So, yesterday was the last day of the official fall soccer season. To date (in the five seasons of soccer we've now participated in), neither Noah nor Asher has scored a goal, despite valiant efforts and much wishing. :) (Technically, though, Noah did score once, but it was called back on a questionable "off sides" call so he doesn't really count it.) We figured Micah would score the first "real" goal among them (since U5 is just 3 players per side and all...the other two started later when teams were 6 players per side and the fields are bigger), but it wasn't looking like it as the season came to an end. Micah is just happy to be on the field and loves to run and smile, often nowhere in the vicinity of the actual soccer ball. :)

But. Micah's coaches were determined to get him a goal before the end of the season (as all the other boys had already scored at least one goal). I think they wanted it more than he did, lol. So, in the third quarter (having unsuccessfully encouraged him aplenty during the first half), they positioned him about five feet in front of the goal and specifically instructed the other two boys to simply get the ball to Micah.

It was hilarious! They'd kick the ball up there and Micah (being his literal self and having been told to stay right there) would kick the ball but then would not move from that spot. Numerous times the ball came and didn't make it into the goal. Everyone on the sidelines (even the referees) knew Micah's name by that point and were encouraging him. One coach was standing right behind the goal and the other was directing the ball to him. 

And, finally, the ball made it into the goal:

 And life was good:

They did this twice for Micah before resuming the more normal flow of the game and the kid couldn't possibly be happier. :) It was awesome. 

(Unfortunately, both Noah and Asher lost their games yesterday and still haven't scored. Asher was immediately happy for Micah and didn't really let it bother him. Noah took a little longer to come around, lol. Both Noah and Asher, though, got their trophies and had cupcakes yesterday for the season's end, so that helped. Here's hoping the six games at the tournament next weekend provide opportunities for them both, eh?)

So. If you'll remember, the early snow here pretty much wiped out the beautiful fall colors as most trees went directly from summer to dead leaves on the ground. Determined, though, to get at least some fall leaves pictures, the boys, a friend and I went on a walk yesterday afternoon. We walked around our neighborhood, little rake in hand. This was the end result:

Yup, that was one big pile of leaves. And it was one of only two spots along our entire walk where the leaves weren't all crumpled and dry and ugly. :) So there, Mother Nature. Ha. ;)

Off now to our last soccer games of the season (not counting next weekend's tournament, which will be six more games in two days...fun times)...Happy weekend to you all!

Okay, I thought of more. They're pretty much all about Micah because apparently he's a hilarious kid. :) (Reminder, for those who can't believe how fast time flies, like myself...Micah just turned 4 at the end of July.)

- I get a kick out of how he's been math-crazy lately...totally just asks us math questions all the time and then congratulates us as if he actually knew the answer. Surprisingly, he often does know the answer...which freaks me out a bit. Why, for instance, can he quickly figure out how many more birthdays I have until I'm 100? He's been on this thing about people reaching 100 years old and can tell you how many more birthdays he needs and how many more you need, too. 

- On a related note, not long ago he got it in his head to just start counting. Completely random. To that point, I'd not heard him successfully get to 20 without getting mixed up in the teens. But that day, he made it to 359. I kid you not. 

- He's becoming a huge football fan. He often comes to me now and asks if there're any football games on that we can watch. I think he's figured out that if he watches football he ends up with some extra time with me. (The other two aren't interested.) Sweet boy. (And don't worry, I clearly inform all my boys that, yes, those football players get hurt...it's a fun game to watch, but not to play, lol.)

- Did I tell you about the day he realized his leg was longer than his arm and then proceeded to try to check if this was true for everyone? Funny stuff. :) 

Yup, done again. :) I actually did some scrapbooking last night and was very productive. Can't share it yet, though. Will try to do some more that I can share soon, okay? Okay. ;)

I'm realizing that I often record little things about the boys and life here on my blog or on my Facebook account or in emails to friends. And I'm realizing that it's a good thing...as it helps me remember and often provides the journaling for a later layout. :) In the spirit of capturing some of the things I might otherwise forget, then, here are some things I've had in my head that I hope to scrapbook someday...

- How when we call, "Micah?" he has seemingly always responded, "whatah?"

- How, though the first two were crazy about all things trains, Micah was never really interested. So. We sold the train table and put away the pieces we couldn't bring ourselves to part with (a great many pieces in actuality...heck, that was a lot of time invested in gathering it all, lol!). They've been sitting in the basement in boxes. But. Yesterday, I found this in the basement:

Yup, they were fully engaged in elaborate train play. :) Makes me all warm and fuzzy to see them playing with it all again. 

- In contrast, today they were also found drawing "death chambers" on the white board, with Micah asking me at one point how to spell "nuclear bombs." When I asked the obvious question of why he was drawing a "death chamber," Micah replied "to torture the daddy and the baby." This, of course, led to discussions with the other two as to why they'd started this and then to a bit of instruction about using their imaginations for better purposes. In response, they quickly pointed out that they knew this and showed us the "love chambers" they'd also drawn...complete with all things good, like ice cream and legos and laptops and money-making machines. Gotta just shake my head at the whole thing.

- How Micah was so delighted today to receive his very first soccer trophy! His giant grin almost makes the whole season worth it. ;)

- How during Micah's soccer party this afternoon, one of the moms gave the boys suckers wrapped in tissue to make a little ghost (you know what I'm talking about, right? totally simple) and now my three have been grabbing tissue and making ghosts out of everything. Gee. You'd think I never do crafts with them. ;)

- How Micah is adorably scared of all things Halloween...totally freaks out when he nears Halloween decoration displays in stores, particularly any that have the standing skeleton type figures and any that make noise. It doesn't help that his big brothers are totally keyed into this and deliberately try to trick him into walking down those aisles. (Course, it backfired on Noah the other day, as he didn't know that the scary old butler guy was going to talk when he walked in front of him, lol.) We've even had to revise the treat bag that he carries on Halloween for the last couple years, as he adamantly refuses to carry anything with a "scary face." (Note, the ghosts he's been making today are apparently exempted from this whole "dislike of things Halloween" thing because candy outweighs it all, right? LOL!)

- How all three boys are completely and totally obsessed of late with creating a car company of their own when they grow up. They have detailed plans, names, and job titles all ready. Personally, I think the three of them would work well together in one place, as they each have different strengths.

- How Asher has been diligently making his Christmas list and counts the Lego catalog among his reading to himself time each week.

- How Micah, when playing hide and seek, always says "wherever you're not, here I come" (instead of "ready or not, here I come"). At least he's finally getting to the point where he doesn't automatically announce where he's hiding any more. :)

Okay, that's enough for now. I'm likely forgetting all sorts of things, but at least I got these down. :) Oh, and because someone asked me, let me ask you this...What would be in your "love chamber"? ;)

In case you were wondering, life around here is finally starting to seem more do-able, lol. That doesn't really come out sounding right. :) What I mean to say is that this weekend is the last weekend of the official soccer season, so I'm looking forward to recapturing those 10 hours or so of each week. (Let's not pay attention to the fact that Noah and Asher's teams opted to do the fall tournament and, thus, we'll have just one more week of soccer past this present one, okay?)

Anyhow. I need to pick up pictures today (I've volunteered four of the five seasons so far to take team and individual photos for the boys' teams...I make up an 8x10 sheet like those that you can buy (that are ugly) with the team and individual pic on them for each boy (yay for digital scrapbooking!) and also end up printing off a handful of candids of each boy from throughout the season...just can't seem to stop myself). We have Micah's team party tomorrow (so I'll be finishing up cupcake toppers today), then both other boys' parties after their games on Saturday (so will be picking up more cupcakes then). And stuff like that. 

In the meantime (while I get giddy thinking about the end of soccer season, lol), I happen to be the "featured" designer both on the Prism blog and the Good Grief Blog today. Check it out, okay? Here's a sneak of the Prism layout:

 
(Really happy with how this one came out, btw!) 

Okay, that's it for now. :)