Coach Borja

Mason's soccer coaches got last-minute tickets to the Seahawks game and asked if Borja could coach practice, since he had been helping out the last several practices. After schools Borja found a bag, gathered up all the cones and extra soccer balls...and then found a whistle and was set! Cindy and Kenzie sat in the car, just to make sure he had backup should anarchy or an emergency hit. He did not need it. If they stepped out of line, he made them
run laps. Only three kids had to run, but one had to run 14 laps. When I showed up they looked amazingly well behaved! They ran from one activity to the next. As one dad put it after practice, "they're all tired and sweaty so it was a good practice."

What?!? A PK against me??

Yes, we've been encouraging Kenzie to be more aggressive on the soccer field. Seems it's working, as evidenced by the penalty kick shot against her. I love how she continues to look sweet and maintain her innocence. Wham.

I didn't really see it, but heard it was accidental.

Fifth time

Our driveway is a bit of an obstacle course, but one person has earned the privilege of knocking down the planters 2 of the 5 times. Based on evidence presented here within, I will let you deduce who that might be.

Seattle

After a soccer game each for Kenzie and Mason, we all headed into Seattle. We only had a haircut for Borja planned, but the day ended up being very full and fun. The sun came out just in time for us to walk around the Pike Place Market, see the flying fish, grab a cookie, and otherwise enjoy a relaxing walk around the heart of the city. We decided to venture down to the waterfront and took our first trip on the new waterfront ferris wheel. The views were amazing--we looked down on the blue water, the sun catching the buildings, and the space needle peeking out. We walked back up the Harbor Steps and then went to a soccer field where Borja enjoyed a pick-up game with a bunch of college guys, many of whom happened to speak Spanish. Kenzie and Mason watched some people practicing circus arts. Cindy and I caught some sun on the grass, feeling that this might be the last time for a while that we could do that. After soccer we met Sary-Jo, Randy and the boys at their favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle. Even though it was spicy, all the kids enjoyed it and did their best to be adventurous. We only had to buy two hamburgers later.

Deep thoughts on the Harbor Steps.

Getting ready for the ride.

They insisted that they saw a gun floating in the water. Cindy pointed out that guns don't float. I pointed out that it was kelp.

On the Great Wheel with Alki in the background

Mason thought the food was too spicy, until he found the chicken...which the rest of us thought was the spiciest dish of all. One leg, though, was enough. He came to me and asked how to make his lips stop burning.

Harbor Steps with the Seattle Art Museum in the background

As big as the hammering man

Life would be so much more peaceful without two boys in this car

No offense takeN

Mason: "mom, no offense, but you look like a person from old times."

It's called a dress.

Mason plus ball

....equals disadvantaged garage door

Getting tough

We are so happy that Kenzie is still playing soccer, and even happier that she's starting to get into it and improve. Just like she was in basketball, she doesn't like to be too physical or aggressive against the other girls. But, we think she's coming out of that and giving herself permission to be tough. And, most importantly, she is having fun!

 

Guns or soccer

Mason's soccer team came over tonight to celebrate his birthday.

Right before the party started Cindy left to get Borja from soccer. I volunteered to do that, but she insisted I stay at the party....by myself. She promised me it would easy, "let them play soccer," she said smugly as she peeled out of the driveway, taking her 25 years of teaching experience with her.

Within about 30 seconds seven boys arrived.

In the time it takes to say "anarchy" I saw the backs of their heads as they poured into the house. Wanting to mask the terror growing within, I casually yelled, "hey guys, let's stay outside and play soccer!" They must not have heard me, or perhaps the riot mentality had already begun. Still hoping to be cool, I screeched up the stairs behind them just in time to see that they were gathering their weapons. Within 10 seconds every Nerf gun in Masons room was loaded into a central box. The smaller boys were searching under every surface for bullets and disks.

Now I was in a vulnerable pickle. I didn't want to provoke them. I thought I would distract them. They want guns? I'll give them guns! "hey! We have WATER guns! Let's put the Nerfs down and play with water guns!" One said, "naaaaaah!" and another "I can't get this shirt wet" and another "these are my soccer shorts and I can't get them wet either." Mason led the rebellion with a resounding "WHO
WANTS NERF GUNS??" which drew a unanimous "Meeeeeee!!!" as they headed downstairs with their box of guns.

It was about then that I started texting Cindy...

"Where are you? I've lost complete control and they have guns."

"I need you here!"

"Come home!"

"Help me."

She calmly replied, "No guns. Tell them no guns."

Ok, finally, something I can work with. They were still arguing about who got which weapon and not a single bullet had been fired when I strongly said, "hey guys, Cindy says no guns." in chorus they sang a disappointed "aaaaaah" and somebody yelled "who wants soccer!?!" and off they went.

The pizza arrived and I managed to get them seated and served before THE TEACHER arrived home in time to critique the fact that I had allowed them to have multiple Gatoraides. I was just happy to be alive.

After pizza was wrestling, advancing to burping, and finishing with farting. Oh, there was some more soccer too.

I'm really not sure what happened to Mason's other leg.

Do the Puyallup

Kenzie went to the fair today. Now we have two boys who desperately want to go too. Hopefully they will find good friends like Kenzie did who will take them. :)

Fishing in the archives - 2006

This one makes me laugh every time. From Grampy saying, "He's DEAD" about the squirming fish, to Kenzie sympathetically telling it, "aaah, we can eat you" before she holds it upside down, then says, "Earl!!!"

Still archiving - Mason's signs from 2006

We had forgotten how much Mason signed, another hazard of being kid 2. We remember that Kenzie had over 200 signs when she started dropping them, but this video is a reminder of how much fun it was to watch Mason sign. He was much less precise than his sister...such as how his sign for "Kenzie" resembles the sign for "frog."

Good things start with A

After her first day of school, I asked Kenzie how she liked school. Her reply, "It's great! This teacher does everything alphabetically! So, I am always the first and always in the front! It's sooooo much better being at the front of the line leading than at the back where you have to look at the back of everybody's head and follow somebody you don't know."

Eight and times ten plus one

Happy birthday to our September nines!

Spain v Spain

David and Daniel sported their Spanish jerseys today in celebration of meeting Borja. Luckily for Mason, Borja and his family bought him a full Spanish soccer uniform for his birthday today! Once the boys arrived, I don't think they even came in the house until dinner was served.

Hot days of soccer

Possibly our last great weekend, kids were complaining about it being too hot! Not me!

once flushed, now recovered

Another video that I once felt wasn't appropriate for the blog, but somehow my standards have changed. This one, from 2007, proves what a dude he is and always has been.

2012-13 soccer starts

Mason's team had their first game of the season. The final score was 20-1, of which Mason scored 5! The team eventually was allowed one extra player on the field, and Mason was moved to the back of the field. It's obvious that Felix and Borja's soccer influences and coaching have paid off for Mason. Notice the backward foot-flip....that's Felix. And the high kick over the goalie's head was Borja's recent addition based on observation that the opponents goalies aren't too strong at this age.

Why do they say "pulling teeth" as if it's a bad thing?

Yuck. (Video)

from the archives

I never published this video initially because I didn't find it that humorous at the time. But when I look back, it cracks me up.

New starts

Three kids and four new starts of school today.

Mason entered the 2nd grade. Kenzie started 5th grade, and she started her evening Spanish school. Borja entered the 11th grade (even though he is 15, all exchange students come in as juniors).

Not everybody was happy about the first day. But Borja only got lost one time!

Kenzie's Spanish school teacher was very impressed with her, and, of course, Kenzie likes the one on one attention. Que bueno.

Early read on this school year is that it'll be a good one all around.

Water warfare

I came home tonight to this. All the water guns were loaded. I'm sure they were about to take them outside...

Old wig

Funniest part of bringing out the old wig today happened after all the kids went to bed. Cindy and I were downstairs and heard Bentley growling. I went upstairs to see him in a deep guarded position keeping the fro safely on its perch.

Our backyard

We have lived here almost our entire lives and have rarely been to Mt. Rainier in the summer time. Today Corrin introduced us to the gondola at Crystal, which was not only an amazing ride, but an entirely fabulous afternoon. The kids were completely entertained feeding the chipmunks and the gray jays, and then we had a nice lunch with a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helens. The weather was beautiful - it was a bit breezy, but nothing to complain about for September! Kenzie would insert here that I encouraged her to wear shorts, to which I would like to insert that I found the dog blanket in the car that she sported the entire afternoon.

Mason has his down coat on. Kenzie shed the dog blanket for this picture.

I love the look of this little guy. He...or maybe a friend of his, it's really tough to tell them apart...ran onto her leg and left scratch marks! It wasn't as alarming, though, as the little Chihuahua that bit her later. Well, actually she didn't flinch when the dog bit her, but she was highly disturbed at the reaction of the dog's owners. Kenzie came to me, horrified, and said, "Mom, some strange lady started kissing my hand."

Yah, outdoors and animals...this is a good day.

Here, snap the shot so we can go back to having fun.

Possibly our favorite shot of the day.

She's holding a cricket. This was taken seconds before the little critter hopped away, leaving one leg in her hand and forever leaning slightly left.

 A gray jay - he sat on her hand for several seconds. She said his little legs felt rubbery.

This is just awesome.

Based on the look on his face in every picture with a bird (Borja's eyes closed and flinching), I think he may prefer the chipmunks. But, look at it, that bird is a terror.

A real-life taste-test. Borja was holding a french fry and Mason grabbed a piece of chicken. Much to our surprise, the bird chose chicken. Kenzie called him Cannibal the rest of the afternoon. 

As we were leaving Mason drifted back, and this little guy got the last remaining peanut.

Mason took this shot.

Heading back down...

Time for new books

This is Kenzie's most recent "read and done" pile.