Spring Fever

Spring is in the air! Trees are blooming, the weather is warm, we are all anxious to get our last 8 weeks of school finished, soccer season starts next weekend, and Michael and Luke will both have birthdays soon. It's been great to be able to send the boys outside to play. Last week the pear tree in our front yard had white flowers on it, and this week it is full of green leaves.

All of the boys had their first soccer practices last week. It was great to see their team out on the field running around and kicking the ball. We are even training Luke to kick the soccer ball, and he loves it! Corey is coaching Michael's team, and I am helping with Zack's. Many will agree that I tend to be a little overcompetive when it comes to the kids' teams. I can't really disagree, although I try not to let that get in the way of all the kids getting to play a lot and having fun. After all, we play at the YMCA where everyone should get his or her fair share of playing time regardless of experience or ability. My goals are to play everyone fairly, make sure the kids have a fun season, help them all to improve their soccer skills, teach them good sportsmanship, and for our team to do the best we can with the kids we have. That's quite a balancing act! Luckily I'm coaching with my good friend, and we can help each other to achieve those goals.

We have finished 28 of our 36 weeks of school! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are all ready for our summer break to begin. We have gotten through enough of our school work that I am planning on 4 day school weeks for the rest of the year. Normally Friday's are a half day for us, but I would like to have a whole day during the week to run errands and catch up on chores. I'm thinking about taking off Wednesdays for the rest of the school year. It might be nice to have a mid-week break, so we are going to try it. One of my goals for this year was to have Michael reading, and it is finally happening!!! He is certainly a late reader, as far as public schools are concerned, but now it is like a lightbulb has turned on, and he is trying to read everything. He is even asking to go to the library to get books that HE can read instead of books that we can read to him.

I can't believe it is already time to plan for birthdays again. Michael, who was the baby for so long will be 8, and Luke will have his first birthday. It goes by too fast!