Summer Soccer for Tots

Stealing the ball from a teammate made him stop in his tracks and cry. It must be confusing for them to be told to always share and ask permission before you take something from someone in the rest of their lives, but then when you get on the sports field be instructed to "steal" a ball away from your friend.
Chasing down the ball - all smiles!

Myrick and a teammate sharing the net for a little rest break. Four year old soccer is strenuous stuff!

I've loved taking Myrick to her local summer soccer camp this year. Getting to know the other kids that she will spend the next 13 years with in school has been interesting and fun! Here are some shots from her first forays into soccer - too cute!

A Little of This and a Little of That

On the "drive" home from the lake, Pender falls sound asleep at 5:15 pm. The drive takes only seven minutes!

A little soccer time in the yard with Daddy before dinner

Great summer day here filled with a little of everything as the summer winds down: classroom prep time, swimming in the lake, soccer in the yard, harvesting blackberries with the neighbor's kids, and my all-time favorite... leftovers for dinner!

Dot Has Some Adventures

by Myrick Abigail Oxnard

Chapter 1:
Once upon a time when Dot got lost she didn't know where she was. So when Daddy looked and looked, he couldn't find her. But in the morning Papa came over to build Myrick's jungle gym. Myrick loved her jungle gym. Myrick really, really loved her jungle gym, and it was so great. She jumped up and down and yelled "Yay!" When Dot really wanted to not get lost anymore, Dad was walking Whidbey and Papa was walking hisself, but when they opened the woodshed, they found Dot. She was so silly, she was on the tractor, and was really, really excited to see Daddy. Daddy put her back in the chicken coop.

Chapter 2:
This morning when Sassy was walking with Dot, Dot flew up on the jungle gym and it was so silly. She was on the little board that was very high up. She flapped and that's what she said. She flew down and it was so silly, silly, silly, and we all said, "What did she do?" And she flew down.

The End

Puddle Stompers

Although it was a rainy day here, we forged ahead and went outside despite Pender not having proper rubber rain boots or even a rain shell. He clearly didn't seem to mind!

Swimming in Traverse

Great visit to Traverse City this year--surprisingly warm weather and water, and strong breeze to boot. Pender's first time out there, and it took him some time to warm up to being on the dock. Myrick, on the other hand, practically ran down the dock and jumped off! Not so sure whether this fearless phase is a good thing.... With her life jacket on, she followed cousin Maddie's lead and perfected her 'swimming' (mostly consisting of flailing around in the water with gradual net movement in one direction).

Fortunately for Pen, the trip coincided with a burst in his appreciation for climbing stairs. Lots of stairs to choose from at Barking Waters, and lots of people around to keep an eye on him! Myrick, meanwhile, had some quality art time, painting with Maddie in the living room.

Jumping at the Dunes, floating down the balmy 'flat Platte', taking my honey for a spin in a Sunfish (reminiscent of our honeymoon days)--good times....

Traveling Tunes

Nate is sort of famous for his CD mixes (yeah, he's a little old school which is one of the things I love about him), and he has made several mixes for the kids already, in addition to many road trip compilations when we were just young married things traveling all around. So for our 60+ hour/3,000 mile summer road trip, Nate made a mix CD for the kids. Myrick's favorite song has turned out to be "Hit the Road Jack". She frequently requested it while we were driving and still loves singing it. I think this clip was taken on our first day in the car as we were stuck in DC traffic. Thank goodness for a 4 year old's ability to lighten the mood at the end of a 10+ hour day in the car!

Pender's Moves

Pender loves to dance, and while taking a break from the sunshine and waves, the kids watched a little PBS with just enough background music to make him want to boogie! Love it!