Define Athlete. . . .

It's official:
WE HAVE AN ATHLETE!
I never thought this day would come.
For over 2 years, we have tried to get the Princess into some sort of team sport-anything that did not involve a tu-tu or year round tuition. Something that would get her out running and maybe toughen her up just a little bit. Naturally, since Brother is practically a pro soccer player, we suggested that.
She wanted no part of it.
"But I might get sweaty" she told us. Seriously. She really said that.
Being the brilliant parents we are, we signed her up anyway. Hoping that once she tried it, she'd like it. She never tried it. We chalked that up as a little $90 donation to the local sports program (not including the cleats and shin guards that NEVER got worn.)
Fast forward a little. Bella has a friend. We will call her M. M plays soccer. So guess what? Bella wants to play soccer! At least we thought she did. She wanted to right up until the time that it was time for the season to start. Then she changed her mind. This time though, I wasn't letting her out of at least giving it a try. Surprisingly enough, the day of the first practice, she was really excited! So were Mommy and Daddy. So we cleated and shin guarded up her up, and set off.
Watching her run around like she knew what she was doing was so funny. (After a couple of front yard practice sessions with Brother, she really believes she knows all there is to know.)
Talk about "organized" chaos! It was adorable! But the best part is the team name. The coach was awesome and let the kids pick. After much serious deliberation, they came up with a very fierce and intimidating mascot:
the TigerWolves!
Striking fear into the hearts of all their opponents!

Listening to Coach. 

Look at that form. Obviously, college soccer is in her future. 

getting a pep talk from Daddy. 

GOOOO TIGERWOLVES!

We gotta make t-shirts. 

Ho-Tel

Just a few pics from our big night out. . .

nothing like eating chocolate chip cookies while jumping on a big giant bed!

Think she's excited??

couldn't be happier!

She wears her goggles so tight they make her look like a little piggy! HA!

We had the best time that night-swimming, eating cookies and pizza, watching movies, and staying up late. The Prince and I can't wait to do it again, but this time with all of our littles!

Dang Sherlock Holmes!

With the arrival of the baby fast approaching, I've been craving a little quiet time with the husband.
We are lucky to have the greatest PapaGigi ever, who regularly ask to get the kids from us (seriously like every weekend! We love you!!), so we are very blessed to get to spend a lot of time together just us and have regular date nights, BUT pretty soon there won't be any such thing as "just us" for a while. So, with only two weekends left before the baby, I was really hoping to spend an entire weekend holed up in a hotel room with the honey. Order pizza, watch movies, not fret over all the things I should be doing. . .etc.
Well this is that weekend! Nana is graciously getting the Princess Saturday night for a little girl time with her. WHOOHOO!! We still have her Friday night though (tonight. Zach is at his Nini's the whole weekend). SO, since we still have her tonight, we decided it's be fun to surprise her with a big night out all about her, and include her in on a night in the hotel or ho-TALE as she says (love that!). The plan was to secretly pack up over night bags for all of us, sneak them into the car, and let her excitedly try to figure out what her surprise was until we pulled up at the hotel and surprised her with pizza(her favorite food) and swimming! YAY!!
But the little punk is too smart for us.
As I am trying to secretly pack her bag-a near impossible task since she NEVER leaves my side-she caught a tiny glimpse of her bathing suit strap and instantly started screaming, "We're going swimming!"

 And then she went all Sherlock Holmes on me, and used her amazing deductive reasoning powers to inform me that we MUST be going to a ho-tale, because I packed not only her swimming suit, but also her jammies! And why else would we need all of that if we weren't staying at a hotel to go swimming?
The icing on the cake was when she followed all of this up with, "Tonight at the ho-tale, can we order a pizza?"
So much for surprising her!
Oh well, it's still the "best day ever" to her!

Good Day, Sunshine

In my attempt to cram everything fun I can think of in before the newest little arrives, we let Big Brother play hooky yesterday, and all went to the Botanical Gardens. The weather was too beautiful for him to be stuck inside at a desk all day anyways! We were there for over five hours and had the best time just being outside, enjoying the weather together. Since the weather was ridiculously good for this time of year, I decided to use our outing as a last chance to snap of few pics of the kids while there are still just two of them. The next time the weather will be that nice, there will most likely be a tiny new face in the pictures :)

Bye Bye Baby

Lately it seems like we have been so busy, but when I sit back and try to think about exactly what we've been doing to be so busy, nothing at all seems to stand out. The truth is, nothing is really different. We aren't "so busy" lately. We are living life. Everyday, regular old life. And then the realization  hits me that very very soon, nothing about our life will resemble THIS kind of regular anymore. In just 13 days, it will all change and become a new sort of regular for us all. As exciting as that it, it also makes me a little sad. I love my life and the perfect simplicity of it. I love that there is always a parent for each child. I love that we have one of each. I love that we can all fit into one booth at a restaurant. I love that when we go on vacation, we can always get the great deals for "a family of 4"-there is never anything great for a family of five.
Don't get me wrong, I am SUPER excited about the new adventure we are all about to embark on. I cannot wait to meet this newest love of my life, because I know that it will be. But I am a little sad about letting go of the life I know at this moment.
A couple of days ago, the hardest realization to accept hit me. My baby girl will no longer be my baby. I know she will always be my baby, but in 13 days she really won't be the baby anymore. She will instantly transform from my tiny girl to big sister. Little to big. The baby to the middle child. I don't know why, but it kind of breaks my heart. I know it will be fine, and she is super excited about it, which does help. But lately I find myself wanting to hold her a little tighter, a little longer, even though she's almost six and really too big for me to hold. I want to prolong bedtime stories and sneak in just one more night-night kiss, because I'm afraid that once the baby is here I will be busy holding that little one, and that things may be too hectic for a long, drawn out bedtime routine. For almost six years it's been just me and her, all day every day. Me and my side-kick. Me and my best girl. Just us. And honestly, I'm not ready to share just yet.

Not Really Wordless Wednesday

This is what has been going on in our house for the past HOUR. Not kidding. An HOUR. 

Happy Heart Day to Us

Seriously, when I really think about it, it is ridiculous how much we are loved. Really. I think Bella and I must be the two luckiest girls alive. But what's even more ridiculous than how much I, in particular, am loved, is how much the Princess is adored. I don't think I have ever seen a love like Daddy has for her, and like she has for him, ever before in my life. It's the most heartbreakingly beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I feel so blessed to be a witness to it.
The mere mention of him spreads a smile across her face. And every day when he gets home from work, it's like the second coming of Christ or something-you've never seen a person so excited to see another!
Her day was really made on Valentine's Day when Daddy walked in from work. He didn't just come home, oh no; he came home with a real, grown up bouquet of flowers for his baby girl.

And they were all as pink as pink could be. 

I thought she might explode from happiness; it was a real possibility. The human body can only take so much excitement. I'm pretty sure hers was seriously close to it's limit. Daddy home + pink flowers= pure elation for this little girl.
We had already had a great Valentine's Day together, she and I, doing crafts and having a picnic out front in our jammies,

but nothing I could ever do could compare to Daddy simply walking in the door. And that's just the way it should be.

Friday Fluff

Looking too cute in her new sun hat; can't wait to use it at the river this summer!

 Headed to "Tuesday School" for the Valentine's Party

 So maybe basketball isn't really her thing. . . .

 YIKES! That's high!

 Handing out Valentine's. Man, I love that girl!

 Skating Party in the gym!

 Random selection for the day: practicing our State capitals while snuggling up on the couch. Have I said I love homeschooling??

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!