Soccer

Miles is playing on a soccer team.  Our friend Eddy is coaching a team of 3 and 4 year olds up at the University of Utah.  It's complete madness!  Most of the kids have no idea what is happening.  Some kick the ball, some pick it up and run, some just wander off the field when the spirit moves them.  It's pretty funny to watch.  We are just hoping he has a good time with some little friends and learns the basics of playing soccer.

In uniform in the front yard.

It's really hard to get action shots.  I was super stoked to grab him a #5 jersey.  I played soccer for so many years and I was almost always #5.

Eddy with the group.  They named themselves the Black Birds!

Post game rockin' undies and his shin guards :)

Bikes

Now that weather isn't quite so hot it's time to get out on the bikes.  They have mostly been neglected, sitting with flat tires and covered with black widow webs in the shed.  We got them out this morning and went for a neighborhood cruise.  Iris was loving her new seat on Jeff's bike.  Miles was on his pedal-less Strider bike.  I was grumpy when Jeff bought it for him because I thought it would never get used.  The kids have to scoot along, pushing with their feet then lifting them up to coast.  What kid wants a bike with no pedals?  Apparently mine.  He is really digging it and asks to go for rides.  He can cruise most of the length of Brookhill Drive without his feet touching the ground. Cruise on, little man!

How cute is this?!

 Look, Ma, no feet!

We love peaches!

Tis the season for enjoying the greatest fruit ever...Utah peaches!  That's my opinion anyway.  I so look forward to buying boxes of them at the farmers market every Saturday and eating so many that my stomach gets a little messed up.  They are huge and juicy and messy and usually require a shirt change post eating, but yum!  I think it's great that Miles and Iris seem to enjoy them just as much as I do. 

First day of pre-school

Last Tuesday Miles moved up to the pre-school class.  He will spend a year there observing and having a little more structure and learning in his days, then next year he will officially be a kindergartener. He has been so excited about the move to Miss Penny's classroom.  He was waiting at the front door ready to go with his backpack (complete with uber stocked pencil box) on before I'd even finished my breakfast.  Here's to hoping he stays this excited about school for years to come! 

Miles' new buddy

Miles has a new buddy named Freddy.  He is the neighbor's new fluffy kitten.  Their energy levels are a perfect match and it's really funny to watch them play tag!

First time fishin'

Miles had an exciting week.  He and Iris stayed with Don and Martha for a few days and he went fishing for the first time!  He and Grandpa went to Cold Springs Trout Farm up in North Ogden.  The ponds are well stocked so kids are pretty much guaranteed a catch and no fishing license is required which is a bonus.  They came home with 2 tiger trout and 3 rainbows trout fillets.  We plan to have them for dinner when we can all get together.  Miles is already a true fisherman, telling everyone he caught a 21 foot fish from the sea!  We were at Whole Foods yesterday and he had to tell the guy behind the fish counter all about his big adventure.  Pretty cute!

See what I mean about guaranteed a catch?!

His 21 footer!

Our trip to the big trees

We just got back last night from a really great vacation.  We stayed in the southern Sierras, in a cabin in the middle of the Giant Sequoia National Monument.  To be honest, I left Salt Lake last week with a few worries.  How would the kids do for the 13 hour road trip?  Would our accommodations be too cozy with all the family gathered in one place?  Could we really grocery shop just once for the week and then live out of our cooler?  Did I pack enough clothes for both warm and cold weather?  Well, we had a great time!  The drive was super smooth, the cabin had enough space to spread out, we had food left over at the end of the week and everyone stayed warm.  The only bummer....the 7 loads of laundry that we need to do before heading back to the grind tomorrow.

Miles in front of the cabin

Very exciting for a 4 year old!

Me peeking out of the Amos Alonso Stagg tree.  Its the 5th largest tree in the world.  Pictures don't do justice to these amazing trees.  You just can't get the scale or the beauty unless you stand at the bottom and look straight up. 

Miles in one of the trees along the Trail of 100 Giants.

Iris in one of the giants.

Jeff and Miles on Dome Rock.

Iris and the trail map.

Miles and his cousin CeCe playing in the creek that runs next to the cabin.

Miles, Don, Jeff and Iris

Iris with Grandpa in one of the trees.

The whole gang!  From left: David, Will, Jen, CeCe, me, Jeff with Miles, Deanne, Martha, Don, Eric and Dave.

And last but not least, Alder Slabs.  We hiked into this amazing little spot where the creek has carved a perfect water slide into the rock.  Good thing we were hot from hiking because it was freezing!
Here is a video of Miles and I on our first run.

Miles wasn't fond of the plunge into the icy pool at the end of the big slide, so we found this one downstream more his speed.