Soccer

“The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does.”

 Brighton was finally eligible for city sports this year.  We started with soccer.  He loved it, though he wasn't the most aggressive player out there.  His team was almost undefeated, losing only 1 game the whole season.

 We loved going to his games because he was so funny to watch, especially as goalie.

 After the first couple of games, he came home one night, and while trying to get his shin guards off, he asked me how he got his "hubcaps" off.  Most games he was more interested in the social interaction than the state of the actual ball game.  He liked to try doing belly bumps with his teammates, and often he'd hike his shorts up and walk around.  As goalie, he even inspected the goal box to see how it was put together.  Did you know that if one lies on one's belly and slithers, one can lift it up and slide right under?  But don't try and swing on it; that results in a bonk on the head.

 Sometimes he just got tired.  Soccer is a lot of running, ya know.

 One has to pop one's head up every now and then and make sure the stampede isn't heading your way.  His team was so good, there was very little for the goalie and defenders to do.

 Whatcha thinkin about, Bud?

 Finally!  Some action!

 Look carefully on the van hood...I guess front line seats ain't good enough for some folks.

 Due to miscommunication, we missed the professional photos.  So I took our own.

 We're proud of you for working hard and trying soccer Brighton!

Brighton's fan club.

Brotherly love

 Keaton loves his baby brother.  He asks to hold him nearly every morning when Boston wakes up.  Boston is usually a good sport about it.  I love both of their expressions in these photos.  Of all the kids, these 2 look the most alike as babies, though it's tough to see that now, with Keaton being so little, and Boston being so...fluffy.

Puttin' on the green

 With a new baby this year, we've kind of scaled everything back, and our leprechaun traps were pretty simple.  Alas, we still didn't catch a wee man again!  You would have had me with the Rolos!

 This was Savannah's

 We always get really excited to see what stunts the little tricksters have pulled overnight.  They like to pee in our toilets--green pee of course--and write notes on the mirrors.

 This one went 4-wheeling on the lego car over the bananas.

 Left notes on the kitchen counter,

 used the garland to swing on the light in the dining room,

 and gave each other rides on the fans using the shamrock wall hanging.  Naughty little leprechauns!  I wonder if they've been watching Peppermint the Elf.

 For breakfast we had Lucky Charms cereal, rainbow fruit kabobs, and French toast.

 Our Primary Presidency gave all the teachers these cute pots of gold.  I had to take a picture to remember it so I can copy next year:)

 St Patty's Day dinner

 The kids and I made white and green cake pops and chocolate pretzels as favors.

 Everybody wore their silly hats

 This year we had chicken and broccoli curry casserole, green beans, salad, and green jello with apples.  And lime punch.

I, robot pinata

 Brighton has a thing with cardboard boxes.  When there's an available empty box in the house, he claims it and makes it into stuff.  Here, he grabbed the vacuum box and made it into a robot suit.  Only he forgot to cut a hole for his head.  He quickly discovered his error...but couldn't get the box off.  I ran in to see what the screaming was about, and had to giggle when Waverly took advantage of the situation and took a bar to Brighton.  I know, bad mom, right?  I should have been rescuing him, but since I knew he wouldn't get hurt, I snapped a photo instead.  Brighton is usually on the side doling out the torture.  Should I tell her there's no candy in there if she breaks it open?

Kindy 500: Life is a highway

 In Kindergarten at Brighton's school, every year they hold a Kindy 500.  The kids are required to make a cardboard car, which they "drive" around the country (school hallways) to get to the country's biggest historical sites.  They learned about the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, etc.  They start off with a program of singing, and recitations, then each child parades his car around the hallways for parents and students to see.  This is our first experience with it, as the older girls went to different schools during Kindergarten.  Can I just say "WOW"?  There were some amazing cars there.  My favorites included Barbie Jeeps, Batman mobiles, and the best was the candy car from Wreck-it Ralph.  I tried to get a picture of that one, but failed.

 Brighton changed his mind 5 times before he settled on the Scooby Doo mystery Machine.  As luck would have it, there was another one in the line-up as well. 

 Some of the other cars.  This police one was really awesome too.

Civil Rights skit

Irelynd's class had to put on a skit about civil rights groups from history.  She was assigned to do a skit about the Japanese Americans in the 40's after Pearl Harbor.  She did a great job!

On the fence

 I'm not sure what took all three little ones to look over the fence, but I thought this photo was cute of them all peeking over.