Li'l Kickers

Well for you folks who read our blog on a regular basis you may remember Symeon's Lil Kickers pictures from several months ago well it is a new season and we decided to sign Marin up this cycle as well.  We had hesitated because she is so young and we didn't know if she would follow the class but after an entire season of trying to keep her off the field when we were watching Symeon we decided she was ready.  She is in the class that is parent interactive where as Symeon works with his coach and we sit on the sidelines.  We are two weeks in and she loves it and they both love going together, their classes are right next to each other so they can see one another and they are so cute.  Symeon is doing great the other day he came off the field for a water break and he said Mom I beat all the other kids when we were running.  I agreed he was really fast but that sometime he would be faster and sometimes other kids might be faster and as long as he was having fun he was doing great. I am all for healthy competition and I am all for having fun so learning to balance them seems important. 

They play a game called alien and the coach acts like a funny alien and the kids kick balls at her to get her back to space.  I didnt' think much of the game except huh I don't really like them kicking balls at her but yet I see the point with ball control etc.  Well both times they played Symeon sat down on the field.  I went out and told him he needed to listen to his coach etc and play.  He stood up but did not really interact.  Later I asked him what was going on and he said that the alien is scary and he did not like to kick balls at his coach he said it was mean.  I though gosh I love this tender kind child and I though gosh I do not want him to go against his moral compass in life so what do I tell him. I finally decided on asking him if there was a way he could play that worked for him and we came up with kicking the ball around the field but that he did not have to kick it at his coach's feet.  He seemed happy with this solution since he could run and kick the ball which he loves but he didn't have to be mean to his coach.  A win win oh if only all our moral questions could be solved so easily.  Gosh I was one proud Mama!


Due to Shawn's flexible schedule he is able to go to the class every week and every week when we get close Symeon says Dad you have to warm me up before Lil Kickers starts and every week Shawn and Symeon run around the field chasing the ball and they are both so happy.  Well when it was Marin's first week Symeon made sure he claimed Shawn for warm up telling me and that I could warm Babes up.  Then Shawn said to me in the sweetest way ok who is going to be the one to go on the field with Marin during the class and it was very clear that he wanted to be the one and I was glad to let it be him.  So the second week I was on the field with Marin and she seemed a bit sulky which can happen from time to time and finally it hit me she wanted Shawn so I asked her do you want Daddy to play soccer and her face lite up and she said Yahhh!  So Shawn came on and I went off a bit wounded but happy for both of them because they had a blast together and that warmed this Mama's heart. 

Seriously I am not sure there is anything cuter than Marin in this uniform.  She is an XXS and even then the shorts are big and there is only about 2 inches of her leg showing.  But come the day she is so excited to put on her uniform and she does great listening and following directions.  She is young in her class but she is awesome in so many ways and like her brother she loves to score goals and for all you soccer folk out there she is a left foot kicker which just makes her Daddy super happy!!!

 Symeon is doing great.  He listens well to his coach and loves to play he really loves to shoot the ball and score.  He is really good for his age with great ball control and a really strong kick so many things to make his Dad shine when he watches him.  

Here they are showing each other their stamps they get after their class.  They were so cute  and excited for one another.

One super proud and happy Daddy!

 

Flying Kites

We have had some great kite flying weather and the kids have enjoyed going to the park to fly our kites.

I love this picture of them together it struck me that one day Symeon will probably be taller than his Daddy.

What a great Dad and he looks good with a fish kite, my heart is drawn to him in a deeper way every time I see him playing with our children. 

"Me and my shadow strolling down the avenue"  this song came to my head as soon as I saw these pictures.  Marin is her Daddy's shadow and it was fun to capture it on film.  

Babes lost interest in flying although she loved to watch and play on the soccer goals.

Symeon loved it and stuck with it the whole time.  He was able to fly it on his own which he loved.  

Sometimes I take the Rocky Mountains, a constant part of our scenery, for granted but on this day I was overwhelmed with the view from the park they are breathtaking and we are blessed to live among them.  

Beautiful Spring Weather

 We have had such beautiful weather that we have spent a lot of time outside soaking up the sun and going to the playground.  These pictures are from our favorite new playground. 

 

The sandbox has become a favorite for both kids but especially Symeon he will spend and hour building things, digging, and pouring sand from one thing to another.  We now carry our sand toys in our trunk just in case we stumble upon a sand box we are ready!

Marin enjoying life on the bouncer!

 They are all watching a kite.

This past week has been a bit chilly so we have not spent quite as much time outside but we are all itching for some warm weather so we can be out exploring all day long. 

Happy Birthday Symeon

 Since Symeon had his party in CT we decided to do cupcakes on his actual birthday but he woke up sick that day so we waited until the next day and had birthday cupcakes.  

 Aunt Niecer and Symeon

 Marin loved birthday cupcake breakfast well she at least loved the frosting

 

Happy 3rd Birthday Symeon Jonah we love you!

Symeon turns 3

I am very late with this post because I have had a hard time putting into words that my first born turned 3 but with a few weeks and several times saying it out loud I have come to terms with it and I feel like I can write a post about this amazing person God blessed us with 3 years ago on February 18, 2008.

It has been a wonderful, exciting, fast and yet painfully slow some days 3 years.  We have cried, laughed, rejoiced, grieved, celebrated, we have messed up, we have made mistakes, we have hit it right on, we have been sleep deprived, we have experienced life in a new and refreshing way through the eyes of a child, we have yelled, consoled, hugged, disciplined, kissed, snuggled, and mostly we have seen right before our eyes the development of an amazing and beautiful person.  The day Symeon was born was exciting and terrifying and those two feelings seems to creep up everyone once in awhile with as much intensity as the day he was born.

Symeon's third birthday is a celebration of a child who loves life and lives it fully.  He is warm, sweet, caring, kind, stubborn, inquisitive, a great climber, a teacher to his baby sister, a great helper, and a great baker.  He is expressive and sure to give you his opinion on lots of things even when they are not wanted.  He loves any sports and today he told me he wants to try snow boarding and I thought that fits just perfect we can see what we can do.  He plays soccer and is really good, he is a natural athlete like his Dad and he feels all of life and everyone's pain deeply like his Mama.  He is energetic, busy, and often I think he is looking for things to get into in an inquisitive sort of figure things out way but often that curiosity gets him into "situations."  He often gets himself stuck like his head in the fence and closed in the window just to name two and that was just in one day.  If he is quiet you had better check on him because I am sure he is investigating "something" really neat with little regard for safety, his or his sisters.  He loves Cat and still sleeps with it pulling his tail until he falls asleep and he still loves Fireman Sam a show from England about a fireman which he informed me he wanted to be when he grew up. 

He has a special relationship with his sister and he is a great teacher.  He taught Marin to jump from his big bead to her crib and then climb in, he showed her how to climb up on the washing machine, how to eat toothpaste straight from the tube, how to move the stools around so you can access anything in the house, how to dump all the paints into a bowl and add water for soup, he showed her how to climb the fence outside, how to climb on top of the play car to watch TV and even boosted her when she was having a hard time, he taught her how to use the ipad which is one of his favorite things to do and he taught her how to pick out her own clothes, share, play nice with others, not to bite, how to use a spoon, a cup, he has taught her so much that comes so easy to him and she beams with delight with any attention he gives her.  They have their moments of fighting but overall I know they are going to have a great friendship as the years go on.    


At his 3 year check up he was in the 75% for height and weight and everyone thinks he is 4 rather than 3.  He is right on target with growth and he is still a great eater.  The other night he asked me for more broccoli and after 3 helpings he told me he was full.  We still get lots of comments about his hair which is about the same color as mine and I might add he has the temper and spunk that comes with being a red head.  I think it will serve him well in life as long as I can help him learn to control them both so they are assets rather than pitfalls.  Shawn and I often joke we are raising an activist who will work for justice in the world rather than say an architect who would work in an office.  Symeon is his own person, he feels no need to follow a crowd of kids and I pray that strong sense of self will always be grounded in him so that as the decisions in life get bigger he will remain true to himself and his beliefs.

He is a great kid and we are blessed to have him in our family.  Happy Birthday sweet guy we love you so much!

Symeon Jonah Delp born February 18, 2008 at 12:54 am.  He weighed 8lb 15oz and was 21 inches long. 

February 2009 a year old

February 2010, 2 years old

February 2011, 3 years old

then                                                        now

Play Dough People

Symeon and Marin both love play dough.  Austin and Clover bought them this great set that is like Mr. Potato Head with play dough and it is a favorite.  Here are the people they made the other day.  On the left is Cinderella aka "Rella" made by Babes and on the right is Fireman Sam made by Symeon.  Thanks for a great gift it provides hours of entertainment for us all.

The Museum of Science

One of the reasons I love our neighborhood is that we are able to walk to the zoo, tons of playgrounds, the museum, parks, restaurants, an amazing Italian market, my favorite coffee shop to feed my Boba addiction, the Library, and a gelato place.  So when it is a bit cold we head to the museum's discovery zone which is a favorite for the kids. 

 

Outsite eating

Symeon loves to be outside and with the nice weather we have been having he is enjoying himself.  On this particular afternoon he only came in to ask for lunch which he ate outside as well.  He is so much like Shawn when it comes to being outside and active.