GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

Last Thursday night, Claire scored her first goal ever (assuming you don't count the one she scored for the other team a few weeks ago). Since then, she's been on a scoring rampage. On Friday night, she scored five goals and couldn't wait to call someone to share the news that she got the "high score".

Jason and I, who normally consider ourselves to be highly reasonable people, have turned into those parents. You know, the ones who are jumping up and down on the sidelines and yelling "Stay with it, Claire! Straight to the goal! Wooo-hoooo!!!" while the other parents think to themselves, "They do realize this is four year old soccer don't they?"

Yes, we do. But it's so fun to see your little one accomplish something and be so proud of herself that we're willing to sacrifice a little of our dignity to celebrate it with her. However, f you see us on the soccer fields and we're a little, um, over the top, please feel free to tell us to tone it down...

Right. I have a blog.

So I haven't blogged in a while. And since this blog is my way of documenting the girls' experiences, I always feel guilty when I fall behind. Here is my penance--lots of pictures!


We made a quick trip to Dallas and stayed with Grandad and Mimi. That means there was lots of swimming and good food. The girls would've stayed in the water all day if we'd let them.



First Razorback game of the season. We left the girls at home for the game but game day always provides a good excuse for wearing your cheerleader outfit and striking some poses outside the stadium.




First Day of School. This is Claire's last year of preschool and Arden's first. Guess who wasn't that thrilled to be going (hint--the one with the paci and blankie). Claire is going to the same preschool she's been at the last three years and Arden is going to Mother's Day Out at our church. Oh, and did I mention that I'm the director of that Mother's Day Out? That might help explain my recent blogging drought.
So far both girls are enjoying their schools, although Claire is torn as to whether she wants to stay with her buddies at her "old" school or come with me and Arden. I'm letting her chose, which means a lot of running around for me.


Fall soccer started and Claire's team is named "Fire". Not "The Fire". Just "Fire". For some reason, this really bothers me. But Claire is excited because they get real uniforms and she is number 5. She considers being five years old to be the pinnacle of existence, so getting wear 5 on her back makes her day.

I'm not sure that soccer will turn out to be Claire's calling in life. She has fun playing, but seems to have inherited my level of aggressiveness (none). I overheard her coach telling her to try and take the ball away from the other team and Claire replied, "But I could share it with them and that would be so nice". Not sure how Coach answered that one.

And finally, here is what Arden looks like at Claire's soccer games. She is having a hard time grasping the concept of being "too young" for certain things. We spend the entire game chasing her off the field. When it's her turn to play next fall, I don't think we'll be worrying about her level of agression though.

Even Mia Ham Had to Start Somewhere

Spring soccer started up a few weeks ago (I won't get into my opinion on calling it "spring" soccer when it was, in fact, still winter and freezing cold when it started). The point is, it's Spring now and there are still a few games left to be played.

The good news: Claire loves it and has a great time playing.

The bad news (of the "What?! You mean my child isn't exceptional at everything she does?" variety): She does not appear to have a natural gift for the sport. She has, however, developed a keen sense for trash talking. I think she gets that from her dad.