Time for Soccer!

We have started the soccer season off with a bang! (I am giving myself a pass on staying in chrono order with the blog. I know I have completely skipped over the summer, but I will add those posts later! We have a new computer and I don't have the time at the moment to go through the external hard drive...)

We've been practicing in the front yard for a few weeks now and feel confident we will have a stellar year on the YMCA Rams soccer team!

Emmy brushing up on her skills, even though she chose to stick with gymnastics this season. We're keeping it as simple as we can: the kiddos can play ONE sport at a time.)

Joel is coaching the team again this Fall. He really loves encouraging the kiddos and being a part of the kids' teams. He does a great job!

Sometimes the players need a little extra encouragement. They all tend to tucker out pretty quickly.

This year we lucked out and have an awesome co-coach. Jamie is incredibly gifted at coaching and has the heart of an athlete. She is legit- she played shot put at A&M. She's amazing!



Some dribbling exercises.

 Emmy and Rebecca came for the very first game of the season. They were our designated score keepers (the Y doesn't actually keep score but these girls would not be deterred) and cheerleaders.



The McNeil high school cheer squad had E and R in a state of awe and adoration.



Jamie also happens to be the mom of Boone's most favorite buddy. Boone and Jackson have been in the same class together for three years now (Preschool and now Kindergarten). They have a really sweet relationship.



Go Rams!

Milwood Spring Camping Trip

 

A weekend before Easter, 6 brave families packed up a passel of kids and stuff (plus one pregnant belly. Julie you are my hero!) and spent a wonderful weekend camping at Inks Lake. This has become my favorite State Park, hands down. There is SO much to do. Not only do you have the lake at your disposal there are also beautiful hiking trails, playgrounds for the kiddos, paddle boarding and kayak rentals, a giant Teepee, really cute general store and restaurant, and a sweet little treasure called Devil's Watering Hole where you can jump off the cliffs and explore mini caves (the former not recommended for littles...or anyone over 30 really).

 

 

During meal prep, everyone not on food duty chipped in to help keep the natives from losing control. Joel chose the hammock as his post and was rewarded with an invasion of littles.



Some of the dads on water patrol.

 Swimming and playing in the lake is so very tiring. A nap is always welcome.

Melt. My. Heart.

Kids were melting down all over the place so temporary nap spots were invaluable.

 Two nights of camping leads to inevitable conflict. The boys were upset with the girls and we found this gem of a note in one of the tents.

"Molly is poop. Molly is weird (I think). Molly is toilet." Nice.

 

Each family brought two dozen plastic eggs for a good old fashioned egg hunt. We stuffed them with non-perishable items; I made the unfortunate mistake of putting whistles in a few of ours. What. Was. I. Thinking?

 

 

We were camped out in a little cove off the main road so the kiddos had free reign to ride like bandits.

Is that a bungee cord Gabe is riding? Ill advised.

Other fun activities included tree climbing and monkey imitations, kite flying that of course ended up somewhat of a disaster as the winds were a bit too strong, Rainbow Loom creating, and getting as dirty as heavenly possible. We also ate some really good food! Each family was in charge of one major meal. This made it so easy on everyone in terms of preparing for the trip and packing purposes. One morning as we were cooking enough bacon for an entire city block, several people came by and commented on how the smell was wafting throughout the entire park. We also had some fun late night talks and shenanigans after the littles "went to sleep" (more like flung themselves around until they couldn't see straight anymore). At one point the Ranger had to come ask us to quiet down. Yes we are grown adults. With children. Sorry Ranger. 

 Please note how filthy Emmy is. That is a sign of fun times. Ultimately, the weekend was a success. No one bled (too much) and no parents lost their marbles the duration of our stay. A win in my book. We are so thankful for such a fun community and group of friends!

Spring Break Part Deux

 

I don't know how I failed to share our Dinosaur Park adventure in the last post!  Not only did we take a trip north to Dallas for our Spring Break vacay, we also took a trip back in time. (Cue dramatic music)

 

 

 A little ways down the road toward Houston is a gem of a place. You'll miss it if you blink. I had to turn around on the highway because I did just that. This park features LIFE SIZE dinosaurs. Yep. Someone built some dinosaurs, plopped them down in the middle of a trailer park (no lie), and now charges a small fee to roam through the forest in search of an earlier time. Upon arrival, you receive a really fun and informative scavenger hunt. Then you walk down a marked trail and the fun begins!

 This Triceratops was the first really large dino we encountered. The kids (and me) were taken aback! The iphone pic does no justice.

 THEN... T REX!

 More T Rex babies!

 Boone and Emmy decided the eggs needed to be cared for. So they sat on them. Like our chickens.

 The best part though came as we rounded a bend in the trail. A massive neck and head peeked out above the trees and we were agog. Seriously cool.

 I mean, look at that guy!! He had to be as tall as a five story building. Again, darn iphone does NOTHING for the dramatic effect.

 These are a few pics from the Dallas Aquarium I somehow left out as well. This was the giant manatee we fell in love with.

 And the super cool Shark Tunnel.

 This guy cracked me up. Every time he swam over us it looked like he was grinning and winking.

 Ok, now our entire Spring Break trip has been updated. Looking forward to next year's adventures.