Project 365, Week 41

I've been taking my camera out more than usual to practice, in preparation for a photoshoot I'm doing coming up. If you are local, we'd love to have you join us! Check it out, spots are filling up quickly!

Also, there was so much soccer this week (again!). Its just for a limited number of weeks in the fall, but its definitely a little crazy! And so much fun!!

October 2

Aiden fulfills his role as boy in our house by chugging the last of the milk straight from the jug. :)

October 3
While I was out grilling dinner, Amanda and Aiden were doing their once-in-a-while best friends thing. So fun to hear them making up games.

Wrestling match. :)

October 4
Amanda came over to the other house with me because she wasn't in the mood to get along with siblings back at the house. So many hours spent in this sweet little girls room while they were young...they loved playing on this window seat.

Aiden went with Pop and Kiki to visit his friend Ethel and to harvest pumpkins at his friend Mr. D's hobby farm. These things make him a very, very happy guy. :)

October 5
Both girls needed a mystery book for this month's book report and while we were at the library we picked up a stack of picture books, which truthfully most of the kids still enjoy. Every month I use the book list put out by Read-Aloud Revival...its reliable and takes the guess work out for me.

October 6
New this year, the school is requiring each student to accumulate service learning hours. One of the moms facilitated a couple work hours for a small group of Amanda's class. It was a ton of work for the mom, but the girls felt like they helped out and accomplished something. So sweet!

The weather continues to delight! While the teens went to youth group, we went to the park and played around with Amanda and Aiden.

October 7
Day one of the Columbus Day soccer tournament. Over 2 days the 3 kids played 12 (1-hour) games.

Looks who is getting so big!!

October 8
Day two, at the field before 7AM and got a little soaked part of the day.

Shaun and Amanda's team made it to the semi-finals. They tied in regulation and were still tied after a 5-minute overtime, so the game went to penalty kicks. This is my first in-person experience with penalty kicks, and with my daughter playing keeper. It was NOT ok. Penalty kicks to determine a win is...barbaric. Truly. It was awful to watch from the sidelines! But, we came out on top to bring us to the finals.

In the finals, Amanda played some keeper, some forward and for the end, her coach put her in as goalie as the game, once again went to penalty kicks! Again, it was awful. But a couple days out and I'm able to see a flip side to Amanda's stubborn determination, which in so much of daily life is "a problem". She's gritty and tough as nails when it counts. During the finals she saved two of the penalty kicks, leading the team to a victory.

What a moment, what a day!!

Shaun spends much of his coaching time working on character development. Our team stood out in mental toughness and encouraging each other and winning graciously. We're so proud of them all.

Avery's team won the tournament for U15!

And Amanda and Shaun won for U12! Such a long, great weekend!