last soccer game

 

Last soccer game of the season and mom forgot the socks.

 And I did do Kate's hair all cute. "One pony tail that goes to another," as requested. But then she got taken down and Drew stepped on her head as we were heading out the door. Double fail.

  I remembered all three kids, though, so that's something.

Here's a video for your enjoyment.

You're welcome.

If you're wondering if Ethan looked over and smiled after every time he touched the ball... he did. When I wasn't filming, I would yell and cheer and he LOVED that. But for your consideration, I refrained. Just watching the video with me last night, he looked over and smiled after watching himself kick the ball.

We might just do soccer again.

Minnesota

After the cabin and before we headed home, we spent a couple of days in Minnesota. One day, we went to the Mall of America to play at the amusement park. What? Your mall doesn't have an amusement park? That's weird.

 This place should have been a dream come true for Ethan. The boy loves speed. And it would have been... IF he were 42" tall. Poor thing is just shy and couldn't ride on any of the super cool rides. Kate is tall enough and isn't the biggest fan. Go figure. Anyway, we did find a few rides that he decided were pretty fun. And the log ride was the one ride that made all his dreams come true.

Fast? Check.

Soakin wet? Check.

 Grandma and Kate scared to death? Check.

 So wet we had to get new clothes, including a Batman shirt? CHECK!

 Our last day of fun was spent on the slip n slide.

the cabin, part 2

I just had to put this one in. Ethan's face is clas. sic.

a hole in my heart

I've been debating whether or not to blog about what's been going on in my life this week, but I feel like my blog is such a part of my life and I would feel silly moving on without saying something. 

One of my dearest and closest friends, Andrea Lemmon, passed away this week. I can't even believe that I just typed those words. It was sudden. Acute bacterial meningitis took her quickly, before anyone even knew anything was wrong. 

I can't wrap my head around it. Andrea was so full of life in every sense. She loved her children, her husband, her family, her friends to the fullest. She lived every day to the fullest. Greg and I would always tease them about how they were teaching us to "live the Lemmon life." She has three beautiful daughters (ages 7, 4, and 2) who emulate her love and passion for life. 

I am so grateful to know her. She was a friend I didn't take for granted. I knew she was wonderful from day one and often asked her for advice. The morning after she passed, her sweet husband called Greg to tell him that Andrea would want us to know how much she loved us. As sweet as it was, he didn't need to do that. We knew she loved us. She was the type who showed her friends she loved them. She was in constant service to her friends, family, and members of the ward and community.

I could go on for pages and pages about how wonderful Andrea is, but I won't. Because no words can explain it. I am so grateful to know, and so grateful that her family knows, that Heavenly Father has a plan for her and for her family. They will all be together again one day. I know that is true.

It gives me great comfort to know that she lived such a celestial life and that she will see her family again. But I just miss her so much. She was a part of my every day life that will never again be the same. And my heart aches for her family who will have to go on without her in this life. This life that is just plain not fair. But we will all heal. And we will all grow. And be better people because we know Andrea. And I'm thankful for that.

There has been a fund set up to help ease the financial strain this has put on their family. Please, please, donate if you can. (Click here to donate.) And please pray for them. 

And love those around you. Because that's the person Andrea is and that's who she wants us to be.

the cabin, part 1

We spent this past week at the Packer's cabin in Wisconsin. Fun times were had by all. 

As usual, it wasn't the big things that excited the twins, but the little. Like a pink life vest for Kate and a blue one for Ethan.

 Pancakes decorated like a baseball (and butterfly for Kate). 

 So some of the big things did excite them, too. It was on this very first ride that Kate told me, "jet skiing is SO fun. It's the FIRST thing I'm going to do with my kids when I'm a mom." So, I guess I'm 4 and a half years late, but at least I delivered.
And just so I don't forget, one of my favorite things said all week was one night Grandma was going to set up a movie for them. After givien the choices, Kate really wanted to watch Cinderella. So she asked Ethan if he want to watch it. His response?
"If you want me to want to."
Really?
That kid can sure be a booger sometimes, but he truly has a heart of gold. 

 And on the boat ride, what tickled their fancy? Having their own cups of water.

 Drew, of course, was happy as a clam all week.

And I'm just going to say it, traveling with 1 one-year-old is a lot easier than traveling with 2 one-year-olds.

 A trip to Hayward, the nearest "town," meant a photo op on the moose chair...

 and a trip to the candy store.

 Drew was quick to learn what this whole candy business is all about.

 If you're wondering if Greg was there, he was. It's not very often that I appear in photos and he doesn't, but sometimes it happens. And his pretty little face will be back for part 2, don't you worry.