Maddox's First Soccer Game!!

Kennon helping Eric shovel the rock....!!  Anything to shovel and he's right there to help. 

Despite the extremely hot weather we've been having the last couple of weeks we have been going to town on our landscaping.  Eric planted 4 large trees in our backyard on Thursday and spread 1 3/4 tons shooting star rock in our new plant bed dedicated to Grammy!! Everything looks great.  We are especially excited about our trees.  We purposely picked fast growing trees that do well in clay soil...a Sunset Maple, 2 Royal Frost Birches, and a Quaking Aspen.  I especially like the Quaking Aspen...reminds me of the great times we had during all of our Colorado visits.  The leaves just flutter in the wind. I think we are done with the landscaping for now.....other than watering and trying to put a stop to the pesky voles that are eating up parts of our yard.....!! GRRRR....!! 

So last weekend Maddox participated in her FIRST ever soccer game!! I had to have been beaming watching her out on the practice field.  Such a proud moment as a parent to have a child in a team sport!! I have to say I was sooooo excited for her but a bit worried about her timid personality.  I started talking about the game quite heavily on Thursday and Friday and especially Saturday morning before we went and she provided a ton of opposition stating she didn't want to go or put on her jersey. But, with a little coaxing, a cute hair bow, and her cool hand me down shin guards we were able to load up in Sienna and head to the game.  We were SOOO happy, or well I should say, Maddox was extremely happy to see one of her classmates from Kindercare there, Nisha....who happens to live in our neighborhood AND is on her team, Team France.  Thank goodness for Nisha!!!  She took Maddox by the hand as her personality is a bit more outgoing and overly compassionate and got Maddox to get out on the field for the practice. The two girls were absolutely adorable together and cheered each other on during the practice bit. Unfortunately Nisha's magic didn't work so well during the game and Maddox closed up like a clam and hung onto our legs.  Luckily there were some other timid kids on the field with their parents which is totally acceptable at this age.  I felt so bad for Nisha. She kept coming over to Maddox trying to coax her to kick and or run after the ball....much like she was doing or attempting to do.  You could just see the compassion and concern she had for Maddox. Nisha soooo wanted to play but just hardly could bear to leave Maddox.  I befriended Nisha's mom and made sure to tell her how proud she should be of Nisha.  Anyhow....they don't really keep score and there are really hardly any rules...it is kind of like 'herd ball' all the kids just run after the ball. But it is definitely evident who has older brothers/sisters who play. Man some of the kids just totally knew what they were doing and were like work horses out there.  We are happy Maddox will be able to lean from them!! ( no significant soccer experience in the Kies house) We are looking forward to this week's game.  Luckily there is a school playground nearby which kept Kennon fairly entertained.  He was so funny...in fact if Maddox had handed him his jersey I"m sure he wouldn't have even needed Nisha to drag HIM onto the field. He was right in the middle of the huddle before the game started. He so wanted to play.   Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean got Maddox ( and Kennon) a soccer ball for her birthday!! Grandpa Jim was so eager to bring the balls over he rode his Harley to our house on Sunday and surprised the kids with their own soccer ball!!  We had a really nice afternoon sitting in the shade with the breeze. A special thanks to Grandpa Jim for helping Eric stake our 4 new beautiful trees.

Maddox doing a little stretching before her game....totally unsolicited by her physical therapist momma....and I"m serious...she did this totally on her own!! 

Nisha and Maddox....and the cute hair bow...!! 

Maddox and Team France doing some warm up drills. Maddox is second from the left with her arms out. 

Maddox on the field during the game...notice Eric and Nisha are close by and she is not moving!! That's ok Maddox you'll figure it out. 

Bomb pops for snack after nap. The neighbor girl Priya joined us 

We are forging ahead with Kennon's potty training despite some difficult days at school last week.  He does totally fine at home with us but has figured out how to 'get by' at school.  We aren't ready to throw in the towel just yet and continue to shower him with praise for good 'deeds' . We know you'll get it buddy!! Hang in there.  He is remarkably dry after nap and in the AM but just gets busy playing at school.  Maddox visited the dentist a couple of weeks ago. Her track record with Dr. Matt hasn't been so good so we decided to have Eric chaperone her rather than me and she did perfect...no fits in the chair and opened he mouth nice and wide with no opposition!!!  Thank you Eric!!  ( and thanks to cousin Carter and Aunt Brooke for visiting the dentist earlier this summer and giving Maddox the positive vibe on the dentist) Her teeth look great...no cavities and she/we are doing everything just fine.  Braces in her future, however,  likely in grade school which he had told me at a previous visit.  

If you think Kennon's expression is priceless in this one check out the one below....something tells me he is gonna be a stinker.... oh about 3 1/2 years old. 

Kennon and Grandpa Jim on Grandpa's Harley. Thanks for making the trip over Grandpa Jim!!