Thanksgiving with Family

Thanksgivings are a time to be thankful.
They are also a time to be spent with family.
This year we are thankful that this day is being spent surrounded by family...

We played.
We ate.
We spent our day with loved ones.
Today was just one more reason to be thankful for the many blessings we have received this year.

American Girl

With the rough start to the soccer season, we weren't sure how to get Sophia to finish all ten weeks of it.
Then we went to a place that many parents go (whether they like to admit it or not)...
Bribery.

There was a new American Girl store being built in Houston.
We made a deal with the girls that if they practiced hard each week and played hard during the games without quitting or giving up, we would take them to AG at the end of the season.
I am pleased to say, the bribery worked like a charm.
So as promised, here we are...

Joe and I simply promised them a new outfit for their existing dolls.

Papa and Grandma treated them to an even greater treat...

New dolls...

As an extra bonus, we all ate at the American Girl Bistro...

I wanted to make this a day just focused on my two girls before our new little girl is added to the Murphy mix.
They were delighted with everything.
It was just what they needed and just what I wanted to give them.

Top Dog

Twice a week I take Sophia to Lily's school for her speech therapy.
The office has a screen much like a television that scrolls important dates and information pertinent to the school.
So you could imagine my surprise when amongst all of these announcements, I saw this...

There were no other kids, just these two.
Chalk this one up as yet another proud mommy moment.

Season Ender

A season filled with early Saturday soccer games has come to an end today.
The girls made sure to end their season on a high note.
With Papa and Grandma in attendance, they each showed off their best soccer skills.
Lily scored one goal (three for the season).
Sophia scored three (eight for the season).
It was the perfect way to end a successful soccer season.
The only thing that could be better would be donuts and a trophy...

Now with three days a week free, what are we going to do with all of that time?

Saturday Soccer Day

Only two weeks are left in the fall soccer season.
To be honest, I never thought this little one would last this long...

But each week she seems to like it a little bit more.
Does that mean she will play the sport of soccer again?
Probably not.
So I am going to enjoy watching her while I can...

As for Lily, well she is already talking about playing again next season...

If we were going from the beginning of the season, I may be hesitant to let her do so, but she has improved tremendously.
And as you can see, she loves it...

For this big girl, nothing is more rewarding than receiving that special award that shows you worked hard...

Job well done!

Veteran's Day Assembly

For two months, Sophia's class had been practicing for their chapel.
Each child had a speaking part and it required a lot of practice to get these four year old's where they needed to be.
So chapel day was upon us and Sophia's class was going to be headlining the Veteran's Day Chapel.

As an extra special treat, my cousin Christi came to visit and so Sophia had another person in the crowd cheering her on...

All decked out in her hat, Sophia was raring and ready to go.
I wasn't sure what to expect from her because she typically shies away from having any attention focused on her.
At the beginning, she was all smiles...

The kids led us through the Pledge of Allegiance...

Sophia's teacher spoke...

There was a beautiful slideshow featuring the kids and pictures of veterans.

This was most definitely my favorite...

Then the kids began to line up to say their speaking parts.
I was nervous for Sophia because she was the first to speak...

As she approached the microphone, the situation finally hit her and she clammed up...

It was what I had been afraid of from the beginning.
After some unsuccessful persuasion, the little girl behind Sophia said her line,
"We enjoy a lot of Freedom."

The rest of the kids said their parts without a hitch.
I could tell Sophia was upset...

But she made me proud.
She didn't cry or get mad.
She made it through the end of the assembly...

I knew talking in front of a crowd was going to be hard.
I knew being the first one to speak was going to be even harder.
This is, after all, the kid who would cry when people would sing "Happy Birthday" to her because she hated the extra attention.

Chin up sweet girl.
You gave it your all and that is all we can ask for.