Gymnastics, Soccer, and Other Stuff...

What a lame title...but my posts are so sporadic lately that I gotta clump so many things together. Between school, soccer, gymnastics, and playdates I am one busy mama! We are in full swing with school. Aniela is loving kindergarten and keeps busy at home with homework! I sure don't remember getting school work in kindergarten. Then again I barely remember anything before 3rd grade. Homework has been pretty fun though with an antique desk we got fixed up recently. It's one my parents didn't want anymore so we figured we would take it. Well it has been sitting in the garage for a year now and we decided it was time to do something. And due to lack of time we took it to a guy who powder coated it and shined up the wood. It looks fantastic and Aniela uses it constantly. We even e-mailed the
company, American seating company, and found out it is from 1941. And to think my dad just found it in an empty apartment that he was turning over.

Aniela has also started soccer. It's her first time playing and she is enjoying herself. She has her good friend Kelsey on her team...which is called the "Crew". They had their first game yesterday and had so much fun. It's funny watching them all chase after the ball. Theres no real concept of field positions yet and some even kick the ball toward their own goal. They all have fun though..which is all that matters. Charlie and I also agree that it's fun seeing the smile on Aniela's face when she runs after the ball. You can see she is loving it. Charles enjoys cheering on his big sister from the sidelines,"Go Nela Go!" Zoe is also quite entertained at all the commotion and sits contently watching all the movement on the field.

Aniela and her friend Kelsey with coach Bye

We gotta good laugh on the first day of practice..unfortunatley the girls are usually always together

Charles and Aniela also started gymnastics a few weeks ago. They go at the same time, and Charles is on his own now. So Zoe and I can just sit and watch. I was so nervous that Charles wasn't going to listen or take turns. But he is doing so well. I think kids sometimes do better on their own. Aniela also is doing great and is in the "kindergirls" class. They really work hard during their hour of gymnastics with practice on the bars, balance beams, and floor. We haven't been in gymnastics since March and they both have jumped right in.

Then this past weekend we took advantage of the cooler temperatures and did some camping. It was my kind of camping...in the neighbors back yard! The older kids stayed out with the dads while us moms (and Zoe)..retreated to the comfort of our homes. The kids had so much fun around the fire, cooking their own hot dogs and marshmallows. And they all slept great in the tents. In the morning I walked down with some donuts and the kids played inside. It was a good trial run as we hope to go to a campground sometime this fall. But if that doesn't happen...backyard camping is just as fun.

Katie, Meghan and Aniela in the tent

The kids cooking their hotdogs. Ya gotta love camping...the kids have to make their own food

And Lastly, we have been enjoying the fruits of our garden. The tomatoes have been amazing. We made a tomato-basil sauce the other day and it was delicious. Along with tomatoes we have tons of cucumbers, onions, green peppers, Swiss chard, beets, basil, carrots and cabbage. I've had to lay off the cabbage though as it doesn't agree with Zoe. Poor thing was miserable for a few days.