Soccer Team Pictures

 The Rockets

The Fire Dragons

Splash Pad

 Grant and Walker

 Walker was pouting here because Grant's little sister kept climbing up the slide and he couldn't slide down.  Ha!

While the rest of the country is experiencing fall temps this week, it is still hot as sin in Orlando.  (Technically it has only been in the 80's, but it is still as humid and sticky as ever).  So to cool down, we hit the splash pad with our friends, the Brauns, while the big kids were at school last week.  Parker Braun is Jake's age and was on Jake's flag football team last year, and Grant Braun is Walker's age and goes to Pre-K with Walker.  Anytime you have boys the same age as both of mine and they all get along so well = instant friends.

This was Anderson's first time getting to play at the splash pad, and he loved it.  The water kept playing tricks on him and would come out of different holes at different times, so he did get sprayed in the face a good bit.  Haha.  He was a good sport about it, though.  :)

Shades, Strollin', Squintin', and Standing

 Future so bright...

 Return of the cozy coupe (acutally, this one is a hand-me down from a friend).

This kid might like attention just a little bit.

Oh yeah, it's football season.

Ignore the double chin...life has been stressful these last few months for this emotional eater. :( At least this little boy loves his mama no matter what. 

  I had no idea the photographer was taking our picture, but I caught him and gave a big cheesy smile. Walker was being silly and making a duck face; I'm shocked it didn't show up in these pictures.  Walker is such a mess.  Funniest kid ever.

This is Tyson waving to me and Walker as he ran out onto the field. :)

I haven't been very good about blogging about football season this year; I think it's my way of pretending it isn't happening.  UCF is 1-2 with losses to Penn State and Missouri and a win over Bethune Cookman.  We definitely got off to a rough start, but hopefully, things are starting to look up. UCF has a bye this week and will open conference play at Houston Thursday Oct. 2 at 7 pm.  Go Knights!

Brevard Zoo

 Walker fed the deer while Anderson fed the floor his goldfish.

 Is it sad that we see so many alligators living down here in Florida that we didn't even notice this alligator right next to where we were walking?  Walker was unimpressed. 

 I can't remember the name of this animal, but Walker was unimpressed by this animal as well.

 What was Walker impressed by?  The jaguar, who was asleep and didn't move an inch the whole time we were there...go figure.

 This giraffe was really this close to us.  It blew my mind.  

 Walker and I fed this giraffe a carrot, but Walker freaked out at its long, nasty tongue...and I did, too, a little.  Gross!

 How funny is this picture?

Walker and Anderson on the train.

Baby Steps to Daddy

 A little bribery never hurts. ;)

 This is probably the best shot I have of him walking, and Anderson is blurry in this pic.  Ugh!

 "Aren't you proud of me, pops?"

The other day, Anderson shocked us by deciding to take 2-3 steps from the coffee table to me.  Walker saw it and went running to tell Jake, and I, of course, tried to get out my camera to record him doing it again for Tyson.  No such luck, though, because as soon as he saw my camera, he became far more interested in trying to attack it rather than walking.  Ha!  But once Tyson got to come home from work at a decent time this past Thursday night, Anderson showed him he could take some steps.  He's definitely still a ways off from walking, but these are definitely "baby steps" (pun intended). :)

Anderson's First Power Wheels

Well, Jake had one and Walker had one (click on their names for the pics), so it was time for Anderson to have his own 4-wheeler.  My parents got Anderson this little Power Wheels for his first birthday, and he has loved it.  I've been keeping it inside since it's still too hot to get out and play much, and he's had fun bumping it into our furniture and the walls.  I did finally take him outside one day (pictured above) to see how he'd do, but the grass was a little too thick for the 4-wheeler to go.  This all really makes me miss our back yard and our neighbors in Birmingham. :(  Anyways, so begins the next phase of life with my baby who isn't a baby anymore.

Fall Soccer!

 Jake, Daniel, and the coach's son (whose name I have no idea what it is)

 Jake blocked the first goal!

 Walker and his buddy, Quinn.  Team captains.  Ha!  Just kidding.

 Back to Jake's game...this is Jake on his way to scoring his first goal!

 And then back to Walker's game...this is Walker scoring his first goal!  The first goal of the game, in fact. Go team Summers!

 Walker is finally playing with kids his age, and it has given him all the confidence in the world.

 Yes, we played an all girl team whose team color was pink.

This past Saturday was Walker's first soccer game of the fall, and Jake's first soccer game ever!  Low and behold, their games were at the exact same time, so it was a little stressful for this mama.  Their fields were right next to each other, so Anderson and I just sat in the middle and kept our heads on a swivel.  I was soooo afraid I'd miss something- Walker even asked me, "what if I make a goal and you miss it?" Break my heart!  This is what's so hard about not having grandparents nearby and a husband who lives at the football office (even on a bye week).   Luckily, I didn't miss a beat and saw every important move and even caught some of them on camera. :)

Jake's game started first, so I'll start with him.  Like I said before, this was Jake's first soccer game ever.  He's always said he disliked soccer and refused to play, but I think he became a little more interested after seeing Walker play last spring.  I think it helped, too, that his best buddy, Daniel's, team had an opening and Daniel begged Jake to play.  Unfortunately, Daniel's team has been together for 4 years now and they're all pros at the game.  Jake, on the other hand, has no idea how to play soccer and doesn't know the rules of the game.  He's caught on quickly, though, and has already become a stand-out on his team thanks to his athleticism.  Jake seems to be a really good goalie and made several huge plays in the game, and he even scored a goal!

Walker's game started 10 minutes after Jake's, and Walker scored a goal almost immediately.  It was awesome.  He saw a lot of action during the game and got in there a good bit, but he definitely slowed down during the second half as the Florida sun was starting to beat down on him.  

With 2 of my 3 kids now playing soccer, I think I've officially earned the title of "soccer mom."  Love it!  Go Team Summers!