birthday fun!

For my birthday in March, Woody and I got to spend the whole day together with no kiddos... a big thank you to my parents who came down for the weekend!  

getting ready to hear Sara Evans at Sea World!

It was a fantastic day... we drove down to Orlando and started the day with lunch and a  stroll around IKEA.  We then headed to Sea World to try out the "big kid" roller coasters.  I'll confess, I was really pumped to go to Sea World for my birthday!  With that said, it's been around 10 years since I've been on a roller coaster.  Let's just say, I'll be fine to never get on another coaster. ever!  We decided to ride Manta first... big mistake.  This 34 year old mommy body of mine apparently is done with roller coasters-ha!  Manta ended up being the only coaster we rode and I was completely fine with that.  I really just wanted to go see the dolphins anyway!  And it just so happened Sara Evans was in concert at Sea World on my birthday, so we happily went and sat in the shade to enjoy some country music!  

We ended the day by heading to Winter Park to get pizza from a little pizzeria that we used to frequent when we were dating and engaged.  We have such wonderful memories from this time in our lives!  It was a great end to such a fun filled birthday!

be my valentine

roses from my Valentine

Arden, Esther and I went to a Valentine's doll tea party at Pottery Barn Kids... it was fun and something different to try.  The girls loved getting dressed up and taking their dolls to celebrate.  They heard stories, made a craft, ate a special snack and received a heart bracelet.  What more could a little girl ask for!

soccer 2012

So we ran into the girls' soccer coach and his family tonight at Chick-fil-a, and I decided I should probably post pics from soccer season, considering it ended back in March. :)

We did Upward Soccer again this year and this time, Esther joined in on the action!  I must say that I was pretty impressed by how she kept up with the others, considering this was her first time to play.  She's a pretty shy kid, but she held her own on the field.  I guess it helped that she got to watch big sis Arden last year and the two of them have enjoyed kicking the ball around in the backyard since then.

One perk of Arden and Esther being so close in age is that they got to be on the same team-hooray for us!  It made life a little easier only having to go to one practice and one game each week.  The coach did a nice job of putting them in at different times and treating them as individuals... it also probably helped that he has twin boys that were on the same team!  

Speaking of coaches... Coach Tommy and Coach Nate did a great job of really getting into the game (Coach Tommy really got into it!) and running the kids hard, but they did an incredible job off the field... speaking truth into these little ones and sharing the gospel with them.  You could really tell they had a heart for the Lord and for these kids!

A BIG special thanks goes out to Arden and Esther's cheer section... our friends, Jonathan and the Sivyer family came out to almost everyone of the girls' games to cheer them on.  What a sweet encouragement to our family-thank you!!!

One highlight of the season was Arden getting her very 1st goal!  

And so now here are some (well, a lot!) of pics highlighting this soccer season, which was a little early this year, starting in January and ending in March.  

Arden responding to her very 1st goal!

Team Little Flash

To end the season, all the kids get a medal and a special gift.  Arden opened hers and exclaimed, "Look, I got a helmet!"  Love this girl... yes, it's really a deflated soccer ball.