SOCCER SPECTATORS

The girls didn't get enough soccer over the weekend, so they attended the Warren Central High School girls game this evening. Never a bad idea to learn some moves from the big kids, and always a good idea to give them extra opportunities to build team camaraderie!

(Chloe, Addie, Emma, Allie, Cora, Laney with coach Daniel and coach Jay supervising)

FROSTBITE CHAMPIONS!

The River Belles competed in the Frostbite soccer tournament this weekend and came away as the champions! It was COLD (it even snowed in the morning before our first game), then it rained and got very muddy (so much for mama's bright idea of white thermals for under her uniform...), but we all had a great time (I even got to see Sandra and Cameron) and were so glad we went! It was our first time to visit Starkville (home of MSU). We stayed in a hotel with an indoor pool (made the kids crazy happy) and tried a few of our friends favorite local restaurants (breakfast from City Bagel was the best). The girls played two games on Saturday (one tie, one win) and moved into the semi-finals on Sunday, which sadly ending up being the finals because the team we'd played Saturday afternoon had to bow out due to losing their coach the night before. We had a moment of silence before the game, which was shortly after the memorial service their team held at their coach's final game bench, then the girls rallied and played hard to take the championship. They learned a LOT over the course of those three games and really got to know each other's playing styles well. They're getting better at passing and communicating with every game they play! If we can keep this team together over the years (despite some age differences that threaten to split some up to U12 next year), they will be a force to be reckoned with!

Warming up (literally) before their first game. (James wore his Comfy and it was PERFECT!)

Coach Jay made them run laps to stay warm...

Celebrating at the end of game two (a win!) and grabbing a team photo:

Sandra and Cameron game to watch game two, then we all headed back to the hotel to swim and enjoy some relaxation time with a couple hard-to-find-in-Vicksburg beers.

(Don't worry, it was just apple juice in a fancy cup)

(These girls are growing to love each other)

Time for the finals!

Another well earned win!

Due to the Columbus coach's passing, the top two teams posed for photos all in red ribbon medals with the Finalist poster, sending it to the Columbus U10 Girls team to name them honorary winners. We thought it was really sweet and such a great idea by the tournament director.

And then our girls received their blue ribbon medals!

That's our girl! We were so very proud of her efforts and her team spirit this weekend. We had to get her a tournament shirt as a souvenir, which will get it's use at all her upcoming practices this spring!

VIRTUAL FARMERS

Because Cora is unique, her recent video game choice (we traded in some old games after Christmas and both kids got to exchange for something new to them) was one called "Farming Simulator". She wants to be a farmer when she grows up and she loves our chickens. And she really wants goats (thanks to Jay). This video game ties that into a Minecraft-type game plan (build, buy, sell, etc., except not in pixel land - these farm lands and animals are very realistic) and both kids seriously love it. They don't get to play often, but when they do, it's all about planting corn, harvesting, delivering (driving tractors around the countryside), feeding their animals, building barns, etc. Whatever floats their boats, right?..

CORA'S FAMILY...

I guess we better work on spelling my name correctly, among other things... I had to laugh at the erasing and rearranging of the best things about us (not to mention Grambot's hobby of resting and my cooking hobby - clearly I don't run enough!)

PIPPI FAN

I read the Pippi Longstocking series to the kids this month, then rewarded their good AR test scores with a viewing of the 80s movie. They both loved it, but Cora is definitely a Pippi fan for life!

DISNEY PREP

Stickers for our resort mugs and MagicBands!

First Aid Kit in the bottom of my park pack!

Just two months to go!

PRETTY POSED PETS

I did not place them like this...

These little guys are pretty posers too:

KEYCITY COLLABORATION!

THINK SAFETY FIRST

Our Girl Scout meeting today focused on safety measures (yes, again - you can't be too safe during cookie sales season) and we had a special guest! Madisyn's mom (a police officer) came to visit and give a talk, which she ended with a fun game that got all the girls involved.

We also went over our Troop's cookie sales rules and did some role playing with the girls to emphasize what is safe/allowed and what is not. They all had a great time and showed us that they really do pay attention - they're ready to start selling cookies next month!

NEIGHBOR KIDS

Just having a little pow-wow break with their neighbor friends in the front yard

(They saw me peeking at them through the window)

GETTING BACK IN THE HABIT

Now that the flu is GONE from the house, we celebrated with a running and biking adventure this morning. Now to stay healthy and enjoy this weather!

FORT FUN

The kids deserved Friday treats this week, so we came home to play outside and eat ice cream. Cora was more than happy to pose in front of their fort (which is behind the fence and surrounds the magnolia tree). They have camo netting around it, buckets and trowels to play with, garden kneeling pads to sit on, the tree to climb, squirrel feeders and plenty of squirrels to try and feed (and make friends with - no luck yet, thankfully), and who knows what else in there (I'm not allowed inside - not that I could fit through the fence anyway!)

They didn't get enough of their fort after school though, so we let them build a fort in James' room, where they then spent the night. 

Sweet memories and lots of fun, indoors and out!

ACRO BEAUTY

Back to dance this week and Cora was ready to show out

"RING"ING IN THE NEW YEAR

Cora's teacher threw a New Year's party on their first day back this semester to "Ring" in the New Year (with Ring Pops) and set some goals for the remainder of the year. Cora said it was a really fun day and she loves Mrs. Boler!

The school also received official Landmark status this year!

TOO MUCH QUALITY TIME

We're definitely ready for the kids to go back to school...

BUSY BODIES

Before heading back to school to start the second semester, the kids had a busy and fun weekend filled with sleepovers, parties, and soccer!

Night one = sleepover with Cara Beth

Which resulted in a very tired girl being driven to the Kennedy's house for Will's birthday party and sleepover...

They started out at Launch, then went home to party Harry Potter style!

By Sunday afternoon's Rec+ practice, she was DONE. Luckily we arrived a little early, so she was able to get a 30 minute nap in between the drive and the wait. It's hard having so much fun :-)