A Hike, A Soccer Ball, and 1st Grade

On a beautiful August day, I took the kids to Lincoln Memorial Gardens for a hike with their friends Dominic and Michael (and mom Kara). After a picnic lunch, with the kids more interested in feeding the ants, we gave Olivia and Dominic a trail map and followed them. Here is a group shot of them by Lake Springfield.

Another pose by Olivia. The flowers were in full bloom at the Gardens, and it was a beautiful walk.

Olivia and Ethan again by the Lake.

There was a small beach of sorts off one of the hiking trails that the kids spent a long time exploring.

And they explored in the Lake as well!

Olivia has started YMCA soccer this year. She is #6 on the Sidekicks team. While she is not the only new player to the sport, many of her co-ed teammates have played before. Luckily, Olivia seems intent on learning the game so she will hopefully not kick the ball into the wrong goal!

An action shot of Olivia on defense. She is the player in white closest to the ball, getting ready to kick it away from the goal. The kids play four quarters on a full sized field, and at each break the kids rotate taking a quarter break or playing offense/defense. She will play each Saturday through October.

Olivia in the middle of the action. Her team won the game 4-2.

On Monday, Olivia started first grade (!). She is in a class of 19 students, and she knew her teacher from when she was in kindergarten. Thus far she seems very happy with her class, especially because this year she starts taking music, art, and gym class at school (budget cuts took these classes away from kindergardeners a few years ago).

The very fancy backpack she selected for the year. As you maybe noticed by her poses in this posting, Olivia enjoys being fancy - dresses, jewelry, sequins, ruffles, etc.

The kids' after school activity - creating and decorating sand castles. Both kids still talk about our California vacation and playing on the beach, so playing in the sand remains a favorite activity at home.