Soccer Starts!

This weekend was the start of our busy lives! Both kids are in soccer. Their practices are on the same day, same time, different places. Thank goodness for wonderful neighbors! We will carpool to help each other out. They both have been taking ice skating lessons on Saturdays too. We decided to move them to the Wednesday practices. Caitlin still has dance on Thursdays, James has hockey at least once during the week, and tennis is starting for us both this week. Braden will be starting ice hockey in April. Because of all of this, I went out on Friday and bought a large dry erase calendar for our kitchen to keep everything straight!

Caitlin's soccer started a week before Braden's. Her first game was this Saturday. She is playing at Little River, her school, with kids from kindergarten and first grade. They were so excited to play!

She ended up on the same team with 2 girls she is close to from our neighborhood, Laine and Zoe.

Braden really wanted to play while we were there. What a difference from a year ago!

Caitlin's teacher is Coach Greg, he is so good with them. He works with them on so positions and is so patient.

B decided to take a trip up the side of the hill, can you find him?

So determined!

Notice that her nails are beautifully done, thanks Laurie! Even if we play a rough sport we need to look good!

We noticed how different Caitlin was this year. She is aggressive, and chases after ball. She was tripped during the game and skinned her knee but got right back up!

The three girls talking about something very serious while on the sidelines.

Love these girls! They get along so well and are so sweet!

This year we got names on the back! And again notice, the hair needs to look good!

Even though she is small she is mighty!

Coach Greg taught them to stand like this to be ready for the ball. And Caitlin does what she is told!

That's my girl! Maybe taking after her mommy!

So, after C's game we raced to their last Saturday ice skating lesson, and the last one they will be together.

Watching them together in this class we can see the difference in them. C is our teacher's dream, they ask her to do something she does it to a T. B does what he wants, which it to go full speed forward on his skates!

After their lesson we stay for open session, they were so cute and held hands as they past us. The hockey player and figure skater!

They are best friends always!!

Winter Break

This week we are out for our winter break which has been so nice. We were all at the point we needed a break. The good thing is it does not seem like a winter break but more like a spring break. The weather has been gorgeous and we have spent every day outside. Monday we had a birthday party and then went to one of the local parks with some friends.

Above is a picture of Caitlin and her BFF Laine. Caitlin loves Laine, she lives down the street from us. They have sleepovers and always want to play at each others house. Laine is such a sweet girl!

Both kids just pose, when I call their name and show them my camera they pose! Love it!

On Tuesday we decided to take a trip to the zoo with some friends. This was not planned but we are so glad we went. We have not been in a long time and the kids had fun.

Again, B above posing!

There was a bunch of us that went, our friends the Womack's were there. C missed having a girl!

Above is sweet Ethan. Ethan came to our house for years and this is the first year he hasn't. We definitely miss him. It amazes me how big he has gotten and how smart he is!!

We did a carousel ride, the kids loved it!

One of their favorite spots at the zoo is the petting area. C, my loving, caring child, just wanted to care for the animals.

I love that this time coming to the zoo the kids were older and able to be more on their own. No strollers for us!

Above is Braden and Ethan!

Watching the flamingo's, in a few seconds C puts her leg up like them!

Crafts and the Morelli's

We went to Alabama to celebrate Connor's 2nd birthday and Caroline's baptism. We are very blessed to be both children's Godparents. They are so precious and we wish we could see them more often.

Cowgirl Caitlin had fun! Both kids love to spend time at Uncle B's and Aunt Jessica's house!

Connor is such a cutie! He puts up with my kids!

Braden is just trouble!

Caroline is such a sweet girl and so beautiful!

We will forgive Connor for his hat, we still love him!

The kids wanted to do arts and crafts during our snowcation. So I pulled out my supplies and we went to work. They made butterflies, window decorations, paintings and other things.

The mark on Caitlin's forehead is from sledding. We were sledding down a street, we realized it was perfect for a long sled ride, and a neighbor pushed he down in her sled. She did not make it far when she hit a bush. Poor thing, but she was tough!

The kids did so well with being stuck in the house all week. They played well together and were kind to each other.

Snowcation!

Back in January we had a winter storm and we were all off for a week. It was the ice that caused us to be off. I could not get my car out of my driveway for over a week, until James worked for hours to break up the ice.

Braden loved the snow, he loved sledding! Of course, my dare devil had to stand up on the sled.

He wanted to snowball fight with anyone who was near him.

My sweet girl, loved sledding for a bit. Once she got cold she was done with it!

Thank goodness we have a fun driveway that kept the kids busy sledding!

Then there is B, playing hockey! He will play wherever he is!

Our mailbox with the snow. We went to bed and we had nothing, when we woke I measured 6 inches!

James's car. He thought he was going to work Monday morning. They actually closed his office, he went the rest of the week though.

Our house in the snow!