Soccer season '23

Oh man, I love soccer season. I have loved watching this year. The 3 boys playing love it. Rowan handled the losses so much better this year, Jonah is enthusiastic and will dance on the field after scoring, and Josh has an amazing team that have been together throughout the year, and a coach that is so impressive on these boys. Josh scored at least a goal each game, where last season he only scored once the season. 

We will add Lily into the mix next season which will be so fun!I think being a part of a team is so valuable. It teaches so much more than just the sport itself. They learn that they need to show up, be reliable, they need to learn good sportsmanship, and positivity. I am the first to say-it is so busy. We had 5 practices a week. I had to run them all around, we have to coordinate all the games and make sure we get them early to all their games, and often drive two cars just to make that happen. 

Josh's last game was so fun. The team he was playing agaisnt was the most challenging the whole season, They were up 4-1 and then suddenly the other team scored a quick 3, tying the game. And then, Josh came through with the winning goal! So cool! So fun. 

Jonah was on a team with 4-5 of his best buddies. Kainoah, Wyatt, James, Archer, and Oscar.  In one of team pictures, if you look closely, Jonah, Kai, and Wyatt are holding hands. Some with their fingers interlocked! 😂  I am so thankful for all the little friends Jonah has and the families as well. They are are such good people.

When we were leaving Rowan's last game, a little teammate came up to Rowan to give him a high five, he said, "Good game, Rowan. Are you going to be over at the pizza party?" Rowan answered, "Yeah, I'll be over there." The boy cheerfully said, "Ok, Rowan! I'll see over at the pizza party!" 

I asked Rowan about him, and who he was, and commented that that was very nice. Rowan has been opposed to making friends this year, not so much making friends perhaps, but calling anyone a friend. I do not know why. I am very thankful for these kids around Rowan who seem to put forth effort even when Rowan is probably not putting much in.That makes me believe in the kindness of the world a bit more. I am going to really miss seeing the boys give their all on the field each Saturday. Till next season!  

 

The Sienna Saga

 

I knew there would come a time to reflect on this time. This is Sienna. She really is a very nice girl, mind you, a self proclaimed "boy crazy." This was last year. Sienna established she had a crush on Kaj. Kaj, told her he had a crush on her. We hung out with her, Kaj would be a really good listener, and supportive friend, and sometimes they would flirt a bit, and sometimes she would flirt with Josh. It was weird at times. Mostly, I just closed my eyes and wished for a simpler time. No, not really. I could usually be the one rolling my eyes. It was never has if Kaj and Sienna made plans with just the two of them, it was always including the family, and we were always around. There was a time where we were watching a movie as family, and we looked over and Kaj had put his arm around her and she was kinda snuggled in. 😳 (sam and my face as we made eye contact) Then, she started acting a bit distant. Kaj was wondering, but mostly he was just fine. It was Sienna's sister that finally told Kaj that she no longer liked Kaj liked that, and he was bummed maybe a day, and then the next day a relieved Kaj told me, he could be himself again. (I didn't realize how much he was trying to change for her) Kaj had stopped making his electronic music, and after that he jumped right back in. There were lessons to be learned I am sure with all parties. 

End of LAST School year

 

Well, it turns out I am THIS far behind. But, I can't skip out on these cuties at the end of the year. The kids all ended on a high notes, Rowan, I would say, just wanted very much to be done. I wanted him to be done too, It was Josh's last year in elementary school. 6th grade going in to middle school doesn't feel right, doesn't look right, doesn't smell right - all the senses. I just feel like they are still very much kids and should go to recesses instead of listening to their friends start to say swear words. 

I am not worried about Josh. I know he has a great head on this shoulders and he has so many qualities that I just didn't have when I went into middle school, most importantly- confidence. He has confident in who he is, and he has standards on how he should be treated. (So helpful!)  Miss Mindy is always adorable, and we love her, and we are so glad that we get to have her again next year for Lily. 

Forrest Hassell- have I talked about Forrest. Even if I did, it warrants talking about again. Forrest was home from BYU while the boys were still finishing up their last weeks in school. He is a friend to everyone. He is the kind of person that makes everyone feel like they are his best friend. Jonah, literally, believes that Forrest thinks of Jonah as his best friend. I love this. I loved knowing that Rowan walked around with Forrest during recess talking to him, because he didn't have anyone else he wanted to spend time with. I love that he is such a good example to Josh at a time he needs a role model like that. I loved that he is noticeably happy and that my boys want to be like that. I want to be like that!

I ran with my girlfriends for the happy girls run this year. I did the 10k "with" Abby and Susie ran the half. I did put "with" in quotes because Abby is really fast, and there was never even a discussion that we would be together running it- which I preferred. I actually really loved it. I love running with all women. I loved that it was the trail that I used to run all the time. It was gorgeous, and I just felt really invigorated. I thought of my sisters. I hope they will run it with me in the future.