Opening Day

Madelyn's team name is "The Pink Sparklers"
Obviously it's an all girl team!

Running after the ball

In between the action-Chandler is not used to so much down time at a soccer game, he's usually warming up for his own game.

On the pitch, waiting for the game to start


Our friend Nick holding Eli. He and Mady were letting Eli throw the ball-his absolute favorite game in the world!

Coach Justin and Coach Rob analyzing the game :)

Madelyn and Chandler had their first soccer games of the season last Saturday. We had to be at Madelyn's game by 7:30 am, and it was already hot! At first, Madelyn was a little hesitant, she just jogged along the side of the action. But after "prompting" from her dad, she started to get in the middle of everything.

Chandler's game was miserably hot. It was humid, over 100 degrees, and it started at 2:00 pm! The boys sat under an umbrella when they were not on the field, but it was terrible. They played ok, not their best, but not too bad for the first game.

Someone her size

Last week I took Olivia and Elijah to the library, and Olivia was fascinated with this bronze sculpture of a little boy. She sat in front of him for about 5 minutes, patting his head and looking at the bugs in his hand.

To the Zoo Again

We have a membership to the zoo so we go once a month or so. In the fall and winter when the weather is nice, we may even go more often.

Checking out the fish

Justin is holding up Eli so he could be in the picture with the monkey (the tiny black speck in distance)

Playing on the tractor-of course only the big kids will look at the camera!

It was Justin's idea to take the kids out on a paddle boat. I was terrified that Olivia would fall in the water, but apparently she did great. The boat didn't have seat belts or anything to keep them in, but she was fine.

Painting

A couple of weeks ago Olivia, Elijah, and I went over to our friend Sarah's house while the big kids were at school. It was her very brave idea to let Olivia and Talon (22 months old) paint wooden pumpkins for Halloween. Letting Olivia paint would have NEVER crossed my mind, so it is to her benefit that Sarah had such an idea! Olivia was actually very careful and took great care in painting her pumpkin. Thanks Sarah!

Olivia painting her pumpkin

Talon, Sarah, and Olivia

Brielle and Elijah-"I wasn't touching her Mom, I promise!"