Fall = Sports

Fall starts for us with the start of school.  Seriously, one day it's summer and the very next day it's fall, like turning a page.  It might not technically be fall, but for us... it's fall.  And then after that we start to notice the trickle of signs that have already been showing themselves but we now can see.  Spider webs start popping up on our walk to school.  We start seeing some of the tree's leaves changing colors.  

And then.... the sports start.  I'm not talking about the professional sports that of course are happening at the same time.  I'm talking kids sports. We start hearing about a friend's daughter who is running her very first high school cross country race. Or about another friend who will be juggling three tournament games all in one day.  And I'm telling you, I LOVE it.  We say goodbye to our open weekends, but we're getting something so special in return.  I love hearing about all these kids being active outdoors (or in) and triumphing in areas that they've worked hard and practiced for.  And I really love it when I can see it firsthand with my own kiddos. 

Today started my girl's soccer season and in two weeks my boy's football season will kickoff.  And today's game....it was just amazing.  Marin's team played so well together....dribbling, passing....really playing.  They ran all over the field, all over the little scatter of brown and yellow leaves freshly fallen, cheering each other on and having a BALL.  

The cherry on top?  Marin's field for the season is at their school...walking distance.  When we moved into this home I had visions of my kids playing there, us watching from the sidelines.  But then year after year, we'd be driving off to other fields and seeing other teams playing at 'our' field in our rearview mirrors.  So this morning as we got ready for the game, we got a backpack for our girl to carry her water and put chairs on our backs, put Pennylicious on a leash and walked to Marin's game. *Big cheesy smile here* Funny, because we did get some looks.  Someone even stopped to ask where we were going.  But we completely embraced and enjoyed our little jaunt.  And then thoroughly enjoyed the most rockin' first game of the season!

  

Oh!  And did I mention my girl scored a goal???  ;)

Ten on Ten :: September

So I decided to try something new and do this Ten on Ten Photo Project.  Basically you take a picture every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth day of the month.  It's all about capturing the beauty and life all around you.  Sounds good to me!  Here's what I got for today:

::7am   Some serious bed head!  Haha!!

::8am   Out for our walk

::9am   Some backyard beautifulness

::10am   Well hello there sunshine!

::11pm   A trip to the yarn store

::12pm   Now to Michaels for a new hook (New project in the works!)

::1pm   Pick up Penny at the groomers

::2pm   The kids reaction to Penny's new 'do

::3pm   A little after school computer time

::4pm   Guess where we're going????

And a Happy Friday to you!!!

And We're Back!

Today the kiddos had their first day back at school.  I can't believe Shane is in 5th grade (big man on campus) and Marin in 3rd.  Yeeeooow....they are so big (don't all the mom's say that??).  Lucky for them it was a half day......after starting at 8am they only had to make until 12:05 for the bell.  Kinda perfect first day back I'd say.  They both had pretty great days.  They loved seeing their friends and both have nothing but good things to say about their teachers.  So what a mama wants to hear!  Looks like we're off to a good start!

Everyone checking out the teacher lists.....who'd you get?????

Shane meeting up with the dudes, still rockin' the mohawk

Marin and some of her friends in her class

Don't know if you can tell, but she's trying hard to hold back a couple of tears.  Hard to leave when you see your girl doing that.  *sigh*  But I knew I had to.  :(

So happy to come back at pick up and catch her at recess with a big smile!

Don't have a photo of this, but after a day of firsts, I loved regrouping over dinner and sharing about all our days.  Mmmmm, we even had a special chocolate cake for a "1st day of school" dessert treat! 

Oh!  And in a totally unrelated note, the newest casualties of our Penny girl..............

ERRRRRGGGGG!!!

A Beach Squeeze

As Marin headed out to Palm Springs with her Best Bud, Emma, the boy and I hit the beach in attempt to squeeze out the very last bits of summer with some friends.  Turns out that even though it was a hot 90+ degrees here at home, the beach didn't want to cooperate with our plans.  We saw the clouded over sun maybe a handful of times.  And other than that it stayed completely hidden by clouds.  Fortunately, the boys acted as if they didn't need that stinkin' sun anyway and they hit the waves with a vengeance!  And us momma's??  We took one for the team and we figured out ways to stay warm (just wish I had that hot chai in my hand!).

I'm in love with my boy's eyes!  So this one's just 'cause.

Lookin' like a Three-fer

One.....
Enjoyed a last camp of the summer at Doheny Beach.  LOVE seeing the kids play with their cousins.  It was lots of fun.  It felt like it was OUR beach, we didn't have to share with too many other people.  This trip the kids got really into Cahoots....a game I learned as a kiddo where you have to pretty much figure out the game from clues.  But then you can't tell anyone because a Cahoot never tells!

All the kiddos

Havin' fun

Makes me sigh just seeing it.  Beach.  Family near by.  Red Cup.  People Mag.  Sunflower seeds. *sigh*

Something about this dude made me think of the witch from Wizard of Oz.  Duh duh duh duh duh du....

See the rainbow in the cloud????

Just being silly

.....and more

The gang!

Two.....
*sigh* It's getting super close to back to school for the kiddos.  We got our shop on for a new "1st Day" outfit and some new kicks.  Even though we started off being silly, shopping got old really fast.  haha.  Shane was a quick pick.....it was the girl that took F O R E V E R!  We were only after one outfit!

Seriously already laid out.  They don't start until Weds!

Three.....

A trip to the lake.  I think this was the first trip this summer!  I remember when the kids were smaller, a summer would have us there almost weekly.  The kids have been way more into the beach this year (which I love!), so when we hit the water it's usually there.  We forgot how much fun the lake can be though.  I'm sure we'll head there again soon.

Marin and Sage.  Can you see Shane out there on the kayak???

Marin did this thing called 'corn dog' where she'd roll in the sand.  Um....no thank you...knock yourself out!

Shane's getting so big.  He loves the water and is in it alot.  But then also he'll come and just sit with me.   :)

And then he just gets silly!!  Love it!