Nathan's Indoor Soccer Part 2

This was Nathan's first real soccer game.  At first he didn't want to go in at all.  Luckily Nathan was a sub for the first little bit so he got to sit and watch.  Eventually after some persuasion he was ready to go in.  He did great.  He ran up and down the field with his team and even wanted to be goalie for a little.  I think he was still trying to figure out what he was supposed to be doing.  We were so proud of him to get out there and run with his team.  He didn't get much ball action but he seemed to be having fun and that was what was most important for us.  After a while he just sat down in the middle of the court looking a little discouraged.  After getting him over to us I asked what was wrong and he said "Mom, I can't get the ball."  It was actually really cute because I knew he had been trying so hard.  Nathan is not a very aggressive guy so in his mind he was probably running up and down the field thinking okay, I am ready pass me the ball.  After a little more explanation on the game of soccer and a reassurance that we would practice so he would know how to get the ball, he was back with his team just in time for the game to end.  We called the game a success and were so happy that he would get out there and run and participate. 

He has had a couple more games since this one and he has tried goalie again and even got to kick the ball at the goal here and there.  Improvement! We are so proud of Nathan for trying something new and doing his best.  He is still excited about soccer so we are so glad he is having fun too.

Nathan's Indoor Soccer

This is Nathan's very first experience with any kind of a organized sport.  We talked about playing soccer and he was really excited about it so we decided to see how he would really like it.  The first game was a practice and they had a few drills set up for the kids to practice and learn some soccer skills.  We had practiced a little already before so we were so ready and excited. Then we got there and Nathan saw all the kids and balls and was a little unsure at first.  The first drill was learning to stop the ball and pass it back to another player.  Nathan did great as long as I was right next to him and that was pretty much how the whole practice went.  We weren't really surprised.  Nathan has always been our cautious one.  He also wanted to have nothing to do with the uniforms.  The team got theirs that day and all put it on and no persuasion would work for Nathan.  It wasn't a big deal because it was only a practice and I think it may have been too many new things at once.  He just needed a little encouragement and he eventually got into it and had fun kicking the ball into the goal.  It was so cute to see all the little kids kicking or running or doing the 100 step shuffle to get set up to kick the ball. I loved it.  We had a lot of fun together.  It was really good for Nathan too.  It challenged him just a little bit and he ended up having fun too.   

Just Because

James loves this chair.  He is always climbing and sitting in it.  We got it for free and the boys love playing in it.  James is my climber and even climbs into the big rocking chair we have in our front room to sit and rock in it.  He enjoys climbing the dinning room chairs now too.  Ryan thinks he is ready to graduate from the high chair.  While I am sure James would love it, I kind of like keeping his messes contained to just his high chair for now.  James is our messy, messy eater and thank goodness we have Zoey to help with clean up. (:

Valentine's Day

We had a very Happy Valentine's Day.  Ryan and I went to Texas Roadhouse (yum!) on Saturday, the boys wore their Valentine outfits to church on Sunday and made Valentines for friends (and ate the candy that went with it), and  Monday (the actual day) we had a lot of fun.  We started the day with heart shaped pancakes and headed over to our friend Shelley's for a little party.  The moms got some soup and rolls and the kids had heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  After lunch the kids decorated paper bags to put their Valentines in and then played and played.  I had cut out some cute hearts with my new Silhouette cutter (my first project!) for the paper bags.  They turned out cute.  The kids then got some frosted heart cookies and the moms had some delicious cupcakes from Steph.  The kids had a great time together and I think the moms were all ready for naps after.
That night, to stick with the theme we had calzones for dinner with heart shape dough cooked on top.  After that we headed to Coldstone for some ice cream.  Both James and Nathan loved that part and had chocolate everywhere by the time we were done.  At one point James started eating the ice cream with his hands.  I think he grew a little impatient with the spoon.  We had a fun day as a family and I am grateful for my Valentine who got me some beautiful pink roses.

Nathan Thomas

The other day I was telling Nathan that his full name is Nathan Thomas Moehle.  He thought about that for a minute, got a big smile and said "yeah".  He was excited when I told him that Daddy's middle name was Thomas too.  Last night as he was getting out of the tub and I was drying him off, he looked in the mirror with a big smile and said "my name is Thomas the train Nathan Moehle."  It made me laugh.  He really likes Thomas the train and trains in general.  I don't know what he thinks is better, that his Daddy's middle name is Thomas too or that one of his favorite trains shares the same name as him.

Sweet Thoughts

The other week Nathan came up to me out of the blue and said  "Mommy, tell me bout you and daddy gettn' married".  It was so cute and a sweet suprise.  We have this picture in our home so we went over and looked at it as I explained that Mommy and Daddy were married in the San Diego temple and what that meant to us and our family.  He listened while I spoke and then said "you take me to the temple?" He was excited about that idea and it brought a smile to my face.  I explained how that all worked and he was okay with waiting as long as Mommy and Daddy would take him.  It was such a tender moment and something that I want to remember and tell him later in life.  That from age three he wants the temple to be apart of his life.  It made me reflect a little of the blessing of the temple in my life and the life of my family.  I am so grateful for that day that Ryan took me to the temple.

This last Sunday while in church we were looking at some temple pictures and Nathan made a verbal list of all the temples he would like to visit. Some of them were in Korea, Tonga, Chile and Brazil.  Looks like we have alot of traveling in our future. (:

Nathan

We love to go to the library and the other week we checked out a book about kids in the kitchen.  It had all kinds of recipes and things that kids could help with.  Nathan loves looking at the pages and pointing out the things he would like to make.  The other day I was making dinner and he really wanted to help make the spaghetti.  He did a great job stirring the sauce and pasta and it was so sweet to see how much fun he was having.  It was the first time he has helped with dinner. Usually he helps with the treat making.  Today we made some super yummy applesauce muffins.  I got them from my Deceptively Delicious recipe book.  So shhhhh, they have carrots, applesauce, and oatmeal in them and they really are delicious.  The boys ate them right up.  Now we will just see if they pass the Daddy test.
Nathan is a really tender little guy.  Sometimes he does the sweetest things.  Like one time I took him clothes shopping with me and he had the best time picking out clothes for me.  He would say "This is cute mom, you should probably get it'" or "ohhhh, cute!"  Now that is my kind of guy.  The other day we were at Costco looking at pjs and he saw this super cute little girl butterfly outfit.  He said "this is cute, I wanna get this one." It was pink and purple and everything.  I couldn't help but smile as the thought crossed my mind of taking it home and showing Daddy what he had found.  I had to explain to him that it was a girl outfit and he was okay to let it go and ended up picking some fun monkey ones.  We have also checked out a couple of princess books at the library that Nathan has chosen and he really enjoys watching Cinderella every once in awhile.  Maybe we need a little sister?  (:  He will sure be ready if that ever happens.
Nathan is so much fun.  It is the simple things that make him the most happy.  We played hide and go seek yesterday and had so much fun.  I am so grateful to be his mom and enjoy this precious time with him.

James

Last week James had his 15 month doctor appointment.  He is 22lbs and 32 inches tall.  That puts him at the 20% for weight and 90% for height.  Hmmm, tall and skinny, I wonder where he gets that from? (:  I was a little surprised and worried about his weight at first but when I talked to the doctor about it she said his growth curve is great and genetics are taking over.  I was surprised he didn't weigh more because James loves to eat! He has quite the appetite.  He does have a very mild case of eczema that we are working through.  His cheek gets the worst of it and all the drooling he does doesn't help either.  Other than that he is doing great! I love getting positive check ups and it is such a blessing to have a healthy and growing child.  James did have to get three shots and he was pretty tuff. He didn't cry until the last one and just for a minute.  He did great and I am so grateful for the progress he is making.   I can't believe how fast he is growing and I am loving every minute!

Some of James' favorites: 
Books, books, and more books. He is always looking at them or bringing them to me to read.  He loves to point and jabber at the pictures especially the babies or animals in the story.  His favorite right now is Sesame Street Circus of Opposites.
Playing, climbing, and exploring with his big brother.
Hugs from mommy (which is one of my favorites too!).
Food, especially sweet treats.
Helping in the kitchen or with the laundry or pretty much with anything someone is doing.
Playing with play dough.
Learning to walk.
Peek- a- boo.
Being outside.
Laughing and smiling.

James is such a sweet boy and I am so grateful to be his mom.  His life is a precious one.  He just makes me laugh at the funny and creative things he does.  James bring us lots of fun and joy.