We just finished up Tiny Tot Soccer with Davis and Blair.
Clearfield has so many fun recreation programs. Last spring, we signed both kids up for Smart Start Soccer and they loved it. Smart Start Soccer is where they go just to learn the basics of the sport. They had a fabulous coach and loved every minute of it- until the game. Blair hated the game and thought that everyone was being mean because they weren't sharing the ball. Davis loved plowing through people to steal the ball away, but Blair vowed soccer was off her list of things she liked to do.
I saw a
flyer for 3 on 3 soccer for 3 and 4 year
olds, so I signed up Davis, but Blair said she wanted nothing to do with it. Davis was so pumped he couldn't stand himself. Every day he asked how much longer it was until soccer started and when we were going to get shin
guards and cleats. We got him all the gear he needed and waited to hear from the city, but nothing came. Finally, they sent out an email saying they didn't have enough coaches and they needed more volunteers. I asked Spence, but he was going to be out of town for a few games, so he said he couldn't do it. A week or so later, I got a call from the lady in charge of soccer saying they were going to have to cancel it if they didn't get more coaches. I couldn't tell Davis there was no soccer, so I said I'd do it. Yes people, I was the soccer coach. I can just picture my friend Suzy laughing her guts out at the thought of me being the soccer coach even for 3 and 4 year
olds.
I didn't really know what to do, but they gave me a book and I did some of the same things the kids learned in Smart Start Soccer. We weren't that awesome of a team, but it turns out only two of the six kids on my team even cared to follow the ball or try to kick it. The others didn't even run half of the time- Davis and Blair included. (Blair singed up when she found out I was going to be the coach and there was an open spot on my team.) It was one of the most frustrating things I've ever done, but the kids seemed to have a good time and now I've done my duty as a coach. It's not my turn next time...
Spence and the kids headed to board the ferry
This was how Davis spent the ferry ride. It turns out if you're awake from midnight until noon the next day, you're pretty tired. The ferry was nice because it had so much space. We weren't cramped in like the airplane; Davis had the whole row to himself to stretch out. Spence and I also took turns naping on another row.
Blair liked the ferry, but I think it was becuase she had the iPad to herself with Davis sleeping.
Blair crashed the second we made it to the hostel in Montevideo. Too bad we had to wake her up to go get some dinner. Later that night, we remembered how nice it is to have the conveniences of home when kids are sick. Blair threw up in the night all over her bed and blanket and we had to rinse her hair out in the bathroom sink before putting all resources together to make somewhat of a bed for the rest of the night. We also used her Halloween bucket from her McDonald's Happy Meal to catch more throw up later in the night. We still have a gross blanket and pair of PJs in a grocery bag in the suitcase- we need to find a laundry mat today.
Davis loved all the bunk beds in the hostel.
We all enjoyed some food that felt to us like it should have been breakfast, but it turns out it was 12:30pm in Uruguay. The kids and I had somethign familiar and Spence went with something from his mission days. I don't think they'll have any McDonalds where we'll be staying for the remainder of the month.
The kids had a blast chasing the Pigeons in the plaza outside of the mall where we had lunch.
Waiting for the bus from Montevideo to Piriapolis. Davis and Blair got some random toys in the bus terminal they thought were pretty fun.
The LeapPads from Grandma and Grandpa Davis have been lifesavers throughout our traveling. The kids played them on the whole two hour bus ride.
Davis having a blast when we stopped for a break on our walk from the bus terminal in Piriapolis to a hotel for the night. At the bus terminal, the people told Spence it was just a short walk so we wouldn't need a taxi, but I'm not sure they knew we had a bunch of luggage and two three year olds to take along. We had to stop twice on the way. Luckily, we found a hotel pretty fast once we made it to the la rambla.
We found a great hotel on the beach with two bedrooms and a bathroom and Blair thought it was "fancy". I guess she was comparing it to the hostel we stayed in the night before with a bunch of bunk beds and a bathroom we shared with other people.
Hamburguesa Completa. That says it all. I picked the best when it came to dinner in Piriapolis.
This beach is just steps from our hotel. When we walked over and saw it Davis happily exclaimed, "Dad, we're at Uruguay!" He has been telling everyone we were going to Uruguay to got to the beach, so I guess the day and a half we've been here didn't feel like it to Davis. He was waiting to see the beach. 
Getting ready for the first flight
The kids were great following right behind Spence. Blair even followed when Spence started weaving back and forth.
Two pretty happy kids waiting for the ferry in Buenos Aires after some long miserable flights.
This picture of Spence shows perfectly how we were all feeling after the flight and all the travel.
Because we'll be in Uruguay on the kids birthday, we decided to have a little party with our family before we went. The weather has been so nice this fall that we ended up having most of the party outside. We got pizza and let the kids play. Because I have so much to do to get ready for our trip, I didn't want to worry about doing cakes for the kids, so we ordered them from the grocery store. It was awesome. The kids were thrilled and I didn't have to do anything. I don't know if I'll be motivated to make them fancy cakes again...
