Soccer Season (Again)...

Soccer season is upon us once again...Cooper had such a good experience in the fall that we signed him up to play again this spring.  He has almost the same exact team (they picked up two new kids) and the same coaches.  He started the beginning of February and is loving it as much now as he did in the fall. Unfortunately because of cheer, we have had to miss some of his games, but he and Nanna seem to manage just fine.  This particular Saturday we were all there to watch him so it is quite the picture overload of him doing one of the many things he loves...

If only I could hear their conversation...

This little girl is FAST...I cannot tell you how many times Cooper "chased" her down the field.  I will say if he is on the field he is going to be hustling and doing anything he can to keep the other team from scoring...he loves defense as much as offense.

And the gray shark has scored himself a goal...

And another goal...

Hmm...he is not always a fan of taking turns playing.

When I look at this picture, I see "boys" playing soccer...not just "little" boys out having fun on a Saturday morning.  Craziness...I still think of him as my little baby, but he isn't anymore.

And goal number 3 for the little gray shark...

Feet not even on the ground...he's that fast...ha ha!

Headed to give Daddy a high five...smiling from ear to ear!

And of course there is the sideline silliness...

Would love to see this little team stay together...they could be REALLY good!  And...so thankful for these coaches...we couldn't ask for better coaches!!!

And of course this day was special because his Sam was there to watch him play!!!

Weekend with Sam...

Although it was 10 PM, I was beyond excited to pick Sam up for the New Orleans airport on Thursday, February 18th.  We had not seen her since our Christmas break so we were excited to have her home with us for a weekend!

On Friday, Sam and I slept in since we didn't get home until almost 1:30 AM and then we got hair cuts and shopped for the items she needed to take to Haiti for her Spring Break mission trip.  If you are reading this, you can pray for her this week...she is on a plane to Haiti as I type right now.  She will be doing various different projects this week and I'm sure could use your prayers.

We got the little ones from school and got ready for an early dinner at Keifers with Patrick Cooper before heading to watch the Majors play basketball.

These kids were excited to have "big" sister home...

Wouldn't be a basketball game without meeting the girls as they come out of the locker room...

Think they were attempting a "silly" picture...

On Saturday morning, this little boy was so excited Sam was going to be at his game.  And of course, he showed out and scored three goals for her!

After soccer we had lunch and then just pretty much chilled the rest of the day.  Sam had some homework to do, she wanted me to cook her favorite dinner, we took a nap, just had a little down time.

Sunday we headed back to Millsaps for some more basketball and senior day...Sam was thankful her school schedule and Anna Lauren's cheer schedule worked out for her to come for a basketball weekend and even better senior weekend!

We have loved watching Miah play...she will for sure be missed...both on and off the court.  

Poor Bev had a rough go with ankle surgery that didn't go quite as planned last Spring.  But somehow someway she managed to play through and finish out her career at Millsaps.  Maybe not her best year but at least she got to play.

It was a good day...the three seniors from last year were there to honor the three seniors this year.  To me, that just shows what type of "bond" these girls have.  So thankful we have had the opportunity to get to know each of them.  

Basketball took up most of our day Sunday.  We came home for just a little bit and then it was time to take Sam to the airport. Always hard to put her back on the plane, but we are thankful for any and every opportunity we have to spend time with her.  She will actually be here for two weeks in May between her Spring and Summer term so we are counting down the days until that visit.

February Opportunities...

I started the year off all big and bad and said I was going to take at least one Millsaps student to lunch and have at least one Millsaps student over for dinner each month.  Well, I looked at my February calendar and realized that may not be the case (you have to be home to have people over).  So...I opted to take two students to lunch.  

I love me some basketball girls so they are usually my "go to"...I was actually excited to take Kasi because I had heard she was needing some love and attention.  She is an incoming freshman who was getting to play almost the entire game...until...she tore her ACL at Rhodes on January 31st.  She was devastated, her parents are in Houston, and she just needed a little "happy" to make her feel better.  So...we went to her favorite place, Wing Stop, and had a good lunch talking about basketball, school, family, etc.  I look forward to getting to know her better and watch her play the next 3 years...I think she has so much potential both academically and in athletics.  

Kala is a junior so I have known her for a couple years.  But when I took Kasi to lunch, she told me Kala was jealous so of course, she was next on my list. Kala has been fun to watch because I feel like she has matured so much this year...last year she seemed to be the girl that just jumped on someone else's back and rolled with it. This year I have seen her come out of her shell a little bit around campus, be more engaged in her school work, and continue to be great on the basketball court.  But one thing I for sure love about Kala is that she loves my kids and will talk to them, hug on them, play basketball with them, etc.  Love watching these older girls love on my little ones.

March is just as crazy as February was, but I am going to try my best to have one lunch and one dinner.  I think it may sometimes be more rewarding to me than the kids.

Cheer Competition #3...Atlanta

On Friday, February 12th we headed to Atlanta for Anna Lauren's biggest cheer competition of the season (25,000 athletes, 50,000 spectators...yeah...not joking...the biggest).

Friday night we had dinner with Big Buddy (Eugene) and Little Buddy (Jennifer) who now live in Atlanta and we miss SO much. We we so excited to get to spend some of the weekend with them.  

Day 1 of competition started bright and early Saturday morning...

When you look at this smile, it is obvious she is in her "happy" place and doing something she truly loves.  And let me just say...you have to LOVE it to do it.  She practices hours upon hours upon hours...and NEVER complains.

They had one little bobble on Saturday but overall a pretty good performance...

So hard to leave this little guy, but he really is so much happier at home and prefers to stay at home so we let him.  But...it sure brightens my day when Nanna sends pictures like this...yep, he scored three goals this morning!!!

Anna Lauren actually had a group of fans Saturday morning...Pop Pop, MeMe, Aunt Kelly, and Maddie all came to watch her perform.  Maddie decided to hang out with us for a little while after everyone else left and see what this "cheer" is all about.  And she ended up getting to watch Kentucky perform, which is one of our most favorites, and get a picture with a UK cheerleader.

And here we are all ready for day 2 of competition...

Love, love, love how all the older girls give the "little" girls so much attention.  This is Berry...Anna Lauren actually got to know her last summer through her babysitter, Kat.  But...it just makes me smile when they take time to stop and speak to the little ones.

Another "older" girl (Mary Addison's sister) who is always so sweet to talk to her...

Happy girls after a zero deduction performance on day 2...

Who would have ever thought that I would be a cheer mom?  Not me...that is for sure!!!

Matt is for sure the "fun" one in the crowd...

Time for awards...

This group of hard working and extremely talented kids walked away 8th out of 14 teams in their division.  At a competition this size, we are thrilled to be "middle of the pack" and they accomplished just that.

And just for fun, Matt has started getting some pictures out of his videos...they are pretty cool of the whole squad.

A weekend off and then to Tunica for another two day competition...

Valentine's...

Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday this year so the kids celebrated at school on Friday.  Anna Lauren took her treats on Thursday and missed out on the Valentine's Day fun at school because we were on the road to Atlanta for a cheer competition.  Cooper chooses to stay home with Nanna when we go to cheer so he got to celebrate Valentine's with his friends at school.

Of course, just another great pinterest idea Anna Lauren picked out for her teacher and after school babysitter.

Surprisingly, Anna Lauren did not insist on an elaborate box this year...we just bought the kit at Hobby Lobby and she had it ready to go within 5 minutes. Cooper didn't have to make a box...they actually decorated bags like we use to do years ago.

Anna Lauren loves to "browse" pinterest for her Valentine's treats...what she picked out this year may be one of my favorites...thought they turned out so cute!  I did ask her if she just wanted to buy box cards...I got the biggest eye roll...sigh!

I "recycled" something I had done in the past for Cooper's teachers...instead of a box of hot chocolate, I got them Starbucks gift cards.  

Cooper's may have been one of my favorites I have done for him too...so "boy", and I love it!

And since Matt, Anna Lauren, and I were going to be in Atlanta on Valentine's Day, I put "treats" out for them to have Friday morning before we left for Atlanta/Cooper school.

Anna Lauren had been begging for this water bottle since I gotten one for Christmas...so...I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it to her.

And considering Nanna is at our house every weekend with Cooper while we are off cheering, got to get her some happies too!

Cooper is our tv watching little guy so he got two new movies.

And sweet Sam got a card with plane ticket money...it's expensive flying from Miami to here but she loves to come as much as we love her to come!

And last but not least, several days after Valentine's Day Cooper brought this "sweetness" home from school.  Talk about melt your heart...oh how we love our lil man!