Soccer!

Malcom is getting bored at home these days, and he's been in some serious need of hanging out time with kids his age. I thought that spring soccer would be good for him. So we signed up, and he was sooooooooo excited.

He was excited to pick up his little uniform, to play with our little soccer ball here at home, and we counted down the days until his first game (the preschool leagues have games ever Thursday and Saturday: practice is before hand for about 20 minutes, and then the game lasts about 30).   

Finally, the big day came... and Malcom woke up with a stomach ache, then puked all over my bed. Yay.  I kept a close eye on him all morning, and he seemed to do much better as time went on. He ate a mass load of chicken nuggets (I figured if he didn't throw that up we were passed the sick-phase), so I let him go to speech therapy at 1. He napped afterward but was awoken too early by his little brother... and unfortunately was about as grumpy as a little 4 year old could be. Malcom has a hard time with new things usually, but when he doesn't get enough sleep or he's feeling a little unwell, there's no way he'll willingly participate in a new activity.  

I really didn't want to miss the first game (especially because I didn't know how else we would know how everything worked or when things were going to happen). We picked Ben up at work and headed to the soccer field. 

Fake smile for mom, yay!

There were tons of teams playing in little mini-soccer fields, it was fun and hilarious to watch some of the little kids playing.  We found Malcom's team (Team 6, or Amelia Earhart Preschool 2), he got about 5 minutes of practice, and then he was out on the field playing.  

Team huddle

First kick off

At first things were well, though he was obviously a little overwhelmed and confused. 

It went downhill from there...

Eventually he just stood there and started crying. His coaches were incredible; they helped him over to the sidelines to us, where he sat and cried for the rest of the game. Poor kid, it was not a good day for soccer. The coaches were nice and said that he didn't have to play that day, and that he could just try again next time. (I have to mention that I was impressed by the other little boys on his team. Seriously, some of those kids have some mad skills... and how!?! They're all only 4 or 5 years old!)

We tried to turn things around a little after and stopped at a DQ for an after-game treat. Positive reinforcement, right? haha. 

It was a bumpy day, but it turned out well. Honestly, I think it was Ben that really turned all the frowns upside down. He is so good at staying positive and cheerful, even when things get a little frustrating like they did at the soccer game. I'm so glad he got to get out of work and come with us!  

Now for some one-on-one soccer practice... hopefully the next game will be much smoother. We're still proud of him, even if he ended up sitting out 80% of the game. It's hard to try new things sometimes! Love you buddy!

Malcom's 4th Birthday!

Here we are again, another birthday for that little boy who I swear was just born yesterday. We didn't have a big themed birthday party this year for the boys, but opted instead for individual small parties (ie. just family). I don't think Malcom missed having a big party, he was grinning all day anyway. I sure love that boy!



Friday night, after he had gone to bed, I covered his bedroom door in streamers that he had to break through the next morning. I wasn't fully awake when he got up, but I did hear some confused and amused exclamations coming from his side of the hallway. He ran into our room afterward and shook Ben awake, saying, "Daddy! There are ribbons on my door!!!!"



I (with the help of a good friend who was visiting) had also made a bunch of little paper party hats and taped them onto random toys throughout the house, which was a big hit (and the hats managed to stay on way longer than I would have expected).

He got to choose all of his meals for that day as well (SUGAR!!! ahhhh! Oh well, you only turn 4 once!). Our ward primary had an ice cream social that day, which Malcom conveniently thought was all for him. Haha. We were late getting to it, but we had a great time there as well.




After the ice cream social, I snuck back to the house before Ben and the kids got home. A few old friends, Becky Jenks and Rachel Cook (who we lovingly call "Cookie") were visiting, as well as Ben's brother Luke (who had just gotten out of army reserve training the night before) were there, and we all decorated the dining room with balloons, a happy birthday sign, got the cupcakes ready, and piled the presents up. Becky volunteered to put up some glow-in-the-dark astronauts and aliens on their ceiling- which would be the last surprise of the day.

Malcom was so surprised when he got home!

There wasn't much time wasted getting the candles lit and the Happy Birthday song sung.


(Malcom picked out the cupcakes at Sam's Club the day before, as I knew I was going to be too tired to bake anything for him. I thought it was funny that he managed to choose the only box of cupcakes that had nothing to do with birthdays.)

Presents were opened! Everyone was happy (but especially Malcom and by default, Calvin- since he got to play with all the new toys too.)

Calvin trying to figure out how the party-blower-thing works.

Mr. Dinosaur joined the party too!

Handsome boys/man. :) 

This is Malcom realizing what his present is: a tool box! 

Opening gifts is hard work!

Ben always has to check out the new toys too. I love that I married a big kid. :)

After our little party, we headed to Home Depot so that he could pick out a few tools for his new tool box.  I don't know if there's ever been a happier little boy!  We were all pretty tired by the time we left the store.

Malcom made his own toolbelt. Haha! 

Malcom and his proud Papa, all tuckered out. 

At home, we played a little more, then headed up to bed. After brushing teeth, reading books and scriptures, singing Happy Birthday a few more times, and then prayer, the kids were tucked in and the lights went off.

"That's aMAZEing!!" Malcom exclaimed it over and over as he repeatedly asked for us to turn the light on and off, while staring at the glowing spacemen over his bed.

I don't know if it was the glow-in-the-dark astronauts and aliens or that they were just completely tuckered out, but both Calvin and Malcom didn't fuss once after we put them to bed the first time.

Happy little boys. Mission accomplished.