Jack’s Fall Soccer Season

This fall, Jack switched from playing soccer at the Y to playing with Charlotte Soccer Academy.  He’s playing in the recreational league, but we switched because the location’s very convenient and they have a lot of training opportunities.  I honestly think at this point that the rec league isn’t much different than the Y soccer programs, but if Jack continues his interest in soccer, maybe the opportunities will be greater through CSA.

Regardless, Jack had an awesome soccer season this fall.  His focus and intensity have really grown—he hardly ever gets distracted during a game like a lot of other boys his age.  Jack hustles like nobody else and is, within his position, wherever the ball is.  I love watching Jack play and hope his love for the sport sticks around.  He really does have a natural knack for it with great ball handling skills.  One thing that was holding him back in previous seasons was not being able to really boot the ball, kick it really hard.  He’d set himself up for a goal but then couldn’t get a hard enough kick to shoot it into the goal.  This year, however as you’ll see form the pictures, he worked hard to develop his kick.  He can shoot it pretty nicely and his aim is getting better and better.  Jack had an awesome coach and a great team this year—several kids were really into it and by the end of the season they had really learned to work together and pass (not only did Jack have many goals this season, but he also had several assists).  It was fun to watch his games each Saturday morning and we’re looking forward to another season starting back up in March.  Here are some pictures from just a few of his games in September and October (it rained a game or two, so no pictures from those, and I missed his very last game because I was photographing a wedding)—these are some good highlights, though.


{goal!!!}

{and he’s off for another…}

{this kid is all in.  the other kid landed on jack making jack do a face-plant into the grass.  jack came up with chunks of grass in his hair, laughing so hard.  he’s really having the time of his life out there.}


{another game, another goal.}

{check out those moves.  :) }

{and a breakaway goal.}

{the little dude’s fast.}

{and there’s the hat trick.  go jack!}


{i love this series—look at those big kids jack worked his way through to score a goal.  one was even grabbing jack’s arm at one point.}

{this picture just sums it all up—look at that smile and intensity.  this kid couldn’t be having a greater time.}

The Stealthiest Ninjas

The kids had a great Halloween even though it was a cold and rainy evening.  They always love walking the ENTIRE neighborhood, seeing all of their friends, and playing the part of whatever costume they are in that year.  For this Halloween, both kids knew early that they wanted to be ninjas.  I’m not sure if they came up the idea together or separately, but I had to get two ninja costumes to prepare for trick-or-treating.  And Ella was very specific, no pink or girly ninja costumes…that’s our girl for ya’—tomboy all the way.  I didn’t take many pictures on Halloween night, and by the time the rain stopped it was pretty dark, but here are a few just so you can see these two stealthiest ninjas.

Fall Centers at School

Just a few pictures of Jack at school during his class’s fall special activities day in October.



{counting pumpkin seeds.}


{another mom said to me, “i think your son is eating the raw, slimy pumpkin seeds.”  nah, not my son…but, why yes he was…}

Instagrammin’ in October

Wow—so no posts between last month’s Instagrams and this month’s.  I assure you I’ve been busy editing and a few large posts from our trip down to Florida in August (yikes!) is forthcoming.  But, for now, here’s our October in a nutshell.  Keep in mind this is only a fraction of what we’ve been up to—too busy to blog! :)

basketball hoop is finally up. | long lashes. | don’t fence me in. | it’s fall, y’all. | wear your favorite college shirt to school day—no davidson gear in their closets… | morning with a view—photographed a walk to benefit children with apraxia on saturday, october 6th. | “mom, i learned something tonight—if you’re not a gator then you’re gator bait.” | trying to get stronger to make team. | really? a second kid with the permanent teeth coming in BEHIND the baby teeth…jabberjaws. | flu shots for everyone. | i <3 soup weather. | somebody left her lunch at home this morning—i took it as a ploy to come eat lunch with her. | reading together during jack’s piano lesson. | spent a morning working on a KABOOM! team to build a playground. | jonathan, a.k.a. beavis, though ella’s “holiday tradition” was funny. | longboardin’. | at the dentist to check out those shark teeth. | photobooth at the school’s fall festival. | at the pumpkin patch. | beautiful evening on the farm. | behold! the great pumpkin. | obligatory photo op. | spoooky! | afternoon at the theatre for ‘charlie brown’. | girls night out at lights! camera! fashion! | me and dao. | adrienne maloof, real housewives of beverly hills. | the look. | mantis. | stylin’ and profilin’ after a haircut. | book fair. | a bird with a berry by ella. | up early enough to see the morning sky. | breakfast with the music teacher and friends—won this at a silent auction. | meet mr. blob. | found this by the girl from 1st grade—not sure her priorities are straight. | yay! organic produce delivery day. | daddy’s favorite, an ice cream cake—ella made one at a brownie meeting. | foggy fall morning. | girls night out at 5church | and at ri ra’s. | tomato and basil plants just will not die. | mocking him. | the happy campers return after a weekend away of cub scout camping. | tiger cub war paint. | tired kids after a weekend of camping. | night out with friends perked them up. | mile run at school—ella clocked in at 8:14. | “too cool for drugs”—wear sunglasses to school day. | last time to see a smile full of baby teeth. | after jack bravely had his bottom front two teeth pulled—his first lost teeth. | the tooth fairy cometh! | poor puppy with a very sick, gray, scabby nose. | mix and match day + girls on the run afterschool = a lopsided 2 miles of running. | wear pink day. | scary cub scouts pack meeting at the pumpkin patch and petting zoo. | some artwork and gator game watching. | are we really considering this for the boy for christmas?? he’ll shoot his eye out. | lunch with the literacy facilitator—another silent auction win courtesy of ella’s bff, julianna. | healing? still gray, but no scabs after a week of antibiotics. | parents vs. kids on the last night of soccer practice, a very blustery, rainy night, but guess who scored a goal—me, even though i was playing defense. | after a brixx photo shoot i got to bring home a yummy arugula salad for lunch. | happy halloween! | i <3 fall. | the stealthiest ninjas ready to get their candy under the cover of night. | editing photos from a wedding last weekend—had fun trying out my lensbaby lens.