Soccer. We meet again.

Soccer season is upon us. Mathew is the star. For this one hour, all Hufford eyes are on him. Last year he refused to go on the field for the first 4 games. During game 4 I finally took him home in the middle of the game. It went like this:
Mom: Look! They are all having so much fun!
Coach: Hey Mat! Wanna play? C'mon buddy! Look! There are puddles on the field! Wanna come splash some puddles with me, buddy?
Mat: shows no indication that anyone is speaking to him
Mom: Dude, why are we here?
Coach: (gives me the "you want me to keep trying?" look)
Mom: gives "please go away so everyone will stop looking at us" look to the coach
Well meaning parents nearby: Hey Mat! Wanna go play with Miles on the field?
Would he like a drink?
Maybe little Jimmy can come off the field and invite him to join in? Please everyone stop looking at us!
At this point I'm sweating and wish I never paid the 35 bucks to do this.
Mom: Alright dude. I'm done. Let's go. If your not gonna play, then you're not staying for the snack.
Mat: No no! I'll play! I'll play!
Mom: Okay then (feeling smugly satisfied that I've taken care of the entire issue)
Coach comes out for new players after 3 minutes on the field
Coach: Ready to play Mat?
Mat: literally sinks deeper into his fold out chair and grips the seat with both hands. I'm sorry, I'm confused. Are we at the dentist's office?
Mom: C'mon Maffers. Let's get out there and support the team. You're team needs you! It'll be fun!
Mat: (this kid isn't movin)
Mom: Okay, let's go.

I start packing up and Mathew is wailing at the top of his lungs "NO! NO! I'll play! I will! I promise!" I am not to be fooled again, I'm putting my foot down. We are out of there. I end up with Megan on my hip, dragging Mathew with the other hand, kicking his stupid soccerball all the way to the car with parents giving me various looks of pity and disgust. I'm also dragging one adult and three child sized fold up chairs. Not to mention I'm in full swing pregnancy barf mode. Not a good day for the Huffords. (no...I'm not pregnant..remember? We're reminiscing?)

However!! Do not underestimate the power of the post-game snack. All week Mathew stewed over the fact that in order to get that bag of oreos and a Capri sun, he'd have to get on the field. Saturday rolled around and wonder of wonders...miracle of miracles! He acted like nothing ever happened. He played with the rest of the boys (granted, 3 of the 4 goals he made were for the other team) and we cheered like crazy!
Mathew. Last year with more cheeks and missing 3 inches.

No hands.

The team sits together now. No more comin straight to mom when your turn is done.
Needless to say, all the woes and worries of last season are forgotten. He is thrilled to have a turn and runs in the right direction with all the other "Red Raptors" on his team.
In soccer mom language: "Way to get in there, buddy!"
Mark took this photo right after the entire mass of boys was running down the field towards the other teams goal. Mat was right in there with them. We were all cheering....go! go! go! Kick it in! You can do it! One of the other boys kicked and it actually went in. Our side erupted. "Good job! You did it!" Mathew, turned to look at us and thinking we were talking to him, laughed and said "Thanks" in the way only Mathew can. I loved it.

No game is complete without a thumbs up from Mathew.

Huffords in the news

Right before school started we took the kids to the outdoor movie at Frisco Square. It was one of those things that you put on your calendar early in the summer thinking of all the fun things you will do with your kids and what an awesome, fun mom you'll be. But then the day comes and the little monkeys are perhaps less than deserving of a late movie night. We almost didn't go...Mark was hoping I'd cave. But we got the kids in their jammies and packed up the lawn chairs. They were showing "Bee Movie". As soon as we set up the chairs and laid out the blankets, a lady from Rogers Hometown News came up and asked our names and took pictures of the kids. Mark left a few minutes later and walked to a nearby convenience store for drinks and treats. The kids were surprisingly well behaved and we had a good time. The next week this article was in the Hometown News. Famous!

Happy Anniversary!

Mark and I were married 9 years ago today! It's hard to believe it's actually been that long. Then I look around and see 4 other people living in our house and 9 years seems about right :) I have to admit that as a mom, I often put a lot of effort and focus into our kids and their activities and accomplishments. Mark resides on the back burner quite a bit. But, I wanna say.... I really love this guy! He treats me with so much kindness and respect. He is an incredible father. The kids love him so much. He makes me laugh and has a way of keeping the business of life fun and interesting. He rarely says a judgemental or unkind thing about anyone...(if he does, you know they really had it comin). Anyway, I don't want to get too mooshy. Happy Daversary, Dananas!

Spring chickins! August 20, 1999.
In all our current glory.

That's a Hufford Baby

I always think it's so funny when people think my latest bambino doesn't look like his/her siblings. The truth is, we know exactly what to expect when each child is born. Dark hair and chubby cheeks....just a bit of variation on the thickness. Here's a little quiz for you all. Can you tell who is who? I've removed all dates and revealing body parts :0). I promise this is all 4 of them! Also, notice that we have had the same baby tub for all 4 kids. It was a hand me down from my sis. Thrifty!