The Fair Park Futbol Team

It looks like I am officially a soccer mom!  As if the Dodge Grand Caravan isn't enough...Canaan is on his first real soccer team this year-The Fair Park Futbol-ers!  HE LOVES IT!  Everyone on his team attends the same preschool which reinforces great friendships. We haphazardly missed the first 2 practices and first game--(not our fault) so his first time with the team was a game 2 weeks ago.

(Bear with me while I brag on him a little...you have been forewarned!)

He made fast friends and was a great team player--playing defense so his teammates could score!  The second game on September 26th, he scored 5 goals during the first 5 possessions!  The rest of the game we had to ask him to let his friends have a turn to score.  His coach still plays competitively and says that they usually don't teach passing until age 6-7, but that Canaan "just gets the game" so he is giving him advanced lessons!

I say all of this because Canaan is soooo proud of himself, and Mac and I are experiencing, for the first time, how fun it is to watch our child strive to accomplish something with a team and succeed!  Congratulations, sweet boy!  We'll be cheering for you!

Pardon the pic quality from the "diaper bag camera", but these pictures are from week 1...

These pictures are from week 2...

Granna Camp 2009

Flashback to summer for this post, I am trying to catch up on all I missed during/after the move!

Each summer Granna Carol hosts "Granna Camp" for our kids, but this year was the first time Macy got to come along.

The kids spent lots of time with their cousin Madi.  They went to the pet store, played house, and chased bubbles in the yard!
Canaan and Macy love homemade popsicles on Granna's driveway!
Self-portrait, complete with ice-cream chins!
Thank you Granna and Aunt Patty for all the fun!  Can't wait till next year!

You have asked for house pics...

We have added a few of our own touched to the new Bell dwelling however, we haven't done all that we planned to in the first three months, because we had a few surprises!  Aside from both our cars needing a total of $1500 in repairs, we banished a family of rodents living under the sunroom- $1300, and now our shower in the master bath has to be demo-ed and rebuild due to a leak....looking at remodeling the whole bathroom for that one.  But, we praise the Lord for carrying us, yet again, through lifes little surprises into his care!  We are happy and healthy and love our new home!!!

We painted all the bookcases, trim, moulding, and window frames in the living room.  The ceiling was yellow (why, you ask? good question.) and it too is now white.  Aaahhhhh.  Much better. 

We also painted the dining room and added a new table and chairs and a famiy heirloom dough board.

The studio is a work in progress, but we plan to hang a wall-mounted roller system for backdrops this weekend.

The TV was an indulgence, a deal, and we all love it.  42".  It rests on my great-grandmothers sewing machine.  

The sun room has become a game room for the kids.  This is where they watch TV and it has easy access to the backyard.  You could call this Canaan's cave.
More to follow, but there it the snappy version.  Thanks for all your support and prayers!

Canaan goes to School!

The biggest adjustment of August was that my Ca-Ca started preschool full time for the first time!

He looooves it, and is in class with his friends Lillie and Elise, so that made the transition easier for him.  He attends a school that is only for 4 year olds and close to Mac's office.  His teacher is really sweet and says he is very attentive and has a good memory.  He thinks his days are too short when it is bedtime, and wants the occasional "day with my mom" but we are adjusting well.  Macy and I have lots of catching up to do and we're enjoying the one-on-one time together.  Hopefully this will prepare ME for him going to kindergarten......maybe.

Since school started, we have all been reading more.  Mac's cousins came over to shoot wedding portraits and Diane brought a special book called "Louie the Buoy" -based on a real bouy that survives a hurricane.  She is so thoughtful, and the kids loved it.

20's Gangsters

Do we look like gangsters?  Well, we are.  Mayor Big Bill and Vanessa Crooner.  Here is a glimpse into what we may have looked like had we been alive in the 1920's in Chicago and wrapped up in the Mob.  Thanks to a murder mystery dinner drama we participated in we got to pretend to knock-off the bad guys and figure who dunnit.  The night started off with a "bang" - literally, and after a little gambling (with paper money), drinking (creme soda and root beer), and another murder (Al Capone did it) we didn't want to go home!  Thanks to Andrea for all your efforts and for the pics!

Meet me in St. LouisVILLE!

Our only vacation this year as a family of four was to the land of blue grass to visit Uncle Brad in Louisville!  We have not been able to see his homestead since he moved away after college.  Now in his third state to call home since Arkansas, we packed up the mommy mini-van and headed east.  

We took a walking tour of Churchill Downs 2-weeks after flooding destroyed the museum there.  

The highlight for Canaan was the Louisville Slugger baseball bat factory!  We came home with 6 souvenir bats and a tee-shirt.  Even Macy had fun there.  We promised an encore visit when CaCa gets older.  

This pictures of Canaan was when he got to put on white gloves and hold Mickey Mantle's actual game bat!!!  No swinging allowed, but someday he will know just how cool this is. 

 

Brad was a gracious host.  He prepared fajita nachos for dinner the first night and got us addicted to the first season of "Kings" on NBC.  We watched 6 of the 12 episodes in 2 days.  Hey...it's vacation!  Bradley, we are so proud of who you are, and who's you are.  We love you (and Dallas too)!

On the way home, we stopped to stay with the M. Coopers and their 1.5 babies.  We stayed up 'till 1 a.m. over coffee and conversation, and spent the morning at the town square.  Our babes love each other so much and it was great to all be together again.  We miss you guys and we're so thankful that Godly friendships span space and time!

Much thanks to both of our hosts for a great trip.  Much fun was had by all.

Summer Fun in Pictures

I guess the summer is officially gone...Canaan starts school tomorrow but I am behind on posting so we'll save that one for another tear-filled day.  Our summer was fun though, filled with dozens of trips to "the Wild Country", grandparents, family trips, and friends.  

At the Peabody Hotel watching the ducks march (pardon the professional photographer's fuzzy IPhone images)

Playing basketball with Lauren and Ty at Ty's birthday party.  We will miss these friends at our new school this year!

My Macy-Moo in a rare moment when she actually let me rock her to sleep.  Never happened-ever that I can remember.  Mac ran to get the camera to document this!

Canaan and Ian as crime-fighting super heros.  Canaan is spiderman...like every other day of the week.
Handing out water to runners at the River City Run Walk with Reid and Jack.
Eating watermelon with Papa on Memorial Day.  Daddy, Macy and Momo were there too!

A quick trip to Hot Springs took us to the Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo that we love!  
Blame daddy for this one....I know.....it's an accident waiting to happen.....we were on guard I promise. 
Canaan got his first metal for participation in soccer.  He later received a trophy for tee-ball.

Messy Macy in her most common state.  This was peanut butter.

At the travelers game on the 4th of July to watch "firey works" (Macy) and run the bases.
Again...Messy Macy.  This was popsicle.

Macy's curls that we love when mom has the forethought to roll her hair at night. 

Macy and Jaci singing and dancin'.

Marcie and Maeley all the way from Michigan!  We were so glad to meet Maeley in person!  Come back soon!

Macy and Gracen cutting watermelon
Our second showing of the Wiggles LIVE!  Macy is hooked.