Braden's first soccer practice

Or was it gymnastics?! Or track?! Heck, it could've even been breakdancing! I'm not sure, but he very rarely actually touched the soccer ball. Watching him play soccer for the first time was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. I wonder what we are in for when he has his first game. This was a complete 180 from the first day Kelsey started soccer. For the first two seasons of Kelsey playing, she spent more time on the sideline crying than she did in the game. Me, having zero patience with her, didn't handle her crying very well and I got grumpy. I still feel guilty for the lack of patience I showed with her, she obviously wasn't ready. I handle hyperness a bit better it seems....

When we first got there, a bit early, Scott, Braden and Kelsey kicked the ball back and forth. He's got quite the kick. Zero aim, but quite the kick. Once the rest of the team got there, he got a bit shy and wanted to come sit by us. After a few minutes of sitting by us, I coaxed him back out to his team by offering him the matchbox car he brought. Unfortunately, I missed the shots of him actually sitting (and then yes laying) on the ground with his car, driving it along the lines on the floor. For the remainder of the practice he spent his time alternating between us and the coach. He'd RACE over, give us a high 5 and RACE back to his coach. Then he'd get bored and just before it was his turn to kick, he'd RACE back to us for another high 5 or a hug.

I think he's also trying to learn how to fake a good fall. He'd do fake trips and throw himself down on the ground. I gotta give him credit though. One of the time he ran over to kick the ball, he tripped over it and landed flat on his rear. Now, if it had been Kelsey at that age, game over... she'd get up crying and wouldn't look at anyone. Braden... gets up and says, "owww... my butt hurts." A bit later, from across the gym, I hear him yell out... "HAHAHAHA... MOM.... I FARTED." Ugh.... he recently learned the words fart and burp. Now when he does either one, he announces it to the world. no matter how many times we tell him it's innapropriate to tell us, you just say excuse me, he thinks it's funnier to point it out.

Because his antics were so funny I gave up trying to get a picture of him kicking the ball and I just started recording him. Here is my favorite video and a few pictures.




Running away from us after one of his trips over for a high 5 from dad.




Oh, there he is on the ground



and again....


Okay... I give up, he's just weird.



Oh look... here comes the goofball now....


Needless to say, we had a great time and he was exhausted after all the running he did. I think he got more exercise than anyone on the team since the rest of the kids actually stayed by their coach instead of running across the gym every 2 minutes.

Baseball Fun

This year Kelsey decided to join the school choir. She certainly doesn't get any singing ability from me, so good for her. Last night the choir was invited to sing The National Anthem at the opening of the Tacoma Rainier's ball game, so we were able to go as a family to enjoy the game.


There are several nice things about going to a minor league game vs. a major league game. It's closer to us, it's cheaper and it's not as crowded. It was Braden's first time at a baseball game, with the exception of Kelsey's and while I am not sure he actually paid any attention to the game, he had a blast running up and down the bleachers and eating junk food. Our tickets included a hotdog, chips and can of soda. Braden has had sips here and there of soda but never a can of his own. He was in heaven and I could hardly pry it out of his hands. Needless to say, he needed lots of potty breaks.

Kelsey also had a blast. She had a ton of friends there and her teacher. Because it's a smaller area and crowd we were comfortable letting her walk away from us a bit, although still within our sight, so that she could have a chance to catch a fly ball and be away from her parents with her friends. She never did catch one, although when she and her friends moved down to one of the boxes right behind the dugout, her friend was handed one by the catcher. The only thing the girls missed out on was being able to stay until the end of the game and get autographs from some of the players. But as it was a school/work night and it was 9:45pm, we felt it was time to go. I am hoping we will be able to go again over the summer to a weekend game so we can stay until the end.

An Un-Traditional Easter

I say un-traditional because we have Easter Traditions and we do them every year without fail. Except for this year. Usually Easter is a very busy day for us, we get up early, the kids check out the goodies the good bunny left for them and then we all get dressed and high tail it to church. After the service we eat a quick breakfast provided by our youth group and on to Grandma and Grandpa Waring's house for an Egg hunt. For some reason the bunny hides the eggs there every year instead of our house, probably because he doesn't enjoy stepping in dog poo to hide them in our back yard. Guess I can't blame him (or her) for that. Then, after our annual egg hunt we make the trek up to Mount Vernon to visit my grandparents and uncle's family. Usually getting back home around 10pm.

This year however, almost none of those things happened. Of course, the kids got up and saw the baskets the Easter Bunny left, but we didn't go to church this year (yes, I still feel guilty about this) and we didn't go to Mount Vernon. By doing none of these things, we ended up sleeping in until 8am. I made a yummy breakfast and after everyone was ready (and the rain let up) we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Waring's house for the egg hunt. The crazy bunny hid 79 plastic eggs... for 2 kids. The kids could hardly lift their baskets by the time they finished the hunt.

The rest of the day was fairly low key. Because Grandma Paula was sick she wasn't up to cooking dinner (and lets face it, we didn't her to share her germs) so we ended up spending our first Easter at home. I made a ham dinner with most of the fixings and we had some friends over who were also not seeing their family this year. We played some board games, watched some TV and enjoyed the very filling dinner. I must say, while I enjoy and missed our Traditional Easter Holiday, I loved having the day at home without the chaos that usually accompanies any holiday in my family.

A ride on the Bunny Express

Today we took the kids to see the Easter Bunny. This was not the Easter Bunny you find in the warm mall, this was one we had to take a train ride to see. Though it was a rough start - very cold, rainy and the train was almost 40 minutes late departing, the kids had a lot of fun and that's what counts since it was all for them.

We had a 30 minute ride to where the Easter Bunny was waiting with his hidden eggs and then a 30 minute trip back. The only thing I wish was different was that there was heat in the train. The kids each found a few eggs, took a picture with the bunny and had a 30 minute ride back to the station before heading home.

Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.

Happy 100th Birthday

This past weekend the family and I took a trip to the Tri Cities for my Great Grandma Grooms 100th Birthday party. It was a lot of fun and I took a ton of pictures, as I was asked to be the "official" amature Photographer. I was able to see and meet a lot of family that I never knew I had. I seem to have a ton of "cousins" which was the easiest way to describe all of our different relationships to grandma.

My great grandma has had a long and full life and from the looks of things, she plans on being around for awhile longer. The party was held at the senior center in Pasco, where she frequently goes for dances. Even falling and breaking her hip about a year and a half ago hasn't slowed her down. I truly hope that when I am 100 I'm able to be as healthy, independant and as busy as she is today. I've posted a few of my favorite pictures here, but am including information to a website I set up with the pictures that I took. I also included the pictures that my Aunt Susan took.

The Birthday Girl with her son, my grandpa.


She was a dancing fool and this is only one of atleast 6 dancing partners she had. It was a lot of fun to watch!


For anyone in the family who would like to view, copy or add pictures of their own, they can go to:
http://www.photobucket.com/
username: mariegrooms
Password: hundred