Soccer Time!

This year will be the first time that Jack plays a team sport.  He is playing soccer through Chino Hills' AYSO and boy is he excited! It is so cute to see all these little guys in their uniforms! The first week, when they got their uniform, he wanted to wear it every day.  He is very excited! This was their first practice.

Their team's name is C.V. United for Chino Valley United and he is number four.  Yesterday, they had team pictures and they were all so good!  While our team was in line, the big girls were oooing and awing over how "cute and tiny" our team was.  Jack was very confused and kept asking me why they were saying that.  I'm glad that they did because sometimes I forget how small he is and it's nice for someone to remind me to cherish him, he is growing up so fast!

He's the tallest one the team...

Go C.V. United!!!

Jack's Big Star Wars Birthday

For quite a while now, Jack has been requesting a Star Wars Birthday Party.  I have to admit that I wasn't really happy about it because it's just not really cute.  But I'm glad we did it.  He totally had a blast. 

Each of his friends received a light saber... Daddy worked really hard on them and I think they were probably the best part of the party.  The kids loved them and Jack said that his favorite part of the party was playing Star Wars on the playground with the light sabers.  

I did get to do a little bit of decorating... 

And we got the customary family photo:

Most of the kids did not stop to eat their light saber dogs or Obi Wan Ka-bobs.  They just kept playing. In fact, I told Jack to bring his friends over to play the games and he just told me that they WERE playing a game!  How dare I tare them away to play pass the light saber?  ... They eventually came and it was cute. They divided themselves up by boys and girls. The boys' game went so quickly I missed a picture.

 

After that, it was time for a water balloon toss.  Luckily, the weather was perfect.  After a week of days well over 100 degrees, Jack's birthday was about 75. So perfect!  The water balloon toss was funny, because they're way too young to understand how to play, it only took two tosses for it to be over.  Then we moved on to the obstacle course.  This was the final stage of their "Jedi Training" and each kid received a medal for completing the course.  

Once they completed their training, it was time to defeat Darth Vader!

Then cake... Light Saber Cupcakes

Some of his best girls...

Then, as an added bonus, Aiden's Uncle Tyler came and the kids got to tour his car.  They LOVED it!

And then he opened presents... He was so excited. He kept saying "I can't believe it! I just can't believe it!" And now, for the last week, I just leave him alone and he plays and plays and plays.  I don't think he would sleep or eat if I didn't remind him. 

All in all, he had a great birthday. I think it was everything he ever dreamed of!

Five Years Old

Jack, Jonathan Patrick Lindstedt, Jack-Jack, Ducky, Boo, Boo-Bear, Booey... he answers to all of these and yesterday he turned 5.

Everyday he defines himself a little bit more. And everyday, I feel like we have less to do with it.

He loves noddles and hates sauce.  Loves peanut butter with honey, not jelly. Loves fish and any novel food.

Loves to be places, but hates to go. 

Loves to swim and is learning to play soccer. Sometimes he smells like a grown man...

He loves to talk, explain and talk (did I mention that he likes to talk?) and hates to be interrupted.

He desperately wants to be older, is so upset that he can't "catch up."

He loves to play with Paul and Milan (he told me that he'll marry her).

He loves to try new things and is open to new experiences and this might be his best asset for being 5 and for the rest of his life.

He's five today, that's a whole hand and his is wide open, ready to grab the world.

Newport Dunes *CAUTION* Many Photos Ahead!

This past week we had the pleasure of camping with my parents at Newport Dunes.  It was an awesome week.  There was lots of playing, lots of bonding and lots of memories made.  The kids had Grama and Grampa available 24/7.  Jack played all of his favorite board games a million times and lay in the dirt while he played with his other toys.  They helped Grama cook and got her to feed them at least four meals a day (we're pretty sure Jack is going through a huge growth spurt, he ate SO much) and they didn't miss a single dessert!  Jack got to ride bikes with Daddy and Papa and I stole my dad away for a long ride one day.  I think that was my favorite part - I got to run or ride everyday while the kids hung out with Grama and Papa.  The surrounding area is so beautiful, I could have explored those paths for weeks without getting bored. This is the first vacation where I didn't gain weight!  There was a playground, beach, craft room/ arcade and pool. 

The pool at the campground is great and we used it just about every day we were there.  Jack has been steadily improving his swimming skills and he got a lot of practice this week.  Grace also loves the pool, but she has no sense of danger around it and really has no problem jumping to you when you're just a little too far or pushing away from you when she isn't wearing a floaty.  She's crazy.

Jack fell in love with jumping in. Over.and.over.and.over.  We didn't have the heart to tell him that the sign said no jumping.  The lifeguard didn't tell him either, so we just let him.  UNTIL, the last day.  There was this snotty rule following kid that kept telling him that he couldn't jump in (even when he wasn't jumping in). UGH!
At least it was just last day.

Jack made friends with another kid and they jumped and jumped and jumped together.  It was funny to see him so excited about playing with another kid.  I think he missed seeing all of his friends during our regular weekly activities.

The last time we saw him, the other kid was swimming in the "deep" end and Jack just couldn't quite keep up with him.  When we were leaving, Jack lamented that he "just can't wait to be six."  I can wait.  Slow down little buddy, I'm not even ready for you to turn five.  But in his life, all of the big kids that he admires are six...

We had lots of time for evening strolls, bike rides, games of horse shoes, uncle and auntie visits and attempted kite flying...

And during the days we got to choose between the pool and the beach...

Or we could do both. :)

And sometimes it was so much fun you just had to take a nap.

And there was plenty of time to be silly...

One day we took the ferry over to Balboa Island...

And we took a harbor cruise.  It was pretty cool, but the kids weren't really too interested in Nicholas Cage and Vana White's homes...

The playground was great too.  Right on the beach...

Lots and lots of silliness!

And after all was said and done, they were sure tuckered out...

What a blast! Thanks Grama and Papa for a wonderful and much needed vacation!