Pink Pirates Banquet

On Saturday morning, Sofia and I headed over to Brio in Southlake to celebrate the end of the Pink Pirates Spring season, and it also marks the end of Sofia's soccer playing days. Sofia really didn't want to go and begged to stay and play with her cousins, but we'd already told her coaches that we'd be there and it was only going to be maybe two hours. Plus, as the unofficial team photographer, I had the thank you cards that I made with a picture of the team and included a number of photos of Coach Kevin and Coach Jeff's respective daughters. Holly picked up the gift cards that we planned to put inside each thank you card and I needed to get each girl to sign her name to the card. Once we arrived, we headed to the private room to meet the rest of our team. The only team mate who couldn't make it was Aria, so we had a great turnout. It was so fun to see all the girls where their cute outfits, since I usually only see them in their soccer clothes.

The girls all sat at a big square table together and had the best time talking and coloring on coloring sheets from the restaurant and making figures with pizza dough. I sat with Coach Jeff, his wife Julie, Holly and Ken and really enjoyed talking with them. I know Holly and Ken pretty well by now but haven't really spent much time talking to Julie and Jeff. Coach Jeff is always over with the soccer girls during games so I usually just talk to him for a few minutes after or before the games. It was really fun to learn a little more about them all and it was great to visit for a bit while the girls were all happy visiting together.

We ate our brunch, which was outstanding and then Coach Kevin started the awards portion of the banquet. Unfortunately, he had news to share first, which was that he, Cindy and their two girls would be moving over the summer to Dallas so that Gabrielle could go to a certain private school. I can't believe they are moving away from family and their lifestyle here, but I'm sure they will find their niche there too. I just hope Coach Kevin stays involved in coaching soccer because he has such a kind and gentle way with teaching the girls. Coach Jeff, who has a very different coaching style does plan to stay on and coach which will be good for the team and hopefully they can find another coach to compliment Coach Jeff. After the announcement, Coach Kevin and Coach Jeff passed out the awards to each girl.

After the awards, we gave each of the coaches their thank you gifts which included a personalized clipboard as well as the card signed by each girl and a $125 gift card for their favorite restaurant. As a surprise, Holly organized a Nothing Bundt Cake to celebrate Cindy's birthday which is next week! Cindy was so completely surprised and emotional over the surprise. We all brought her a birthday gift too, which she didn't expect. Cindy is amazing with all that she does for the team and the time and effort she puts forward to make everything run smoothly. She and Coach Kevin are incredibly generous and such warm and welcoming people that we'll miss them a lot and hope to visit them once they are situated in Dallas.

After cake, we all visited and took a group picture before saying goodbye and heading home. It was so fun to see everyone off the soccer field and it's such a great group of kids.

Our delicious brunch menu!

Sofia and Nicole

Accepting her soccer trophy from Coach Kevin and Coach Jeff

The Coaches!

The Coaches and "unofficial" photographer!

The girls with their favorite coaches

Emily and Lucy

With Cindy

My little soccer star!

Some of the sweet soccer girls we'll miss seeing each Saturday morning

Coach Kevin and Cindy!

The whole crew! What a fun group!

Olivia's Last Day at Spanish Schoolhouse

Yesterday was Olivia's last day at Spanish Schoolhouse for the summer and probably for good. As much as we love having her exposed to a Spanish immersion program, she just hasn't never really enjoyed school at all, and it just doesn't seem to be a good fit for her for some reason. Every morning, Olivia's first question to me is "Do I have school today?" and if the answer is "yes," she says "OHHH!" and gets sad or even says she isn't going to go that day. If I say "no" she says "Yeaah!" and is happy. She's never sad or crying when I take her or say goodbye, but just seems like she's shell shocked, won't say "Buenos Dias" or respond at all to any of the teachers.

As we said our final goodbyes to her teachers, the director and front office ladies, I was sad to leave such a great learning center. While we drove home, Olivia asked "When will we see Miss Lynn and Miss Carolina again?" and I told her I didn't really know since she would be going to a new school next year. She started to get upset, which surprised me. So, I told her we could visit whenever we wanted to say "Hola" to our friends. That seemed to satisfy her. Plus, she's been invited to a birthday party for her dance partner and friend in a few weeks, so it will be good to see her friends once again.

Over the past few weeks, I've asked around and got a few good recommendations for schools, but several of their 4-year old programs want the child in class four or five times a week, which I just think is too much time. I have one more year with Olivia before she heads to Kindergarden and once she's in school my time with her will be weekends and afternoons following school which are usually busy and complicated. So, I want to enjoy this final year with her. I looked into a school near us called Noah's Ark and she and I went on a tour. The director, Mrs. Jan reminded me so much of my Aunt Cathy and her philosophy on preschool really impressed me! Noah's Ark has an academic aspect to the teaching in that they focus on their letter sounds, shapes, colors, and basic numbers but she stressed that preschool is really about learning to share, listening to the teacher, learning how to take turns, playing, painting, drawing and learning how to make friends. I couldn't agree more and feel like the majority of preschool programs really push worksheets and "academics" which is crazy (I think) for a 3 or 4 year old who will spend many years in school. I really wish I'd found Noah's Ark sooner and am excited for the school year to begin in the Fall - after a very fun summer, of course!

Going through the doors at Spanish Schoolhouse one final time....

With one of her teachers, Mrs. Carolina

A little post-school nap

Sofia FINALLY Loses Her Front Tooth!

Yesterday Sofia finally lost her other front top tooth! It's been barely hanging on for at least two weeks and in the past few days it actually would poke out of her lips when she smiled! She came home on Wednesday last week saying that she turned it completely around at lunchtime, but still wouldn't try to pull it out. We aren't sure how it's stayed in. She knows it won't hurt to pull it out at this point and she told CK that she realized that the greater amount of time between lost teeth seems to bring her better goodies from the tooth fairy! Very clever girl!

Yesterday, she and Olivia were horsing around on the couch when Olivia pushed her or bumped her and her tooth came out. Sofia is actually on day FIVE of staying home with a fever, but no other symptoms. I called her pediatrician on Friday and was told that there is a virus going around that only has a fever (100-101) as a symptom and not to worry about it. By yesterday she was feeling and acting great but it hadn't been 24 hours since her fever dropped to normal. So, I let her stay home one final day before sending her to school today. Of course, this meant a lot of reading, playing and even a dip in the pool with her pjs on! We have had crazy amounts of rain this past few weeks and yesterday was no exception. So, of course both girls rain around in the afternoon with their pjs on and got soaking wet before deciding to swim. Our pool is not yet warm enough for me to dip a toe into it, but they don't seem to mind.

This morning Sofia discovered the tooth fairy visited and gave her a glittery $2 bill, a tooth fairy necklace, a small bottle of hot pink pixie dust and a sweet note congratulating her on losing her top front tooth. Sofia told me how each color of pixie dust is for a different use and the hot pink color is to help those who can't fly. She sure knows her pixie dust and their uses. It's hard to believe she's missing her top front teeth, but she really does look so cute without them!

The very loose tooth before

Barely hanging in there

Her new smile! We love it!

Playing in the rain

Who wants to swim in their pjs??

The tooth fairy visited!

Mother's Day!

Today didn't turn out quite the way we expected it to, but that's how life happens. Sofia was still sick with a 100 degree fever (better than 104 Friday night), and I wasn't feeling great myself, so I stayed home in my pjs while CK and Olivia headed off to Meeting. It has been pouring rain all night and it almost felt like the middle of the night since it's so dark outside. I drank coffee and Sofia and I read our respective Harry Potter books (# 7 for her and #3 for me). She ate a few crackers since she didn't eat dinner the night before and I ended up taking a shower and getting dressed since I wanted to be be sure and get a photo of myself with the girls on Mother's Day, even if Sofia would be wearing her pjs.

Once CK and Olivia came home, they made pancakes, eggs and bacon for us and we enjoyed a very delicious breakfast together. The girls made me a card and Sofia gave me the gift she's been hiding since our yard sale, when she got it from our neighbor Jackie. She was so excited about it and kept telling me not to look and how much I'd love it. It is a red and white coffee mug and reads "Keep Calm and Carry On". She was so proud to give it to me, which is sweet.

After gifts and cards, we read and Sofia napped and we just hung out in the very rainy and soggy day.

The picture of the girls and I that CK posted on FB on Mother's Day.

Sofia and I relaxing on the couch with our books

My view

My sweet girl!

Silly Olivia

Both girls

The three of us! Happy Mother's Day!

Silly faces!

My Mother's Day gift

Olivia's End of the Year Program!

Yesterday was Olivia's end of the year program for Spanish Schoolhouse and it almost didn't happen for Olivia! Sofia woke complaining that her legs ached and hurt and she felt "heavy" but never said she felt sick, so I told her to get dressed and come down for breakfast before school. We were literally a minute away from walking out the door to go to school, when she said she "didn't feel well" so I felt her forehead and noticed she was warm. Her temperature was 100, so I knew she'd have to stay home from school even though she really didn't have any other symptoms and I planned on being the share reader that day, which she and I really look forward to. So, I called Mrs. Livingston and told her that Sofia would be home sick.

That afternoon, after the girls played, read, watched movies and lounged on the couch, I had them both take naps. Olivia's nap stretched a little longer than it should have and before I knew it it was already 5:30 and we needed to leave at 6pm to get her to Abundant Life Church in Grapevine where her performance would start at 6:30pm! I let her continue sleeping while I ran and got ready quickly. I then tried to wake her up after a 2-plus hour nap and get her ready to go perform. Big mistake! She didn't want to wear the jean shorts and white top that we were asked to put all the kids in for the program and wanted nothing to do with "school." I later realized she was not only tired but likely pretty hungry too. I tried to explain to her that I'd be taking her to her show and would be watching her perform, just like she did at Christmas. CK agreed to stay home with Sofia and her fever. Despite my best efforts of explaining the situation to Olivia, she was not going to go and would not be wearing the outfit I asked her to put on. I tried everything and actually gave up on going by 6:10pm, when Sofia asked me if I could unlock my cell phone for her. I wasn't sure what her plan was, but it was brilliant! She showed Olivia video from the show she did in December with her class and told Olivia how great she did and how much fun it must have been. Olivia agreed to go! She was NOT going to wear the shorts, so we agreed on jean leggings and a long sleeve white shirt along with sandals and a high ponytail. We were out the door by 6:25pm with Olivia assuring me that she didn't plan on dancing but would go and "watch" the show with me. I pretty much knew once she was there it would be easy. I also gave her a granola bar and water while I zipped to the church as quickly as I could!

We arrived around 6:40pm and hurried to the entrance, with Olivia assuring me she did not plan to dance. The 2 year old classes were on stage and all the other kids were in their seats to the right, so I fought through the parents and made our way to Ms. Carolina who was so relieved that we'd arrived! She took Olivia in the back to get her dressed and I found an empty seat near the back. As soon as the 2 year old class was done, a group in the center 3rd row left, so I moved into some great seats! I watched the kinder class and the first 3 year old class dance and then it was Olivia's class' turn! She danced with Silas and they were right in the front. She saw me once she was on the stage and I think it made her a little nervous and self-conscious since she kept looking out to me during the dance. They really did a great job and danced away! I got a really good video of them, too!

Olivia and Silas were moved to the back row for the second song, so I just captured glimpses of her. I took a video of her dancing but ended up stopping it since I couldn't really see her. She looked like she was having a great time though and danced her little heart out! The four year old class danced followed by one more performance by the Kinder class and then the entire school came onto the stage and sang "Deep In the Heart of Texas." It was awesome and Olivia was right in the center and did all of her hand gestures and looked like she was having a ball!

After the show, I met Olivia back in the dressing area that her class had used and we headed to our car and decided to celebrate with a Johnny B's burger and milkshake! She was so chipper and excited after such a fun show and it was fun to spend a little one-on-one time with Olivia, although Sofia was heartbroken when she realized she couldn't go with us. She and CK were home watching a movie together and eating popcorn. After eating, we headed home. What a super fun night, after a lot of negotiating and pleading. It all worked out!

Announcing the next act in English...

And in Spanish....

Olivia's class takes the stage!

Getting ready to dance

With her dance partner, Silas

The music begins

Dancing!

The entire school gets ready to sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas"

She's ready to start

What a fun end of the year show!

Our post-show selfie!

Dinner and a milkshake

Tumbling Class

Just as Sofia did, Olivia has been taking tumbling classes at the Hurst Community Center with Ms. Tammy. The classes are once a week for 30 minutes and are so much fun and Olivia loves it. The community center is about a 20 minute drive from our house, so it's a bit of a trek for a 30-minute class but I am able to work on the computer while she takes her class and she loves it so much. The parents wait in a little waiting area right outside of the gym, but are allowed to sit inside the gym and take pictures during the last class. It was fun to take pictures of Olivia enjoying herself during the class and playing with her friends. At the end of the class, the kids sit in a line and get a stamp on their hand. They actually love this part and Olivia always runs back to me and shows off her hand stamp.

Here are the photos from her class:

Stretching before getting started in her tumbling class

Back bends

Spider crawling

Ms. Tammy showing off the high beam moves the class will do

Olivia on the high beam

Playing with her tumbling friend

Listening to Ms. Tammy give directions

A little help with the uneven bars

A hand stamp at the end of class