Sounders Training Session

If the Sounders Soccer Camp itself wasn't cool enough to make Leila wanna go again next summer, the opportunity to watch a training session and meet Sounders definitely sealed the deal! Campers were invited to come watch a training session and meet the players afterward. It was pretty cool to be on the pitch level! 

Leila chose the player line with Evans, Alonso and Martins. Chris got to shake Alonso's hand! 

Leila got a high five from her (and my!!) favorite player, Brad Evans!!! 

All her autographed cards from the day! It was such a fun event. I love how kid-oriented the Sounders organization is. 

Leila is already looking forward to next year and planning to meet Dempsey! 

Ventura Trip

My cousin, Elisabeth, got married in August, so we had one last weekend getaway before school started. The morning of the wedding a lot of us went for a walk on the beach. 

Bennett was all smiles that night at the wedding. 

Leila loved dancing with her cousin Johnny! 

The next morning the family hung out in the hotel together, gabbing and watching B and L. 

Happy 8th birthday!

On August 20th our girl turned 8! What?!? She is growing up so quickly. We are tremendously blessed! Leila is the light of our lives! As per tradition, we celebrated her birthday with a hike. This year we opted for the east side of Mt. Rainier so we drove over to the Sunrise entrance. Mt. Rainier is majestic no matter how you slice it, but hiking the east side is amazing! We hiked parts of Sourdough Ridge Trail and the Wonderland Trail. 

At the trailhead. 

Spending her 8th birthday on the mountain! 

Digging for fossils. 

A trailside lunch break and a small present. 

Me and my rock climbers! 

Happy birthday, Weedie! 

Another Match

Because Leila was a Sounder Camper, we were able to buy match tickets for 18 dollars. We couldn't pass that offer up. We watched the Sounders play Olimpia in a CCL match. Sounders won! 

Little House Birthday Party

Leila's 8th birthday was so much fun! We had a Little House on the Prairie Party. The guests came dressed for the prairie and they could not have looked any cuter! Honestly, it's the birthday party I have always wanted...for myself! 

I made enough bonnets for each of the girls to take a bonnet home with them. The boys were given a bandana. Chris and Leila rigged up a wash line full of bonnets and bandanas to greet guests when they arrived. 

 

We started the party activities with coloring. We had paper dolls for the kids to create and a Laura Ingalls coloring page. 

Then we headed outside to make some cookies. I had remade pie crusts. The kids used cookie cutters, sprinkled sugar and cinnamon over the shapes and then enjoyed their warm pie crust cookies after we baked them. Yum! 

 

Christopher, the grandmas and my friend, Erin, manned the oven. 

The snack table: pretzel sticks, red apples, scones with jam and the kids' pie crust cookies. 

I taught the kids how to play Pick-Up Sticks. 

And then the kids learned Marbles! I loved watching them learn this game! 

It was such a fun day! 

Dolls

We had a cool, rainy summer morning in August. It was perfect for hunkering inside and having some epic mommy-daughter-doll time! It was a great morning! 

Raspberry Jam

Is there anything tastier than homemade jam? We don't think so. Leila helped me replenish our jam. We are set for the fall now! 

Friends

Leila and I were invited over for a play date with friends. Leila was so excited to see her friend, Madelyn! Leila had to buy a shirt when we were in Yellowstone because it matched Madelyn's. 

Backyard Football

Backyard soccer sessions are happening more and more frequently at the Tavern household. I love it! 

Pierce County Fair

We usually pay a visit to the Pierce County Fair in mid August. This year was no exception. Leila entered a Lego creation, titled "Morning at the Busy Farm". She earned a blue ribbon! 

We purchased enough tickets for a couple of rides and time in the ball pit. 

Leila also entered a photograph. She took it this summer at the Wolf and Grizzley Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. She earned a white ribbon. 

As silly as it is, the highlight of the afternoon for Leila might have been meeting "Elvis". Who'd have known? 

I love this picture from the Graham Fair years ago. We took a new one this year.