Fall soccer

This fall both Alley and Kendall got to play soccer. Poor MC was sad she couldn't play this year but she kept saying to everyone that she was going to play next year. Thankfully Alley and Kendall had some great friends on their teams so that I wasn't running around with my head cut off trying to watch practice and get to the games. 

Kendall adored playing this year! It was her first time playing and she really did an excellent job! She scored at least 3 goals a game and was extremely aggressive…to the point we had to pull her aside and tell her she can't push people around or use her elbows at this level! Her response, "but I wanted the ball so I could go score". We also found out that she is a competitive child and hates to lose. During one of the games she started crying and when her coach asked her if she was okay, she told him no because the other team is winning and she didn't want to lose. Her coach told her she needed to go score goals so they could win. And she did just that…she scored 4 goals that game. Needless to say, she is already ready for next season!

evidence of her boxing out skills! She stepped right in front of this girl and stole the ball.

Alley really enjoyed her second season of soccer. She moved up to an older age bracket and was one of the only girls playing in the league. She found her favorite position this year…goalie. Whose child is she?!?! Anyway, she was actually pretty good at it. She was way more aggressive in the goal than she is on the field. I can't wait to see how she does in the future.

playing goalie

Alley's team, the Navy Seals

CP group party

Our CP group held a going away party for us and the Gann's. The Gann's are leaving to be missionaries in India and we are leaving to go to Illinois. God has an incredible plan for each of our lives and he has determined the direction we should go in. This step is a very hard one for us personally. We have grown to love this group of people like they are family. We have walked really tough roads together and have had some really joyous moments together. I treasure these people and I feel treasured by them. These friendships will last a lifetime. We are already planning many road trips and vacations together! I.love.this.group.

We had a farewell marshmellow roast…and boy was it good and fun!

All the girls and some of the kids! :)

Gabe and Andy…they crack me up!

Lakin reading to my girls

the whole group!

some of the guys

God has truly blessed us and I am sad to leave these people behind, but I know we will see each other again!!

Football and changes

We are so thankful for the past 3 years that we've spent in Clemson. We have met some amazing people, experienced some pretty awesome things and learned a lot about life. We've loved wearing the Clemson paw proudly and will always chant C-L-E-M-S-O-N, but it is time to move this circus on. Andy has accepted a job with the Fighting Illini! He will be the football ATC for The University of Illinois. We are excited that God has opened the door for us to move on in Andy's career, but we are saddened to leave behind such a great group of friends that we call family! Here are some pictures of the last week Andy was here at Clemson.

Good-bye Clemson, you've been great! We will miss you and always cheer for our tigers! But now we can't wait to start wearing Navy and Orange! Go Illini!

"Friends" come to town!

Man do we love the Sterling family. We are blessed to be a part of their lives and to continue the friendship even though we live all the way across the country from each other. When we were neighbors, Alley lovingly called them "friends". "Let's go see friends today", "are friends coming over to play?", "I love friends". She also started calling Phil and Jess, Uncle Phil and Aunt Jess. We thought it was completely acceptable and appropriate since we loved them like family. 

We hate being so far away from them  but our friendship is something that does not change. We've been able to see them a few times since our moves, and you wouldn't even know we had been apart. When you find friendships that do not change just because theirs miles upon miles of distance between y'all, you are truly blessed! That describes our friendship with the Sterlings.

They came into Greenville recently to drop their oldest daughter off at college and we were able to snag an evening with them. We had a wonderful time!

Uncle Phil and Aunt Jess and the girls

the girls were so goofy tonight

apparently downtown greenville was having a festival with music and fun…Phil took a turns dancing with each of our girls. How sweet and so much fun for the girls!

daddy got in on the action

this is true friendship!!

Mary Cate's 4th Birthday

Our little Mary Crash is 4! How did she get so big?! I am in denial that our baby is in preschool. What a cutie she is! MC is a very energetic, loud, crazy, comedian. She loves life and definitely lives it to the fullest! She entertains us with stories, monologues and high-energy performances. Our life would most certainly be missing something if she wasn't around!

Our traditional birthday donut trip!

I am so thankful to have at least one summer baby! I've always wanted to have a birthday party at the pool or near water…thanks to MC, we can! We celebrated her birthday at the lake with, of course, donuts! Her request for food on her birthday…donuts and pizza…no cake, just donuts. She is definitely my child;)

MC with her best friend, Sydney. I love these two!

everyone singing Happy Birthday

making a wish and blowing out her candle…which wasn't lit because this mom forgot to bring a match...

Happy Birthday MC!! We love you to the moon and back!

Kiawah 20015

Hello gorgeous Kiawah!! We are so glad to see you! ;)

 This year I forgot my camera…go figure! So my pictures are from my iPhone…at least I didn't forget my phone! We still captured some good memories and had a blast!

my three little mermaids

I loved getting to spend the week with this little ray of sunshine! Oh how cute and cuddly little Miss caroline was.

daddy digging with MC

our little family

the girls and Caroline

daddy and his mini-me

Uncle Will reading to Owen and Kendall

daddy and two of his girls

MC loved trying to make Caroline laugh

The girls were super excited to get to hold Caroline! Here they are carefully holding on;) :

Mc liked to "pet" cAroline…like a cat. I wonder if she purred.

the big cousins

John and Kim continued their tradition of taking each niece/nephew out for ice cream. Our girls looooooove their one-on-one time with John and Kim

both so serious...

 aaaaaand then there is these two...

all the grandkids…looking so cute as we waited for our photographer 

sweet MC

doing what Papa and daddy do best, dig at the beach!

What a great week we had! I can't wait until next year….and I WILL bring my camera! ;)