SOME NOTEABLE "FIRST'S"

Cole started school today. More about that below...but here's his first day of school picture for 2009.

This was last year 2008.

So....the exciting news to share is Cole started AYSO soccer. I was honestly so proud of myself....I managed to finally get him signed up on time for a team. I missed the deadlines for tee-ball and indoor soccer so I was extremely happy to get him into soccer. The sign up's were literally 3 months ago. Cole has 5 kids on his team. 3 girls and 2 boys (Cole and Cotter).

His first game (it actually turned into a practice) was on Saturday.

He will have a game/practice every Saturday through October 17 at 1 pm at Community Park. So if anyone (hello Grama and Grampa Gil and LeeAnn!) want to come...we'll be there every Saturday.

I don't think there's anything cuter than a bunch of excited 5 year old's running around chasing soccer balls.

They practice "dribbling" and at first Cole was using his hand to dribble like a basketball then he used his foot...to actually dribble (or bounce) the ball up and down. Chris finally convinced him that "dribbling" in soccer was a little different and just required him to lightly kick the ball and run.

2 1/2 hours of non-stop running. It was awesome. Cole was wiped out! We had a great weekend!!!


The girls all have special little bows with curly ribbons....how cute is that?
Chris and Cole walking to the field.
Now back to school. So today was his first day back to school. (school website here: CLICK ME!) And this is right before breakfast.

I was trying to get a picture of the two boys before we left the house. Carter is a late sleeper and was a little grumpy at 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast again.
Pretending to be serious. What a silly kid.

At school changing into his classroom Crocs. This year we found the Crocs with fuzzy stuff inside so he was excited to wear them and his feet are sure to stay warm! It's tough waiting to wear all the new "school" stuff for the first day of school.
Here he is when we left after he was all done for the day. He's a class leader this year because they have younger students now. Cole was sure to report to me when every one's birthday is. Cole is counting down the days to his!

We are going to have a birthday party at our house and a birthday part at The Art Museum (click ME!) for all his friends. September 18th is the family party and September 19th is the kid party. Invitations will be out soon.

A 1 YR APPOINTMENT and A SUMMER DAY

Carter has his one-year check up on Tuesday. He weighs 22 lbs 15 ounces and is in the 50th percentile overall. He had a really fun time watching the fish in the tank behind him. We really love the kids pediatrician, Dr. Wally Baker.

Here he is checking out his information from the nurse. Each visit they write down his weight and measurements for the baby book. He was 7 lbs 2 ounces at birth. He isn't walking yet...but he does "furniture surf" and he has taken a few steps. I hope his little legs stay yummy and chubby when he starts walking though. They are just full of rolls and rolls of chub.
Check out those little teeth.
Mom and carter
Checking out the fish while we are waiting for Dr. Baker
In the chair checking stuff out. So curious.
Cute belly.

And of course...it's summer so we are outside playing. Target had the water toys on clearance this week so we bought Cole a new pool. It's awesome with a slide and waterfall. Here's Carter in his pool and his water table. He loves being outside and playing with Cole.

Here he is playing with a boat that goes with his water table.
The little Smith boys.
Cole sliding down into his pool.
Carter watching Coley


Cole can run fast and jump high. What a little boy. Here he is mid jump...what a cool pool!

Jumping in again.
And....Aunt Anne and Justin sent a box full of balls to Cole and Carter. These were Justin's balls from when he was a little boy. Then Cole and I played a game of football outside. It was hilarious. He thinks he plays for Notre Dame. I was wiped out after a while. Cole can just go and go and go!

This is a happy boy!

It was a pretty good week for the Smith Boys!

2 LITTLE STARS

I finally got it together and registered Cole for soccer. He is so so so excited! Chris and I are so so so excited too! His games will be every Saturday from 1:00-2:30. For those who are paying attention.....that's 1 1/2 hours of non stop running and playtime for Cole. Yahoo! Did I mention Cole has alot of energy...that is endless....so we are so excited for him to be part of a team and to have an outlet for that energy....besides running around the backyard and playing with his slip-n-slide.

Here is Carter watching Cole play soccer with Chris. I am sipping a yummy drink watching them all. Oh, I love summer.

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I put the hat on Carter's head and this is what happened.
Cole and Chris. Cole's coach handed out their uniforms and Cole is #6. So we headed over to Sports Authority and picked out his soccer cleats and shin guards...the minute we walked into the house he stripped and changed into his uniform and headed right outside with his soccer ball from Grandpa Coke.
Cole and Chris again.
Cole is a SUPERSTAR.
Taking a rest. (patio stuff in the background...sorry!)

Rest time...next to the slip-n-slide.
Taking a breather....notice the pirate tattoo....this morning it started to wash off in his bubble bath and there were some tears....he loves it!
That night...this is bedtime...we are reading "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too!" by Shel Silverstein. This is Cole's favorite bedtime story....because each time we read the word tickle we respectably...tickle him....alot! It's so so so much fun. I'm surprised he can go to sleep after our tickle attack.

While Cole was having his bedtime stories...Chris was filming Carter..in his crib...doing his new trick. There is a Part 1 and Part 2. Part 2 picks up after Carter totally falls down in his crib....but he's 1/2 way crying 1/2 way laughing...it's soooo funny.....Carter is kinda a klutz.

COLE AND HIS FRIENDS

Cole and Miles-Best Buddies

(notice how rosy their faces are...they were running around and around playing tag)

So it begins....the school year...the birthday parties........endless birthday parties...and I can't say "no" to Cole. He looooves the parties. It's all the kids talk about for that week...who's party is next and where it is at.

Funny story about birthday parties. I'm starting to embrace my roll as the PTO mom...the soccer mom...the busy full of life supporter of my kids...cheering them on...maybe a little too loud?! So Cole normally is invited to about 3 or 4 birthday parties a month. No kidding. His friends LOVE to party. Thursday night was another party at Tautphaus Park. We were preparing to leave and I ran to Fred Meyer's to pick up a small gift. I planned to spend $5. Seriously...4 or 5 birthday parties a month...that adds up. So I picked up the card and bought a box with a Lego racer....

Suprise....suprise...Cole and Chris had the same reaction to the gift...

"oh we already have that one!" the 2 Smith boys told me.

Sometime Cole is "little Chris"....

So the birthday party went ok. It was for Mark who turned 6 and went to Cole's Montessorri school last year. Mark is going to public school this year so it was a mixture of kids Cole knew and didn't know. Some of the boys were not nice....everyone wants to sit by the Birthday boy and see his presents...or they don't want to share bubbles...or someone doesn't want to play tag any longer.....

That's the hard part...when does Mom step in and say enough...when does Mom sit back and let Cole figure out how to react to the mean bully....

I'm excited for Cole...but also terrified. I don't want anyone to upset him or hurt his feelings. I guess that's life though and maybe the best place to start is on the playground.