and all three were eager to go.  Ashlyn mostly skated with her friends, while Isla and James skated for a bit and then made their way to the game room.  It’s always nice when all three kids are invited to the same party, it doesn’t happen that often anymore.

An impromptu gymnastics challenge broke out this week when Ashlyn threw down the gauntlet and challenged Mommy.  They played it similar to horse, where you scored if you could do a move but the other couldn’t.  To protect the innocent, I won’t say who won.

James had two soccer games this week, one on Tuesday and another on Saturday.  James had fun in both games, even though the first team they played looked to be older and won by a decent amount.  The second game was more even and James was really in the thick of things.

Meanwhile, Isla helped clean out the deep freeze.  Kids can be useful after all!

Gymnastic, soccer, and a treasure hunt…

"What's that?"
"That's ballet."
"Oh my gosh, I hate that."
-Isla

Ashlyn had her first meet of the season this weekend.  She moved from achievement to placement, which means she has to win her medals by outscoring her competition rather than getting awarded for getting over a specific individual score limit.  Ashlyn was nervous that she wasn’t going to place, but ended up getting medals in beam, vault, and all around.  Way to go Ashlyn!

James wasn’t satisfied with the YMCA soccer season and decided to join the BESA league as well.  They had their first game this weekend and James came out strong, scoring the first goal of the game.  It’s fun to watch James play, he really enjoys soccer.

We finished off the weekend with a big treasure hunt around the house.  Thirty clues, ten for each child, led the kids through every room of the house and around the outside.  They successfully deciphered all the clues and were rewarded with some clearance toys we bought a long time ago and didn’t have a use for.  Yay!