Here are a few pictures from Will and Noah's first field trip. They went to Pioneer Settlement today. Chris chaperoned so he will update how the day went later. In other news, Will and Noah won their soccer game tonight. Their team had a million shots on goal, but Emma was the only one that managed to get one in!

Well, so much for my lazy Wednesday afternoon! Today was the only day of the week that we did not have post-school plans. That all changed once I realized that I totally forgot about the homecoming parade! Sam made this awesome banner for us to carry while we marched. The kids held it for a couple minutes but quickly became more interested in throwing candy out to the crowd and passed the torch on to us. Donna (4th grade), Marilyn (principal), Rhonda (ESE teacher), and I carried the banner. Also marching were Debbie (4th grade), Kathy (2nd grade ~ Ethan's teacher), Melissa (well you know her), Amy (art teacher), and Mary (ESE teacher). All of the staff kids marched along with us as well. All the kids had a great time! This was Will and Noah's first experience actually being in the parade. I don't think that they have ever had so much fun walking down Canal Street! At any rate, go Cudas!

After walking in the door for the parade, I went right back out for my bike ride. For some bizarre reason, I have been having far too many close encounters with snakes. If there is a snake season, then I can assure you that Florida is in it! Ugh... I'm not even riding on dirt trails. Just along the river on a paved road and sidewalk.

Today is also Anna's birthday! Happy Birthday! Her birthday happens to be my 1/2 birthday. As BFFs growing up, we thought that was just the coolest thing ever. My niece Leigha also recently had a birthday. Happy birthday to you! I hope you enjoy your party this weekend!

Ethan's team finally had their first win last night. As if that wasn't nice enough, Ethan scored two goals! Woohoo! Tomorrow Will and Noah have a game. There is little doubt that their team will be winning! I mean, with Will, Noah, and Emma does the other team really stand a chance? Doubtful!

Well, whether you wanted them or not, more soccer pictures! Will and Noah had a game tonight. The entire team played great! Here Will is going head to head with the aggressive boy from the other team. Now, this kid didn't care who it was, if they came near him he was either going to shove them or pull their jersey as hard as he could! The red team still came out ahead 7-0. Will scored and Noah tried really hard again!
Noah is number 7.
Here they are doing the 'good game' gig.
This weekend was very uneventful. Chris went to the Eagney's to join in their yard sale. The boys actually sold off a few of their toys. They sold just enough to go out and buy a Wii game with their profits! They got the soccer game and seem to love it. We have two more soccer games this week. Will and Noah have their field trip on Thursday. Chris is going with them so they are very excited. They are all eager for the holiday season to arrive. They are ready to go trick-or-treating and are asking regularly when they get to go to Universal for their birthday character breakfast. They still have a while for that one!

The last few days have whizzed right by! Saturday was spent at the soccer fields. Will and Noah had pictures at 7:15 and their game started at 7:45. They won! Will scored a goal during that game. Ethan's pictures were at 11:20 and his game started at 11:45. Just as the White Tigers' game started a storm quickly blew in and the game was called 5 minutes in. That game will be rescheduled.

Last night Will and Noah's team played the white team. They were a great team, but still couldn't hold their own to the force that Melissa has created. Will scored in last night's game as well. Mike took these pictures last night at the game.

Noah uses his tongue whenever he concentrates. Clearly, he is concentrating on the ball!
I think Will was just jumping to get a view of the ball. Really, there is no other explanation!
Noah had a fierce look of determination on his face. He has really stepped up his game this season. He had a nice assist last night and came so close to scoring one of his own. He really wants a goal. Hopefully he'll get one next week!
Look, there is that tongue again!

Will going head to head with Sammy! Most of the kids on the other team go to our school as well. It was fun playing against the kids we knew. We got to cheer on both sides!
The red team twins working together for the win!

Sunday Anna gave birth to the adorable Talia Claire! She is pictured here with the rest of the Van Clan. That is big sis Dara holding her, Sam, Faith, and Isabel. I was hoping she would be an October baby, but much to Anna's delight she was a September baby!

While Anna was doing her thing at Holy Cross, we went to Riverbreeze Park. It is one of my favorites. It is a dog friendly park and has a little bit of everything. They have hiking trails through the woods, ponds with geese, orange trees galore, a playground, a pier on the river, and a big field to play football in. There is also a campground and boat slips there. I would like to camp there some time this winter.

Oh, they also have GIGANTIC spiders. You can't tell the size of this thing from the picture, but it is HUGE!

I always love dragonflies!
We sat on the pier for a few minutes. It has been really windy the last few days. It has made being outside for soccer games or going to the park very enjoyable. It has not been so wonderful for biking, but I assume I've been getting a better workout riding against the wind!

Cutie pie Hanzie! He has to wear a harness so he doesn't pull me all around the joint!

What wind does to your hair...
Um, what wind does to Noah's hair!
And then there was Ethan! That golf club scar of his makes me crazy! The funniest part is that the ER doctor told him no one would ever notice it since it would be covered with hair. I thought to myself that hair doesn't grow on scars and that it would be super noticeable. I guess I was right!
Ethan has another soccer game on Thursday. So we get a break from the fields tomorrow night! Ah...

Good thing we didn't go swimming tonight!

The boys were lucky and had no school today. Today was a staff development day for teachers so I got to spend the entire day in meetings. After school we went to the beach to play a little flag football. The kids all ate some Papa John's on the picnic table and then took off to the sand. The weather was beautiful. It was cool(er)-I'm talking 80's people- and breezy.

Chris' flock of pigeons!
Sandy feet!

Beach bum, literally!
Cutie pie!

"Say, what??"

We were a little nervous that last night's soccer practice would get cancelled because of rain. Luckily, the rain came just before and just after practice. It was sunny and gorgeous all of practice and thanks to the rain just before there was a beautiful rainbow over the fields much of the hour. All of the kids were very excited to get their uniforms. Opening day is Saturday. Will and Noah have pictures at 7:15 in the morning! That is crazy early. Their game is at 7:45. Ethan's pictures are at 11:20 and his game is at 11:45. It looks like we'll be out at the city fields for most of the day Saturday! Chris and Mike scrimmaged Ethan's team during practice.
Just behind that palm tree is the New Smyrna Beach airport. It is hard enough keeping those kids focused during practice and with planes taking off and landing every 2 or 3 minutes it takes "staring into the sky while on the field" to a whole new level!
Will during practice. He was too busy to turn around to let me snap a picture!
Here is Noah going after the ball.

Another action shot.
There was a rocket launch this morning. We were able to watch it from the hallways at school. Not only was Greg's name on the rocket, so was our school's! Go Rockets!

I have officially put over 1,000 miles on my bike since Memorial Day. Chris put a bike computer on my bike on Memorial Day so I could start keeping track of my miles. Of course, then we were gone for four weeks this summer, so it took me a bit longer than I anticipated to get to 1,000 miles. I was hoping to do it by Labor Day. I haven't been able to bike as much since school started. I still try to go every day, but with the weather lately, I haven't been able to ride as much. So, for my biking pals, here is a poem that I got from Timothy Rasinski at one of his workshops...

Bikes are to ride
All of the day
Places to go
So far away.
Sidewalks and paths
Places to stray
Riding a bike
Such a great way to play.

Soccer practice went well yesterday. Melissa and I rode our bikes to practice and got rained on a bit. But for practice itself, it was cloudy. Clouds are a good thing. It makes it feel like 95 instead of 110 with the sun shining on you! The sun came out just as practice was ending. Melissa and I both got nice red foreheads on the ride home.
Chris decided to have the kids scrimmage against just him. He is trying to get them to better understand to concept of spreading out on the field rather than bunching up where ever the ball may be.
This morning we headed off to the beach. It was perfect! HUGE beach, NO tourists, and a nice breeze to go along with it! Chris found this lovely gift left by some fisher on the beach. Luckily he noticed it before he stepped on it!
Will brought the skim board to work on his skillz.
Dad gives Will some skim board 101 lessons.

Ethan and dad spend some quality time together at the beach.

The rain clouds were moving in so we headed out. It started to pour just as we were getting in the car.

Wow, what a busy week it has been! Monday I took Mike on a whirlwind bike tour of our fine city. I now know why our city is referred to as a "rural town." Enough said. The book fair also started at school on Monday. The boys, including Chris, love the book fair. Ethan came home and dragged 1/2 the books off one of his book shelves and took them into the toy room to set up his own book fair. You had to shop with gold pirate coins, so most of us were out of luck. Luckily, the boys had a nice stash of pirate coins and could browse and shop.
At bedtime, the boys decided that they would all sleep in their swag (as Chris would call it) from Universal's video game competition thing. They loved sleeping in those great big t-shirts.
Tuesday is Cub Scout night. Ethan got all dressed and headed out the door. Will and Noah decided to stay home with me to do some Carmen Electra and Billy Blanks workouts. We had fun. Will and Noah mostly wrecked the house, but they had a great time with the big boss (aka Ethan) out of the house.
With the 9 inches of rain that fell Tuesday night and Wednesday, soccer was cancelled. We decided to go out in the driving rains and do some shopping. We needed a few necessities (and yes Chris, Mike, & Melissa, everything I bought was a neccesity including my pumpkins and fall leaves), and to be honest, we were sick of being trapped in the rain. Since we have to walk through the rain all day at school, running from the car into the store was no big deal. Our hallways at school are all outdoors, so when we got home we had to strip down in the garage because our pants, shoes, and socks were totally drenched! Thursday was Open House night at school. I took Will and Noah to Mrs. Walton's room. Chris took Ethan to Mrs. Zois' room. Chris had never met Kathy, Ethan's teacher, so we decided to split up that way. Then, it was off to the book fair to finally make their purchases. They had been browsing all week during book club. I spend my mornings and afternoons in the media center at book club. Kids who often otherwise don't read at home, come in and read with me for 1/2 hour in the morning or a 1/2 hour in the afternoon. Some kids actually come to both. The book fair was set up in the media center so the boys felt that they hit the jackpot and could browse the book fair every morning and afternoon. I showed a lot of restraint and we only spent just over $20 total at the fair. Not bad!!! Especially since the boys and I had a list a mile long of books we wanted. Luckily, Mrs. Lennon, the media specialist, bought one of the books that the boys really wanted for circulation. Now the boys can check out and read Pirates Don't Change Diapers. That is the follow up book to How I Became A Pirate, which is one of their favorites. Today we have soccer practice in the morning. Hopefully we make it through practice before the storms roll in. There is going to be an 80% coverage of storms today. So, I'm sure we'll be stuck inside all afternoon again!