Spring Soccer

We hadn't anticipated Eli playing spring soccer since we'd be down a man with Daddy coaching at the high school, but the youth league announced that spring teams would be the same as the fall leagues were, so we signed back up!

This guy was pumped for opening day!  He was so excited about his new cleats and how they'd make him kick harder and run faster.

Warming up with Tyson.  About half of his team played in the fall, and the other half was new.

For some reason, Eli has been really focused on defense and playing goalie (must take after Daddy on that one).

Even though they don't have goalies at this age, he takes off for the goal most of this time.  He must be watching too many Under Armour commercials.  Will you protect this house?  I will.  I will.

On the team with his buddy Abigail!  It will be a said day when he moves up a league next year and she stays in U5.

Goooo Strikers!

Eli has just has much fun on the bench playing with his friends and downing his Gatorade, as he does actually playing the game.  We come just as much for the snacks as we do for the game.  : )

Here's to a season of no injuries, lots of goals, and red Gatorade-mustaches!

Easter 2015

Easter morning came early for these two.  Obviously one wakes up much easier than the other does.  We don't really "do" the Easter bunny.  Eli knew I was going to Target to get Easter basket treats, and that's ok.  We just talked about we got gifts because Jesus wants to give us the gift of forever with Him in heaven.

The boys each got a small toy, DVD, some new pjs, plus a few other little random things.  No candy though.  Paw Patrol was definitely the theme of Eli's basket.  Abigail has introduced him to this Nick Jr. show and he's become obsessed.  Paw Patrol is not easy to find around here either.  It sells out really quickly!

We went with a green and blue theme this year in our Easter clothes.  I really only purposefully matched the boys, but it just worked out that Wesley and I coordinated too.

Love my little family!

Mommy and the boys

My three guys

Our sweet boys!

They love each other!

We went to early church and then came home for a small Easter lunch here and the boys were able to play all afternoon.  Wesley and Eli took turns hiding eggs for each other again in the front yard.  It was nice to have a quiet day at home after being gone all week to the beach, especially with the craziness of school and work starting back tomorrow, but only 35 more days until summer!

I have some thoughts to write out (if time allows) after hearing today's sermon at church, but I'm still thinking on it for now.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. ...

Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!

Landon - 13 months

 Landon boy, you are one busy, busy boy!  You are all over the place:  walking, running, climbing, and you've taken your fair share of tumbles too.  All little boy, for sure!  We love you so much though, and bring so much energy and excitement to our lives.  We love your personality that is really blossoming, and the snuggles you give too!

Firsts: Spring Break vacay (and longest road trip to date-6 hours), trip to Daytona/speedway, set of tubes

News headlines:  Gas is about $2.19/gallon, ISIS continues to be a threat in the eastern world, March Madness and Kentucky's perfect season

Milestones: You've begun to notice animals (and love them), of course everything is a daw-dee (doggie).  You are eating all table food and no more baby food.  You walk at full-speed and are quite the monkey, climbing everything you can.  Sometimes you will open your mouth to give slobbery kisses.

Measurements: Size 3 diapers (but we'll be going to 4s soon), 12 mth clothes, probably 20+ lbs and 29-30" long.  Size 3-4 in shoes.

Like Mommy: You seem to get sick easily.

Like Daddy: LOVES outside and is extremely active.

Like Eli:  Always falling down.  Unlike Eli though, you aren't doing it on purpose and for a good laugh.  

Favorite Toys: balls, remotes and phones, and anything that makes sounds/music

Sounds: Mama (not very often), dada, nana, bye bye, uh-oh, awww, hey (whenever you hear a phone ring/or a beep), daw-dee (doggie, when you see any kind of animal.  You really love dogs though!)

Challenges: You got the flu in March (despite having gotten a flu shot) while Eli had strep, Mommy had pink eye, and Daddy was busy with soccer.  It was a challenging month for all of us.  Ginny was a big help and came to spend several days with us to help get you on the mend.

Our Days: Bedtime is about 8:30 and I feed you as you fall asleep.  Some nights you sleep through the night.  Some nights you're up once.  You still feed once in the morning before school.  You eat breakfast and lunch at school, plus a banana for snack.   You usually have an after school snack with Eli when we get home around 4-4:30.  You've dropped a feeding just this week, and are only nursing in the morning and at bedtime (and if you get up any during the night).

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's favorite- Watching you chase daw-dees on the beach (birds).

Daddy's favorite-Chasing you.

Nicknames: Landy, Landon/Landy boy, Commando-Lando (thanks to Mr. David)

Upcoming Events: summer is near!

Landon's First Birthday

Landon, your first birthday was a school day.  We were just happy that you were well enough to celebrate with your friends that day!  Ms. Carrie and Ms. Mary took pictures and sent them to Mommy.  You brought cupcakes to share with your friends and your teachers.

Happy 1st birthday, Landon boy!

Landon - 12 months old

Landon, I can not believe it is March 3 already!  Your first year went by even faster than your brother's.  We love you so much.  You're our Landy boy!  You are such a sweet baby and make us smile.  You love chewing Mommy's hair, playing games with Daddy, and trying to keep up with Eli.

Firsts: birthday!, hospital visit (dehydration and pneumonia, it was no fun), Valentines Day (in the hospital), first time to really be away from your brother (between your hospital visit and his visit to Texas)

News headlines:  Gas is about $2.19/gallon, ISIS continues to be a threat in the eastern world.  Really, we don't know.  Who has time to watch the news!?

Milestones: This month you've really blossomed and are doing so many fun things!  You started walking four days before your first birthday.  It's so fun to watch you totter around the house.  You clap and say "yay!", you pat your belly, you put the phone (or your hand) to your ear when we say hello or if you hear a phone on TV, you say uh-oh a lot

Measurements: Size 3 diapers, some size 9-12 mths, but mostly 12 mth, clothes, about 19 lbs and 28-29" long.  We go to the doctor this week, so we shall see!

Like Mommy: You love to flip through a good book, and you love the laptop and iphone.

Like Daddy: The sleep.  Gah!

Like Eli:  You run around the house holding Ninja Turtle toys all the time!

Favorite Toys: Puzzles, a Sesame Street toy, and your walker.

Sounds: Mama, dada, nana, bye bye, uh-oh (we say this one A LOT)

Challenges: Your health has really been a challenge for us this month.  We are just thankful for God's grace each day, medicine, and doctors who finally were able to diagnosis you.  Tubes are in our foreseeable future.

Our Days: Bedtime is about 8:30 and I feed you as you fall asleep.  Some nights you sleep through the night.  Some nights you're up once.  You still feed once in the morning before school.  You eat breakfast and lunch at school, plus a banana for snack.   You usually have an after school snack with Eli when we get home around 4-4:30.  You've dropped a feeding just this week, and are only nursing in the morning and at bedtime (and if you get up any during the night).

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's favorite- Seeing you take your first steps.  It was also funny watching you follow Eli through the house holding Michelangelo  nunchucks 

Daddy's favorite-Watching you walk!

Nicknames: Landy, Landon/Landy boy

Upcoming Events: Your birthday party and Spring Break!
*update*  Landon's first birthday party

Look how much you've grown this year!

Mommy's boys on their first birthdays!
Eli on the left, Landon on the right

4 1/2

How are you 4 1/2?  You're a big kid now.  I don't view you as a "preschooler" anymore.  Our conversations crack me up and you're really developing a (sarcastic at times) sense of humor!

You are 41 inches and 41 pounds!

Favorite toys/games: We play a lot of Ninja Turtles/wrestle-fights/super heroes/bad guys games around here.  You say Paw Patrol toys, but you just got one of these and have only played with once or twice.  You love trains and the train table Santa brought.

Books:  You are really into Miss Nelson is Missing (we can thank Mrs Susan and Mrs Dawn at school for this).  You talk about the Swamp all the time!

Challenges: You are a fun and easy kid.  I can't think of any real "challenges" with you!

Our Days:  You wake up about 6:20 on school mornings, get dressed, and brush teeth.  You eat breakfast at school (we're usually there by 7:05).  Mommy picks you up around 4 if I have nothing going on after school.  I try to get there as soon as I can so we have as much time together as possible.  After school you put on gym shorts (daddy's boy).  Even if it's freezing outside.  Then we play trains, watch a movie or one of your shows, and play play play!  You are a great eater and a great helper around the house.  Bedtime is about 8:30.  You still nap at school, but if it's not a school day you rarely nap.  It messes with your bedtime.  I'm a little sad we've outgrown this stage.  Mommy loves naps (and naptime).  You played soccer in the fall and are playing again this spring.  You love to be active!

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's Favorite:  I love to listen to the new phrases and expressions you've begun to use.  I can't use the phrase *someone* did xxxx because you pipe up with "...that would be me".  You also tell us "well, actually, ...." and then you tell it like it is.  If I'm in a bad mood (because Daddy's always happy, hehe) you ask me, "What's got you so frustrated?"  Sometimes you make jokes and then say, "I'm just joking with you!"  Presidents Day was also pretty funny.  You were pretty upset when you woke up that day and it wasn't "presents day".  You came downstairs looking for gifts.  I think in your mind you were picturing a Christmas morning spread.
Daddy's Favorite:  Christmas with you!  You really grasped Santa and the excitement of it all.  Your first soccer season was also a lot of fun.

*Really, all the moments are our favorites.  We just love life with you, Eli Taff!

Upcoming Events: Kindergarten.  Tear.  We won't talk about that yet.  I guess the things in the more immediate future would be our Spring Break beach trip, pre-K graduation, and a full summer of fun and sun!

Here are some recent pictures of you from this weekend.  You and Mommy had a lot of special time just us that day.  I took you to soccer practice and that afternoon to a birthday party.  (Who doesn't love a stuffed pig with a great snarl?!)

You thought this was awesome.  It looks like the ninja turtles before they mutated (your words, not mine).

Serial

February was a very rough month.  Read here to catch up.  I did not get a book read (my new year's goal), but I did listen to this entire podcast in a matter of three days.  That counts this month, right?

I know I'm late to the party.  Serial came out in the fall.  Read more about it here.

These events really happened.  It's not fictional.  I initially found it intriguing, because this happened in 1999, and I was in high school then too.  It's the story, an investigation if you will, into the murder of a high school senior, Hae Min Lee.  Her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted of the murder and has been in jail since then.  The podcast host, Sarah Koenig, basically goes back and re-interviews several people associated with this case, including several interview with Adnan (as she was approached with this case by a family friend of Adnan's).

I'm not going to give a way any actual details or an account of my opinion, but I HIGHLY recommend going to listen to this podcast!  Seriously.  Go listen.  All of the episodes have aired, so you can binge-listen like I did.  I became super obsessed with this, asking everyone I knew who'd listened for their opinions, trying to convince other people to listen so they could converse with me about it, and staying up way too late at night googling stuff related to the case.  The most I'll give you here to my opinion is this:  Guilty or not, there's a lot to be said for reasonable doubt.  It's a tricky thing.

Now go listen so we can talk!