Spring Soccer 2015

Remember back in the winter when Lauren played indoor soccer to try it out and see if the liked it?  Well, she loves it and is now playing outdoor spring soccer.  And, she is good.  She is a great hustler, has a great leg on her and is having fun!

Wide open.  This goal was hers...too bad she kicked it right to the goalie.  Oh well, she will learn and will get better week by week.  

She even had fun sitting on the bench and taking a quick break.  She didn't spend too much time on the bench.  She was out of the field playing a lot! 

Tough and such a hustler.  

Then there is Addison who thinks it is boring to go watch Lauren play soccer.  Luckily she ran into a friend and was thrilled.  Plus, this girl can entertain herself anywhere so goes. 

Like playing with a pile of sand...for most of the 2nd half of the soccer game. 

Lauren played against a Girl Scout friend...here they are fighting for the ball! 

Towards the end of the game Lauren was still concentrating and ready to fight for the ball.  

It was a great start to the soccer season.  This is our first experience with outdoor soccer and it was awesome.  The field, the crowds, the beautiful weekend, and all the fun!  Can't wait till next Saturday so we can do it all again!

So Much Fun

Playing an active role in Lauren's Girl Scout troop has been a part of my life for the last 3 years.  I have volunteered my time on numerous occasions to be that extra hand you can always count on at the meetings, field trips, overnight camping trips, whatever.  I love doing this both for Lauren and the memories I create with her, and to be a role model for other girls in her troop.  Several girls are somewhat attached to me and pull me aside to talk, ask questions about various things, show me something, or just give them some much needed attention.  I feel like my time spent with Lauren's troop is so valuable in so many ways. 

We camped this past weekend at a new campground.  The weather was gorgeous and we had 13 girls camping.  We enjoyed a hike Sunday morning before lunch.  

The troop worked on their game badge and had several fun activities planned all weekend long.  Here is a life size game of candy land! 

Each girl was divided out into 4 groups with various assignments throughout the weekend.  My purple group had to get dinner ready Saturday night.  

We made hobo packs.  If you have been camping, I imagine you know what I am talking about.  Hamburger meat, potatoes and a variety of vegetables wrapped up in foil and cooked over a fire for about 25 minutes.  

I was pleasantly surprised how well they turned out.  

The girls did a scavenger hunt Saturday night to get the clues for snack before bed.  The scavenger hunt ended with this laser like maze.  

Here are some of the girls enjoying nature Sunday morning.  It was a crisp cool morning, but it felt wonderful.  These lovely ladies stayed up well after midnight, but slept until after 8:00! 

Each girl had to create their own game as well.  All of them were very creative and they seemed to really enjoy this game/craft.  

Being the amateur photographer that I am, I wanted to capture Lauren in this sunlight...I love it! 

Tori, Lauren, and Cassidy.  Some of Lauren's best buddies these last 3 years.  

Lauren agreed to a quick photo shoot outside and I captured photographs of her.  

We sent several pictures to Mark and Addison throughout the weekend and them to us as well.  We all missed each other.  Even just 24 hours apart and Addison missed Lauren so much...and me too, I guess! 

We enjoyed a short hike before lunch on Sunday.  Most of the girls did really well and enjoyed exploring nature.  

And while Lauren was away having all her fun at camp, Addison was having her own fun.  My little Daisy troop marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade Saturday afternoon in downtown Lee's Summit.  The Mom's that helped out with the parade said the girls had a fabulous time.  I was sorry I had to miss it, but Mark and Gramps and Nana were there to cheer Addison on along the way!  

What Have We Been Up To?

This Spring is going to fly by with all the activities going on the next 8 weeks.  Lauren has a busy schedule and is currently involved in too much, but her academics are staying strong so we are supporting her.  She has a commitment to dance through June (Tap, Jazz, and Ballet classes each week.) Girl Scout meetings twice a month + extra activities on the weekends occasionally.  Plus, Spring soccer just started.  Practice on Wednesday and Friday night and a game on Saturday.  Oh, and Religious Education on Wednesday nights as well.  It's too much and we know it's too much.  Next year will be different.  But, for now we are embracing it and juggling the best way we know how.  

Lauren loves everything she is involved in and does really well in everything she is involved in as well.  We told her next year she will have to make some choices and cut some things out...and she is OK with that....plus she wants to try volleyball too! 

Both girls had cookie booths and did great!  

Addison's troop sold out of all her cookies in less than 2 hours.  Yippee :)  How could you not buy from these adorable little girls?  

And this...oh Lauren.  Mark was home with her the first day she was sick and I was home the second day.  How can I say no to that text message.  I left work as soon as I got it.  

The book nook is almost complete.  We just have to get a fun carpet ordered.  The girls love it already.  

This might be hard to read as this is common core math (UGH) but on the right hand side you will see a post score for geometry and  you will see that Lauren MASTERED geometry.  We were so thrilled.  

One weekend it snowed and we built a snowman...the next weekend we were in shorts riding bikes exploring the neighborhood.  Go figure! 

And last night I had the best time with Addison's troop.  We earned our courageous and strong badge...and even though the picture is completely blurry, every single girl is smiling.  It was fun!