It's what we do...

Saturdays; soccer. Now that the weather has turned, it is a test of out metal to endure the conditions. The temperature felt like it dropped 20 degrees between Abby's 11:30 game and Will's 2pm game. Wild Idaho weather.

This week Abby decided, on her own, that she would play defense. After I reminder her that she couldn't just park it in front of the goal (no goalies in her division) she lit out to cover the back end of the field. She has obviously been paying attention to Will's games. One of the parents asked me, "does she have that much energy all the time?" Oh, after considering the many answers I could have offered... I settled on, "yes."`

She completely locked down the other team. Wow, that girl is fast!

Will's game was cold and windy. He played extremely well, as he is learning to space out on the field and support his teammates with good position.
Soccer has been great for Will. He played forward. Notice his great break away with Uncle (and coach) Brandan cheering him on.

It's tough to stay warm, when we're fighting the Idaho wind.These two have had so much fun playing on the same team together.We're HUGE soccer fans!

You could be a winner...

...at the Game of Life!

We have reached another family milestone... boardgames.
Now that 2/3 of our children are reading, we can play games together; the complicated kind, like Life. With a little help the boys managed their own play. Abby and Lisa were partners. The kids had a ball. It was a great way to spend an afternoon getting along together as a family and having a good time. As we played, Lisa and I couldn't help but comment on the irony of the game's simple plan, and obvious motivational overtone.

i.e. If you go to college, you can have a great paying job and save money to afford purchasing a home and raising children, while saving for a lavish retirement.

Either I didn't play this game enough as a kid for that lesson to really sink in, or it's a grossly misleading untruth. Did I mention that I won? (the board game--jury is still out on real life)

Great Garden!

A few months ago, Amy came to set and plant the garden. Now that it is October, evening temperatures are beginning to drop. We turned on the furnace for the first time...and we harvested every square foot of the garden. The kids have LOVED the process of gardening. They will even eat vegetables, now.

Blue Raiders n Bluejays

More soccer.

It's fun to watch the skill level, intensity, and team awareness improve as the season progresses.
Lisa took a few good shots at the games. Making it to soccer games sure fills up a Saturday.
But so long as we have good weather, snacks, and score a goal or two...it's totally worth it.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Early in September we went into Boise to check out a small summertime festival called Strawberry Field, named so because it budding new musical artists.

There was food, music, and fun to be had; especially for kids as there were a number of blow-up jump houses. Our two families (Kinnamans and Goehners) each had uncles visiting from out of town.

Uncle Shuff was in Boise to watch the Broncos trounce the Ducks and Benj came to town to spend time with and spoil Mac and Dylan...

the way that all good uncles should. It was HOT out, but as you can see, we had fun.