End of an Era

Yesterday was Audrie’s last game of the soccer season. More than that, it was her last game with this group of girls. At this point, the team will be splitting up. Though Audrie might end up playing with some of her teammates, the team won’t look the same. She’s been with most of these girls for over four years, and with a couple of them for five. We’ve watched these girls grow up together.

We sure will miss this team!

xo

nessa dee

Boys will be boys

A stick, a wooden gun, a couple of friends and an open field. It’s enough to keep a boy occupied all day.

Be back tomorrow with some pics of our latest house projects.

xo

nessa dee

Soccer Season

We’re back in full soccer mode again. This season will mark the end of Audrie’s 5th year in soccer. I can’t believe it’s been that long. My how time flies. If you had asked me 5 years ago if I thought I would be a soccer mom, I would answered, “You’re crazy!” We tried the whole ballet route, and it just didn’t fit. We started Audrie in piano, but it wasn’t enough. We thought she needed something that would involve learning the art of teamwork. Soccer seemed a viable option. So, my husband and I never having played soccer before, signed her up and hoped for the best.

[Audrie’s soccer face]

[Audrie (left) and teammates Lauren and Lindsey who are still with the team]

Her first practice, she cried. Her first game, she cried. I thought I was a bad mom for getting her into this sport that she hated. But she stuck with it, she never cried again, and she loves this sport and her team.

And we love to watch.

xo

nessa dee

Windy

Saturday, Audrie's soccer team played in a 3v3 soccer tournament. Upon arriving at the fields at 8am, we were met with 25-40mph wind gusts with a wind chill factor in the 30's. I hoped for a cancellation because I'm a weenie when it comes to cold weather, but the show went on. Needless to say, it made for an interesting tournament. The girls had to dodge flying objects, chase the ball on kick-off because it wouldn't stay put, even gave up a goal because the wind blew the ball into the net. They prevailed, though, and came out with a 2nd place medal.

(Go ahead, laugh it up. I was cold. I wasn't the only parent dressed like this....see below.)

And what did the parents get for their dedication? Wind chapped skin and sunburns.

We sure do love these girls!

Nessa Dee

Smells Like Soccer...

...as Audrie's coach would say. Well, soccer has started back up again. We didn't have a long break between seasons because Audrie's team opted to play indoor soccer over the summer which was an absolute blast to watch. (Not to mention the nice, air-conditioned building!) Audrie has come a long way since she first set foot on the field back in 2006. She cried at her very first game, but after that, you couldn't get her off field. Her talent on the soccer field is not something she inherited from Jonathan and I....we never played the game. Anytime I try to help Audrie practice, I end up pulling muscles in places I didn't even know I had muscles. Thankfully, Audrie got an experienced coach who has taught them so many skills from the beginning. I credit him for inspiring this love of soccer in Audrie. It's become a normal thing to see Audrie walk around the house with some sort of ball at her feet as if it's just a part of her stride. For her, it's not a conscious thing, it's another natural function, like breathing or blinking. It's been fun to see her growth in this game as well as the friendships she's formed with her teammates. I look forward to seeing how this team progresses in this game!

Audrie's #3

Audrie's teammate Lauren squirting her face for a quick cool down...That's Audrie getting some advice from Coach Gary.

Go Firecrackers!!

Nessa Dee

Highlights

Okay, I haven't posted pics of the kids since Valentine's Day, so I'm just going to give the pictorial highlights of the last few weeks. (And a bit of commentary!)

Discovering the rubber stamps.

Building birdhouses with Popsie.

Feeding the fish....

and the ducks.

Celebrating a special birthday.

Saying goodbye.

First game of the season.

Audrie's biggest fan.

Scooter accident with bragging rights.

There it is, a glimpse of our last few weeks. Hopefully I won't let too many weeks pass by again before my next post!

XO

Nessa Dee