go Green Dragons!

i learned a few seasons ago that cute team snapshots are way better than the formal team pics the league sets up.  so at practice today i brought the camera and did some fun team pics. 

here's my little all star:

 we set up kind of the traditional team pic:

 and then just had fun:

even though i feel i'm in way over my head with this coaching gig, i am having so much fun with these little cuties!  everyone except Maddie is new to soccer.  so, i am their first coach, the first one to teach them anything about the sport.  it's a little daunting, but so thrilling to see them get it and improve.  go Green Dragons!

good morning big 5 year old girl!

her official birthday party is Saturday, but for her "real" birthday she invited the neighbors out for a cupcake treat on the lawn!

we really got to see who the chocolate lovers vs. vanilla fans were.

 all of my girls opted for vanilla.  they are so their father's children!

goodnight little four year old girl!

the eve of a birthday is always a little bitter sweet for me.  it's so strange to look at the sweet little face of your 4 year old and think how much she has grown, and how you are helpless at stopping time!  i think it's the one part of parenting no one ever warned me about, how you love all the new stages and growth, yet still mourn the passage of time and all the loss of all the little baby and toddler things.

 but this girl is ready to move on.  up until now, she has been my little mommy's girl.  she chose not to go to pre-school this year in favor of a homeschool program.  she prefers home to a playdate and loves that i am her soccer coach.  but recently she has blossomed.  she's fierce on the field.  she's braver in social situations.  and she's desperate for kindergarten to get going.  this girl is ready for 5!

so, goodnight 4, it's been a really great year. 

(here's to hoping her nose rug-burn heals up for her birthday photoshoot!  like i said, she's become braver, getting this injury surfing down the stairs at Leila's house!)

February = soccer time!

soccer season is upon us.  this year, we couldn't get away with having the girls on the same team.  so Anna is on the Angry Birds.

 and Madeline is on the Green Dragons. 

soccer season brings 2 practices, and 2 games a week.  and many an interrupted nap for little Bubba.  oh, and i'm on the Green Dragons too!  they did not have enough coaches for Maddie's division, so i volunteered.  it's an adventure!

Bubba, 8 months

i can't believe my little baby is a 8 months already!  why oh why does the first 8 months fly by, while the previous 8 months (in utero) were so, so very slow! 

Colin is just a joy of a child.  the girls are in love with him, and he is just growing a learning every day.  though i've always thought girls clothing to be more fun, i must confess i'm loving all the fun boy accessories too!  Colin always gets a lot of attention in his bow tie!

 but really, it's easy to see why!

crawling! never underestimate a boy's love for his dog

so Colin is the baby who has spent the longest learning to crawl.  not that he was a late crawler or anything, just that he spent a long time learning.  the girls would get up on all fours and rock, and then a few days later, a week or so, get their wheels under them.  Colin on the other hand, has been rocking on his hands and knees for weeks on end.  i knew crawling was just around the corner.  but when. 

that's where Nalu comes in.

 Nalu has been so sweet and patient with each of our children, but Colin has a special love for this dog.  he spends countless hours mauling her each day.

 it's not just a one way street though.  Nalu loves her boy right back. but, when she's done, she's done and she gets up and walks away. 

 i think Colin was motivated to keep the love alive.  he finally started to make his move!

i got some video too, he's a crawler!

meeting sweet Violet!

Colin and i took a little trip to Washington to meet the newest member of our family.  it was a funny experience flying with Colin.  i got lots of stares in the terminal with a baby strapped in a front carrier, a back pack, and a trolley with my bags on it.  lots of people asked if i was okay, and i was like, "this is my fourth baby, i'm on vacation!"  we originally planned on spending time in Seattle once we arrived, but i opted to rent a car and get to Olympia stat. 

we had these people to see, can you blame me?

Colin is a big fan of his cousins.  and Laine is a great cousin to climb all over.

 and as all grandchildren, Colin is a big fan of his Grandpa!

 baby Violet did not dissappoint!  she was a doll, and a total angel!

 we did get to spend a fun day in Seattle with Henry and Laine.  Grandma and Granpa took us to the Space Needle!  it was so fun seeing such a landmark.  Grandpa was all about getting this shot of the kids with the needle above them.

 here's the same shot with Colin and me this time!

 we were lucky to get a semi clear day for our trip to the city.  everything was so beautiful.  after some fun shopping and sight seeing, i headed to the Hanley's house (or should i say houses) to visit with my dear old pals.  i can't believe that after all this time we can still hang out 'til the wee hours of the morning and never run out of things to talk about.  another trip to Seattle is definitely in order!

 Colin served as my dutiful assistant during my newborn session with baby Violet.  still not quite able to crawl, but giving it the good ol' college try.

 such a helpful prop manager:

 the 4 days i was in Washington, the skies ranged from clear and blue, to the traditional overcast, to a complete white out. 

 after we finished up our portraits, it started to snow.

 it snowed all day and all night, we built a snow man, and played all day.

 though beautiful, it was a little touch and go for a while on whether or not we were going to be able to get out of there.  the flight was delayed almost 8 hours.  my parents were kind enough to follow us to the airport just to make sure everything went smoothly.  all in all, it was a wonderful trip!