Another Sunny Day...More Pictures!

It was a beautiful sunny (though a bit windy) afternoon today and with no kids' games on the schedule it was a great opportunity for some outside pictures (I know, any excuse to take pics)! Today was a relaxing Sunday and a great way to end our awesome Spring Break. I am not ready for it to end though and begin early rising and lots of driving. All three big kids will be playing soccer and Cade will also be doing basketball this Spring. Plus it looks like I will probably be coaching Will's team as well as helping when I can with Gabrielle's team. Busy busy. Spring Break gave me a little taste of summer and it makes me look forward to it even more!

Gabrielle & Genevieve

Genevieve is almost 3 1/2 months!

Love the little pout

More Spring Break Fun!

Cade and Gabrielle had a great time at soccer camp Tuesday through Thursday; there were over 130 kids there! I always know Cade will love any soccer activity but Gabrielle sometimes needs a little convincing to get out there. So, it is so nice that lately she has just been loving her soccer activities every time and wanting to do more and more. She loved the camp this week! The highlight of the camp was the 'World Cup' tournament on Thursday. Gabrielle's French team won her age group while Cade's English team got second in his group. I hope to get some pictures of the camp to post soon.

I love this picture of Willem hanging out in the morning looking at the newspaper...


And here's Will and Genevieve after another bath together. Cade and Gabrielle said it wasn't fair that Willem got to take another one with Nev and they haven't taken one with her yet...


The kids put Daddy's hat on Genevieve, and Gabrielle took pictures. They thought it was so funny (Genevieve wasn't so sure!)...


On Thursday, after camp, Chad and I took the kids to a movie ('Bedtime Stories' ~ we all liked it) and then we met seven or eight other families at Putters for mini-golf, bowling, laser tag, pizza, video games, chatting and NCAA tourney basketball. We were for over five hours and had such a good time!

The gals...Liz, Julie, Heidi, Kathy, Jenn, Sandy, Leticia, Brandy

Gabrielle took this picture and it cracks me up with Meleesa posing and all the activity around her (The dads bowling and Cade & Will really into the hunting game!)

Cade & Willem loved this video game

Gabrielle, Julia, Kyndsi, Meleesa

Chad, Pancho & Donnie

Chad & Willem ready to play laser tag

On Friday we went with a big group to Splash wave pool. Another fun Spring Break afternoon!

Gabrielle & Willem

Willem was nervous to do the slide on his own because the pool you go into is above his head but Gabrielle caught him at the bottom and Will did great!

Leticia, Jules with Genevieve, Christy with Dominic

Cade, Max, Ben, Nathan, Ethan

I love the joy in Willem's face here!

This weekend we plan to just hang out and relax at home enjoying NCAA basketball, a couple play dates and not much more! I got in a 10.5 mile run this morning for my half-marathon training and it feels so good to have it done! Just 6 weeks to go!

A Day & Night in Portland

With no big trip planned for Spring Break we still wanted to do a little something special, so after church on Sunday Chad & I surprised the kids by driving to Portland for an early dinner at Cheesecake Factory. We then did a little shopping, letting the kids have $12 and pick one store each at Washington Square; Lego store for Willem, Claires for Elle and Game Stop for Cade. Then it was off to the Embassy Suites (the nicest hotel EVER according to our kids!) for swimming and then a movie in the room. The next morning we slept in till 9:00 (Genevieve did great sleeping next to me), had a big breakfast, swam and then went to the Children's Museum (we let the kids pick between the Zoo, Children's Museum or the Pittock Mansion). Willem loved the Dig Pit, Gabrielle enjoyed The Garage where she nailed together and decorated a little house and Cade liked the clay. After three hours at the museum we stopped at a soccer shop, had a yummy late lunch (muffins only for me!) at Paradise Bakery and then spent an hour at the Woodburn Factory Stores before heading home (mom and dad wanted a little shopping for ourselves too!). It was a very nice getaway; today Cade & Elle started a three day soccer camp (9:00-noon). And we have lazer tag, mini-golf & Splash Wave Pool to look forward to later in the week. So, even though we are not going far away for the break, the kids said it is going to be the best one ever :-)!

Dinner at Cheesecake Factory...YUM!

At the Children's Museum

Willem & Chad in the hotel room looking through the Lego catalog

Chadder & his Nev

The kids loved swimming at the hotel...

Genevieve was great and slept a lot!

Back home vegging out!

This Just Made Willem's Spring Break!

Cade had his last indoor soccer game today and his team (made up of 3rd and 4th graders) was short two players because of Spring Break. So, after we were told that a 4th grade sister could not be added to the team (no girls allowed!) someone suggested (probably jokingly) that Willem should play. We had extra gear in the car and Will was all for it (Chad wasn't so sure!), so in he went! He started out playing goalie, diving for saves and doing great; he really made some good saves but he couldn't stop the shots above his reach! He then went on the field and hustled like mad. Running all over the field with no fear and actually getting around a few kids. The parents for the teams waiting to play the next game were all talking about the little kid out there; how cute and little he was and how he was hustling. The coach was even nice enough to let him take some free kicks. Willem was very proud; a 5 year old playing with 8, 9 & 10 year olds! After the game (red face and all), he asked, 'Does Cade have another game? Can I play on his team again?' Cade's team lost 6-3 but still won their league this session with a 6-2 record.

Willem looked so small compared to the big kids!

Willem always takes games so seriously, it's great to see his expressions throughout

Go Willem!

Again, taking it so seriously!

Working hard!

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After the game, Cade and Willem had fun in the car, using the camera to take pictures of themselves and Genevieve (as well as cars and basketball hoops we passed on the drive!). I also jumped in and took a few shots!

Cade and Willem

Goofballs!

Willem being 'cool'

Sweet, sleeping Genevieve

Bathing Buddies

Willem and Genevieve took a bath together this morning for the first time. I was a little nervous (and always just an arms-length away) but Willem did great holding his sis and he was very proud!

Proud Big Bro!

Love Nev's expression!

Willem told me this was 'very relaxing'

Happy Spring!

Willem, Gabrielle, Genevieve & Cade (with the Powerbar!)

It's not quite Spring yet but it sure felt like it today; 60 degrees and sunny! I love the sun and I really appreciate it when it finally is out and feels warm on my back! The days are getting longer and I love it when we are all outside playing soccer or basketball or riding bikes or taking a walk on the dairy. It makes me look forward to summer even more! So, with the sun out I had to take a few pictures...

Genevieve is getting so big!

Love the tongue!

Sisters!

Dad & Willem vs. Cade & Gabrielle in basketball!

More basketball fun!

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Today, I also got to see my sis, Amber, and her sweet 10 month old, Jacoby. We met for about three hours at the Woodburn Factory Stores which is sort of halfway between Portland where she lives and Eugene. It was great to see them, shop a little and mostly just chat and catch-up.

Gotta love the kids in this picture!

Jacoby & Amber

Our Three Month Old!

Genevieve is three months old today! And we love her so very much! Here are some milestones:

- She loves to talk. I think she'll be an early talker because whenever we make eye contact with her she will try to start a 'conversation' saying 'ooh' or 'aah' or quietly screech. She 'talks' the most at this age out of our kids and people comment on it. She seems to love to engage with people with her aaws, oooh, uuuhs, smiles, laughs and little screeches!

- Evie or Genevievie (my nicknames for her though I also call her Nev) is sleeping great at night. She usually sleeps from 10:00 pm until 7:00 am without nursing. She is sleeping in a little bassinet between Chad and me and often around 5:00 am she will start to fuss every half hour or so and one of us will put her nuk back in and put a hand on her head for a minute and she'll go back to sleep.

- We have been rocking her to sleep at night; it's a bit of a bad habit we'll have to break at some point but it's been kind of a nice spending that time with her.

- Today Nev batted at the toys hanging on her bouncy seat for the first time.

- Genevieve is ticklish on her chest and it is easy to get a laugh out of her.

- Nev is really good in the car. She may fuss a little but usually can be calmed and sleeps a lot in the car.

- During the day Genevieve sleeps best in our arms or in the swing (or car).

- Nev's tummy problems are a lot better now. The past week she seems to have turned the corner.

- Genevieve loves her nukie!

State Champs!

State Champs: Mitchell, Ben W, Jaren, Ben H, Jace, Cade, Henry!

After about 30 games and almost 40 practices this season, Cade's AAU 3rd Grade basketball team's hard work paid off with a state championship! They (Team Flight) had to win 5 straight games this weekend including a nail-biter against the MAC club from Portland in the championship game to claim the title. There were ten 3rd grade teams in the tourney including three from up north, three from Southern Oregon and four from the local area. In the final game, we were up 12-7 in the first quarter but MAC came back and had a one point lead, 15-14, at the half. The teams traded baskets for much of the 2nd half with Team Flight leading 26-25 at the end of the 3rd quarter. We finally got a 3 point lead 30-27 with 2:30 left in the game and we started to stall, finally winning it 32-27! Cade played great, he had 8 points (or maybe it was 10, I can never keep track!) as well as a few rebounds and steals but I was most proud of him for playing his role on the team and for working hard on defense. Much thanks to our dedicated coaches, Fred, Donnie and Tom! We thought the basketball season was over but it looks like we may be heading to Reno in May for Regionals.

Jace, Jaren and Cade

Nice job Cade!