Falling for Soccer

The beginning of the school year also means it's time for something else-- Fall Soccer! We sure do love soccer around here. This year is pretty exciting because Ginger is playing on the freshman team for her high school and Edith is playing for the VERY FIRST time! So fun! I'll probably do a few soccer posts this fall, but this is to document the first games of the season (Edith's first games EVER!).

Ginger was the first to have a game. I took a photo of her at home before we left for the field. 

Ginger wasn't sure she was going to try to play in high school, but decided to after all. I'm so glad. It's so fun to see her playing again. Plus, I think she's having a blast. 

Then Big had his first game. That kid just loves to play.

Edith was so darn cute in her first game! The pigtails! I'll admit that it made my heart melt to see her running around. She started the game out looking a little uncertain.

But then stuff like this happened (um, strangulation here)...

(by her own teammate, no less!)

...and it just fueled her competitive fire!

Each of the kids had several games in the first few weeks of play, with Ginger having 3 games in one week! So, here are more pictures of the fun. Seriously this is the best time I've had in ages. 

 Here's Edith taking the kick-off and scoring her very first goal! It was a huge kick that went through all the kids and traveled the length of the field and into the goal. Way to go, Edith!

Big and Ginger were working hard on the field, too. Ginger's coach has been playing her everywhere, and I mean that literally. She has played everything from back up goalie to forward. So fun to watch. 

I love this shot because it almost looks like Ginger's dribbling the ball down the field like a basketball. 

It's a good thing I like watching my kids play soccer so much, because we sure do have a lot of opportunities this fall. It's only just begun... :)

Summer's End

I know it isn't really the end of summer. It drives Bud a little nuts when I say it, since it doesn't end until September. I guess what I should really say is the end of summer break. We got back from our trip to the City of Parks only a few days before the start of the school year. Just enough time to do laundry, buy some school supplies, and make sure that backpacks were ready to go. 

When I went to pick the garden a few days before school started, I noticed the sunflowers were huge and really cool looking. I decided to try out the macro setting on my phone camera app to see what I could capture. Pretty neat, I think. 

A few days before school started, I got a call from Rophone at work, asking me to come get him and to bring Edith along because he had a surprise for her. I drove around the corner and saw Rophone standing on the curb next to a ginormous stuffed horse! Boy, was it a surprise to me, too! 

The daughter of one of Rophone's coworkers was re-doing her bedroom to be more suited to her age (13), and she decided it was finally time to get rid of her favorite horse. She didn't just want to take it to DI and not know its fate, but her dad said he thought he knew a girl who would really love it. He was right. Edith adores her knew horsey, Lili. 

The kids started school on Wednesday, August 19th. I know it seems early, but it does mean that we get out before Memorial Day. 

Big, super stoked to be starting 3rd grade:

Bud, grinning ear-to-ear at the thought of starting 5th:

Ginger, kind of half awake and maybe just a wee bit nervous to be a freshman (she's gonna rock high school):

Pen wasn't thrilled with her early-morning shot, so I took this one that evening while shooting her headshot for journalism staff:

Much better, I agree. I can't wait to see what this school year brings. I know they'll all do well and have a ton of fun. 

The weekend after school started, I got a visit from a dear friend from high school and her son. I love our annual get-togethers. I'm so glad we just decided to meet at my house this year-- it really gave us a nice chance to chat. 

It cracked me up when she got roped into reading this book to the kids:

We had to take a few selfies, of course, to document it all.

So much fun to have a visit from a friend! She is truly beautiful inside and out. I can't wait until next year's visit. Hopefully we'll be able to swing a visit sooner than that.