Lightning Bolts Soccer

 Leila is on her very first soccer team this fall! She is part of a co-ed, seven kid team called the Lightning Bolts. Her coach, Sarah, is amazing with the kids! She is patient, fun and caring...everything you want your child's first coach to be!! Chris teaches with Sarah and her and I went to high school together. Leila adores her! The Lightning Bolts (or Ladybugs as coach teases them) had their Jamboree the second weekend of September. They played two games and got the opening season jitters out of the way. Leila wears number 3...a happy accident! Chris wore 3 when he played soccer and she is so excited to match her Dad!!

 On the sidelines...

The end of game #1. Go Lightning Bolts!

Of course...every soccer playing kid needs this photo!

Getting pumped for the second game:

Prior to kick off - "Which way are we going?"

The girls (Kaylie, Colby and Leila) got some field time together.

Pep talk from Coach Josh, Sarah's hubby.

I think the end of game is truly the kids' favorite part of the game!! The parents and families make a tunnel for the kiddos to run through. They usually end up going through it three or four times. I think if we stood there cheering all day, they would continue to run through it!!

Well-Rounded

This is what my laundry room looks like once a week. Our schedule right now is dance on Tuesdays and soccer on Thursdays with games on Saturdays. Love it!

Blueberry Lover

Leila LOVES to eat blueberries! One of her favorite things to do with Auntie Lynn is pick blueberries in Lynn's backyard. So, for Leila's 5th birthday, Auntie Lynn bought her a blueberry bush for OUR backyard! Last week, Leila got to pick some of the first berries off the plant and enjoy them! She couldn't be happier that she has her own treat right out back! Thanks, Aunt Lynn!!!

Jag Nation

We took in one of the Jags first games of the new season in early September. We had come straight from soccer practice, along with half of Leila's team, to support ERHS! Leila was so excited to see Jake the Jaguar! The game was against Federal Way, a team that was rated something like 4th in state. Needless to say, ER lost. But we had a good time chatting with students and other staff members, listening to the band and looking for Jake!

Brown's Point

We enjoyed a lovely, late August trip to Brown's Point to say farewell to summer 2012. 

S'mores on the Porch

 We spent one of our last nights pre-school snuggled around the fire pit as a family. Leila really enjoys telling spooky stories, which are more wacky than spooky, around the glow of the fire. We listened to the Avett Brothers and talked about our summer memories. Oh, and of course we had some s'mores!

Leila's outfit of choice:

Last PDZA Trip of the Summer

The weekend before school started, we woke up on Sunday morning and decided to make tracks for the zoo. The sun came out mid-visit and it was a wonderful morning. 

Portraits

 I took Leila for some portraits when she turned 5 in the end of August. I figured it was probably time for some professional photos...the last time I had any taken was when she was 18 months old!! I take so MANY myself that I just kept thinking "I'll do it soon." Well, I booked a session and I absolutely LOVE the pictures! What a beautiful smile she has! The pictures capture her personality completely!

For those of you who aren't introduced already, this is Hoppity. The studio encouraged me to bring in a favorite toy for the photos...well Hoppity is THE toy in our house. Leila got him when she was about a year old. She had gotten sick and Daddy bought Hoppity that morning for her before he went to work. He had gone to the grocery store to pick up jello, applesauce, gatorade etc...all those things you need when you are sick to your stomach and he came home with Hops. Hoppster is so well-loved and his fur shows it. Hoppity hasn't missed a bedtime or an at home nap time since he came home from Safeway. He will always be special in the Tavern house and I love that this is documented in L's pics!