What She'll Miss Most About Summer....

Lila's Catch and Release Program:

Mini-Munchkin Soccer

This deserves a post of it's own. :) Lila has been watching her sister play soccer for pretty much her entire life, and now it's her turn. She's playing on the Kindergarten co-ed team, and boy, is it funny to watch! At this age they're just learning to enjoy the game and have fun. Most kids position the ball with their hands before they kick it. They often swarm all together onto the neighboring field and shoot on the wrong goal. Ryan is her coach and is pretty awesome, I must say. Emma is loving helping him out with the five little ones.

The contrast of our two girls is once again very apparent. Emma's soccer strengths in the early years were: listening to the coach, doing exactly as she was told, understanding and playing by the rules, giving all the kids on the field a chance to kick the ball. Lila, on the other hand, is quite aggressive (I know, surprise, surprise!). She scored three goals last week, and probably would have also scored a yellow card had there been a referee! Her competitive drive is amazing - the girl wants to win! She cheers for her team with such enthusiasm that it makes me blush as her mother! It's going to be a fun fall with Lila's adorable games in the morning and Emma's competitive games in the afternoon.

"OK, make sure you remember which goal you're going for."

Lila - controlling the ball

Andrew and Lila :)

Assistant Coach and Coach

Special Visitors

We were blessed to have Ryan's Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim come from WA to visit us in the middle of their East Coast vacation. We had a fun weekend with them, and hope they didn't mind being dragged around to two soccer games, a driving tour of the area, a food sampling of South Jersey's finest places, and to church with us! We're hoping other relatives will follow their lead and come out east for a visit! Here is the proof that they were here.

The Spectators...

...what they were watching...

Go Emma!

Come back soon, Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim!

Back to School

It's that time of year again, and my 5th grader and Kindergartener couldn't be more ready!

Emma started Tuesday. I can't even believe that she's going to Middle School this year! Our schools are K-4 and 5-8. Her bus comes at 7:20, but she's been up fixing her hair and choosing her jewelry early so far (won't last long, I know!). Her new school is really great, and I'm super impressed with the principal and staff. They had 5 or 6 activites the last two weeks of summer for the incoming 5th graders to get used to the school. She went in for "Locker Day", "Schedule Practice Day", "5th Grade Scavenger Hunt", etc, so she was really not anxious about any of the new middle school things.

Trying out her locker last week...

An early breakfast on the special plate...

When did she get so grown up and gorgeous?!

... obligatory backpack shot ...

Lila started today, Wednesday. Yesterday her teacher had an Open House, so we got to meet her and see the classroom. Lila marched right into her room, shook her hand firmly, and said, "Hi Mrs. Trauger, I'm Lila Ann King."

"Nice to meet you, Lila, I can see you're ready for Kindergarten!"

...ahh, first impressions....

Lila loved her new teacher so much that she threw her arms around Mrs. Trauger's waist before we left the classroom.

Today, she finally got to ride the bus! She woke up happy, and grinned all morning - "not too nervous, mom - just excited!"

At Open House, trying out her seat

The "nicest teacher ever"

beautiful curls (she slept on rollers for those!)

looking pretty...

first backpack...

That's my girl!

Oh happy day!!