Kicks and Slides

Saturday was granddaughter Ella's birthday, but before we could start the celebration, we had a soccer game to attend, featuring her big brother, Matthew. There is a little play area near the soccer field, so the birthday girl and her sister spent some time on the slides while the soccer players warmed up.

Ella loved climbing up, going over the bridge, and down the slide.

Here she comes!

Followed by big sister, Haleigh.

They had a great time playing while the soccer game got going.

Matthew does a good job playing his assigned position.

He's quick, and gets right in there to handle the ball.

Watching him play soccer reminds me of our years of loading up the van, the chairs, the coolers, the blankets, and the kids for a morning of games. That was after we located shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, and shin guards. Not always the easiest task with a house full of kids.

This picture shows a weird angle of his foot on the ball. I'm pretty sure he stayed on his feet, though.

His adoring fans.

Ella and her mama.

Andrew likes to do tricks with Ella.

She seems to like it, but it makes Granny nervous. Her daddy knows that.

Sweet Ella Kate.

Back to the game, Matthew was pretty intense going after the ball.

And sometimes, you just have to stop to tie your shoe.

Matthew gets ready to kick off. Which, unfortunately, means the other team just scored. Not sure if he is counting his players or giving directions.

He's not the biggest kid on the team, but he's quick and savvy, and understands the game.

And he's not afraid to take the ball away from a girl. :)

Ready for a throw-in.

Jennifer sometimes did a flip when she did a throw-in. She will have to work on that with Matthew.

When the game was over, Haleigh gave them a hand.

And Matthew led the team in the traditional end-of-game handshake. Or hand slap. Good game!

Happy Birthday Ella!

Today, we celebrated the birthday of sweet granddaughter Ella. It was a Derby Fiesta, combining a Kentucky Derby theme with Cinco de Mayo, which, of course, is tomorrow. Ole!

Ella enjoyed the chips and guacamole to get the party started.

Her mama sure puts out a nice spread. Rest assured that no one goes away hungry!

And just look at the dessert!

Cupcakes...

and cookies. Beautiful and delicious.

Of course, a Derby party always includes hats. Matthew wore the one he received from Bryan and Jennifer for their wedding.

Haleigh added a flower to her beach hat. She was a little bit worried about wearing it since "the beach is over." We're all a little sad about that.

Haleigh, Matthew, and Ella.

Sweet Ella Kathryn, the birthday girl. She's sometimes called Ella or Ella Kate or Ella Bella, and whatever she's called, she is loved and we are blessed.

One of these years, she will have to have a Star Wars themed party because of her birthdate.

You know, 'May the Fourth be with you.'

Two years old!

Happy Birthday, dear Ella...

Happy Birthday to you!

A little help from mommy to blow out the candle.

Then it's time to dig in.

Yummy icing!

Great-grandpa John also celebrated his birthday, one day early. There should be a 4 after that 9 for 94 years young.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

David and Shylah came from Dayton to celebrate the birthday girl.

These three dressed up for the Derby.

Ella received a fairy costume, which Haleigh thought she should try on first.

Ella did get her turn, and her mommy helped her put it on.

She loved her wand.

And twirled round and round.

A sweet little fairy princess.

Happy Birthday, Ella Kate! I love you!

May I Hodgepodge?

Greetings, and welcome to Wednesday, the day we gather from all over the world wide web to join Joyce for the fabulous Wednesday Hodgepodge. She presents a set of thoughtful questions, and we provide the fascinating answers. Please enjoy mine before hopping over to Joyce's place to see what everyone else has to day.

1.  This week's Hodgepodge is Volume 123.  What's something you've done recently that was as easy as 1-2-3? 
Well, I guess it would be putting together this handy dandy wine rack from IKEA. They really do make things pretty simple. And of course, while answering this question, I found myself humming along:
ABC
Easy as 1-2-3
Or simple as
Do re mi
ABC, 1-2-3 baby, you and me!
Anyone else with me?

2.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge also happens to fall on the first day of May ...what is something you may do this month? 
The first day of May always reminds me of the May baskets we made when we were kids. We usually used a paper cup or a cone shaped piece of construction paper, filled it with dandelions or wild violets, and hung it on the door of a neighbor. We would knock, run away and hide, then watch as our neighbor discovered the special treat. Of course, I'm sure we weren't really very good at the hiding part, and the neighbors no doubt knew who had left it, even though they acted surprised. Do children make May baskets any more?
My other favorite 'May' thing is a song we sang in church, called Sing a Song of Maytime. "Maytime, playtime, God has given the Maytime. Thank Him for His gifts of love, sing a song of spring!"
Oh, but something that I may do? I may just be pretty proud when our youngest graduates from college in a couple of weeks. Actually, I'm sure of it!

3. The Englishman Horace Walpole is credited as saying, "The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think"  How do you see it?
Joyce likes to make us think, now, doesn't she? The world presents both tragedy and comedy in turn, but I believe that happiness, in thought and feeling, is a choice.

4.  May is National Hamburger Month...how often do you eat a burger? What are your must-haves when it comes to burgers?  I assume you vegetarians won't be celebrating so tell us what you'd like instead? 
In the summer and fall, we probably eat burgers once a week at least. 
And our burgers are the best ever. 
True story. 
I season them with McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning. I'll take cheese on mine. 
Beef. It's what's for dinner.

5. Pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens...of the four mentioned, which is your favorite in a patio pot? Will there be pots on your patio this spring? (Or whenever spring comes to your part of the globe?) Who does the gardening at your house?
My patio pot has red geraniums and white petunias. Those two are the traditional favorites for the pots at our house. I also love impatiens, and planted them at the lake two years ago, only to have them eaten by deer or other critters that live in the neighborhood. Pansies are a favorite for their vivid colors and their hardy nature. I guess all four are my favorites. I would not say anyone does 'gardening' at our house, but I'm usually the one that sticks the plants in the pots. :)

6. When did you last (literally or figuratively) shout "Mayday, Mayday!"
A week ago Friday, we were all loaded up and ready to head to the lake, and pulled around to the barn to feed PeeWee, my 31-year-old horse. He came in limping. Not what I wanted to see. I quickly changed my clothes and shoes so I could check him out. Finding no rocks or nails in the hoof, I prodded a bit and found him to be tender in the heel area.

Fortunately, my daughter is a vet tech who works with horses, and that's where the figurative "Mayday" came in. A call to her determined that it was probably an abscess, and needed to be soaked in Epson salts. A text to my niece gave me a great suggestion for soaking in a ziploc bag, taped around his leg.

Jennifer asked if I had cotton or gauze with which to wrap the foot. All I could come up with was a disposable diaper (pull-up, actually), which worked perfectly. Soak the foot, slip on the pull-up, wrap with bandage tape and cover with duct tape.

A couple of late-night checks found him contentedly munching hay, and he was greatly improved by the next morning. Good to have family members to help out in a (relatively minor) crisis!

7.  Say farewell to your April in ten words or less. 
Bye, bye, April. Looks like we made it.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Jennifer and Bryan will welcome this little one, our fourth grandchild, in early September. 

They don't know the baby's gender, and are having fun getting everything ready for his or her arrival. I guess we could do our own little gender prediction poll here...

what do you think? Boy or girl?