At the end of the soccer season.

At the end of the soccer season, AK gets the award for sometimes getting after the ball...

And always for having the amazing ability for using her peripheral vision to sense if anyone on the field has fallen down, and for having the commitment, when that happens, even if she has the ball and an open field in front of her, a free lane straight to the goal...

To leave that ball sitting right there and make a beeline for the fallen player, and to help that person up.

Even if that person didn't necessarily want any help.

At the end of the soccer season, Claire gets the award for most dramatically improved attitude toward soccer...

(From "I will never laugh again" when she found out that I signed her up for it, to "I like it a little bit" at the end of the season...

...and even, "I might play again next year")

And the award for achieving all her goals and being super intense.

And for not being intimidated by this girl.

And Owen gets the award for best fan ever and for asking for popcorn at every single game and practice.

Some conversations and workouts and a truck.

Things I've heard lately...

AK: Mom, do you think $21 is a good price for a big-headed man?

AK: Which do you like better? Bananas? Or pictures?

Owen: Is Baton Rouge in Louisiana?

Owen: Ninjas poop in the potty.

Owen: Hmmm. Why is there water on the floor? Oh, maybe I tee-teed!

***

Something I've said recently...

Me: Owen, if you want to put Claire in the coconut and shake it up, then she can put you in the coconut and shake it up too.

***
Conversations I've had with AK lately...

Me: Oh Averi Kate. Did you cut your bangs again?
AK: I think they just fell off.


AK: Mom can I have a snack?
Me: No. No you cannot have a snack. We just ate breakfast 16 MINUTES AGO.


AK: Mom?
Me: Yeah?
AK: Mom?
Me: What is it, babe?
AK: (silence)
Me: AK? What do you need?
AK: Huh?
Me: You said my name twice, honey. What do you need?
AK: What? I didn't say your name.

(That conversation in particular occurs multiple times per week.)

***

Every now and then we do family workouts on the weekends.

It's always nice to have Daddy there to correct our form.

***

This girl has the funniest faces.

***

The kids have really enjoyed this truck that Daddy found and fixed!

Goals and fishing and Hillman and such.

Owen's aspirations for the future...

Owen: When I grow up I'm gonna poop in the potty.

and

Me: Do you know what you are going to be doing next year?
Owen: Being strong and courageous!

(I'm in full agreement with both of those goals.)

***

Claire hard at work in school...

***

And Claire dressing up in my clothes and pretending to be me!

***

Fishing in Marshallville...

***

Our kids get along great with our neighbor Hillman. Bonus: He always cracks us up with his hilarious personality.

The other day I came in from a run and collapsed on the living room floor to recover for a few minutes.
Hillman: Uh...Mr. Steve...you might want to come check on your wife.

Spencer: Hillman, you thirsty?
Hillman: Yeah.
Spencer (hands him a Cinderella cup full of water)
Hillman: Thanks a lot. That's real original, Mr. Steve.

I think I'm going to start a new series called "Hillman and Mr. Steve."

***

Tonight I went to check on all the kiddos tonight before heading to bed myself. I walked into AK's room to find an empty bed.

I began to experience a mild amount of panic when I didn't find her in the floor, in the closet, in the hallway, or in Claire's room. Then I opened the cabinet...

Never a dull moment.

News and other news.

C: Is Bean a Christian?
Me: Yep!
AK: Good. Ok, so I know 2 Christians.

***

(Discussing the difference between mammals and birds)
Me: And what do mammals have on the outside? Like, what do we have covering the outside of our body?
AK: Epithelial tissue?

***

AK (runs into the kitchen wearing bright flowery leggings and a beige sweater (in August)): Mom, I changed clothes so I could look like a vet.

***

C: Mom, can I listen to this Adventures in Odyssey episode? They said it was a little scary. It's about a monk. Which is pretty scary. But it's not the scariest thing I have ever heard. The scariest thing I've ever seen is pretty much when I was watching Scooby Doo and this terrible monster broke Scooby's treat. Yep. That is pretty much the scariest thing I have ever seen.

***

In other news, AK sliced her toe pretty badly on Wednesday. On the oven. I cannot even explain that one.

***

And in the best news of all, it's now September and I bought my first pumpkin spice candle of the season! Fall, here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!