Braggalope Bay

On Saturday, we made our annual trip to Braggalope Bay to visit with my best friends from high school and their families.  Our visit this year was a bit abbreviated, as we were hampered on the way up by heavy traffic and road work and arrived much later than expected.  The kids were still able to get in their swim across the lake while the adults chatted away.  I love that we always pick up right where we left off the previous year, as do the kids! 

While waiting for lunch, the kids played frisbee.

The overcast skies didn't stop the kids from jumping into the lake.  Here they are, waiting for Clint to escort them across the lake for their annual swim.  This trip used to involve just Elizabeth and Ethan, but the crowd grows bigger every year.

Elizabeth and Emily, waiting for the rest of the pack to jump off of the raft.

Annual group photo.

The kids (missing Spencer, who only wanted his mother!)

End of Season Tournament

Emily and her Magic teammates played in the Newington Wrap Up Tournament over Father's Day weekend.  They played two games early on Saturday morning (we left our house at 6:30am) which were great, and two games on Sunday afternoon, which were simply brutal.  We got a few inches of rain Saturday night and Sunday morning and by game time on Sunday afternoon, the sun was so hot that there was steam rising off of the fields and mud everywhere.  The girls played some of the best soccer we've seen them play and we were proud of how hard Emily worked (she scored a great goal and played some really good defense).  According to her FitBit, she ran 5 miles during the two Sunday afternoon games!  She was completely wiped out when the weekend was over.

 

Heat, sweat and mud after two hot games on Sunday.

Lax - Emily

Emily's last lacrosse game of the season was the night before her 9th birthday and she had a performance worthy of a celebrating, scoring four goals!!!  She doesn't love lacrosse like she loves soccer, but ending the season with a win and with a bunch of goals certainly left a good taste in her mouth.

Bantams!

Emily and her sporty partner in crime, Abby.  Between them, they scored six goals in this game.  They also play on the same soccer team.

Last Day of School

The girls' last day of school was June 12th and honestly, we were all relieved that the school year was over.  All four of us have been on a hamster wheel, seven days a week - between school projects, lacrosse, soccer and dance - and the end of school marked the end of just about every activity as well.
Lee and I are very proud of what the girls accomplished this year.  Elizabeth participated in just about every school activity available to her: drama, band, soccer, art club and robotics.  She also worked the hardest we've ever seen her work and brought home all A's and A-'s for the year, including an A in math, her first ever.  Elizabeth has been doing an extra 15-45 minutes of math work everyday since the first week of September, which she absolutely hates (it is not unusual for her to cry her way through the problems); however, it paid off and while she still resists doing the work, she knows that it is making a difference.  We are so proud of her for pushing through and earning that A in math.  On the extra-curricular side, she made the travel U12 girls team (after getting cut last year), and then made the very mature decision to not play next year, because it is not fun for her anymore.  After a very successful lacrosse season, she made the leap to a high level travel lacrosse program for the summer, which is far outside of her comfort zone.  The first practice was a bit touch and go, but she was very energized after the second practice and we know that she is going to do great.
Emily also had a great year academically.  Her teacher was simply amazing and pushed the third graders to do things that even their parents didn't think that they were capable of.  Somewhat to our surprise, Emily really rose to the occasion each and every time, and also brought home all A's and A-'s for the year.  She participated in every school related activity available to her and is really looking forward to learning an instrument next year.  On the extra-curricular side, she made the travel U10 soccer team and the premier U10 soccer team for next year - for both teams, we were notified after the first night of tryouts that she had made the team and didn't need to attend the second night.  She also had a great lacrosse season, although she doesn't enjoy lacrosse nearly as much as she does soccer.  We are very proud of her hard work this year and we know how much she is looking forward to "time off" this summer to just sit around and do nothing.
Lee and I are truly blessed to have these girls in our lives and very proud of how hard they work both in school and on the playing field.

Perfect Attendance - both girls!  And no, we never sent them to school when they were sick.

JV soccer - tournament champions!

Band

Art Club

Drama

Robotics

5th grade shenanigans.

A very well-rounded and accomplished year, including the Critical Thinker award for 5th grade.

A well-rounded year for Emily too, including the 3rd grade Book Worm Award and two Mighty Milers medals (each representing 26.2 miles run).

Last day of school party!

Bowers Tournament

Elizabeth finished up the spring lacrosse season with a four game tournament in Somers called the Bowers Tournament.  It was another divide and conquer day in our house, as Elizabeth and I had to leave the at 6:15am to make the 1+ hour drive and Lee and Emily had to be on the opposite side of the state for a soccer game.  It was great to see how much the girls have bonded since the beginning of the season and to watch them play so well together.  They lost all four games, but none of the games were blow outs and one was very close.  Considering that they play against such well-established programs, it's really something to be proud of.  She worked very hard in all four games and had a great time. 

The girls stole their coach's iPhone and took a series of selfies (normally a no-no in our house, but she got a pass here.  I stole this from her coach's FB page.

Celebrating Nine

Emily had a great time celebrating her birthday.  I made cupcakes for her to bring to school - they had to be decorated to her exact specifications.  She had a special birthday breakfast and she loved opening all of her presents.  Can't believe she's already nine.

Special gift - and now her most prized possession.

No uniform on your birthday!

There's a theme with this kid....

A new lamb from Elizabeth.

Legos from Mari and Maya.