Say This One 3 Times Fast

'The Mighty Green Gator Dragon Winner's of the World' soccer team. Quite a mouthful for a handful of 4 year olds, but this is the name that Walker's soccer team came up with. It is a collection of 4 great minds! Walker decided last week that when they chose team names he really wanted 'Winner's of the World'. I have no idea where that came from. However, when the coach tried to take a vote, Walker just did not understand why everybody wasn't going crazy over his choice. Our wise Coach Todd, decided to just combine all the suggestions and roll it into one. In my 10 years of being a soccer Mom, I have never seen such an interesting, creative, and LONG name! I am so excited to see what this micro soccer team will do next!

Walker did really well at practice, but Tim did warn the Coach's wife that Walker is quite the talker. Walker wanted to talk to the coach the whole time. The coach seems very patient and lots of fun, so I think he will be a real blessing. We are thankful to have Walker's best buddies on the team....Josiah and Jimmy. This is going to be a FUN season. Well, except for trying to keep our most athletic child, Christian, whom is only 2, off the field. He, in my unbiased opinion (no, really), was the best out there, but he isn't quite old enough. He dribbles his soccer ball around the house, the yard, the street and now we have to tell him to not do it at the one place that would be the most natural, the soccer field. Thank God that Miguel and Karizma distracted him at the swings and slides. If he is this good at 2, Tim and I can't wait to see what he can do at 3! Watch out world!

Now, for the latest on MIGUEL'S football team. Their name is going to be the 'Heartland Angels'. It didn't start out that way. Miguel had suggested 'Warriors', WHICH I LOVED, but one of the boys suggested 'Heartbreakers'. Well, this got the majority vote and they were the 'Heartbreakers' for one night. Then one of the boys suggested pink jersey's with purple lettering so they could "stand out!" They sure would have! I wish you could have seen Miguel's face when all this was going on. I don't need to mention what Tim was saying at this point. Anyway, on the way home from practice, I started to think about the team name and what it represented. Did these Godly group of young boys want to represent their school with this negative term? Tim described the word best: Unhumbling. I prayed about it, and decided that although nothing may be done about the name, that I should voice my opinion as a parent and called our AWESOME team Mom, Staci. She said she was glad I called, because it was confirmation to what she had been thinking, too. (Great Mom's think alike.) The next morning she pulled the boys into a meeting and the team discussed this issue. Did they want to be linked to this negative term? Would God want them representing the school as the 'Heartbreakers'? She explained that they should choose a positive name, one that they would be proud of. Of course there were a few moans and groans, but this is an AWESOME group of young boys and they know what God expects of them. Granted, I would have LOVED the tough sounding 'Warriors', but 'Angels' is definitely positive. This sure is an interesting group of boys. By the way, the shirts will NOT be pink and purple. Thank you, Jesus! They are going to be gold and white. I hope you can come check out one of Miguel's games. They are quickly developing into a really great team! The coaches are a true blessing and nothing was more touching than to see our boys kneel down in the middle of the field and pray among so many other boys out there. They are being great witnesses to God's love by their actions and their Godly character, and I am such a proud Mom!

'Mommy Salami'

I love this nickname that Walker gave me a few weeks ago! He has been on a ryhming spree for almost a year, and is getting pretty inventive. He even calls me his 'beautiful queen' sometimes. I don't remember Miguel or Karizma ever calling me anything other than Mommy (which I totally miss) or Mom. Walker is our 'slick' child. He is quite charming and he knows he has me right where he wants me when he calls me his queen. However, Mommy Salami is my favorite, because I find he is saying it more to try and be funny, but it is starting to stick.

"The Most Fun I Have Ever Had, Mom"

This was Miguel's first comment to me after his 1st practice for football. Many of you know he is on the homeschool centers flag football team and he was so excited to get started. I truly am filled with pride where Miguel is concerned. As I watched him practice, I saw so much heart and commitment. He is taking this seriously, as he should, by giving it his all each and everytime. Thanks to all of you that have sponsored him so generously this football season! He is so humbled by your kindess. We all are. He is looking forward to making you all very proud. We will keep you updated on the team's name, progress, and games.

On another note, my 3 other sons also had a fun first today. Thanks to Tim's parents, they are all taking swim lessons. Most of you know I am TERRIFIED of the water, so watching my little guys learning to not adopt my fear is such a blessing. Walker and Christian were very brave and respectful of their teachers. They were a bit apprehensive, but did their best to not show it until they were in Mommy's arms. Zack was a champ!! At 8 months old he was a bit startled when taken under water, but would recover quickly and never cried or seemed upset. They all did a few times under water...at their 1st lesson! Awesome! Miguel and Karizma will take lessons on how to improve their swimming, starting next week. I had them learning how to swim as infants as well, but after awhile I did not have access to a pool, so they could definitely use a refresher. My wonderful in-laws have offered to have me take lessons as well. Tim has not given me the option of backing out this time. I have 'promised' I would learn to swim by our wedding...then postponed for my 30th birthday...and then again postponed until my 40th. Looks like God has other plans and seems like I may finally get my feet wet at 35 years old. I will make sure to keep you updated on that one, since it is sure to be interesting!

This was the day that the Lord had made, I truly rejoiced and was glad in it!!!

Mama's Milk All Gone

Well, I did give it a wholehearted try. However, Zack and his tooth were just too much. Plus, Zack seemed to treat me more like a chew toy than a source of nourishment. I knew he wasn't going to be getting his meals from me, but I was hoping to be able to get the comfort nursing up again. I realized there are many ways to cuddle and bond with my sweet little boy, so I bid goodbye to nursing Zack much sooner than I had hoped, but thanking God for the opportunity to have shared this with my son.

p.s. He popped his 2nd tooth yesterday, so I definitely don't feel bad!

I Will Post Pictures Soon, I Promise!

OK, I finally had a very dear friend show me how to list things on eBay yesterday. Thanks, Tara! So, my next thing on 'things to learn' list is how to post pictures on my blog. I can't wait to display pictures of my sweet 5 arrows and be able to give you all a REAL look into our lives.

Thanks for your patience!

To Nurse Or Not To Nurse

I was reading a magazine I love today, Above Rubies (a magazine meant to encourage mother's) and it hit me. I am not ready to give up nursing my Zack. I have had to supplement him with formula since he was 4.5 months old and he had started to show signs of weaning himself from the breast. So, I nursed him for the last time almost 3 weeks ago. In this magazine there were some cute stories about nursing babies, and I thought to myself, "I wonder if Zack would still be willing to indulge me in this area." I so love to nurse my babies. I have been able to nurse my last 2 sons until 14 months of age. I am just not ready to give up yet. So, tomorrow morning, I will reintroduce mama's milk and see what Zack thinks. Should be fun now that he has a tooth. That may be the deciding factor.

Pain Continues

Well, Tim proves to be a remarkably strong person as each week passes. He seems to go through a new hurdle everytime I turn around, but handles it all with such strength. There are days where I feel so overwhelmed and have to rely on family and friends to bring me back from my pity party. Tim's parents are always helping out and available to us. My parents have gone as far as to start taking Walker and Christian 1 day and night a week to give me a breather. I am very blessed.

However, his back pain continues....in FULL FORCE. I know I must rely on God and will do my best to focus on that when I see him suffering. He is taking a whole lot more pain medication post op than he was taking before. Please keep him in your prayers.