Is there Anything Better than FUTBOL in the Springtime?

Before the new year had really begun, spring soccer for Enoch was upon us.  Of course, soccer really had never ended for him.  We do love watching his team play.  I thought they were good in the fall, but boy have they improved since then!  They really are fun to watch.



Practicing a move on our very brown grass in March

Waiting for a goal kick



Being ready while Paul dribbles the ball down the pitch



Coming in for a substitution



A moments rest playing defender



In the midst of the fray

I'm still learning how to work my new camera.  This picture got a little too much exposue I think.

 After most of the games had been played, the soccer club had a club awards banquet.  We were excited to have Enoch be the recipient of an award that night.  He recieved "The Most Dedicated Player Award" which is called the Forever Futbol award.  It truly fit Enoch and his love for the sport.

We are so proud of him and what he is learning about soccer and life. 

Enoch with some of his teamates - award recipients
Paul, Gabe, Michael and Enoch

The Birthdays of May

There is only one month out of the year that is shared for birthdays.  That month is May!

Kiera turned 14 on the 4th.  Samuel actually came up with the idea for her cake this year.  We put Star Wars action figures on it and said, "May the 4th be with you"

The young women have this cute sign that gets put out at each girl's house when they have a birthday.  We love it and then the whole neighborhood knows whose birthday it is!



Shenna painted her car at lunch so that when Kiera came to the parking lot after school to get a ride home, this is what she saw.  She said the ride home was lots of fun!

The other May birthday is Enoch's.  He was supposed to be a June baby, but decided to come early.  This year he (or should I say "I had") a cake decorating fail.  Because his birthday was full of about 20 different things, we realized that the only time we would all be together to sing to him and open presents would be at 6:10 a.m.  I made and decorated his soccer ball cake the night before.  However, when we woke up in the morning, gravity had taken its' toll and the black frosting had slid down to the bottom.  Oh well, he didn't seem to care and the cake tasted the same anyway. 

he did a great job blowing out the candles.

 It always amazes me with this kid that he is always the most excited for soccer stuff.  Since he was growing out of the cleats that have been used by all the kids in the family, I bought him new cleats that aren't just black.  The thing now is colored cleats.  His  are blue.  And he loves them!

The smile says it all!

Happy Birthday to Kiera and Enoch!  Thanks for making our family complete!

It's a Party!

My sister-in-law Julianne came up with a great plan recently.  Someone we know and love was turning the big 5-0 and we needed to celebrate!

However, this particular someone usually doesn't like a lot of attention. 

The only way around that was to make the party a surprise! 

So, the plan was laid. 

In the wee hours of the morning on the fateful day - April 7, my brother Daryl -aka the birthday boy - planned to give his new son-in-law a ride in the airplane.

The new son-in-law's job was to make sure that they stayed up in the air long enough.

The rest of us needed time to set up. 

She decided to invite everyone out to the airport and have a birthday brunch in the hanger.

The plan went off without a hitch and we were all ready and waiting when he landed. 

He never expected a thing!

Daryl coming out of the plane surprised at the crowd

One of the many guests was Daryl's long-time friend, Kerry Barfuss

The kids sure had fun decorating his car!

some of the guests enjoying the brunch in the hanger

Brothers-in-law but friends by choice....Daryl and Aaron

His cake.  The man on the decoration even looked like Daryl- had a mustache and everything.

Happy 50th Birthday Daryl! 

It's Ketchup Day!

So, I realized that it had been almost an entire month since I had blogged about our happenings here at Whit's End.  Either we are so busy that I have no time, or we are so boring that I have nothing to say.  Take your pick!

Hence, we are playing "catch-up"

Enoch does have other activities in his life besides soccer.  He goes to cub scouts and enjoys the activities they do.  Recently they planted "Nylon Ned".  They filled a nylon with soil, put googly eyes on it and planted grass seed.  We were all excited for the result when the  seeds sprouted.  Here is the gardener with his grass. I should have had him lift it out of the cup so you could see Ned's cute face, but alas, I didn't think of it.

April was a wierd weather month.  It seems that every day we experienced a different season.  I made Samuel go out and stand in the blizzard we had one day.  The snow was coming in sideways due to the wind blowing so hard.

 Did I mention the weird weather?  Just days later, Sam and Kiera had a grand time burying eachother in the sand pile and then hosing each other off.  It felt like the middle of summer and boy was it great while it lasted!