Soccer, Poppies, Lace, Gaps, Mud

The last few weeks have been busy. BUSY. It has a lot to do with Bekah and Jacob playing AYSO soccer for the first time this year. They both have practices twice a week at the same time at two different fields. Then they both have games every Saturday. [Can I insert here that gung-ho soccer moms and dads are confusing and intimidating to me? They are telling their almost pro-eight year old how to better evade the other team's defense and getting after them for off-sides. They own large and semi-effective shade equipment like over-sized umbrellas and chairs with built in shade-roof-things. Their kids also do dance and gymnastics. For a non-sports family, this all feels a little over the top...] Add to that other church and school obligations and BAM, none of us has any time to breathe. But life is still good. I love watching Bekah and Jacob play soccer. Bekah started off pretty aggressive but has since learned to be a little afraid of the ball. I think it has something to do with her getting hit in the face at a game. I'm hoping she'll gain back some confidence.

Jacob does pretty well. He pays attention, likes to have the ball, and usually knows what he is doing. It's a huge improvement over t-ball days (blah).

 

We obviously need to talk about looking where you kick the ball...
Last Monday we went to a park for family night and had a family scrimmage. It turns out that Beau is the one who really wants the ball the most. That kid is fast and pretty coordinated for his age. He will be so fun to watch when he's bigger and on a team. Hopefully between now and then he'll learn to not pick up the ball and run away when the other kids are being too threatening. Marianne even knows that soccer balls are for kicking. If I hold her hands, she'll kick the ball with her little feet.
Another thing that has been keeping me super busy is some prep work I've been doing for a "Decorating on a Dime" booth for my old stake's Women's Conference. I made a detailed handout (my sister Amy was amazed that it was four pages long and not some cute little thing...), and I'm still in the process of working on my display. I asked around to find a friend who wanted a wooden poppy wall art thing and then made it for her (she financed it), so that I could use it to show in my booth.

See all that mess around/behind it? I'm also trying out some other fun ideas from pinterest like using lace as a template to spray paint some wall panels and refinishing plain ol' oak cabinet doors.
Here are the lace panels. I ran out of white spray paint before I could do the brown panel. I think I'll trim up the sides of the boards...I think I like these...

I have really learned a lot; I hope people that walk by my booth will learn a little or at least be inspired.
Now on to other news:
It must be noted that Jacob has lost two teeth. I know the pic shows only one tooth missing, but there are two bottom ones gone now. Rus pulled the first one - and I mean pulled. It wasn't coming out although it was very loose and Jacob said, "It's okay, pull it again!" He really wanted his tooth money. Once it came out, he bolted down the hall to show me and by the time he got to me he was beaming - with a super bloody mouth. It was gross, and I told him so, and he wasn't phased a bit. He just washed his mouth out and went around with this goofy smile the rest of the day. He loves to tell me the foods he can and can't eat because of gaps in his mouth.

I also have to share that I did the Dirty Dash. And it was AWESOME. If you are not a runner and you want to do a 5k, do the dirty dash. It's basically a run for inebriated people, through the mud and muck and over/under obstacles, with lots of slipping and yelling. I say it was for drunk people because there were a good portion of the people around us who I am sure tipped the bottle before the race. They wore tutus and signs that said, "I've got the runs," with an arrow pointed down. I did the run with a couple of friends from church and we had a great time, despite the unbelievably cold weather that morning. OH, and the tshirt you get from that race is also AWESOME. It's blue and fitted. Need I say more?

I know, we look like cave-women. If you don't like mud or getting dirty, you won't understand and I accept that...
Now it's time to get off my fanny and go do some real work while the house is quiet...