The Games We Play

Soccer season is officially under way with today being the first soccer games of the season for both of my girls.
After Wednesday's practice meltdown, I wasn't even sure we would be able to get Sophia in her uniform.
But after a little bit of bribery, we got her up and out to the fields...

Lily's game wasn't until the afternoon, but that didn't mean she couldn't be dressed and ready to go...

Once in her full uniform, Sophia switched into soccer mode...

Her and Lily spent a few minutes warming up...

Her team mates all arrived and they went through their pre-game ritual: walking in a circle...

We asked Sophia if she was ready and this is what she gave us...

Then we asked her which goal was hers...

The whistle blew and off she went.
The memories of Wednesday's practice were behind her and she ran and ran.
She didn't cry when someone took the ball away.
She even scored two goals.
Game one of the day was a definite success.

Now, on to game two...

Lily and her fellow "Purple Butterfly" team mates warmed up their legs...

Right before the game, they waited in line for a shin guard and cleat check...

Just like Sophia, Lily gave it all she got.

Although she did not score a goal, she played hard.

They both did.

So hard in fact that they didn't even make it home before the exhaustion set in...

Week one of soccer is off to a good start.

Let's just hope the enthusiasm remains through week ten.

Over Before It Begins?

If you look all around, you will notice the soccer fields are full of little ones running around.
Soccer season is upon us.
Sophia is finally old enough to join in the soccer fun.
After being a spectator at many of Lily's games, Sophia now gets to be a participant...

She was so eager to get her shin guards and cleats on and just kick the ball around...

See how happy she is...

After a few minutes of kicking the ball with us, her coach called her over.
Practice was set to begin.
They started by playing a few games.
Simon Says was the first game...

Which was then followed by a couple more games.
Sophia was really into it.
Joe and I got excited watching her because for the first time, we got to see how fast she was.
We also thought she was just aggressive enough to play this sport.
After all, it is a sport where you chase people down and kick the ball away from them.

This is, unfortunately, where we lost her.
She could not believe that kids are actually allowed to take the ball from you.
She wasn't familiar with the game and she took it personally.

Within ten minutes of her very promising start, she was done...

The last 45 minutes of practice were spent just trying to get her on the field to listen to her coach.
It was rough.
There really was no convincing her.

Yup, I am pretty certain that Sophia's little soccer career is over before it has even begun.
Now what are we going to do for the next ten weeks?

Panda Express

The Giants are coming!
The Giants are coming!

It's the end of August and that can only mean one thing,
the baseball pennant race is in full swing.
My favorite team, the San Francisco Giants are definitely in the race.
Lucky for them, they have a three game series in Houston where they are sure to pad their lead.
Lucky for us, we would be there to cheer them on for two of those three games.

Of course we couldn't see the Giants play so close to home without having one key baseball buff with us.
Papa just had to be there with us...

We wanted to make sure the girls stood out so to hopefully get the attention of the players.
There was one player in particular that we were hoping to get noticed by,
Pablo Sandoval (a.k.a The Panda)...

What we won't go through to get noticed, huh.

The girls donned these winter panda hats in August in Houston.

Good thing this ball park is air-conditioned.

Although the "Panda" himself didn't notice my two girls, he was just about the only one.

After two nights at the ball park, the girls each received two baseballs a piece.

That is one each night.

They were also the recipients of autographs.

Pretty awesome if you know just how hard it is to get one of these, let alone all of them.

The games as always were a ton of fun to watch.

My Giants won all three games and extended their division lead.

But even better than all of that is that I think I finally got my husband to switch to the good side...

Go Giants!

First Day of First Grade

My girls are getting so big, so fast.
Lily starts first grade today.
I still find myself thinking that she is in Kindergarten, but I have to accept facts, first grade it is...

I am thinking that we lucked out with Lily's teacher this year (and crossing my fingers that this statement is true).

She seems equal parts kind and tough.

The perfect type of teacher for Lily...

Just like with Sophia, I interviewed Lily.

I didn't want to take the chance of forgetting anything that would help us mark this day.

I am  47 inches tall and weigh  50 pounds.

My school: Joe Hubenak Elementary School 

Teacher's Name: Ms. Dominique Dugas

My best friend's name is: Meaghan, Erin and Emily (neighborhood girls)

My favorite thing to play is: Dress Up

My favorite color: All of Them

My favorite book: Anything Junie B. Jones

My favorite TV show: Jessie

My Favorite Holiday: Halloween

My favorite food: Tuna Fish

My least favorite food: Cheese

My favorite snack: Peanut Butter Ritz Bits

My favorite cereal: Cheerios

My favorite game: UNO

When I grow up, I want to be: a Waitress

Something I really like: Soccer

Something I really don't like: Being Treated Bad

My favorite thing about myself: "I'm super nice!"

My favorite summer memory: playing with Meaghan

Something I want to do this year: Play Soccer

Three words that describe me: Talkative, Funny, Friendly

This is what I look like on the first day of school...