LJ's Soccer Game

Saturday we got a special treat. Although the weather wasn't cooperating, it was niecey LJ's soccer game day! Oh my goodness. There is NOTHING cuter than five-year-old soccer let me tell you. JJ was asking LJ all about it before her game and she said, "Well, I don't really like to run ... or kick the ball ..." First of all, since the weather was kind of yucky, there were only four girlies on her team there (including her! She wouldn't've been there either except that it was her day to bring treats!). Then their coach called them in for the huddle. All four girls sat seriously on their soccer balls watching the game plans intently. Then they put their hands in and made an animal sound. I guess they make a different one each huddle. Their team is the Seals (which gives SIL LJ a cause to use her hidden seal noise talent, much to niecey LJ's embarrassment!) Then it was game time! There is no keeping score, no goalies and no rules really even. The ball would go out of bounds and everyone would continue to race around huddle-style. Sometimes the coaches, who were also the "refs", would choose to do a throw-in, sometimes they'd just let them play. They played three-on-three and when it was LJ's break time, she'd run off and call for her water bottle.

I'm so glad we got a chance to go to her game. It was so much fun and seriously so stinkin' cute! I can't wait for MVJ to be a part of a sports team. What am I saying? Let's get her crawling first and then we can deal with bigger things! : )

Random Update

Ugh, it's been a while again! When I post regularly, I feel like I can just post a short little story at a time, but when I am absent for some time I feel like I have to catch you up to my life! : ) Well, quickly, here's what we've been up to:

*I started working with summer kiddos again this summer! But, this summer I was smart and decided I'd only work with 2-3 kids. So, it's been great so far! JJ and MVJ get some M-Daddy time, I get out of the house, I get to get to know some of the kiddos on my caseload next year and we make a little money! win-win-win-win!

*We started up sand volleyball again. It's a bit trickier with a four - almost five - month older. Good thing she has become bffs with the gal who is the site manager. But, we've also arranged it so either JJ or I can be sitting out at all times. Oh, and we're undefeated... yay!

*MVJ continues to be a cranky little thing. Adding to it is the fact that we are travelling. I've finally figured out that we have to slow down a bit more. Right now, for example, I'm chilling at the hotel room while she slowly wakes up from a glorious nap as the rest of the crew is at the wedding rehearsal.

*Our nephew's getting married! Woohoo! JJ was honored that he was asked to be a groomsman! If you think it's a bit odd that we have a nephew getting married, how about this fact: our niece is pregnant! We're going to be a great aunt and uncle in about six weeks (or two if you talk to her sister!). Yay for babies! LKH (she's already got a name that lucky ducky) will make our trips to Minneapolis that much more special!

Ok... I better actually get dressed for the groom's supper (at our SIL/BIL LC/MC's house). Chi-chi's wearing her pink tu-tu! : )

First Hibachi Experience

I'm not quite a food adventurist... I generally order the same thing at familiar restaurants and don't venture out too far from my "norm". I'm sure all of you are sighing a sad sigh. I know. I know. So when we were in Fargo a few weeks ago and my SIL LJ decided we were going to try the new Japanese restaurant I was a tid bit leary. BUT, I'm so glad we went! It's called Kobe and if at least two people are ordering from the hibachi menu, you get to sit at the hibachi. It was so much fun. First of all, we got served some mushroom soup. (which I didn't touch at all... ick!) But, I'm glad my cutie pie nephew BJ doesn't share my taste, because we may have missed this situation: B finished his soup and darted around the table to mommy (LJ) to exclaimed, "The toup is touper touper good!!" : )

Then came the "show"! Of course I did miss some of it due to a certain baby who seems to only get hungry when it's time for mommy and daddy to eat! But, parts I didn't miss were niecey LJ getting scared out of her mind at the fire parts of the show. As SIL LJ put it later, she was not just scared she was pissed at them for having the nerve to have fire there. She started on a chair next to LJ. Then, inched off the chair to behind mommy LJ. Then, the next thing we knew, she was against the wall with her hands over her eyes! (JJ has this picture on his cellphone!)

Another part of the show was when the hibachi griller (?) cut vegetables and attempted to throw them into people's mouths. It took BIL AJ a few tries and then the griller practically drowned him in what he called sake. Next up was nephew BJ. He didn't quite get the concept and the griller did his best to get a veggie in there, throwing three at a time a few times. heehee Next up was yours truly, and, ahem, I hate to gloat, but I caught mine on the first try! I guess I just have a big mouth? We'll say a good throw plus good coordination. heehee... yeah... that's what we'll say.

At one point the griller had a fire going... I think it was the volcano fire at this time (stacks of onion), and he had to put out the fire. He had this little water bottle in the shape of a little boy... and the boy "peed" out the water. He "put out" the fire and then went to fill up nephew BJ's mouth...

So, all in all, the restaurant was very entertaining and I quite enjoyed my hibachied (is that a word?) veggies.

*Warning!*Warning!*Warning!*

They grow up SO fast!

I have heard that warning again and again and again, but I swear I've been trying to cherish every moment and pay attention to when she's growing and changing. But, yesterday it just hit me. She's not a new little baby. It all started when we got to meet our newest little nephew, Mr. AHJ, all of three days old! He is just the cutest, sweetest thing by the way! But holding him. It's just like nothing. There's no weight there! He's SO tiny! AND he was two pounds more than MVJ. When was she like that??! JJ and I reasoned that she always had to be bundled up, and that seemed to bulk her up a bit. But, still, I just can't even remember holding such a tiny little thing! And his new baby coloring! MVJ looked dark like him in the beginning and now she's a whitey Mcwhiteson just like her mommy! And the neck control! I had to be ever so careful, because now I can pretty much leave MVJ's head to its own devices - she's got it pretty well under control. Oh, and those baby noises! The teeny little baby noises! Oh my goodness --- SO much has changed! And she's only four months old! YUP, that's right! She just celebrated the big four months on Tuesday! We were in Bismarck for my friend's wedding, so we dragged along the big carebear we use for our monthly photoshoots!

Guest Blogger: Niecey LJ!

My name is LEJ and I have fun. I will be 5 in one week! : ) I like to play wii. I really like to play Sorry. My auntie EJ is here. Let me tell you a joke.

What kind of car does a cat drive? A cat-a-lac!

My house is really big. I like to play dress up at home. Let me tell you about my birthday party. The party theme is dress up! When my friends get to my house, they will bring their favorite dress-up outfit but if they don't have any then they can use some of mine!

Right now I'm 4. BJ turned 3. He's my little brother. BJ likes to play wii too. He also likes to play Sorry with me. He plays with cars and balls.

Family was at our house this weekend.

That's all. I would like to play Purble Palace now.

Lots of excitement!

JJ, M and I have been BUSY lately! She has been a trooper with getting packed up and heading out! It was JJ's spring break, so on Wednesday we headed to visit LJ, AJ and family. We love visiting the AJ family! Hanging out with niecey LJ and nephew BJ, eating yummy food (including all out deserts Wednesday night!), playing games (a new one this time -- Ticket to Ride -- highly recommend it -- and not just because I *almost* won the second time we played!), and this time even attending their Bible study with them!

Friday morning, we had to get up early because of a play date I scheduled at the mall play place. M and I played with the B's and also LB (a friend from work) and her two kiddos -- RB and MB. The kiddos did a great job running around playing. Little MB (about 8 1/2 mo.) will be up chasing her brother in no time! We crashed at home in the afternoon and then M and I went to a baby shower for AB-E and baby RE, who is about 3 weeks older than MVJ. We had an impromptu photo shoot with MVJ and RE. They are so dang cute and about as different as can be. RE has beautiful light reddish hair and MVJ is just so dark. Then we headed home to clean up a bit and unpack from the J's.

Saturday, M and I headed to Perkins for a little baby shower for the O's (MO and PO are adding another boy to their family of MO and FO). CJ was so kind to set it up and it was fun to go eat with just "the girls" (we allowed baby boy J in CJ's tummy to join us). I hadn't seen AO in quite some time! Then, we went home and SM, a friend from work, came over with her sister LM and daugher H to bring MVJ a gift and hang out! Little H is so cute! JJ got home from work and it was all over -- she had a huge crush on him! heehee!

Sunday JJ had to work at 6 am. Yeck! MVJ and I headed to Church at 10, where little miss M decided to be awakies the whole time! She was busy, busy, busy in my lap. After Church, a few ladies came up and commented on how BEAUTIFUL this little girl is! Friend MM, who signs during Church, came and promised to get together after Easter.

Then, back home again, home again. Phew! I think a relaxing Monday will be JUST FINE! : )

Just some things overheard...

Today...
Niece LJ yelling to Uncle JJ: "NO I do NOT want a wedgie! What's a wedgie??!"

Last week...
I put MVJ down on Daddy JJ's chest while I ran to the bathroom before feeding her. From the bathroom I hear JJ: "No! Wha?! Hey! EJ, you NEED to come feed this baby!"

Lots of Firsts!

This weekend marked a lot of firsts for both MVJ and us! Here are some highlights:

*First time to my work! She just ate up the attention and got to meet lots of my wonderful coworkers! DJ, the other 7th grade specialist, helped by supplying the hand sanitizer!! His newborn is right around double MVJ's size, so it was fun for him to hold such a little peanut! MVJ of course had to have a diaper change while there and promptly peed all over herself and me! I'm learning, I'm learning, but in this case the new diaper disappeared! It was so weird! MVJ also became starving so I also got to use one of my "hooter hiders" out in public for the first time! My mom made me two and they are fabulous! MVJ seems to love the "privacy" (I'm thinkin' it's the warm, dark space!).

*First road trip! MVJ slept almost the whole way! AND we didn't forget anything! Woohoo! It was a great first road trip because if we had forgotten anything, BIL AJ and SIL LJ would've most likely had it! MVJ got to meet her cousins, LJ and BJ, who loved her up! LJ had a teeny-tiny bit of jealousy... but all in all did well considering she's used to having Uncle J and Auntie E all to herself... or only sharing with brother B. BJ was so sweet with MVJ. He kept bringing her toys and saying "Hi baby!" "Hi baby!" While BJ would bring her toys, LJ would take them away whining "She wasn't playing with them anyways!"

*First trip to Target! MVJ promptly pooped her pants. SIL LJ said something like, "I know, M, Target is pretty amazing to me too." So along with first trip to Target comes first time chaning in a public restroom! Oh joy! Good thing our diaper bag came with a great changing pad! Mommy just had to practice her juggling moves and speed as MVJ bawled her way through the change.

*First photoshoot! Friend TN (tummy shot at the link is SIL LJ with daugher LJ!) surprised us with a fabulous baby gift -- a newborn photoshoot!! Woohoo!! TN made things so easy and even MADE props/outfits for miss MVJ - even up to the night before! I canNOT wait to go through the photos... TN only took about 225 photos of our sweet baby girl!! : ) We're going to make our announcements through TN, so you'll just have to wait to catch a glimpse of some of our favorites! It melted my heart to see the ones with JJ and MVJ. So sweet!

*First time meeting friends RE and JE! RE made a rocking chair for MVJ! It is so special! I'm so impressed with the craftmanship. RE did a fantastic job! JE and RE's mom (SE) made us a diaper cake with all sorts of fabulous things in the cake! We love the E's!

*First time attending Church! Her first weekend "alive", MVJ stayed home with Grandma EK. Her second weekend, JJ was sick and Mommy was too nervous to take MVJ out by myself! SO, this was the weekend! We changed "spots" in Church to the family section! It was a big deal! MVJ slept through the whole thing! Pastor P and JJ joked that she wasn't the only one snoozing... ; )

Zambies LJ and BJ

Na-na-na-na-na all you other aunties and unc's out there. We got some more niecey LJ and nephew BJ time this weekend! : ) I just love the read books, play games, and an occasional horsey ride thrown in. Uncle JJ, on the other hand, gets the kiddos all riled up. They play a game about zombies - made up by the kiddos (AJ and LJ what do you let them watch anyways?? ; ) ). Actually, this weekend niecey LJ accidently said, "zambies" and it stuck. So the kiddos were zambies. They ran around trying to "eat" uncle JJ, who had secret powers of being able to wrestle them down to the ground. He also has a super-growl that has scared even me! By the end of Saturday, niecey LJ had it down that she was a "zombie-alien-lion with ninja skills". It was quite the process. She would say, "I'm a lion! RAWR!" And JJ would say, "You're not a lion with ninja skills are you? Those are the worst kind!" And she would respond, "YES! I AM! I AM a lion with ninja skills!" Then she would attack and JJ would say, "You're not an alien-lion with ninja skills?? Because they are the scariest!" This went back and forth for quite some time. Oh, and one of her superpowers? (Seriously guys, I can't make this stuff up.) Toot-power that when she tooted, a cage shot out of her bum and immobilized her enemy. Quite the imagination that girl has! The game did end in a few tears as BJ defected to Uncle JJ's side and LJ said, "Uncle JJ you're only my buddy when we wrestle and you don't wrestle me back!"

Niecey LJisms

Oh niecey LJ. She has my heart. I love spending time with her (well, except for that time today she had a meltdown about not getting the Barbie Island Princess book with the lame story line she found at B&N). Today we were reading a story and she felt the baby kick her. She squealed with delight and every time I put my hand on my belly, she would too. If she couldn't feel anything she'd say, "Oops, it fell asleep." Later when I fell asleep on the floor, Uncle J (JJ) told her to wake me up, and she ran in and kissed me on the cheek. It was so sweet! When we were coloring in the evening, she kept asking me what color to color certain things. Most of the time I told her whatever she'd like to use would be the best. But, I got tired of that comment, so I started choosing colors for her and she commented, "I think you're finally becoming a great artist!" I told her a joke while we were coloring and doing a word search with all the words relating to movies. She was saying "moooovies" and I was reminded of a joke: "What do cows do on Friday nights?" "Go to the moooovies!" She thought this was hillarious and I told her to remember so she could tell Daddy later. At dinner, I brought up that she should share the joke she learned and she asked me to repeat it. I whispered the question in her head, and she yelled out the answer! We had a quick lesson in "humor"... She tried out some jokes on her own... followed by another lesson to quit if it comes to the point when you're the only one laughing. I explained that I had learned that the hard way multiple times! : )