It was another beautiful fall weekend in Kansas!  Cru had football, but we had to miss his game due to soccer.  His soccer league is in Wichita, and his coach did his best to request games later in the day because of Cru and his buddy, Manny's, football schedule, but this weekend they conflicted.

His first game was against Newton, which they played the first game of the season.  Chet and I were not at that game, but they creamed us.  Jon (Cru's coach) was confident we could win this time :///

We were down 1-4 at half.  We weren't playing bad, they were just really good.  Things got cRaZy the second half; I can't even explain all that happened!  It was awesome though!  And we ended up winning 5-4!

^^^Big block!^^^

Congratulating his buddy, Manny!

Game two....

Before every game, the referee checks every players' shin guards and cleats....

Captains

 

The caliber of this team was significantly lower than the first game.  We dominated, yet kind of played down to their level at the same time.  

Jon has taught the boys that if someone from the other team gets injured, our team is to kneel out of respect while coaches tend to player.  Another reason we love Jon!

One thing Cru struggles with is his toughness.  He doesn't show any of this in practice, so it's frustrating to watch during games, but he's really working on it!  We were very proud of his toughness this weekend!

 

Two W's this weekend!  Awesome job, Strikers!

Before another soccer Saturday, let me get our last soccer Saturday documented :)

This was two weeks ago.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day!  We all actually got a little sunburned...after freezing that morning at flag football.

Strikers played a great two games!  Cru was one of the captains during the first game.  He scored three goals in the two games; one was the only goal his team scored the second game.  It came with a little pain, followed by a big chest bump from his coach (video at end of post).

I wish I had video of his first goal!  His team plays a one (forward), two (left and right mid fielders), one (defender).  There is no goalie.  Cru is the defender.  He has a pretty strong foot, so he booted it away from the goal, it went over everyone's heads, and rolled in the goal!  He was so pumped!  We were all shocked!  He even ran airplaned off the field to his teammates on the sidelines for some love; it was HILARIOUS!

I'm still figuring out my new camera, so pictures haven't been the greatest of quality lately, but here's what I got!

Here is his second goal of the day....penalty kick after a hand ball.

Last {painful} goal of the day.  It's pretty hard to see; he's the little guy in the middle of all the big gray shirts.  He keeps fighting, gets kicked right under his shin guard (above his shoe), and scores!

Thanks to my mom capturing that video, and I love hearing my dad in the background!  Our family knows nothing about soccer, but Grandpa is LOVING watching and learning the game!  He definitely gets fired up :)

Pancakes & Pajamas

I really had not put much thought into Reese's birthday party this year until about a month beforehand.  I had briefly mentioned in passing having a pancake party (pancakes are her fav!), but she had already mentioned another swim party, so when I figured I had procrastinated long enough, we decided to combine the two!

I began to worry the week of the party because the weather had been a tad cooler, and also called for rain on the weekend, but it worked out fine!  HOT!  But we'll take it!

The kids arrived in their pajamas....so cute!



































We ate pancakes first thing!




























































































Followed by a donut cake!



Guilt was getting the best of me the night before thinking about her not having a cake, but Chet reassured me it would be fine.  And it was!  One of her friends even said to Chet as he was carrying the "cake" outside, "That's so awesome!  Why can't you be my dad?!"



































After breakfast, we had a pancake relay....






















































































































































Reese nonchalantly did a pancake flip and she caught it!  So her friends started cheering for her to do it again...and caught it again :)



































Opened presents....



And rocked the photo booth!







































































































































































































































By this time, the kids were more than ready to swim!



As I sat back watching the kids swim, I thought back to when we first started having swim parties (when Reese turned 6, I think), we were so worried about who could and couldn't swim.  Now, they are avid flippers and dare devils!



































































































































































































































































We took a little break from swimming for another game....HILARIOUS!!!!
















































































































































































































































































Then back in the pool until parents arrived.






































































Such a great group of kids!  So thankful for them all!  And so thankful for our families!

























































































































































































































More birthday posts to come!