Let's Play Catch Up!

Corbin Edward 5 years & 11 months/Chloe Dawn 2 1/2 yearsWow, it has been a long time since I have updated my blog. I keep waiting for things to slow down...not going to happen! We have been busy and summer has officially started for the Hines Household.

What has been going on? We have been busy with: swim lessons, soccer, t-ball, Little Gym, working at the Church, playing outside with friends and neighbors, getting ready for summer, planning our sitters so Daddy and Mama can be without kids for just a bit...I could just go on.

Let's start with soccer!!

Corbin's little team has played together for 4 seasons now...and WOW has Corbin grown as a soccer player. (the whole team has grown) Corbin has turned into one aggressive player! In one game this season he scored 4 goals. His last game was yesterday and he scored a goal during his last game of the season! (Even though we say, "it is about having fun and being a team player and not all about scoring a goal! WELL....it sure is fun to score a goal and win!)

We are very blessed to have such a great team and two of his coaches are our super close family friends! We have come a long way from the first season, when at the last game the main objective for the coaches was to get Corbin ONE goal (in the correct net) before the season was over. I am so proud of how much he has challenged himself this year. He has been brave, tough and a good team player. After each game he always tells us things like, "Did you see that ball hit me right in the tummy? It didn't hurt a bit!" or "That boy hit me right in the knee with his cleats! I didn't even cry!" He has had a positive attitude and enjoyed every bit of soccer! Next season....here we come...and watch out for #10!!

Corbin also does T-ball. Now I am one of those Mom's that thinks one sport is enough. So when David said Corbin should do T-ball and Soccer I was a bit nervous. David has been awesome and has totally helped with the two sports. He is home from work to help with practices and is always at the games. He even does soccer practice alone with Corbin and Chloe so I can go to my workout class. So all that to say....this 2 sport thing has worked out for us! (This year anyway)

Corbin has enjoyed t-ball too! He is on a team with two of his neighbors. I have to say they are the cutest in their t-ball uniforms. (see post before this one for t-ball pictures) David is an assistant coach for t-ball and that has been fun for both my boys to do together. Corbin's favorite things about t-ball are the following: sliding into home base, playing 1st base or pitcher (because you get the ball the most) and hitting and running the bases! ***Brag Alert*** After last game another coach came up to David and said, "Corbin's a really smart player!" It does seem he understands the game pretty well...and I haven't seen him spend a whole inning digging in the dirt like some 5 year old t-ball kids do. (it is cute when they do that) :) We will take a break from t-ball and start up again next Spring.

Chloe has been busy too! She runs around with us to all of her Bubba's activities...and I have to say she loves it. At swimming lessons she loves to go because Daddy always buys her a cookie AND a sucker. At soccer practice she gets to play with her best friends Emma and Avery! At t-ball practice she gets to swing and play with Oakley and Carter. She also is Corbin's biggest fan! Chloe will yell, "GO BUBBA!!" and clap her hands and sit in her little tot chair and be so proud of her brother.

Chloe and I every week go to Little Gym and have Mommy and Me time. This has been great for Chloe as she is pretty shy and I think she is really coming out of her shell now. She loves to swing on the bars, play bubbles, play balls, and do tummy rolls. ***Brag Alert*** Chloe was one of the first little kiddos to say her name "all by herself" in front of the group during circle time. It is amazing my baby girl is 2 1/2 and how much she has grown. (AND how much hair she has now!!)

There are several things I love about being a Mom, but I have to say my favorite thing is to watch my two gifts love each other. Now...there are moments we have to work through...more and more as they get older, but for the most part I am blessed that my kids get along so well and care for each other so much. Nobody else can make Corbin light up more than his sister. Nobody else can make Chloe shine more than her big brother.

It is our family's long running joke that Corbin could take care of Chloe all by himself. He is so thoughtful to her feelings. If we can't understand what Chloe wants...Corbin knows. If she is in the back seat on a trip and she is throwing a fit....Corbin can take care of it. If she is about to get in trouble...Corbin gets worried and tries to help her do the right thing.

Now he does have his moments where he has had enough. The other day Chloe did not want to come inside and I was about to just grab her, put her in time out and we were going to have it out. Well, Corbin comes out and says very matter of fact..."I can get her in." So he goes outside and says, "Chloe, Poppy is inside!" (she adores her Poppy) So at that, Chloe runs inside so happy almost jumping for joy....until she realizes she has been had and there is no Poppy! I said, "Corbin, that wasn't very nice!" Chloe is now throwing a bigger fit and screaming, "I want Poppy!" All Corbin said as he was walking by me was, "I told you I could get her in."

But other than a few bumps in the road that are certainly normal and expected, he is a fantastic big brother who always looks out for his sister.

We were at the mall playing and he never left her side because there was this boy that really wanted to play with Chloe. The boys kept going up to Chloe saying, "Will you be my friend?" Corbin would just step in front of Chloe and say, "She doesn't know what you are asking!" and then he would just move her around him. It was great I just sat down and relaxed while Corbin and Chloe played for an hour at the mall. :)

It can be heart-breaking at times how much he loves her. Two things come to mind. The other night during prayers Corbin just starts crying and crying hard. I asked what was wrong. He said, "I just had a bad thought!" "What if you forget sister at Church, and you forget to bring her home?" "What if she falls down the holes (drains) in the side of the street and we can't get to her?" "What if she gets lost?" His little 5 year old heart was so worried about his sister! We prayed to God about our worries and then I reminded him that his job was to be a kid and have fun and learn. Daddy and Mama's job was to take good care of Chloe and Corbin.

Then yesterday, Corbin and Daddy came home from running errands and Chloe was so excited to see Daddy. I found Corbin crying in his room and he said, "Chloe doesn't love me and didn't miss me!" In my head I am thinking, "Boy...puppy love is going to hard on this kid!" :) We just talked about her only being 2 and then Chloe came in and hugged on her bubba because she saw he was crying. ALL was better. Chloe has no idea how blessed she is to have a brother like him...I hope she will know someday! Corbin thinks she is the best....well...for now anyways! :)