EARLY EASTER

Since the Sanchez crew had to head back to Cali today, we decided to celebrate Easter a week early and get the kids together for their annual egg hunt and as many hours of play time as we could squeeze in before Manu and Leo hit the road. We got things rolling with group photos and the egg hunt, then came inside for our usual potluck lunch (ooh, so good... ham, spinach and feta croissants, two types of pasta salad, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, Captain Rodney dip, tomato and mozzarella bites, and cranberry sauce). The kids were so sweet helping each other find the (very) well hidden eggs and played as well together as ever, and it was really hard to say goodbye, especially knowing we won't likely see each other again for a year or more. Boo on that. (James came inside after everyone left and sat in the corner, saying "I'm sad. I miss Manu.") But we are very grateful that we were able to spend so much time with our buddies this week - thank you for spending your spring break with us here in the Deep South!!

 

Will was very sweetly showing Cora where the pink egg was so that she could get it :-)

Nothing more joyous than finding "TWO rock eggs!"

We took the requisite family portraits, of course.

Happy little hunters!

 Happy Easter guys, we love you!

A REAL, LIVE SOCCER GAME!

The weather held out this week and allowed us to have our second soccer game of the season! The kids were happy, played very well, and the cool temps were lovely for us spectating parents.

 She scored a goal today (and was of course extremely happy with her accomplishment)

 Emily, Cora, and Cari. All 4.5-years-old, all tough players!

 I was trying to take photos of little brothers (John and Aiden, the almost 3-year-old brothers of David and Jamie) out on the field at half time (both cried hard when the game restarted and they had to go back to their chairs - they'll be ready for fall soccer for sure!), but Cora kept jumping in front of the camera. That girl is too much sometimes...

 James' team was well matched for this game, but they still scored goals left and right around the other team... These U6 boys are just very skilled, and just aggressive enough to keep the ball in their play, while also showing off the skills they learn during practice the week before (today's game was about pull-backs and passing, and coach Jay was very pleased with all our players).

 Cora and Emma were running around and playing with "baby dolls" during their big brother's games, and when I asked them to pause for a photo Emma was cracking me up by continually positioning herself in front of Cora to block her from my lens. I finally had to take one from above to get Cora in the shot. Seriously though, Emma's smile and cheeks and curls. Am I right, or am I right? Melt.

 (We missed the ERDC Castle Club's Easter Egg Hunt for the first time this year due to soccer game overlap, but it was worth it, obviously. These kiddos were so happy to be out on the fields today!)

PIRATE SHIPS

Just as I was heading out the door for my run this morning, James woke up (and left the confines of the closed hallway door prior to the designated 7:30am), so I settled him in Cora's room with the lightbox and asked him to play quietly until at least 7:30am, and NOT to wake Cora up, no matter how late she slept (she's had a very busy week... well, a busy month, actually - we all have!) 

When I got back from my run, the kids were very anxious to show me the pirate ships that they made with the lightbox "Duplo" blocks. And they requested photographic evidence of their creativity.

GREAT START TO THE DAY

I haven't run with Ashley in months, even though she's training for a marathon (Big Sur next month!), and obviously haven't run with Sophie since the Mt. Ashland Hill Climb, so doing my first "long run" (in quotes because it was only 6.5 miles) back after my post-50K hiatus with these girls was especially good (even though I still have a couple lingering aches...)

So glad Sophie didn't wake up after our late night out and cancel on me!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Francine, Lee, Sophie, Yoly, Christina, me, and Amy
 

Dinner and drinks at KJs, a walk through the "Wings" art show downtown at the Attic Gallery, and cocktails at The Wine House. (Then another round of mojitos at The Hat...) It was a really fun night, it's been good to get out and enjoy so much girl talk this week, and I'm glad Sophie got to see so many friends while she was in town!


And before we went out, the kids came over to our house after school to play while Sophie completed her final CrossFit competition time trial (Legos, Popsicles, and the zipline - oh my!), then stayed with their dads at our house for a pizza party (and some Minecraft tutorials...) until bedtime.

 

THE GOOD GUYS

Battling monsters and keeping the backyard safe!

SCHOOL, SWIM, SOCCER

The kids (James, especially) are having a tough time at school this week. We got a note home yesterday from Ms. Tina that she's had a lot of trouble getting him to focus, and then stay focused. We're not surprised (and we kinda feel the same way about work) because when you have friends and family in town, you just want to spend all your time with them. Between school and soccer today, we took a couple hours to meet the Sanchez crew at their hotel and drink coffee (well, Sophie and I did, not the kids, obviously) while the kids played Minecraft (apparently one session at our house and Manu was hooked, asking for the app for his iPad), then go for a swim. Follow that up with 2 hours on the soccer field (in sharply dropping temperatures and wind chill), and the kids were beat. Totally worth it though. All of it. Sunday's goodbyes are going to be very hard on James...

 This would have been a cute group photo if the camera had clicked before the kids started moving...

 I was trying to take a jumping photo of Cora and Leo swam right in front of me all adorable and said "Cheeeeese!"