Shark Attack!

Today was Ethan's first practice for a soccer team, the Sharks!

It was a day of a lot of firsts. Ethan's first time being on a team, my first time as a soccer mom, Gavin's first time benched on the sidelines, and Chris's first time coaching!

Here's the proud Shark!

Who was thrilled to get a turn with the coach's whistle, he really embodies the role doesn't he?

Our longtime neighborhood friends joined the team, Thane as a Shark, and Dan as fellow coach.

As coaches, they even got to pick the practice location and it's the park behind our house. Literally, we open our fence, and we're at the field!

While there were four year old boy wiggles, they really listened!

"Sharks! Sharks! Sharks!"

Gavin was a little less enthused. He desperately wanted to join the team. All day he had talked about the soccer game and was determined to wear cleats as well.

He signed coach over and over (pictured below).

And made a whistle sound (doesn't quite get blowing into it yet ;)

Sitting...watching...

signing "coach"...

"blowing" the whistle. Repeated over and over.

I suppose this soccer mom might have to miss some practices to not torture her other son, poor kid!

Otherwise, it's Goooooo Sharks!!!

 

Circle Time Cherubs!

Last week was a major parenting win!

First I took the boys to a local community preschool center.

Ethan was thrilled to "teach Gavin how to do circle time" and literally took him under his wing!

With big bro having his back, Gavin readily separated from me and participated the whole 20 minute session!

The very same night, the elementary school that hosts Ethan's pre-k threw a birthday party for Dr. Seuss. Kids were invited to come at bedtime in their pj's, read a Dr. Suess bedtime story, and end the night with birthday cake!

They had Ethan at out at bedtime, pj's at school, and most of all, CAKE!?

Grateful for all three exceptions to momma's rules, he polished his halo and was yet again a circle time cherub.

That day, for a couple hours at least, my boys were definitely mommy's little angels.

Boys need warpaint for arts and craft time?

We painted some birdhouses for our backyard, but the boys had a different idea!

Warpaint?!

At one point, Ethan jumped up and started racing around the house. "Red paint makes me faster, like a red race car!!!!"

Ethan asked me to paint the house with a heart cut our "because I love you mommy".

That was some colorful bath water!

 

They really do grow overnight!

Gavin woke up this morning with his footed pajamas like this:

Safe bet it's time to go shoe shopping!

 

Gymnastics Winter 2013/14 Video Reel

For the boys' Christmas gift this winter, Pops gave them the gift of gymnastics lessons. It was a first for us, a class that both boys could do simultaneously with their own age groups.  All season I videotaped their progress. Ethan did so well, he advanced to the age group ahead of his years!

 

 

 

Grab some popcorn and enjoy watching our little monkeys! 

(If you are reading this via email, visit the link here: http://youtu.be/VIKki0DNvgQ to view our video) 

 

Thank you Pops!

Brothers' Bedtime Shenanigans

Tonight the boys started their (recent) ritual of snuggling tight under Ethan's covers for bedtime story.

The favorite selection for the last two weeks has been this book. Every. Single. Night.

Gavin yells, "ight!!" [fight!!]

And Ethan asks a bazillion questions about the specimens' anatomy and the how's and why's of how everything works.

But tonight they got extra silly and turned book reading into ticklefest.

I had to pull the boys apart at the end to send Gavin to bed as they didn't want to part.

When I went to bed later that night, I found Gavin OFF the bed. You can see the bed rail on the bed he must have gone around.

Had he rolled off? Scooted off to go somewhere and gave up?

Your guess is as good as mine...but I'm suspicious he was trying to get to his brother.

Consciously or not.

(And you know I must find this adorable if I'm willing to share evidence of my laundry on the floor for all the internets to see.)

 

What makes me love Chris more?

1. He's the best husband

Last night, Chris set up a ladies night out for us girls and we had a blast!

After I rolled in at 3am, he let me sleep in. Heaven.

2. He's the best father.

THEN he took the boys solo to their favorite place, the GW basketball court! (I napped again!)

When we told Gavin where they were going, he signed "basketball game", yelled "Dada!", and ran to the door. "Car!!!"

Here is Ethan at Gavin's age, two years ago, on the very same spot!

Brothers united in the love of sports. And their Daddy!

The verdict, I think it's a tie for #1 and #2!