It's the Girl's turn!

Soccer started for the girls this weekend. Thanks to the scheduling God, I was able to make both the girls' games because Wyatt's game was early and Troy was home. I know I won't always be so lucky. Maddie doing a throw-in. She doesn't do them often because she is a defender.
The Mom part of me wants to send this into the league so show the un-sportsman-like conduct of the young lady in the orange, but then realistic part of me says, my daughter my do/or has already done the same thing LOL.
Sophie(61) trying to beat the ball.
Love the face and the stance, but hate that I missed the ball in this shot. The ball totally adds context to the photo..but in this case, maybe her facial expression is enough!

for these games, i was able to borrow a friends very NICE lens. I was nervous all day as I used it because of the value, but I am in LOVE! The girls play defense and are always on the opposite side of where we, the parents are sitting. This lens made that a non-issue. I was able to move along one sideline and capture some great shots of the girls and their team mates. D, my friend who loaned me the lens, has decided to campaign for me with Troy in getting the non-professional version of this lens. Hope she's successful!

SF Japanese Tea Garden

This summer I went to San Francisco with Maddie's Scout troop. We visited the Academy of Sciences as well as the Japenese Tea Garden. I love the garden as it was peaceful and really beautiful. Plus the lighting was much better than what was happening in the museum and I had our cruddy point and shoot. Anyway, I did play with the colors a bit to make them pop.

First Day of School

I'm going to start with Wyatt since he starts his educational career today. He's in Kindergarten! {cry} He is such a big boy, I just can't believe it.

Standing in line waiting to go into class. Moments before, he had the most serious, focused face.

Waiting for Mr. S to begin. I think the nervous giddy was setting in...

My beautiful Madeleine, who is in her last year of elementary school. This fact almost makes me as emotional as Wyatt starting kindergarten.

My sweet, sassy, cutie-pie Sophie. She's in that weird adolescent stage of 3rd grade and feeling a little out of sorts.

All 3 of my school age kiddos...sniff sniff.

Ivoryton Way gang...All the kids from our street that hang out and walk to school together(minus the two little ones in the front)...

End of Year Wienie Roast

Waiting for the fire to be ready for wienies and marshmallows!

First course : wieners

Finished product..Mom got the spicy hot dog and it was so good!

Second course: Marshmallows!

Yummy!

Gourmet S'mores...This was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup S'more..Troy said it was awesome! I went with the traditional-Hershey Bar, marshmallow, graham cracker..

Hopefully we make this a yearly tradition as we had a lot of fun.

And so it begins....

Soccer that is! Wyatt is in his first year and I've heard that coaching this age group islike herding bumblebees, but, I gotta say, these are the cutest dang bumblebees! Most of the kids have no flippin' clue as to what they should be doing. They're told to get on the field, stand "here", watch the ball, get the ball, kick the ball. It can be very overwhelming for these little guys. But Wyatt was a trooper.It probably helps that his been on the sidelines for the last two years watching his sisters' play soccer, so the whole concept wasn't brand new.

I love this photo. It's like watching all the dots get connected as he focus' on the ball and what he is supposed to do with it.

So here's to soccer, that which will consume my life every Saturday through November!

Birthday Celebration part 2

We have some very close friends that always treat us like princes & princesses on our birthdays and Sophie's day was no exception! We met at a local pizza place in a historic district where the service was excellent and the food was great...Sophie was surprised with mini cupcakes from a cupcake store and of course she chose chocolate and vanilla.

Here's the birthday girl...

and Maddie

and Wyatt

I have so many photos with the girls doing this.. When I ask them to pose, they put their arms around each other but they stand inches apart. I tell them to act as if they like each other and then this is what I get.

And her is the clan...Thanks friends for the nice day out! We love spending time with you and always wish we had more time together!

Day Hike

Summer is winding down quickly and we feel like we need to cram a bunch of stuff in at this last minute. Today's activity was a hike at a local camping/recreation area. We took one trail that went along the water and wound up and around. It was a pretty walk but hot as some of trail wasn't covered.

We then drove to another area and followed a trail to the above waterfall. It was an easy 1 mile hike and it was very cool and shady.

The kids and Troy hiked across to the waterfall while I stayed with Murphy.

Our attempt at a self timer portrait LOL

Troy does the dumbest poses. This is his ranger face...

It's a Double Rainbow!!!

Otherwise known as Sophie's 8th birthday! The first photo is an overview of the basic set-up. The empty areas were absolutley laden down with food(i failed to take a photo): fruit platter that looked liked a rainbow, veggie tray, salad with salad fixings, chicken, chips & dip etc..

The banner I made..I plan for this to get lots of use over the next few years!

Candy that I seperated by hand to make a rainbow..yes I have problems LOL

Homemade sno-cone syrup in all the colors of the rainbow!

Something Fun and Yummy!

Birthday Girl Making a wish!

My beautiful 8 year old Sophie...All our favorite people(minus 3) were there to share her day, and we are so lucky to have her as our daughter.

Keepng you updated Missy!

Put my new camera to use yesterday..Maddie eating the Ice-Cream in a Bag that they kids made. Lots of fun and something we plan to do again...

MMM-Vanilla ice cream with Butterfinger!

Wyatt shaking it up..

Maddie and Dad

Wyatt at his Auntie's new pool.

Long day yesterday. Kids didn't make it to bed till after 11pm and the last child got up at almost 10am! We're laying low today, resting up for our 1st official swim lessons tonite :) The kids don't have regular access to a pool so we they have sort of learned the need-to-know swimming moves ie treading water, doggy paddle, floating on their backs. Now it's time to get the real basics-especially for Wyatt. He hasn't learned anything yet and he is very hesitant and cautios around water. He generally won't go father than the steps.

Sophie and I are also starting to plan her birthday party. We won't be doing a friend party this year, just an all inclusive family/friend party. We've decided on a rainbow theme! Lots of color and balloons ! Will post pictures of the progress and the party!