Emma's First "Real" Playdate

Emma had her friend Ava over this morning for her first "real" playdate. She informs me all the time that Grace and Olivia have friends over, but she never does. Ava is in her Sunday School class and I know her mom quiet well, so it finally worked out that she could have someone over. Emma acts like I could just have someone we don't know that well. I mean, come one, she is only 4!!! She has had plenty of play dates with mommy's friends kids that are younger than her, but this was her first official playdate. They seemed to have a good time playing house, making a big Halloween Banner that read "HBPONWEMObvp" (Happy Halloween), and making cookies. We ate some lunch, played a game of Shutes and Ladders, and took Ava home just in time for Emma's nap. Wow! It was an eventful morning!!!

A Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

It was so beautiful yesterday and the girls could hardly wait to get home from church to go outside and play. They spent the afternoon working on a fort in the woods behind our house, playing on the rope swing, and even had lunch on the deck! They were in their glory! They kept coming up the garage to get shovels, rakes, etc., and I kept saying, "Make sure you put that all back when you are done." Boy did it bring back memories of when I was a child, building forts behind the barn, and dad saying, "Make sure you put that all back." At least they didn't have any hay bales to drag back into the barn!

The "Keeper"

Grace was asked for play goalie today for another team in her league. They ended up losing both games, but at least they had this really cool goalie jersey that she got to wear! It was very muddy and cold, but, all and all a good day! Hey, she was playing soccer!!!!

A quick smile for mom during down time.

Spooky Concert

Tonight Grace had her string concert at the high school. It was the 5th and 6th grade orchestra from her school, 3 other elementary schools, and Anderson High School. It was fun to see her have so much fun! They had to wear Halloween costumes and they had a pizza party before the concert. They all look so cute! It was amazing to hear the high schoolers! They were so good I would have thought I was at the Cincinnati Pops! It's hard to believe that if Grace sticks with it, she will sound like that! Will she????

She Made It!

Emma earned her soccer medal! It was a tough season, but she did it. About the third or fourth game in, she decided she wasn't so keen on the cleats and the shin guards and didn't want to play anymore, but they know that what they start, they have to finish. There was one game where she refused to play, so just sat on the sidelines, but she was there (she didn't get the team snack after that game because she didn't play on the field--I'm so mean!). When we left the field that night, I told her that if she didn't get out on the field and play, she wouldn't get her medal. Since then, she has gone full steam ahead for that medal, and tonight was the big night. She was so excited and proud (as you can see from the picture). Way to go, Emma! Do you think she'll be so gung ho about playing next year???--maybe if there is a medal involved!!!

We're Back!!!! (Finally!!!!!)

O.K., so it's been awhile since I've posted, but we've been a little busy unpacking, going to soccer games, etc. I really haven't taken many pictures the last month or so, but yesterday we made our annual trip to Shaw Farms, so, of course, the camera came along. We got 3-4 inches of rain last week, so it was more like "Mud Farms", but the girls still had a great time on the hay ride and picking out their pumpkins. It was a little chilly, but we just snuggled closer on the hay ride. Emma kept saying, "I'm falling in the crack", but I asked her, "Isn't is warmer in between the bales of hay?" (At first I think she thought that was funny, but not so much at the end.)