Soccer season

Alley has been enjoying playing soccer in our front yard this summer, so we decided it was time to sign her up. I am not huge on kids playing organized sports at young ages, but she is now in 1st grade, so as long as the sport is really active then I am all for it! Verdict: she is LOVING it! She has 2 practiced a week and gets to run around and play without her sisters…that part is key for her (where is the sibling love??!!)

Alley running the field and dribbling. Go alley!

As a former Collegiate athlete, I have a hard time watching her make mistakes and not correct her. BUT, my goal as a parent here is to encourage her and let her enjoy the game. Must.hold.my.tongue.

of course, thats not to say I can't show her how to dribble (so she learns to keep the ball close to her), teach her how to stop the ball correctly, and how to plant your foot and shoot the ball correctly. All that is to be taught at home, not during her practice when I am not the coach…must.hold.my.tongue.

I also can teach her that it's okay to get the ball away from the other team. When they tell you to stop trying to get the ball, you do NOT say okay and walk away…whose child is she???!!! must.hold.my.tongue.

I can also talk to her about how it's okay to shoot the ball at the goal even when the keeper is not prepared. You do NOT need to wait until the keeper is ready and then ask to shoot. What???!! must.hold.my.tongue. 

Alley absolutely loves begin able to play soccer. She gets up in the morning and puts on her soccer clothes (for a practice that is at 5:30 PM!!) so she will be ready.

I am so happy she has found something she likes…for now;)

Kendall has loved going to Alley's practice too.  One of her really good friends is there too since her brother is on Alley's team. Built in fun:)

Crazy little MC only likes it when daddy is there because he races with her and kicks the ball with her.

MC showing off her skillz ;)

That's some serious concentration!

I am so happy that Alley is loving soccer as much as Andy and I do. I have a feeling we will have many more years hanging out by the soccer fields!

Weddings

This weekend Andy and I were able to escape SC (and our children) and travel up to Philadelphia to attend my cousins wedding. It was so nice to be able to fly without worrying about naps, snacks, things needed to entertain 3 little ones and all their mess. We have been VERY blessed to have wonderful friends who where willing to watch the girls for 2 nights. I am forever indebted to them!

Don't we look refreshed and free?!!

my handsome man…I am truly blessed!

fun at the rehearsal dinner!

hanging out at the reception. The wedding was gorgeous! It was outside by a little waterfall and creek and the reception was on the covered patio of a very only and beautiful house. The evening was amazing!

 we were being silly...

the hilarious thing was the guys did the same thing…oh boys...

all the kids! (minus our kids!)

What a fun few days we all had!

MC is 3!!

Seriously, when did this girl get so big?!

I can't believe she is already 3! These past three years have flown by. She has added so much joy, laughter and craziness to our family. I can't imagine what life would be like if she wasn't a part of it! This little miss has lived up to the prediction at her birth. She is always on the go and wants to get their the fastest! My labor was only 45 minutes…totally her style! I am surprised she wasn't running when she came out;)

Mary Cate is definitely the "life of the party". She HAS to do everything her sisters do (and do it better!…lord save us) but do it first. She is incredibly coordinated, loves to run around, sings extremely loud (she wants to be heard over everyone else), loves loves loves doing puzzles, she thinks she's a big girl and rides Kendall's bike everywhere, she doesn't nap anymore (ugh!), will listen to the Disney pandora station all.day.long, and loves Cagney more than anything in this world (grandparents included!). She absolutely LOVES Frozen, so for her birthday, we had a little Frozen party. She was in heaven;)

opening some gifts…of course, she is enthusiastic over e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g

Elsa bathing suit…can you tell she was excited?!

frozen figurines…she was in love

3 sisters before church

dressed as Anna, waiting to blow out her candles

yummy cupcakes:)

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY MARY CATE!!