Yeah for KK's team!

I forgot to give kudo's to Michaela's team. They got up early on Saturday and drove the almost 3 hours and then played a hard-fought game in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz team is seeded #13 in Northern Cal district and KK's team is seeded #20. All the teams are playing a series of 3 seeding games over the next month or so, which will affect the new standing for the NorCal tournament later this fall. Our girls pulled it off in the last few minutes with a 1-0 win! Michaela had a great game as goalie!

First Day of School

First Day of School!

It came so fast. We spent the last few days frantically shopping, getting haircuts, and supplies. I have to say it was the first time ever that I wasn't excited for my girls to go back to school. It was such a nice summer.

The girls each seem to have great teachers. Ellie did great in kindergarten but greeted me with a scowl after school saying "I didn't pack her a drink" and she was very "shirsty".

In my family growing up we had a tradition to take a picture by the front door on the first day of school. We, of course, have to do this too, so I've posted a slideshow of the girls on their first morning (Ellie is in afternoon kindergarten, though). I've tried photobucket for the slideshow for the first time, so I hope it turns out...

Growing Up

I had a weird mom moment today. I was trying to get everyone ready for some last minute school shopping. As I was getting myself ready, Sami came in, pulled her hair back and did her new facial wash and moisturizer that we just got for her. Then we were standing there together chatting as we were each doing our own hair. She put her hair up in a ponytail with a little headband and it looked so cute -- and just as good as when I do it. It was so weird. When did all this grown-up stuff happen? I guess this is what is means when people say "it goes so fast."

"Organized" Chaos!

That's what I feel like my life has been this summer. Working from home (even 40 hours a week these last 2-3 weeks) and being a mom, and ministry-wife has been challenging. The girls have done awesome this summer with entertaining themselves and each other while I worked. Much smoother than I anticipated!

So last weekend we went up to Huntington Lake with some of the college kids. It was so beautiful and the weather was refreshing. Just what I needed. It was fun getting to know some of the college kids that were newer. The girls had a blast, of course, and were as dirty as can be. Really, I'm still trying to figure out how we generated so much laundry in three short days. It was all great, until we were driving home off the mountain and in her sleep, Ellie threw up all over Sami (must've been car sickness on the windy road). KK started laughing hysterically and proceeded to announce that "it smells like french fries in here" (even though it was only after breakfast). Since we were driving separate cars and I had the girls by myself, I had to continue on to home with such a lovely atmosphere. Even though it was 100 degrees outside, Sami kept her head out the window until we got home. That's probably what I'll remember most about this camping trip. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

The crew at the lake...
Playing with friends.

Badminton seemed to be the game of choice
for the weekend (Sami taking a shot).

And funny for Brian, after dropping some college kids off at church on Sunday afternoon, he was driving home and saw some friends from the Cornerstone (Anaheim), where he had been on staff for 10 years. Keith and Lisa Hindsley (friends from the worship team), their son Tyler and friend, along with Eric and Angie Gunter (who was our jr high pastor with Brian), their daughter, and Dave and Jane Woods (they are all part of one family) were getting gas at a station by our church in Fresno. Brian 'happened' to see them as he was driving by, and turned into the station. Come to find out that they had been camping all week at the same campground that we were at, and we never ran into each other! It was a quick catch up, but next time we'll have to plan to get together with them since they do this trip bi-annually. :) It was definitely a Divine Appointment!

So now were are into the countdown, only five days until school. Life is chaotic as we are trying to fit in school shopping (no more flip-flops & feet have grown!), haircuts, last minute fun, school supplies -- (side note: remember when the school used to provide all that we needed??? ), etc. Pretty soon I will have all four in ONE school, the only year that it will happen, so I plan to enjoy it.

Forgot the photos...

Walnut Creek Summerfest Jamboree - #1!

Micheaela at the Fresno Pacific goalie camp two weeks ago - with her coach for the week
Brandon (who is the goalie for FPU & the Fresno Fuego's - our semi-pro team in town)

Sami on the field in Tracy Invitational tournament...
and at the awards ceremony...2nd place!!!

Tournaments

The last two weekends have been full with a tournament for Sami up in Tracy, CA (two hours north), scrimmages in Modesto for KK and then this weekend a tournament in Walnut Creek (3 hours north - by the Bay area). Both did exceptionally well. Sami's team took 2nd in the tournament. The coach surprised Sami and put her at forward the whole weekend (she's been defender and a little mid-field), which is interesting and was fun for Sam.

KK's team went undefeated (four games) and pretty much dominated, even to the point of one game the coach told the girls if they scored, they would be pulled out of the game (they were up 8-0 at the half). Because they are so young (9 years old) theirs was a jamboree format with no "winner" but they were the only undefeated team. No one scored on KK (goalie) the whole tournament. She actually got out of the box and got some field time too.

Daddy and the girls stayed home since he had church. Of course, it kills him not to see them play and I have to text the scores over at half time and the end of games to keep him in the loop. We came home and took the older girls to college group where we had Gary Rhea (formerly from Peculiar People Band) for an outdoor concert. Fun way to end the weekend. :)

Michaela-ism

So last night we girls were watching the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, and Michaela says "Mom, I would totally try out for that show if I could dance." Hmmmm. Deep. We all, of course, started laughing and she couldn't figure out why...