Obsessed

For some reason, the kids were obsessed this weekend with these mosaic craft projects Grace has owned forever. I don't know why all of a sudden they felt the need to do them all, but they did. Here are the pictures of them with their creations. These creations are now being held up with painter's tape on my hallway wall in a gallery format complete with labels and signs not to touch the artwork. Amazingly enough, they were still able to fit in a lot of playing outside, soccer games, church and chores amongst all this art-making.  A productive weekend, I guess!

A little boy in love!

Will's newest passion - karate! He loves it! He's been taking a twice a week karate class at the Y and he absolutely loves going. He has learned a lot in a short time, and likes showing it off. We thought that once school started, we'd only be able to make one class a week because of piano and bells at church, but Grandma Ellen has been awesome and takes him every Thursday. He is very well behaved in class (unlike a lot of other boys in his class) and always has fun. He's so grown up about it, too - all I have to do is drop him off in front of the building and he runs into class by himself, then comes out and waits in front of the building afterwards and hops in the car when we drive up! I'll try to get some pictures of him in action this next week!

Fall soccer

Here's some pictures of fall soccer. Things are going well this season. They are doing well in practices and are playing hard in games. Grace is on a new team, since her team moved up into the next league (they would have had more practices per week, and we didn't want to make that commitment, so she moved to another team in the same league). She's doing well, being more aggressive on offense this year. The boys are on their same team as always, and are doing pretty well. All the action shots here are from their game today. Will ended up in the grass several times today, he seems to always be the one falling and getting hurt in games! A few bruises, but he's OK! Only 2 more games left this season, if it doesn't rain. Only a few more practices, too, which will really help us not be so busy during the week. Sad to say, but twice a week, all 3 of them end up eating dinner out of a lunch box in the car, driving from one activity to another! 

Husker Marching Band Demonstration - a yearly tradition!

We once again headed downtown for the UNL Marching band demonstration. This year, the Scribners came with, which was a nice addition. We met for dinner downtown and walked to the stadium. The kids were really excited for this, they look forward to it every year. It was a little hot, but it could have been worse! We stayed for pretty much the whole thing, which means a late bedtime that night and since it was the end of the first week of school, we were all tired and came home and crashed! Here are a few pictures of the evening.

 

 All the cousins - from left, Carter, Will, Camden, Grace ane Callan.

 Grace with Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Dale

 Xander and Brian.

 

 A pretty good N!

 Standing up for the National Anthem and There is No Place Like Nebraska!

 At the columns afterwards.

One last picture downtown on the way back to the car. Go Big Red!

1st day of 2nd grade!

Well, the first day and first several weeks of school have come and gone and I am just now getting these pictures posted for you! The kids are loving 2nd grade, they're doing great. It's fun to see them jump right back into the swing of school and learning - and jump in we did! It seems we're busier than ever this fall, but everyone seems to be handling it well.

 

 

 2nd grade!

Our traditional after school pictures in front of the sign at school. This followed our 1st day of school tradition to walk to get ice cream with all the neighborhood kids and moms. We raided Cherry Berry and made a huge noise and brought a huge crowd with us, but it's a tradition all the kids love!

 

As I mentioned before, my mom had some surgery on the 16th of August. All is well, and she is doing fine, if a little bored at home. But, I have been subbing full-time for her since the 16th, and boy is there a reason I've never worked full time! Holy cow, is it busy and exhausting! Since her school is a late start school, it doesn't get out until 3:45, which means I don't get home until around 4:15. Then, it's straight off to after school activities, including piano, dance, and karate for the kids, and my piano lessons. Add to that bells, soccer practice and scouts in the evenings, and trying to cook healthy dinners and we are swamped. Good thing we have reliable babysitters who are here after school and help the kids get homework and piano practicing done! And a huge thanks to the grandmas who seem to play taxi at least once a week for us!

 

The kids are loving all their activities, though. Will is in love with his karate class. He loves showing off his defense moves. Grace likes her new dance class, although it is a new class in a new studio, so she's still a little shy. I think once she gets to know the girls she'll be better. So far, Xander hasn't found an extra activity that he wants to do, but we keep our eyes open for anything he might like and maybe someday he'll find something.  That's about all our news for now, I'll post more later!