Friday, June 25, 2010
Why Not?
We arrived at Town Square just as the park was opening - so I let Claire run around in the water in her clothes. Afterall, I had just scored a few deals at Old Navy so she had clothes to change into. I love the glam moms to the left in this picture - that is classic Town Square people watching. My jeans and flip flops were no match for 3 inch wedge heels and shiny skinny jeans. That just isn't a day out with the kids to me - I would fall over in those shoes chasing Claire. Is that just Vegas, or are other cities filled with moms dressed to the nines everywhere they go?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Soccer Champs!
Matt's team won the backyard soccer league - that's what I call it anyway. A small field in a friend's yard, using artificial turf fenced in with a low wooden wall. It's amazing no one broke anything. Good job Brasil!
There was an article on Yahoo today about why we call it soccer when everyone else calls it football. Being 3 weeks into the World Cup (so. many. games.), I was curious. So, here ya go:
Clive Toye, an Englishman who moved to the U.S. and became known as the father of modern American soccer, bringing Brazilian legend Pele to play for the New York Cosmos, takes up the story.
“Soccer is a synonym for football,” said Toye, who helped launch the North American Soccer League in the late 1960s. “And it has been used as such for more years than I can count. When I was a kid in England and grabbed a ball to go out and play … I would just as easily have said: ‘Let’s have a game of soccer’ as I would use the word ‘football’ instead. And I didn’t start it.”
To trace the origin of “soccer” we must go all the way back to 1863, and a meeting of gentlemen at a London pub, who congregated with the purpose of standardizing the rules of “football,” which was in its infant years as an organized sport but was growing rapidly in popularity.
Those assembled became the founding members of the Football Association (which still oversees the game in England to this day). And they decided to call their code Association Football, to differentiate it from Rugby Football.
A quirk of British culture is the permanent need to familiarize names by shortening them. “My friend Brian Johnston was Johnners,” said Toye. “They took the third, fourth and fifth letters of Association and called it SOCcer. So there you are.”
There was an article on Yahoo today about why we call it soccer when everyone else calls it football. Being 3 weeks into the World Cup (so. many. games.), I was curious. So, here ya go:
Clive Toye, an Englishman who moved to the U.S. and became known as the father of modern American soccer, bringing Brazilian legend Pele to play for the New York Cosmos, takes up the story.
“Soccer is a synonym for football,” said Toye, who helped launch the North American Soccer League in the late 1960s. “And it has been used as such for more years than I can count. When I was a kid in England and grabbed a ball to go out and play … I would just as easily have said: ‘Let’s have a game of soccer’ as I would use the word ‘football’ instead. And I didn’t start it.”
To trace the origin of “soccer” we must go all the way back to 1863, and a meeting of gentlemen at a London pub, who congregated with the purpose of standardizing the rules of “football,” which was in its infant years as an organized sport but was growing rapidly in popularity.
Those assembled became the founding members of the Football Association (which still oversees the game in England to this day). And they decided to call their code Association Football, to differentiate it from Rugby Football.
A quirk of British culture is the permanent need to familiarize names by shortening them. “My friend Brian Johnston was Johnners,” said Toye. “They took the third, fourth and fifth letters of Association and called it SOCcer. So there you are.”
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Summer Buzz Cut
Haircut #4 - nice and easy for summer. Don't all little boys get their hair buzzed for the summer? My three brothers always did. I think Miles looks cute with his hair short, though I think his hair color looks lighter now and it seems to be growing back thicker.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Swim parties, BBQs and 80 Degrees
My favorite combination! We had an unusually cool weekend with 80 degree temps, even some rain while we swam and BBQ'd with friends over the weekend. Why can't Vegas stay like that all summer? I would be in heaven! I think I am forever altered after pregnancy to be constantly hot. Back to normal next week with 100 degree heat!
Matt, Brent and Josh jumping from the high wall
Just hanging out - the girls were freezing, but had fun!
Matt, Brent and Josh jumping from the high wall
Just hanging out - the girls were freezing, but had fun!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
May and Papa Visit Vegas
Though they aren't fans of the heat (this week marked our first really hot temperatures of the summer in Vegas), they are fans of the Hillers, so my parents came to visit us for a few days, just because. I hope this is a sign of the new retiree life - visits to the grand kids and fun trips :)
We tried to show them the side of Vegas that we see - just regular life, really. I had to work one day during their visit, so Matt took everyone to a splash park so Claire could play, a place we usually enjoy... but it was the last day of school and the middle school right up the street got out at noon that day. So, when hundreds of pre-teens descended on the park it kind of ruined their atmosphere. And then, a fight broke out between two boys and all the kids went crazy. Nice - welcome to Vegas mom and dad. Matt called the cops, and once an officer pulled up the kids all ran away.
We also went to the Bonnie Springs Ranch and saw the petting zoo and the old-time Nevada buildings. We didn't stay for the shoot out and public hanging show (yep, they have one!) since I didn't think Claire would like that very much. So we went out for fish and chips instead- delicious!
We also went swimming at my parent's hotel, and then to our favorite lunch place, Cafe Rio. We go there at least once a week so we had to let them enjoy it too.
My dad's sister Cindy lives here in town, so we also visited with them one night and had a BBQ and played Catch Phrase, not the easiest game with a baby in your lap, but still fun.
All in all, the visit was too short, but so fun! With Mom and Dad at a hotel this visit, it was kind of a glimpse of what it would be like if they lived close by, coming over for dinner or to play with the kids at the park. Thanks for coming to the desert to see us, despite the 102 degree temps :)
We tried to show them the side of Vegas that we see - just regular life, really. I had to work one day during their visit, so Matt took everyone to a splash park so Claire could play, a place we usually enjoy... but it was the last day of school and the middle school right up the street got out at noon that day. So, when hundreds of pre-teens descended on the park it kind of ruined their atmosphere. And then, a fight broke out between two boys and all the kids went crazy. Nice - welcome to Vegas mom and dad. Matt called the cops, and once an officer pulled up the kids all ran away.
We also went to the Bonnie Springs Ranch and saw the petting zoo and the old-time Nevada buildings. We didn't stay for the shoot out and public hanging show (yep, they have one!) since I didn't think Claire would like that very much. So we went out for fish and chips instead- delicious!
We also went swimming at my parent's hotel, and then to our favorite lunch place, Cafe Rio. We go there at least once a week so we had to let them enjoy it too.
My dad's sister Cindy lives here in town, so we also visited with them one night and had a BBQ and played Catch Phrase, not the easiest game with a baby in your lap, but still fun.
All in all, the visit was too short, but so fun! With Mom and Dad at a hotel this visit, it was kind of a glimpse of what it would be like if they lived close by, coming over for dinner or to play with the kids at the park. Thanks for coming to the desert to see us, despite the 102 degree temps :)
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