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.

Bountiful Harvest

My friend Sharon had an "Iron Chef" party where we picked from her garden and prepared dishes. Then we ate! It was tons of fun

Big smile -- big win

Ryan has been begging to go see the broncos play a "real game." The Blue and Orange scrimmage doesn't fool him and he wants to see, hear, and feel the real experience. Tonight he enjoyed a blowout win against Miami (OH). The joy of the stadium experience was not wasted on my little guy. No trips to the bathroom, no complaints, I couldn't hardly get him from his seat to get food in the second qtr. He was commenting on plays, keeping stats, jeering the refs, and cheering on his boys - Jeremy Avery (27) and Titus Young (4 & player of the game). A true fan. See the real joy on that face. It's been a great day to be a father.
Go Blue

Broncos win in blowout against RedHawks 48-0

For love of the game

...and for love of the snacks. Both Will and Abby are playing PAL soccer. Abby has worn her jersy every day this week in anticipation of the first game. She rocked her first game and even scored a goal off a pass from her neighbor buddy, Henry. Will and Dylan play in a higher division and have goalies and everything. Will played two qtrs of a terrific game; scoring one goal and playing as an outstanding teammate. We've committed our Fall Saturdays to Heroes Park and cheering for our kids. I was reminded today that soccer really is fun.

Big Blue Love

Once again, I am feeling SO loved by my lady. Lisa asked her boss to score a couple of tickets to Boise State's season opener vs. the Oregon Ducks. My father-in-law, Rick and I shared an AMAZING evening together, as we watched the Ducks crash on The Blue Turf. The Broncos delivered an amazing beat-down...we were there to enjoy it. Believe me, we enjoyed it.
Broncos dominate Ducks, win 19-8 KTVB.COM Idaho News

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My Baby Girl Goes to School

Not much to say here. We have entered a new life stage and really feel as though our kids are growing fast. We were given a sheet preparing us for separation anxiety, but Little Miss Independent had no trouble at all. She has been ready to "do school," like the boys, for some time now.

She marched right into the classroom and was ready to get started. (We didn't bother to tell her that the "Kinnaman way" will have her doing coursework until she is in her 30s)

One of the many great benefits of our schedule as educators is that Lisa and I have been able to take all the kids to their first days of school together as a family. When I returned to pick her up, she was so engage in circle-time that I was able to watch for a number of minutes and even snap a picture with my camera phone.

When I asked the teacher how the day went, her first response was to tell me, "Wow, Abby is REALLY strong!" That made me nervous. Before I could inquire as to who or what it was that she managed to break on her first day, she finished by saying, "she crossed all the way on the monkey bars."

Tent Pitch 09

I'm certain that no one enjoys Tent Pitch more than Abby Lou. We spend the weekend convincing ourselves that a little (or a lot) of dirt on the face never really hurt anyone.

Once again, our fearless leader -El Presidente- Chris Graham, organized a perfect weekend get-away. This was the 5th annual Tent Pitch, though only the 3rd time the Kinnaman clan has been in attendance.

Eighty-four people camped at Gold Fork, ID (near Cascade) and more than half of them were children. Families mingled, played on the creek bank, shared camping food, and enjoyed fellowship in the truest sense; in what has become a valued tradition for many families in our church. We visited the legendary Gold Fork Hot Springs and the kids pruned for about 3 hours in the mineral pools. I think Lisa could live in the hot springs!

Notable traditions have emerged from the annual weekend getaway. One of these is the mile-long fire pit, designed to accommodate campfire time for eighty-four people.

The Man-sized Challenge is another storied tradition which provides much entertainment for the group as a whole. After training for a number of months to win the coveted traveling Man-sized trophy, I finished (bitterly) as the runner-up to Ben Kneadler. This is an event that requires strength, endurance, skill, and a little luck...seeing as you never know what the competition events will be until the challenge begins. This year my Achilles heel was the steer lasso. How could I have trained for that? (Grandpa Kinnaman would have been ashamed by my woeful ability to handle the lariat) Next year, the trophy will be mine.This year the kids instituted the "kid-sized challenge." They completed the same five events--relay style and with kids sized obstacles. Not to be out-done, two teams of ladies relayed through the challenge course, as well.
Lisa was a champ.
(I believe that her time was better than mine)Ah-yeah... that's right, a large group of Nazarenes droppin dance moves in the mountains. Not saying we were the Solid Gold dancers, but we had a whole lot of fun, regardless. Even Ryan's parents were a bit surprised at how uninhibited he was, and rightfully so; that kid has MOVES! Tony DeVall furnished a dance floor surrounded with multi-colored rope lights and the Vance Kellogg party van pumped out the tunes late into the night. We are all hoping that this too will become a tradition:
The Tent Pitch Dance Party

Tent Pitch is the best! What a great way to close out the summer with family and friends. A tradition that we hope to be a part of for many years to come. We are so blessed.