Soccer 2009

Sander is playing with the local YMCA soccer league this Fall. He's really great at warming up and genuinely likes playing - at home. Once the game starts he tends to freeze or move further away from the ball and other players! Maybe we need to toughen him up more at home ;) These pictures are from his first game. Keep in mind, it was about 90+ degrees, full sun, 11:00am and about 100% humidity. Poor kids!

The shin guards are hard to get used to!

Warm up!

Team circle before the game - Go Sharks!

Now that's the team spirit Sharks ;)

I'm done!

Sander's First Day of School

Sander started his 2nd year at West University Methodist this year. He goes three days a week and is in the Giraffe's class. This is the one picture I was able to get from the 1st day.

Labor Day Weekend

We headed back to the Lost Pines Hyatt for Labor Day weekend. Evan and Kyle joined us for part of the weekend as well. We were able to celebrate Evan's 17th birthday! Here are just a few pictures.

Sander's actually having fun although his facial expression doesn't show it ;)

Happy 17 Evan!

Yes. there are 18 cupcakes!

This is Sander's new picture pose - don't you love it ;)

Sander had a blast running through the fountains!

Amelia's 102nd Birthday

We went to Roswell to celebrate Amelia's 102nd birthday - wow! After arriving 6 hours later than we should have due to flight delays, we had fun swimming and hanging out with everyone. We celebrated with a great meal at Red Lobster - Amelia's choice for her birthday bash! And, Sander won the prize for swimming the most in less than 48 hours...it was amazing.

Celebrating at Red Lobster

Sander inspecting a gift from Amelia

Ruth and Sander having fun in the pool

Mommy and Sander resting on the raft

Taking a break

Lost Pines Resort, Bastrop Texas

Matt, Sander and I took a quick 2 day trip to a great family resort just 20 miles outside of Austin in July (so 2 hours from Houston). We swam and swam and swam...and roasted smores :)

Sander loves his goggles!

Doing laps around his kitty after eating smores

Trying to entertain Sander while waiting for dinner

Tired boy roasting his smore

Leave it to Sander to find a vehicle he can ride in!

Kitty came with us everywhere on this trip...and he's so gentle with the Kitty ;)

Taking a snack break

Having fun with daddy in the pool

I want to go swimming!

July 4th 2009

We joined in the annual West University Place neighborhood parade on July 4th. The kids decorate their choice of riding vehicle - Sander's was his scooter and we walk about 5 blocks from the elementary school to the pool. And, literally, we walked right into the pool this year. It was sooo HOT! Then we hosted a party later that day for 4 families...it was fun!

Sander on his decorated scooter

Sander and his friend Brooke waiting for the parade to begin

The kids having fun at our party that afternoon. Sander's John Deere tractor is always a hit until someone falls off!

Port Aransas Summer 2009

We took the family to Port Aransas, TX for 5 days in June. We rented a great house just a short walk from the beach with a small pond directly behind it. Everyone had a great time! One fun activity that isn't shown here is a fishing trip that Matt took with Evan and Kyle where Kyle caught some amazing catfish that we ate .... mmmhmmm!

Sander had so much fun playing in the sand and the ocean. He has no fear of the water!

I couldn't resist :)

Sander and Zoe taking a break

Sander and Zoe really enjoyed looking in the pond behind our house where we could see anywhere from 1 to 7 turtles and even some crabs.

Zoe hanging out with Lemur by the pond

Kyle was determined one evening to catch a crab he saw in the pond...

Kyle waiting patiently. It was a fighting crab!

At any given time of the day, this is where you'd find Zoe...she loved playing in the waves!

Matt relaxing with Evan and Kyle

There were several football and lacross games on the beach

Matt has started a fun tradition with the kids where they each build a "fort" armed with little plastic soldiers and then they have battles. Here, Matt is trying to build his fort while Sander continued to knock down his castles :)

Zoe hard at work on her fort

Kyle surveying his fortress

Evan being very meticulous with his construction process

Our friends Sean and Karen Farrell joined us for a day and night of fun. Here Sander and Ashling are playing in the water.

We tried to get a family picture before we left on the last day...they don't seem as happy as we were hoping for :)

Kyle took our picture

Maybe sitting will be better? hee hee :)

All packed up and ready to head back to Houston. Good bye Port A for another year!