SOLO SOCCER

Jay left for Puerto Rico (work trip) this morning, so I took the kids to Sunday soccer practice. James' practice got canceled at the last minute because it was cold, but the girls toughed it out (and James joined them). It ran really late and we were all starving afterward, so we stopped for fancy pizza (Fox's) and a special dessert (cookie pizza) to warm up with on the way home. The kids were high on sugar (we ate the cookie first) and were cracking me up!

"PUPPY" SITTING

Jay sent me a photo of the cute puppy we're watching this weekend:

Then I got home and realized how deceiving that photo was... 

Echo makes Buster looks small! (And Echo is only 6 months old...)

RECITAL RUN-THROUGHS

Ballet is more fun when you're working your routine and nearing recital:

SPRING 2019 OPEN HOUSE

James got to take me to the Fall Open House (Cora was busy at soccer that night) and Cora got to take me to the Spring Open House (James was busy with soccer tonight):

She showed me all the things in her classroom, her Leadership notebook (PowerPoint presentation), and her buddy artwork in the hall (she plays soccer with MC):

STRAWBERRY CUP

James' Rec+ team, The Intruders, played in the Strawberry Cup down in Hammond, Louisiana this weekend. We went down Saturday morning (noon-ish game meant we didn't have to spend Friday night down there), the boys played a couple games, we grabbed a quick lunch and visited a local brewery (Gnarley Barley), then went for a run/bike ride over at Fontainbleau State Park with a stop at the Mandeville Bake Shop for the best donuts ever before their final game and medal ceremony (in Louisiana, there are no semi-finals or finals, or officially recognized placements - every team gets the same medal - but if you're really curious, you can always look at the standings to figure out who the top teams were). The boys played better as the tournament progressed, but again, they really need more time to practice all together if they're going to earn the team skills (and resulting rankings) that the girls team has. Regardless, they learned a good bit and had some fun (we all stayed at the same hotel so that the boys could swim together Saturday evening).

Cora requested this picture and pose, then wanted me to make it "dramatic"... She made herself a flower crown while the boys were warming up for game two. 

Fontainbleau State Park trails:

Taking a walk around the 1.5 mile complex loop while the boys warmed up for game three:

All the teams in James' team's bracket:

I have a feeling our 4th quarter of the school year is going to feature a lot of these incidences:

GOLD IN THE HILLS

Cora and I had another Vicksburg first tonight - we went to see Gold in the Hills for the first time! It's the longest running show in history (2019 is its 83rd year) and it's kind of hard to believe we hadn't made it to a show yet, honestly, since it also runs for MONTHS at a time once it starts each year, with slightly different actors throughout the running). We had friends in the show tonight, which made it extra fun. Gold in the Hills is a melodrama that includes audience participation (both singing and "reacting" with pre-show instruction) and Cora LOVED getting to be part of the fun!

GIRL SCOUT FIELD TRIP

This afternoon we took Troop 3315 to the Old Courthouse Museum. It was actually my first time ever to visit the museum. The kids seemed to enjoy it - we downloaded the Scavenger Hunt from their website in order to give them some direction. They split themselves into their own groups, and the Troop leaders and parent volunteers made sure every group had at least one adult to supervise. We spent about an hour there, then walked over to the Sheriff's office to donated some cookies to our local heroes (and then drove by the Emergency Call Center with a few of the girls on our way home to deliver the last of our donation cookies).

James jumped in with Joye and Kristiana, and I led the group with Joye's dad. Cora, of course, went with Cara Beth, Anna Paiten, Autumn, and Katie (and I think Sarah and Jessica led their group).

BOYS VS GIRLS

Cora's U10 Girls Rec team played against James' U10 Boys Rec team for the first time ever tonight!

I had so much fun watching the kids play against each other! They both played hard, went head to head a few times, and had a great time! The girls gave the boys a run for their money and were ahead at one point, but the boys pulled ahead in the second half and took home a win. I cheered for everyone and loved the camaraderie clearly evident both within and between the two teams - it was such a fun night!

SPRING PICTURE DAY

Lookin' cool and confident :-)

IN THE GREEN

This is James' favorite soccer practice outfit because blue and green are his favorite colors

SPRING BREAK SLEEPOVER

Cora's best friend Cara Beth just moved to the other end of town and because we were gone for a week and a half at Disney/Universal, then home recuperating, the girls were missing each other terribly. Because Sarah is extremely patient and giving, she offered to have Cora over for a sleepover at her new house, even though they're still unpacking, have already started renovations, and had family in town all week. Oh! AND they just got a pair of puppies. Patience, I tell ya!