Soccer 2012

Kanayla just finished another season of soccer.  We tried to sign Xavien up for soccer as well but he missed the cut off age by 3 months.  Bummer but next year for sure!

The cool thing about our soccer league here was that there were no games on Saturday.  All games were played on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  So our weekends were still free!  Kanayla enjoyed her season this year on the Orange Tigers.  (I don't understand why their team name was Orange Tigers, it seems kinda of redundant to me but whatever...)  Her coach thought Kanayla was a very talented goalie.  Matthew worked really hard with her on understanding the game and her ball handling skills. 

Team picture day-- it was pouring!

Kids Bathroom

It is no secret that we lived in apartments for a long, long time.  So I think it is pretty natural that I can not stand white walls anymore.  When I am done there will not be a white or beige wall in my home!!  But I have a husband who is a painting perfectionist and is unwilling to let anyone other than him paint so the color is slow going.  In fact for Mother's Day all I asked for was for him to paint a room. 

I knew that I wanted the kids bathroom to be turquoise. I had found a sea turtle with the color in it.  I designed and made their shower curtain to go along with that theme.  I still have a few more things to do in their bathroom but I love the color and the feeling like progress is being made in my home.  (I even got Matthew to agree to paint 2 more rooms before my parents visit in August. Yipee!!)

The sea turtle that gave me the color inspiration.

You can see the shower that I embroidered all the circles on.

Ebey Landing

Last weekend the weather was really nice so we took the kids on a hike at Whidbey Island.  It was by far the longest hike we have tried to do with the kids (4 1/2 miles).  Luckily they did a pretty good job with some minor complaints during the last mile or so.  We climbed a bluff that overlooked the ocean and a lagoon and then looped back around on the beach.  I loved the beach part of the hike.  The kids were able to find drift wood and some really interesting rocks.  Kanayla even carried a medium sized rock all the way back to the van to take home. 
Here is a bald eagle we saw while up on the bluff.

More shots at the bluff

Then at the beach we saw some seals and a coconut that looked like it drifted in with the tide.  Xavien and Ivie decided to make sand angels. :)

Ivie Birthday

Part of the fun of April is that my girls birthdays are 3 days apart.  It makes that week extra busy and I am thoroughly caked out for a while after their birthday.  This year I made a butterfly cake for Ivie.  She loved her special day!

Ivie turned 5 years old.  Her favorite colors are pink and red.  Ivie loves to play dress up, Little Pet Shop, Squickies and My Little Pony.  Ivie is extra excited for school so she can be big like Xavien and Kanayla.

Pinewood Derby

Our ward recently held a Pinewood Derby that was open to anyone in the ward.  Matthew was very excited to design his own car. The kids and I tried to do a car as well but it didn't work out.  Overall Matthew came in 3rd place!  Since he hasn't made any pinewood derby cars since Cub Scouts he was really pleased with how well he did! 

Pacific Science Center

During Spring Break we went to the Pacific Science Center....twice.  I purchased a year membership for our family so I suspect we will be going down there alot in the coming year.  The Science Center was really cool.  There was a butterfly room which the kids enjoyed.  It was hot in there but not humid.  There were large versions of checkers, chess and other games.  Xavien and Ivie enjoyed the play center.  Kanayla liked the Tide Water area.  Everyone liked the laser show ( I have to remember to bring ear plugs next time because it is TOO loud).   We are excited to go back when the King Tut visit is being exhibited.

Kanayla's 9!

Kanayla is nine years old.  The time has flown by!!  ( I know that is cliche but it is SO true!)
I made a marbled rainbow cupcakes and cake for her birthday.  Seriously, I made 5 cake mixes worth because of all the cupcakes she needed for school and Activity Day girls and then our family party.  I have no desire to do more cakes for a while.

Before icing...

After icing...

Kanayla's favorite color is now blue.  She is about 8 inches shorter than me so she will definitely be taller than 5 feet.  She still loves animals.  She has developed a love for legos (which made up the majority of her presents).