The Reign

Speaking of keeping the kiddos out late earlier this month we met up with Aunt Anne for a soccer game and dinner.  We may have gotten home a little more timely but it took us about an hour to walk back to the car, what with the fountains, two bathroom visits and all the cuteness.

Summer Fun

 

This is the Tova that we saw little peaks of from the time she was born, we are so ecstatic that she has begun to make a permanent appearance.   She and I still hang out a lot between the hours of 12am and 4:30am but with this face it's getting easier and easier to forget my sleep deprivation!!  Tova is super close to sitting up on her own and is practicing in this toy box.  She loves to put anything in her mouth but her thumb, our fingers or anything that can put pressure on her teething gums will do.  She just may be chubbier than her brother was...the squishier the better we say!! 

 Tova and Daddo time, chillin' on the coach with her dolly (borrowed from Deven).

Deven has been holding up well...to be fair this picture is just after waking up this last Saturday...he's not camera ready.   Seriously Deven has been a real trooper when it comes to his baby sister and all the attention she needs.  Last week I was thinking about it though and he and I hadn't done anything together (just us) since Tova was born.  So I asked Deven if he wanted to go on a date with me and thankfully he said yes.  I took my little man to Anthony's for lunch on Saturday after his last soccer game of the season (see pic below).

Deven learned to use a real napkin and we both learned that the Anthony's mac and cheese is just too rich for a little dude's stomach.  I would like to think our first date was not an epic fail but with a major puke session later that afternoon it's hard to think anything else.  Deven isn't calling it quits though but he did say we needed to go to the museum next time instead.  His favorite part of our date was seeing the drill at the construction site next to the restaurant! 

This is Deven waiting his turn (gasp) to get back on the floor to play his last soccer game.  It took all two months but he finally figured out that he needs to at least run after the ball.  He even kicked it once.  I think we will wait a little longer before trying an organized sport again.  Back to swilling in the fall for sure though!!

Deven and Tova's first soccer practice

Deven started soccer last Thursday.  Nick was working so it was just me, Deven and Tova.  I am pretty sure this was my first solo event that lasted more than 15 minutes...it was an hour to be exact.  Pretty scary stuff for this momma but I honestly didn't think about it too much ahead of time because we were is such a rush to be on time for the practice.  True to form I jam packed no less than four appointments this day.

First coffee with the girls...one last day-time ron de vue before I go back full time.  This sounds harmless but any outing more than five minutes from the house still takes some significant self discussion...i.e., "you can do this," "Tova will be OK," "it's OK if Tova is not OK"...things like that.  We went to cute little coffee house in Edmonds called the Water Front Coffee Company.  The location is great, their pastries are yummy but the coffee is only so so.  I'd go again though because there is a super fun little beach area right next to the train tracks.  Perfect for a Deven sort of outing.  Not great for Tova though...note to self: trains are very loud...babies do not appreciate trains!

Second, a drive (and thankfully a short nap for T) to Uvillage for a quick appointment.  I am shocked and awed by Tova's ability to keep it together at this point.  After a train inspired over stimulation any good public behavior is amazing.

Third, we drive all the way back home to wait for the carpet cleaners.  They gave me a four hour window...yes four hours...I never really understand why they can't give me a better more specific time frame.  Thankfully they came on the third hour and finished up at 4pm so I could pick Deven up from school timely.  Doubly thankful that the little lady slept through the entire cleaning and got in a good long nap!!


Fourth and final was Dev's practice.  I am not sure what I expected a soccer practice for 3 to 5 year olds to be like but the dream of just sitting with Tova and watching Deven listen to the coach, stand in line, wait his turn and make some awesome shots on goal quickly flew out the window.  Tova decided to extended her nap for half of the practice so I could run around making sure Deven didn't run over his new teammates and that he sort of listened to his coach.  After Tova woke up she joined me in running after her big brother so I guess it was Deven and Tova's first soccer practice.  It was pretty comical watching the three of us; I will choose not to think about what the other parents thought!!

I kept my blood pressure down for the most part, only losing it once after practice when he decided to run in the opposite direction of where our car was parked.  Both kids were alive, not crying and Deven got ALL his energy out!!  Here are some pics to memorialize this crazy crazy hour!!

Mother's Day

I know I am a little late in discussing mother's day but oh well! We had a great day, Deven let us sleep in until 8:30!! We decided to head to GL for a walk around the lake. Nick and I realized that we hadn't done this yet with the new stroller. Deven played in the grass for the first time, which is strange given that we have a yard but I guess we just haven't had the chance or rather the NW weather hasn't really allowed! Here are some fun pics Nick took! Notice the Mohawk courtesy of the sun screen acting as hair product. Oh and he really is that pale...just like momma and dadda!!

After a stroll around the lake Nick and I decided it was Popsicle weather. Deven got his first taste of strawberry Popsicle (don't worry it was 100% fruit and even had big strawberry chunks). Funny boy, he started laughing at it! The coldness made his mouth cringe but he just laughed and went back for more!

After GL we had soccer so back we went to Everett where we met up with Aaron who looked after Deven for us. I got my second ever goal! It sort of just rolled in but it went in none the less.

Nick went all out for a mother's day gift and created a scavenger hut. I had to run around the how reading clues that incorporated fun facts about our 10 years together. He only had to help me once. At the end I found a basket filled with goodies any lady (mom or not) would be grateful for. It include wine, new stemless wine glasses, chocolate, a nordy's card and a few other things that are none of your business!

I had a great day and just couldn't be happier with the life Nick and I have. I am so proud!

Sports and Recreation

Nick and I have been getting back into a lot of things we did BD (before Deven) lately. Skiing, soccer, and jogging with Sam. It is our goal to include Deven in just about everything.


Skiing proved to be a bit difficult because there was no good place for Deven to get in his daily naps. We are hoping to be those crazy parents with their three year old on skies (only 2 yrs and 3.5months to go). So as I noted below, Nick did a ski Marathon on his own this year. From the sound of it though it was pretty awesome. Seriously, he skied for 24hours. I am not really sure how he did it but its true, he still has numb and aching toes to prove it. His team was third place in raising money for the American Cancer Society and Nick came in 21st place with 118k vertical feet. Nick took notes on how to make this a family affair and apparently the thing to do is rent an RV for the weekend, next time Deven and I will be there!!

Nick has started a an outdoor soccer league and Deven I tagged along to this weekends practice. After a walk to the Mercer Island Library, some fun crawling and reading in the kids area we watched the last bit of Nick practice by walking (with my hands as balance) onto the track and to the field to say hi to Dadda and our buddy Alex. Deven has taken to palates balls and turns out soccer balls will work for him too. He was having a blast with an extra one until he spied a piece of gum on the ground...play time may have been cut a little short! ; )

Our indoor soccer league has started up again and we always try to bring Deven. It proves a little difficult at times because we both play but typically we will find someone willing to hang with Deven for 40 minutes. Today though we had a few too many outings planned so it was just me; Deven and Nick went back home for a snack and a little nap. No goal this time but I am hoping to make it an annual thing!

We recently got a jogging stroller and decided to break it in by entering into the Saint Paddy's Day Dash. Deven and I took it out for some practice runs the last couple of weeks around Lake Stevens but basically it was a cold run this morning. It was tough on a day-light-savings morning but we made it a group effort. Nick, Ryan, Anne, Me and Deven were all Down Town by 8am this morning! Deven and I were disappointed that Shannon and Hadley couldn't join us but we decided to do them proud and kick a little jogging stroller butt. Nick, Ry and Anne were in the Red wave having a starting time of 8:40am. Deven and I were in the Purple wave starting at 8:50. We all had a blast and really did kick some jogging stroller butt. Generally, Deven had his game face on (blank stare, mouth slightly open) but around mile 2 I heard him talking and yelling at all the slow pokes to get out of our way. By the time we rounded the corner on the Aurora bridge facing south looking toward town I heard Deven laughing at all the crazy people dressed in green. He must have known we were in the home stretch. It was down hill from there and we ended up stay on pace with the rest of the gang stroller and 20lbs Deven and all! Hoping we will have many fun runs like this in our future.

Here is Deven about two minutes before start time! Game Face!

Grandma and Grandpa Bodle

Grammy and Gramps Bodle came up to visit a couple of weeks ago and took some great pics. They played with Deven while Nick and I tried to kick butt at soccer. We lost literally in the last second but I got my first goal ever! Deven had a really good time and can't wait to see them again.