Soccer

The weather has been absolutely beautiful for Zoe’s early soccer games. We’ve gotten into a new routine on (Fall) soccer mornings. Her games are at 9:30am so we stop and grab a fresh bagel and coffee on the way and eat it while Z is playing. I look forward to it every weekend now.

This soccer game was against a team we have yet to play. They were pretty good AND their goalie was African American! Zoe noticed right away and was very excited about it. Zoe has really enjoyed this year of soccer not only because she loves the sport but also a lot of my students train the kids at practices. On game days, I seem to always know the referees. The girls that train the kids twice a week are so good with the kids. One of the trainers, Grace (I have in my 2^nd period class) is the goalie of our soccer team at school so when she is helping Z at the goal, Zoe gets super pumped up about it. I’d be lying to say, I didn’t love it too. It’s one of the perks for working at the high school.

Zoe will be attending a goalkeeper training later this month where she will spend the entire session working on goal techniques. It sounds like a fun yet intense soccer workout. She seems to really love playing soccer.

Travel

Shelli has been gone for the past two-weeks. She was in Europe for one week then came home for the weekend and left again for another business trip. It just never gets easier to get used to. Zoe misses her Mimi very much when she is gone. We hold the fort down but it’s just not the same without Mimi here. We are glad she is home now!

Chicken update

We've had the ladies almost a month now and we consider them family. I never in a million years thought I would love a chicken let alone 3 chickens as much as I do. The hens have not started laying eggs yet but we've got the neighborhood dropping off empty egg cartons so we have start a stock pile for when the eggs start coming. I also ordered adorable labels for the egg crates.

We are just now starting to be able to tell them apart from one another, but all three are very friendly. They love cornbread, and are starting to eat out of our hands. We spend the late afternoon in the pen holding them and spending quality time talking and playing with them. Is it possible to be a 'crazy chicken lady?'

Soccer

Soccer season has officially started! Zoe is now on the RED team and had her first game Saturday. It wasn’t enough for the kids to have ‘first game’ jitters but it was raining cats and dogs the entire game. The kids and parents were soaking wet – plus it was chilly! Overall the girls did a fantastic job and I’m looking forward to another year of Zoe in the goal (and on the field) This year, her coach is no nonsense, which of course Mimi loves! 

New Bike

For months and months Zoe has wanted a Razor Dirt Bike. All the kids in the neighborhood have them so naturally she wanted one too! Shelli did some research on them and they were just too expensive. There was no way in the world we were spending almost $500 on an electric dirt bike – it just wasn’t an option … UNTIL, one day I was scrolling threw the online garage sale site that I love so much and came across the very bike she wanted, for $125. Although it needed new batteries, it was still a huge savings.  Mimi talked the guy down to $100, and it was no time before it was in the back of the truck and on the way home.  In order to help pay for this new toy, Zoe had to pay half of the cost (which is usually what we do when it comes to buying more expensive items). We bought the bike and put it in the garage until she could save up enough to pay us for half. There was nothing she was going to spend her money on because everything she earned went straight to her savings account. I was very proud of her for having the willpower to save every penny. Well, after almost 5 months, Zoe is the proud new owner of a sassy yellow electric dirt bike. I’m very proud of her for hanging in there and working hard to get her bike out of Mommy-Mimi Layaway.  

Hike

Today we did our first hike of the ‘season’. It’s not quite fall yet however, this morning sure felt like a fall day. It was about 70 degrees outside which, for us it was time to hit the trails, even Rosie and Rex got to tag along too. We are looking forward to lots of hiking and camping this fall.

Zoe 'n Joey

We made it through the first week of school with no issues. Sure, mommy had to come home and take a nap the first day but that is to be expected after being off almost 3 months. Zoe loves her teacher and is settling in nicely. I’m still trying to learn all the new kids names at my school but that will probably take me half of the first semester –ha! I’d have to say, so far so good!

Tonight we went bowling with Joey. The kids actually did really well and of course had a good time trying to beat each other. The adults didn’t have a bad time either.

Sweet surprise.....

No words needed......

Back to School

The summer is over and Zoe and I are BACK TO SCHOOL! This morning went pretty smoothly. We got up, got dressed, had breakfast together, packed up our lunches, and headed out the door. I cannot believe our baby is in 4^th grade. Where did the time go? She insisted that Shelli take her to school this morning. Due to security, they don't let parents walk the kids to the class anymore (until back to school night). Zoe knew that but still wanted Mimi to drop her off – which I thought was super sweet. The day will come where she will want us to drop her off two blocks away. Until then, we will take advantage of every moment.

My day flew by, and boy was I thankful for that. I didn't have all my regular classes because the kids were in orientation most of the day so I spent most of the day helping the new kids find their classes and figure out where they needed to be. By the time the bell rang, I was ready to get home and take a nap! Those high school kids keep me on my toes.

When Zoe got home, she was excited about her first day. She likes her teacher and said she had a great day. Zoe didn't have much down time when she got home because soccer started back up tonight. No more relaxing summer days by the pool. We are all back to the grind.