Big day for Marie!!!

I picked her up at 1:30 from school today.

She has been counting down the days. . .

We were trying hard to get the *perfect* shot.  This came pretty close :)

Was it worth it?

YES!!!!!

Cousins photoshoot 2010

 

Each year my sister and I get together and have our kids pictures taken together.  One year I didn't think it was all that important and skipped it.  I'm so very sorry now.  It's now become a tradition and one that I hope we continue for a long, long time.  We try to start planning the session in the summer. . .and this year you wouldn't believe the hurdles we had to jump to make it happen!  With six very active children in cities 300 miles apart we really have to *make* it work.

This was our photographer.  JVJ had hired her to meet up at a park for her family portraits then I brought my kids a little later so we could do the 6 kiddos together.

I guess in this picture Marie and Frederick weren't quite sure *which* photographer to look at yet -- ha!

There were lots of fun poses and set-ups. . .these are my photos while trying to stay out of the way :)  Angela's (the photographer) are way better and more professional, of course.

And then they *insisted* on a pyramid.  And kept asking. . .

It ended up being my favorite shot of them all, once I saw the proofs.

Margaret must have still been getting her balance. . .in the photographer's shot she is straight along with the rest of the kids.  JVJ was back there holding Susan (on top) up.

The best part, of course, is falling down. . .

JVJ did the hard work. . .she went to the mall (because she doesn't live in small-town America like me and they have those kinds of places -- ha!) and then called me.  I, in turn, looked at the outfits she was considering online from the comfort of my living room :)  I really appreciate her doing the "hard work" of shopping -- not something I enjoy at all.  The kids all looked fabulous.

Susan & Frederick, 1st grade & 2nd grade.  They are cute, cute, cute together!!!

Thomas and AM, 6th and 5th grades.  They have always been especially close.  I was AM's babysitter for the first four years of her life, so she essentially grew up with Thomas as a big brother.  She and Marie are just 3 1/2 months apart in age.

Speaking of. . .Marie and AM, 4th & 5th grade (although AM is younger -- she is brilliant).  One Christmas when they were toddlers I made them matching "cousins" turtleneck shirts to wear together.  And, until this fall, AM has always been taller.  I think Marie has grown several inches over the summer.

Our youngest girl, Susan, and my beautiful Margaret.  Uncle Brian had a football game going on. . .these two are not the jocks -- ha!

With no boys of his own, I'll bet he hasn't done this in awhile :) My boys *love* it when Uncle Brian tosses the ball around with them.  Yep, he played for our high school team -- and just for reference, dear brother-in-law, that was 19 YEARS ago!!!!

We headed to the Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner then topped the night off (a school night for the VJ kids, no less) at DQ.  I love that we have pictures to record these times together.  It's so easy for the "busy-ness" of life smother these small but significant times together.  This is a GREAT group of six, if I do say so myself :)

Last Day of Fall Soccer 2010

Wow!  It has been a TERRIFIC season!!!

Most of these pictures are from today, our last day, but this first one is my absolute favorite -- and I didn't even take it :)

Didn't Thomas do a great job when he commandeered my camera for awhile last weekend?  I hope to frame this at some point.  Anyway, today was the LAST day.  Frederick had an 8:30 game.  And it was 30 degrees outside.  Brrrrrrrrr. . .

 Ugh!  The long hair is driving me CRAZY.  It's called "picking your battles" at this point. . .

 Thanks, Coach, er, Dad. . .(getting his trophy)

This last picture is a fluke. . .I don't know how I got it but that's pretty much him, ALL THE TIME out there.  He scored a goal while playing defense today.  Yep, that sums him up.

 For some reason, Thomas thought it would be "fun" to turn his shirt backwards for the second half.  Half the team followed suit.  Crazy :)

Thomas was really "on" today.  He made a goal from 1/2 field, another strong goal early on in the game and was the sole corner-kicker for the game when he was in today.  So great to have a great last game. . .his team has come far this season.  Kudos to his wonderful coaches, Coach Joe and Coach Arnold!

Yep, there you go. . .the backwards boys.  These are co-ed teams but it seems the older they get, the fewer girls  they have. . .this is U12 and they only had one girl -- she was able to hold her own!!!!

Marie played goalie third quarter. . .I don't think she touched the ball.  It wasn't that we were *that* much better. . .but we did have a good defense today.

A corner kick from Marie -- her form is awesome!  Now to get a little more strength in her kick.  She would want me to note, too, that she also made a goal today -- and with her left foot!

Coach Thad has been such an encouraging coach for Marie over these past two seasons.  She is really growing into the sport.

 And Coach Keith too.

 Here they are -- our Fall 2010 soccer players!

And

And I absolutely can't leave out this beautiful spectator -- she's a trooper for sure!  (She has the option to play -- just chooses not to.  She was swimming but the schedule didn't work for us. . .Upwards cheerleading starts in a couple weeks though and she can't wait!!!)

 And, well, this is the guy I get to share my life with :)  The one our children call "daddy".  And yes, the one who, when not coaching, hauls the chairs from field-to-field!

It was fun to take a break from schoolwork to share a bit of our weekend but alas, the assignments, book reports, and 10-pg research paper are still needing to be done.  Be back in another month!

I am linking to Rachel Anne's Company Girl Coffee -- I'm still keeping up on reading most of my favorite blogs!!  Head over if you'd like some company -- you can read, comment, or link up yourself :)