Paradise!

We are in Maui and enjoying every minute of it... we've had a few "glitches", but all-in-all, it's a great trip!

We've spent lots of time on the beach, playing in the ocean.  They are having unusual swells in the ocean, so we have experience HUGE waves... some very powerful and able to cause pain (poor Joe).

We had a very rainy day, so we headed to the Aquarium... we lucked out and were able to see the turtles (including the baby turtles) be fed... so cool!  We also were able to see the shark exhibit with a diver in the water with them... very cool... seriously made the trip to the Aquarium worth the $!

It's such a different experience to be on vacation with "older" kids.  I know, my kids aren't that old, however, because we were here 2 years ago they knew exactly what to expect.  It's been great.  If they don't want to be at the pool, they can head back to the condo, for example.

Christmas Gifts 2009

What fun we had on Christmas morning!

November -- all ready?!?!

Stefan's last game was a mud-bowl! Look at his head!

Joey was working so hard during this game... he ran and ran and ran.


Easy to spot Joey with all that hair!


Practice shots at dusk.


The fall has swished passed me. It is one of our crazy-busy seasons, but we love all that we get to do and see. Soccer took up all of our time. I coached Emmi and Stefan's teams and Joey played premiere.

Emmi's Team: I was not suppose to coach this team, but the coach was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, needless to say, I took on the team. It is hard to coach 6, 6-year-old girls. I struggled with at times with the parents, but in the end, the girls improved their skills. I'm proud of them. I didn't get to take any pictures of Emmi -- I was coaching! I have some friends that took photos that I will post as soon as I figure out how to transfer them!

Stefan's Team: This is the second year I coached this team. I love these boys. 4 weeks into the season, my assistant coach (and thus one of my players, her son) moved out of town. So, I was left to coach on my own. Another Dad stepped in to help out when he could. These boys really improved. Our last game we beat the first team we played at the start of the season. The boys were very happy. One of the parents from the other team came and told me what a great job I'd done with the boys... "they REALLY improved" I just chuckled. They've always been a good team, they just needed to learn how to work with each other.


Team Juventus 98!
Only 1 loss this season... great job boys!



Joey's Team: Juventus 98-- what a great experience. We we warned when we put him on a premier team. You know, everyone always has a story (including me). Joey is on a team with two great coaches and a group of outstanding boys. He had a great season of learning... he learned a lot. He made us so proud and he made himself proud.

Miss Em and the Pumpkin Patch

Emmi and Miss Sandy (her Pre-K teacher from last year).


Playing with older siblings!

A
The hay maze...


We took a boat ride to get to the fields of pumpkins... we encountered a dragon,

pirates,

and a shark!


The boat.
Emmi listening to the lesson on wheat.




Emmi was lucky enough to get to go to the pumpkin patch with my preschool class. We happened to go on a day that she doesn't have school!

She loved being one of the oldest (there were a couple of siblings along with us).

She made her own name tag... "everyone must know my name!"

It was fun to get to be with just Emmi on an outing. She is getting so big and mature... until she doesn't get her way. Funny, eh. She wanted a huge pumpkin, but we were allowed to take a "soccer ball" sized pumpkin. I finally talked her into picking out a small pumpkin for me and promised her that we will get her a big pumpkin with her brothers.

Now, I need to fit in another trip to another pumpkin patch :)

4 soccer games, but only pictures of 1

I got out of class early tonight, so I thought I'd post a few soccer pictures!

Joe and I had to "divide and conquer" our soccer weekend. I was on the field with Stefan and Emmi from 8:30 until 2ish (we had team photos, so it was a much longer day). Joe took Joey to his game in Portland.

Since I coach both Emmi & Stefan's team, I can't take photos. I'll have to have Joe do that before the season is over. I can say that they both played awesome! Stefan began the day with 1 goal and many shots on goal. The team actually looked like a team and I was proud and... we won!

Emmi's team played well. Have the team has never played before, so it has been challenging at times. Emmi scored a goal (in fact I think it was the first goal of the game). I was proud. All of the girls worked hard and although we don't officially keep score... the girls won!

On Sunday, Joey had another game and this one was in Warrenton (close to Astoria). This is as far as we travel this fall for him, so I buddied up with another family and we headed out. It was a gorgeous day! Joey commanded the left side of the field (that comment was from his coach). They won 6-0... and, Joey almost scored twice. After the game most of the team headed to Fort Stevens to play on the beach and enjoy the gorgeous day. We had to head back, but we did let the boys enjoy the sad for 40 minutes.


Look at our boy run!

Setting the ball for a corner kick.

The kick... not a great photo of it.

Ooops... that's not Joey, but a boy named Thomas... he's new to the team and he's a good little player!

Do you see him... #9... This was his kick on goal... it missed, he was bummed, but it was pretty close!

Coach Mark, with several team players on the beach. He organized a game of touch football for the boys. They had a blast!

Joey


Joey playing shirtless... he had a great day!

My little six year old!

Emmi is six.... seems like just yesterday she was a tiny baby. Now, she's a big girl with ideas and thoughts and an opinion!

Emmi & Tante

New American Girl doll... it's looks just like me:)

Joe and his new artwork. It was a t-shirt of bridges that he bought for his Dad. The t-shirt had been worn and loved by Joe after Opa's passing and it had a hole in it. I turned it into something that he can, hopefully, still enjoy.

New Packer hat!

Jeep

Joe

Emmi was so excited to open her doll.

A new blanket (and doll clothes) from Oma!

Joey reading one of Emmi's cards to her.

Emmi's new ring.


Modeling the poncho that was knit by Tante.


Joey

Stefan reading one of Emmi's card to her with Tante.

New doll outfit from Grandma.

Papa and Auntie Deena

Emmi and Grandma

Friend birthday party... blowing out the candles on her HUGE cupcake cake.

Good friends... Claire, Emmi & Ariel

Sweet little girls.

Gifts for her friends... a new hairband, and a fun box with a balloon inside and a rice crispy treat.

The table before the party began.