Girls vs. Boys

A few of the girls on the team..we play three on three

Soccer has started up in our household with daddy as the coach.  This spring we participated in an introduction to soccer class with the Y, and decided it would be fun to form an all girls team this fall!  We've succeeded with 10 little girls on the team, most of whom know each other either thru Sunday school or are classmates at school!  We've had three games so far, and I have to say, the girls aren't to bad, but the boys are so much more aggressive, and better at scoring than our team!  The kids could care less who's winning, and it's fun for us to cheer on the girls, when they do actually get the ball, and score a goal.  Last night we played a team who's coach is a friend of ours and team mates consisted of the boys in our Sunday school class, or classmates of the girls!  I heard one of the parents of the boys say, "play hard, beat the girls, but let's teach em (the boys) to be nice at the end, and bring em flowers and stuff".  It was pretty funny!  It was fun to have two teams where most everyone knew each other and cheer for everyone who played!  All is all Parker is having a great time, and I think daddy is enjoying it too!

Greta and Parker..Greta is a friend of Parker's from school

Can you see the smile on her face:)

Morgan, Greta and Parker

Pretty Toes

Parker right before our painting party!!

Parker made a deal months ago with her daddy!  You see, Parker has been a thumb sucker since she was a baby..we've been trying for a while to convince her that she needed to stop sucking her thumb, which wasn't working.  Even the dentist told her it was time to stop!  Parker also has been wanting to paint her toe nails for quite some time now.  She was constantly asking her daddy if she could, to which his response has always been "no, not till you're older"!  One night at dinner, she started with her famous line, "hey, I have a good idea"..."can I paint my toe nails if I stop sucking my thumb?"  I looked at her daddy with a look on my face suggesting she did not just try to negotiate that, and what a smart kid we've got.  He smiled big, and agreed to her deal.  Well months have gone by, and no progress.  I was getting nervous for her to start school again , as I really wanted her to break this habit.   Needless to say, on her own time, in her own way, she finally stopped!!  She's been SO PROUD of herself for the last month or so!  Her daddy wanted to make sure she really indeed had stopped, and for her nail to grow out a bit to prove that she had in fact stopped sucking her thumb!  Last night we took baths, and were able to cut all 10 healthy fingernails, and was rewarded with having painted toe nails today!!  She's so excited to show everyone, and is all smiles right now!  We are currently letting them dry with an episode of Dora the Explorer!

She chose a pretty pale pink!

Parker is so proud of her accomplishment and reward!!

Watching Dora while her nails dry!



1st Day of School

Yea, summer is over, and school has begun!!  The girls were just as excited to go to school today, as I was:)  We started off the morning well, with requests of egg in the hole for breakfast, and had plenty of time to spare before we headed off.  This wasn't usually the case when we were all leaving for the day last fall, so it's nice to take our time, and not feel rushed around.  Both girls will be in preschool on M-W-F in the morning, which allows for a couple of hours of free time for me.  I'm looking forward to the quiet time, and the chance to get stuff done uninterrupted!

Brecken with her teacher Ms. Caroline

Parker with her teacher Mrs. Haire

Apple Orchard

Elyse, Delaney, Parker and Brecken

Summer is still going on for us in the Howell household!  Everyone started school a few weeks ago, and we're looking for things to do to pass the time.  Tonight we had an open house to see the classrooms, meet the teachers, and see our favorite old ones!  School starts next Wednesday, and this mama is ready!  Today we decided to venture out to the apple orchard and pick apples.  We went with our friends Miss Katie, Elyse and Delaney.  The girls were so excited and it was a fun way to spend the afternoon.  Now I need to get busy making apple pies..my goal is to make 7 this year...we'll freeze them and have on hand and have a few extras to give away as thank yous! 

My girls!..getting them to look at the camera and smile is getting harder and harder!

Parker found a good one!!

Brecken was so serious about the picking..I kept wanting to take her picture and she kept telling me "I picking apples mommy"..so busy

She got a good one!

She Dosen't Forget A Thing

This is a true story, that I wanted to record so I won't forget someday!  Last summer Chris and I went into a local hardware store to look for something, which I have no idea what it was.  The girls found a fun tent to play in to pass the time, and we went along our merry way.  Last week when we got back from Colorado, we had a few errands to run.  As we were out and about Parker asked "if we could go to that one hardware store..you know the one with the tent?"  Chris and I looked at each other trying to think of what she was talking about...finally it dawned on Chris that she was talking about Westlake and told her that we could go look around if she really wanted..Upon getting there, she said she wanted to look for that tent.  We walked around the entire store and found nothing...Chris encouraged her to find someone who worked at the store, and ask them about it, which she did...one of the sweet workers said he would look in the back, but that he wasn't sure if they still had it...he remembered seeing something that may be a left over from the previous summer....well to our surprise, he came out with it in the box, and the bench that was part of the set..Parker was SO EXCITED!!!  They must have really wanted to get rid of it, as they asked if we would take both for $30..at this point, we couldn't say no....

So now we have a tent, and the girls couldn't be more thrilled.  Parker really doesn't forget a thing!

Home Again

Can you imagine this as your backdrop for your wedding photos!!!

Chris and I were able to take a little mini vacation and watch friends get married in the mountains of Aspen Colorado.  The views were stunning, and the little get away was just what I needed.  After 12 hours of driving we made it back home on Sunday night to two very happy little girls.  After only a few days Chris was already declaring that he missed the girls..I wasn't quite ready to make that declaration but in the end, I was ready and did indeed miss them too!  Colorado was absolutely perfect.  It was a wonderful retreat from the 100+ temperatures in Kansas and refreshing to spend time with family and friends.  We ate wonderful meals, did some really fun things and shopped a little.  Celebrated a new marriage.  The long weekend was perfect.  Now we're enjoying a few days at home with daddy before he heads back to work on Thursday!

Our first night in Aspen we stopped in this bar and watched a Toad The Wet Sprocket concert.  It was awesome, and brought back memories of listening to them in college!!  Definitely a highlight of my vacation!

Taking the gondola up to the top of the mountain

 right outside of our hotel!!  This is Emily, Nikki and myself

Several of us went to the top..Chris was fishing this day so I was on my own..

Rehearsal dinner at Woody Creek Tavern.

Emily and I waiting for the ceremony to begin

I loved this view!!

Brian and Emily at the reception

Congratulations Clint and Jessica..The happy couple during their first dance.

Summer Randomness

This summer has been busy..but with what I have no idea...I can't believe preschool is going to start in about a month..most kiddos are heading back to school in a couple of weeks, but we've still got a month to go.  Swimming lessons are officially over so now our days are a little longer, but it's still going well!  We still go to the pool most afternoons, and I have to say, that the swimming lessons have paid off.  I wasn't convinced that Parker was improving, especially since the last session, her teacher even commented that she just didn't think Parker was putting forth the effort...I didn't disagree with her at all.  When Parker was swimming, she would just sink.  She wanted to jump off the diving board, but wouldn't even try to swim to the side...this part hasn't changed, but she will swim independently in the shallow end and really enjoys herself.  She's quite proud that she can "swim" but she also says she can't do it in the deep end.. I'm hoping that being another year older next summer will cure this.  Brecken did great with swimming lessons as well.  For her it was mostly to introduce her to the water and get comfortable with the idea of swimming.  Because of her age and size, she lacked the ability to do the proper movements, but loved being in the water.  This week I was shocked to see her step off the last step in the shallow end, and start kicking to me, and swimming...ok, so she wasn't using her arms, but she was floating on her belly and kicking and holding her breath, and getting over to me..she then showed me how she can jump off the side, and start kicking to get to me...I'm afraid that come next summer, if Parker doesn't get her act in gear, her little sister just might surpass her!

In the afternoons occasionally I've had help with the girls, so that everyone could enjoy the pool.  Claire is Chris' cousin's daughter who lives down the street.  The girls love it when she comes to the pool with us.  She plays so great with them, and it allows me to enjoy the pool without worrying where everyone is.  Claire can keep an eye on one, and I on the other.  It's worked out great, and she's been a lifesaver this summer!!!

Last week we got haircuts, it's really noticeable on Parker..she wanted it short "just like her mommy's"..I promise I didn't put those words into her mouth..But, I'm so glad cause the tangles were too much for this mama, and the crying was about to do me in..it was time!  Brecken had hers cut to get all caught up and one length! 

We've got a lot going on on the weekends for the rest of the month, so I know its going to fly by.  As the summer ends, I can honestly say, we've had a great summer.  I feel like the girls and I are closer then ever, and really enjoying each other.  It's been very sweet.