Faith for the Future Campaign

Last weekend was the annual Faith for the Future Campaign.  Students from our school were asked to attend and participate in masses at churches all over the Deanery.  Over the course of two weekends, we attended four different churches and the girls did three readings.  The churches welcomed us with open arms and the students enjoyed getting to meet different priests and parishioners.

St. Sebastian's Church 

Elizabeth assisting the preschool class at St. Pius X Church. 

Elizabeth and Jamo

5th graders at St. Mary.

Elizabeth, Emily and friends represented the school at St. Colman's.

Contacts

Toward the end of the summer, Emily asked if she could try contacts for sports.  She doesn't mind wearing glasses at all (in fact, I think she loves it), but wearing goggles almost seven days a week for sports was becoming tiring, and very hot and sweaty.  Our eye doctor agreed to let her give it a try and after a few visits to the office, she was proficient enough at putting them in and taking them out to be released to wear them.  She wears them only for practices and games, and then to school on special occasions. You may have noticed that she is goggle free in her soccer pictures.  She really enjoys it, feels like she has better clarity and peripheral vision.  It's a lot more difficult to find her on the field now.

August Odds and Ends

Some photos and videos from August that didn't make it to other posts:

A beautiful day at the TPC enjoying the Travelers Championship.

Emily, putting in some extra work on a hot Sunday afternoon.

At the pool club - she's been waiting years to do this.

Labor Day Shootout

Over Labor Day weekend, Emily's Magic soccer team played in the Nike Bernie Ward Labor Day Shootout.  This tournament is the largest in Connecticut and comprised of only the top teams in the tri-state area, many of which are premier soccer clubs.  All of the parents were a bit surprised to find out that the Magic coach entered the girls in the tournament, especially when we found out that their bracket was comprised of only premier clubs (we were the only travel team in the bracket, although there was one other at their age group in a different bracket).  The girls won their first game on Saturday morning, 4-2, with Emily providing a nice assist on one of the goals.  They won 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, with Emily scoring the first goal of the game.  On Sunday morning, they squeaked out a win 3-1, with Emily again providing a beautiful assist.  And then it was on to the finals - something none of us could quite believe.  The girls won the final game 2-0, with Emily scoring the game winner.  It was incredibly exciting for the girls, their coaches and the parents.  Several of us were with this team when they didn't win a single game during the season; and most of us were with them when they won two games over an entire year (fall, winter and spring combined).  To watch them work together, to play their positions appropriately (most of the time), the cover for each other and to pass to each other beautifully because they actually seem to sense their teammates is quite a thing to see and a testament to the girls genuine commitment to each other and their incredible coaches.  We are all hoping for a great year, including the girls' first ever quest for the Connecticut CUP.

This one didn't go in, but it was pretty to see. 

Her big goal in the final game - this is a very cropped photo (thankfully, Grammy was there to catch this as my camera was taking photos of the grass, I was too busy cheering!) of her celebration run!! 

The victory run to the parents!

Getting her medal. 

Middletown Magic U11 Girls 

Nat and Emily, hamming it up with the trophy. 

Emily and Gianna 

Abby and Emily selfie. 

What do ten year old girls do to celebrate winning a tournament?  Selfies!!  It was crazy! 

Holding the team trophy.

X: A Pius Musical

We have a relatively new priest at our parish - he is young, engaging and a bit of comedian (really, he is - apparently, he does stand up in clubs).  He is very active at the girls school and over the last year, started writing a musical about St. Pius X.  Apparently, when he started researching the namesake of his new parish, he couldn't find out very much about him.  This summer, various parishioners came together to put on a preview of the musical, including the girls.  They were reluctant at first, but I really couldn't say no when Father Eric called me, so they were stuck.  They rehearsed about ten times over the summer and, as it turns out, they had a great time.  The preview was a few weeks ago; there was a huge audience and the performance was really great.

First Day of School 2016

Today might be the best day of the year, as everyone in our family was happy and ready for the first day of school.  Last night, as I was driving Emily home from soccer practice, she said "I can't wait to go to bed so I can wake up tomorrow and go to school."  These girls love school and we love having them out of our hair!!!!  5th and 7th grade, here they come!

7th grade 

5th grade 

Old Wethersfield 5K

On Sunday, Elizabeth and I ran the Old Wethersfield 5K.  She trained well for the race over the summer and so we were both hopeful that she would run sub-27 and place in her age group.  The morning was moderately dry, but by 8:30 am, temps were heading for the 90s and she struggled a bit with the heat.  I wasn't able to push her as hard as I thought, but she worked hard and finished without walking (which is saying something, as we passed many walkers in the last mile).  Elizabeth was very disappointed with her time and her place (7th in her age group), but I know that she will do better next time.

Pre-race. 

Elizabeth in the final stretch. 

Fake smile (from E) with our finisher medals. 

She was able to shake her bad mood over a plate of steak, eggs (2), home fries and toast.

Summer Camps

The girls both spent a few weeks at camps over the summer although for the first time, they didn't go to any together.

Emily went to four different soccer camps over the course of the summer and loved every one of them!  Here she is, flexing at the fields and sporting her Team USA tank top.

Emily's last soccer camp was for travel soccer players only.  Several of her Magic teammates were also at camp that week and we hosted them all at the pool club for a few hours.  It was the "best day ever" according to Emily - she had so much fun.  For a girl that never has a birthday party, you can see how hosting nine of your teammates for an afternoon of swimming would be a blast.

Showing off the forts from Fort Building at Camp Ingersoll. 

Family night with Lila - who lives in NYC and the girls only see during Camp Ingersoll each year.