Soccer 2011

Maddie has been waiting for this weekend for a long, long time. This weekend was the start of soccer and in her opinion, it couldn't come fast enough. She moved up this year to an Academy team. More intense frequent practices and more money :)

She is enjoying playing with this new team. A group of girls who play just as hard as she does, who understand the importance of a good pass. Watching them all together on the field at practice is sheer pleasure.

This weekend was a taste of what is to come for our family. Tournaments and games that are farther away and necessitate a 6:00 wake-up call to make it out the door on time to make the game.

The first game in this weekend's tournament was a little bit rough. The girls are still learning to play together, still learning how to really play soccer as a game and not just get the ball and hope that you make it to the goal. By the second game, the girls started to find their groove and even though they didn't win, they played hard.

Bud and Maddie returned this morning for the last game in the tournament and they shone today. Final score 9-0. Maddie had a goal and two assists and played fabulous defense according to her dad, her second biggest fan next to her mom. Their team placed third in the tournament. We are excited to see what they do as this season progresses.

Here's to another season of watching my baby do what she loves and doing it well

Warming up with her teammates

Our girl

End of Day One

The team before Sunday's game

Get the ball Maddie

After her third and final game and after dumping water on her coach.

First Day of School

Usually, I am ready for school to begin. To pick out new pencils and pens, binders and notebooks, new outfits and shoes. To watch them get on the bus and come home excited about new friends and new teachers.

Not this year. This year I wanted to hold onto summer just a little longer. The girls have had such a great summer this year. The little girls ( I guess I can't call them that much longer because Abby is now 11) went to a new camp that they loved. Destiny had her first job and while she didn't love every moment of being a mother's helper, she grew so much and I think matured. All the girls went to horse camp courtesy their grandparents. They spent time at White Water with friends and with us, the girls and I went to Pennsylvania to Blue Mtn. "my favorite place ever," they often say. Late nights, swims in the pool, ice cream cones, hanging out with friends. It was a wonderful summer and I wasn't ready to let it go yet.

I was also sad because this summer has brought changes. Dear friends moved and while they haven't moved all that far away, they are not at our school any longer. Their two older girls are the same ages as my two younger girls and they have been in class together and played soccer together and we miss them so much. Never so much as this week when we realized that we wouldn't be seeing them at Sneak a Peek or on the bus :) Love you Spencers!

I also wanted to hang on to summer because my first baby was headed to middle school. It seems like just yesterday that I watched her climb on the bus for kindergarten and now she is headed to middle school. This is also Destiny's last year of middle school and my baby, baby is in 3rd grade. Seriously, when did all this happen?

Time waits for no man though and especially not me. The song "Times to Remember has been bouncing around in my head, "These are the times to remember, cause they will not last forever. These are the day's to hold onto and we won't altho we'll want to." And hold onto them I will. Look out 2011-2012 here we come.

The only pic of all three girls together. The older two hadn't done their hair yet and were not thrilled that I made them take the photo.

Maddie Grace. 3rd grade.

My Booda

Maddie and her good friend Logan

The bus my baby crawled onto. Not only would she not let me take her to school and walk her to class. She wouldn't even let me walk her up to the bus stop. I had to snap this pic from afar

Abby Elizabeth. First day of 6th grade

My beautiful girl

Abby and her friend Sam

Destiny -8th grade

So pretty!

Spring Break 2011