Much of our August and all of our September were spent at soccer games. Scott and Hailey have played for several years now, but this year Arianna wanted to give it a shot. Plus I coached Hailey's team again, so we were very busy this month. 

(No they aren't on the same team- they just have 1 jersey for the entire league and switch blue and white for home and away. It's nice because we don't have to buy new jerseys every year)

I seriously love coaching. I assistant coached on a few of Scott's teams, but after Hailey had a few seasons of horrible coaches (as in they just don't show up), I had to do it myself to make sure she had a good experience. This year they changed it to separate the boys and girls into their own leagues and it was great! Don't get me wrong I enjoyed coaching the little boys too, but this under 8 girls team has just been a blast!

 Scott played Under 10 this year with off-sides, a bigger field, and a whole new kind of competitiveness, but he had fun. He really really loves soccer!

To everyone's complete suprise Arianna tried soccer, liked it, and stuck with it. :) She had her last game on Saturday and she said to Kevin, "I hope this isn't my last game! I signed up for this soccer and I'm not ready to be done!" lol

(her in the front)

And she even scored a goal! She ran up to her Dad and said, "How did you like that goal Dad?" :)

Last games are this week, until we start over in the spring ;)

P.S. I REALLY miss my SLR camera! :(

This is too funny not to share! Around this house the joke is that Jay always has a little tune in his head because he is always dancing even when there isn't music. Tonight I caught him on camera dancing to some music, and even better- he found the mustache from the Mr. Potato head...I have no clue where he got that one from. Soooo funny!

Jay Jigging from Nicole on Vimeo.

Last night after Arianna's soccer game she decided it was time to put her pedals on her bike. We took her training wheels off last week along with the pedals and she has been learning how to balance. So we put her pedals on last night and viola! No running behind her or anything she just took off! :) The video shows her at the very first ride and then progress as the night went on. She even decided she wanted to upgrade to the bigger bike even at the end. Way to go Ari!

Ari Biking without training wheels! from Nicole on Vimeo.

I am usually the first one to give a friend a little pep talk when they are down about the mundane-ness of being a stay at home mom. But lately it has been me who has needed a little pick me up. I'm not sure why, I've just been struggling with trying to bring some fun into all the things that need to be done.

So Thursday I decided it get off my pity party and take Ari and Jay up to the mountains. I brought the hiking pack for Jay and me and Ari held hands as we hiked a little nature trail. On the way down I let Jay get out of the pack and explore. He was so cute trying to stick every rock he found in his little pockets. Arianna collected leaves in every fall color. It brought me so much joy just watching how happy they were. It's always soooo nice to get into nature. Works every time for me! And the kids loved it too ;)

We packed sack lunches and stopped at a park to eat lunch and feed the ducks.

Just a few more pictures from my cellphone (sorry they aren't that great quality...no I-phone here! lol)

Jay wanders around the house all day with his little power drill fixing doors, walls and poking holes into his morning pancakes lol

 Still doing great in his toddler bed, especially when big brother reads some bedtime stories. Scott loves it so much. Last night Jay said, "Thanks Scott" and gave him the biggest smooch on the lips. Scott looked over at me with the sweetest little look and I said, "Melts your heart doesn't it?" and he just smiled and shook his head in agreement. So sweet. :)

 When he isn't carrying around his drill he carries this little baby doll around like a football or he will give it kisses or give it "a cuddle" as he calls it. lol

We have been super busy with soccer games and practices- I need to take some pictures this week...I'll try my best! 

My camera is still broken so I haven't been taking too many pictures the last few months...

Instead here is what Scott said tonight,

"We are all experts in our family! I'm a Lego expert, Jay is a trouble expert, Dad is a building expert, Hailey is an art expert, Mom is a cooking expert, and Ari is a crying expert."

Lol thought that was pretty funny! ;)

This one is long but I know the grandmas will enjoy it. Jay is obsessed with books and ever since he has been in his toddler bed with access to all his books he wants to read them ALL day long. Today I had some visitors and he literally brought out every book out of his room and was reading them out-loud. So adorable! Every time I get out the camera he gets shy, so I had to start reading first before he joined in finally. This one is his FAVORITE book right now "Good Night Moon." He is talking soooo good seriously! Just woke up one day talking up a storm! :)

Untitled from Nicole on Vimeo.

I feel bad I haven't really posted any videos of Jay and I have taken a lot...it's just too much effort to post them! This is a short video of his favorite thing to say which is "Honk honk ROAR!" We couldn't figure out where he got it from because he says it everywhere he goes. But I found it in his book about construction vehicles, so there ya go!

Jay honk honk from Nicole on Vimeo.

Jay's Turn

Jay didn't get to go to school, but he did get to move to a big boy bed this week! 

He will be turning 2 in just a few weeks!

Last week Kevin and I spent our Saturday afternoon building this cute toddler bed for him. It was so much fun to make

Just ask our handyman Jay

and handyman Scott :)

I decided to stain it dark dark brown to match the dresser in his room, and I got a cute pillowcase and lamp with dump trucks and building tractors. He is so obsessed with all cars, but especially tractors. He nearly blows out the windows with his screams in our car when he sees one driving down the road! "TRACTOR!!!" So cute!

Here's his new stuff :)

So excited and proud of himself! 

He's napped in it for 3 days and slept in it for 2 and all is good. He just lets himself out in the morning and walks in to get me saying "Play Play!" (he's not a cuddle in the morning and watch cartoons kind of guy...has to get playing right away!)

And speaking of rooms, Hailey made a portrait of each family member and taped it to their doors lol. Here's cute little Jay's door. 

Arianna has been waiting patiently for preschool to start!

1st day of preschool

She is such a social little thing and loves to be out and about so it's just killing her being at home with me last week while Scott and Hailey were at school. She was constantly asking to go to a store or anything to get her out of the house (so opposite of Hailey!) She gets to go Monday, Wednesday and Friday this year and is sooooo excited!

 She has the same teacher Hailey had for preschool, so it's pretty fun (Hailey has Scott's 1st grade teacher this year too). Fun to get the same teachers! :) 

Confident little Ari-

 I was telling Kevin it's too bad we can't shave off just a little bit of her confidence and give it to Hailey lol. But she does have PLENTY of confidence to go around. I guess that's a good thing! But it makes me laugh when she is constantly telling me things like, "The workers at the grocery store are going to think I look so cute!" "The kids in my class are going to love me" lol. Not a bad way to think I guess- wish we could spread it around!! :)