The Fourth

Yesterday Ryan and I spent most of the day putting the stairs back together:

It was a full day's work, but thankfully the weather was relatively mild for July in Kansas.  It was more bearable to work in 80 degree weather than the typical July temperatures in the 100's.  Ryan finished digging the trenches for the drainage tubes.  I put the plants in and mulched.

We did try to squeeze in a little bit of celebration by grilling out, a patriotic dessert and letting the kids play in the sprinkler.

Since that wasn't enough of a Fourth of July Celebration we joined our neighbor's block party to watch them light fireworks.  We even had some of our own.  Ryan showed Aric how to use a punk.  After that Aric continuously lit fireworks.  We didn't buy any fireworks this year, but had enough small fireworks leftover from previous celebrations to satisfy Aric.  I can already tell that we will need to make a trip to the firework tent next year.

Kellyn ditched us most of the night to go hang out with "the girls" as she called them.

She returned for the important parts of the night: sparklers, hunger, thirst, and bathroom breaks.  I'm already seeing visions of how her teenage years will be.

Today we will be resting and recovering from the soccer game, backyard projects, and all of our fun this week.  I don't think I can handle any more fun.

Future Soccer Mom

Awhile ago we decided Aric was ready for some sort of organized team sport.  Ryan suggested T-ball or soccer.  We asked Aric, who decided he would like to play soccer.  I finally found an organization through a local church that would be a good introduction for Aric to a team sport.  He begins practicing in mid-August and the season lasts until the end of September.  Not too long for his first time and not too long for me to have to drive him to practice and games.

In an effort to build up Aric's excitement, Ryan bought tickets to see Sporting KC play the Vancouver Whitecaps.  The only tickets they had left were in the Budweiser Corner, which means unlimited food and drinks were included in the price. 

The kids were pretty excited to go to the game, but had a little hunger-related impatience by the time we were able to go inside.  I don't blame them.  Ryan and I were pretty hungry, too.  As soon as we were able to get into the Budweiser Corner Ryan and Kellyn went to save us seats while Aric and I went after food.

After we finished inhaling hotdogs and nachos, we went in search of warmer clothes.  Even though it is July in Kansas it was rainy, windy, and cold.  Thankfully, we were in a covered section of the arena, but we still felt the rain.

The kids were pretty patient waiting for the game to start.  They enjoyed the pyrotechnics and fanfare of the opening show, but Kellyn thought it was too loud.

Once the game started they were pretty excited.  Aric rooted for the other team for awhile, but eventually changed his mind and cheered on Sporting KC.  Kellyn claimed the pink guy as her team.

The kids were semi-distracted for awhile taking silly pictures of each other and the rainbow in the sky.

They quickly settled in and enjoyed watching the game.  Aric decided he wants to be a professional soccer player.

Now we all want to know when can we go back?

Ohio

We spent the last three weeks of November in Ohio.  Ryan had to go there for work.  Since it was over Thanksgiving and there was no reason not to, the kids and I came along.  We had fun, we went a little crazy (who wouldn't trapped in a hotel room for three weeks with two preschoolers), and I'm glad we decided to go.

I brought my camera, but never once used it.  I used my phone the entire time to take pictures.  The quality might not be the best, but it certainly captures our life.