Go Swans (Spring Soccer Pictures)!



Olivia J., Rylee, and Sophie-before a game



Sydney and Sophie during Saturday's game.



Harper, Sydney, Sophie and Allie are after the ball.



Sophie and Olivia W.



The girls in action (The Swans are in white).

We've been very busy lately.  Sophie is playing soccer this spring.  Their team voted on a name and they decided on the Swans.  I think it is very funny!  Sophie doesn't really like the name, but oh well.  Swans don't really remind me of soccer players but maybe ballerinas.  It's been a year and a half since she played before.  There's a couple of girls on her team that she played with before, there's 2 girls who she was good friends with last year (who stayed at her old school- Olivia W. and Sydney), two girls who she is friends with this year (Allie and Rylee) and then she's met a few new girls.  I knew that Sophie would be so excited initially when she heard who all was on her team.  It's a great group of girls!  Soccer may not end up being Sophie's "thing" but it's a great way to get exercise and be able to spend time with some of her friends.  We never know exactly how Abbie will end up entertaining herself during the soccer games.  She often likes to kick around a ball herself with some of the other players' siblings.  This last game however, there was a decent sized little hill off to the side of the field.  Abbie and some of the siblings decided it would be great fun to roll down the hill!  It was pretty funny to watch!  Thankfully, no one was hurt.  =) 

Sophie is staying very busy between soccer games and practice, practicing her violin, and staying involved with her Girl Scout stuff (it only meets once a month though).  Abbie wants to know when she can play soccer. 

Paula's Birthday



Paula and her girls



Abbie's thinking that maybe she could help blow out the candle!

   This past weekend was Paula's birthday.  Matt and Abbie had been sick last week.  Matt was diagnosed with strep on Wednesday after feeling terrible the night before.  Abbie had never been able to get over a cold that she had.  Then, she complained that her ear was hurting (while crying and holding it). The same day as Matt found out he had strep, we found out that Abbie had an ear infection.  Anyway, thankfully, no one else got strep throat. 

On Saturday, we took the girls and went mini bowling.  It was a fun thing to do to celebrate Paula's birthday and a reward for the girls (Sophie's been practicing her violin diligently every day).  After that, we took the girls to a train store.  All of a sudden, Abbie seems to be into trains.  We went to Ivey Cakes to pick up some special cupcakes to celebrate Paula's birthday.  Then, we had lunch at Zaxby's.  We had some nice family time that morning.  That afternoon, Sophie had soccer practice and we were able to get outside and play.

That night, we were able to go to J. Alexander's with Aunt Martha and Uncle Matt, Nana and Paw-paw for a birthday dinner.  Then, they came over and had some cupcakes.  The next day after church, we headed to Logan's for lunch with Nana and Paw-paw.  That afternoon, Paula was able to go shopping for her birthday with Nana.  It was nice because we rarely get to do that. 

Felicity, an American girl (Sophie)

our dear Felicity

Sophie as Felicity with Abbie

This past Friday, Sophie had a very special day planned at school.  First, they had doughnuts with dads before school which was tied in with the book fair.  Matt had strep throat a few days before that but he was feeling better on Friday so they were able to go.  They also had book character day where each child could dress as their favorite book character.  We discussed several possibilities for Sophie but she also wanted a character that resembled her.  Thankfully, I was able to borrow an outfit from Lavonia Trimble, who I used to attend church with many years before.  The outfit worked out great!   You can't really tell from the pictures but the bottom of the dress actually matched the top but she wore the apron over it.  There were several pleats in the bottom of the dress so I was able to pin the dress up so that it fit Sophie better.  Sophie wouldn't wear the bonnet to school.  =)  They had a character parade at school.

Also, her class had earned a party at school for that day.  The children in her class had voted for a time to bring electronic devices/toys to school and play with them.  Sophie took her DS to school.  Almost as soon as school had begun on Friday, we received a call that the students would be dismissed after half a day due to expected bad weather and possible tornadoes in the afternoon.  It ended up that Sophie had a fun and short day of school that Friday.  Thankfully, none of the tornadoes hit in our area and we only got some rain and wind.