No More Soccer Games for Kiley

Jackson had a soccer game today. Kiley couldn't come b/c she had to go to a baby shower (booooooorrrring!) so it was just me and Jackson. They played another team of 4-5 year olds that just couldn't put an offensive scheme together and won 12-2. Jackson scored 3 goals and barely missed the 4th one. He had this one goal where someone threw the ball in and he kicked it up in the air over the heads of the other team, ran around them and then kicked the ball in the goal. Granted, I understand that he didn't really mean to do that but it's like my brother says when we're playing golf and he makes a lucky shot, "Lucky? I was aiming for the pin." Funny.

Jackson was so busy scoring goals that I finally went to their goal and pulled out my phone and snapped a pick. Luckily photography doesn't capture the sound of a sonic boom. You can't see the ball in the picture b/c it was ripping thru the back of the net. Notice how far in front of the other team he was. I'm so proud.



I know what you're thinking. Look at the quality of that picture, what kind of camera phone does Chad have anyway? Hey, it's like I always say, "It just cost a little bit more to go first class."

What's Your Kid Doing?

Well well well, it seems my kids have been busy putting your kids to shame. First off all, a short story:

Jackson started soccer. At practice when they would scrimmage he would fall on the ball and put it between his knees or dive on the ball and hold it with his hands so no one could get it. Cut to a red-faced father who wanted to strangle his son for stopping down soccer practice. So the day before his first game we went out back for a little one-on-one soccer practice. The first lesson only lasted 3 minutes and ended with me spanking him. After that we worked on three things that I had him repeat to me moments before his game. But before that I sort of hoped he'd get sick and not be able to make it to the game. No such luck. My prayer request to all my friends was that Jackson would not shame the Haught name on the soccer field that week. Finally Saturday arrived and we headed to the game.

So before he ran out onto the field I said, "Jackson, what are we NOT going to do?" "Fall down, touch the ball with my hands and cry." Hmm, this kid has promise. I wonder if David Beckham repeats that before each of his games.

The whistle blew and an amoeba of kids surrounded the ball and then the heavens opened and a miracle occurred. Jackson broke away from the pack and in a fast break (that happened in slow motion) took the ball all the way to the goal and missed it by about a foot. Nevermind the missed goal, I was 99% sure he was going to start crying and fall on the ball. I seriously teared up. More proof that miracles happen and therefore the existence of God. Take THAT atheists!



Meanwhile, we took the training wheels off of Ellie's bike and she rides like Lance Armstrong on steroids. Which he never took during his career. Take THAT France!



And Ellie finally took the plunge in the pool and went under water. Sounds like nothing unless you've done everything you can think of to get her to do it for 2 summers straight aside from dunking her. Another feat tackled thanks to great parenting.



And double check the last blog post and you'll see how much Cooper has improved this pose. These kids are AMAZING!



Want more pictures? I created an album here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14792&l=d8d81&id=727129528

I'm in trouble

Hi blog. Did you miss me? I'm sorry I've neglected you. Here's an update. Miss you, chad.

A few weeks back we went to the lake. Cooper enjoyed it.


Jackson loves "tube-riden". He told me brother (Uncle Bubba) a new signal for speed. Thumbs up means faster but now two thumbs up means super fast! Jeff couldn't go fast enough for him and all he wanted to do all weekend was go tube-riden.


We brought Lucas with us and for the first time in this dogs life we wore him out. After the first day he was too tired to eat. He would just swim in the water and fetch his ball all day long until he was about to drop dead.

This is what I did most of the weekend. You probably didn't know this but I'm a lumberjack by trade. This hairy chest didn't come from sitting around playing video games all day, right guys? The second picture must have taken mere seconds before that long exploded into a thousand toothpicks...weird.

KA BOOM!