Spy Tactics and Misconceptions

A few weeks ago, Jaela's team (they call themselves the Steelers) didn't have practice, but Macey's team (Revolution) did. Macey's coach let Jaela join theirs, and the girls had fun trying to teach Macey's teammates how to tell them apart.

Only one kid got it.

At Macey's next practice, the coach spent half of the time trying to convince the kids that Macey was really Macey, and not Jaela sent as a spy...their two teams were scheduled to play each other next, and the kids were highly suspicious. Jaela and Macey had told the kids that Macey was slightly taller, so the coach had Jaela join them for a few minutes. Jaela and Macey stood back to back and proved to everyone's satisfaction that Macey really was Macey.

The Steelers and the Revolution met two weeks in a row, and each team won once. A nice, even tally for those of us with a kid on each team. Which would be...yeah, just Mike and me.

So much for spy tactics.

Then again, there is always room for misconception.

On Saturday, Macey's team played a team that Jaela's team had already played against. Macey played defense for the first half, which is Jaela's regular position on her team. A few kids from the other team recognized her...or thought they did! During the game, I noticed a discussion going on among three of the kids closest to Macey, with lots of pointing in her direction, so on the way home I asked her about it.

Macey told me, "One kid said, 'That girl is on the Steelers team, too!' and one of the others said, 'You can't be on two teams at the same time; that's illegal!' But, Mom, I'm not on two teams, so was I really doing something illegal?"

After I reassured her that she was doing nothing wrong, I asked her if she had corrected them.

She didn't know what I meant, so I clarified it for her. "Did you tell them that you're NOT on two teams, and that you have an IDENTICAL TWIN SISTER who plays on the Steelers team?"

There was a short pause. And then Macey laughed. "Do you mean that they thought I was JAELA?!?"

(They're trying really hard to look exactly the same)

Happy Spring!

Happy Birthday Anya!

Anya turned SEVEN last Saturday!

After a full day of soccer games, opening presents, and spending time with Grandpa Pat, Grandma Suzie, and Uncle Josh, Anya got to make our dinner plans (since it was her birthday).

She chose a Mexican restaurant.

After dinner, we went home and had cake and ice cream with all THIRTEEN of the D. family!

(Uncle Ty, Aunt Heather, Hayden, and Corbin drove up and joined the fun.)

She wanted a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting,

and guess what her favorite color is...

Happy Birthday Anya!

He's Got Rhythm

We already know Mike's got rhythm.

(He's the one playing the low notes.)

But lo and behold, Isaak's got rhythm too!

(We'll work on the playing individual keys part later...)

And then, just for the sheer joy of playing,

(not to mention trying to keep up...)

Heard Around Here Lately

Isaak, pressing his face into the "window" of the front loading washing machine: "Mommy, when I put my head in here and it bangs around, my eyes go up and down!"

Isaak, running around in circles in the family room: "Mommy, when I run around like this I am getting my energy! Does it look like my feet will fall off?"

Jaela: "Hold on a minute, Macey. I need to catch my breath from talking!"

Anya, getting ready for soccer practice: "Mommy, when we're getting ready to go somewhere, I just get happy and sad at the same time, and it makes a blob in my heart."

Isaak, in the bathtub: "Mommy, did you hear that noise?!? My bottom burped!"

Isaak, playing hide-n-seek with his sisters, instead of saying "Make a sound!": "Give me a bah-humbug!"

To Be Continued...

Too Bad, Isn't It?

It's really too bad that my kids don't enjoy playing soccer.

Don't believe me? I have proof:

Hm.

Never mind.

Playing Soccer

There were only three games for this household this weekend:

Macey and Jaela played against each other,

Anya got into the middle of the action as a forward,

and Isaak got to kick one of the corner kicks.

Yep, there were only three games this weekend.

Next weekend there are five.

***

Have I mentioned that we've signed them up for T-Ball and baseball next?

(What was I thinking?!?)

A New Kind of Chaos

We are halfway through a season that is new to us.

(No, it's not the dirty floors.)

(Piles of laundry are not a new sight, either.)

All four kids are playing soccer.

On four different teams.

With four different sets of practices and games three to four times a week.

***

My washing machine works very well.

So does my dryer.