The many faces of soccer

Most of the time soccer goes really well, until it doesn't!

This day started off well enough... team picture day.

The Monkeys, minus a coach and a few players

The Dolphins

A happy Kate... don't let it fool you though!

This is what we saw most of the day, without the hint of a smile

She sulked around the field like this... oh yes, a fun (not!) day on the soccer field

Game day, take 2!

Another little glimpse into a Saturday of soccer...

Drills before the game

The dolphins are ready to start!

Go Monkeys!

Go Dolphins!  (yes, I stand between the 2 fields and take pictures of both!)

Kate and her friend, Ava, take a break

Beautiful weather!!

 

Kate and her friend from school, Nolan, chatting during the game

The boys just hanging out :)

I love this picture - just a bunch of happy kids!

Congratulating the other team at the end of the game

Gooooo Monkeys!!  Ooh ooh ah ah ah!

MU Soccer

The Marquette women's soccer team was in town to play UNC and Duke, so 2 of the alumni organized a big lunch at their house in Raleigh, and then Todd took the kids to the game on Sunday while I was at work.

 

 

 

Our kids are at the bottom left, and we're in the back somewhere.  Brett was an absolute ham talking to all the girls - he loved it!  And the girls adored sweet little Kate, who was (surprisingly) on her best behavior that day :)

Dad's 60th

Here's a little interesting fact for you... my dad is the first male in his family to ever live to the age of 60, that we know of anyway. Pretty crazy right?! So we celebrated, a lot, a few times :)

 We had a family birthday celebration about a week before his birthday because my parents took off to Alabama to go to the beach the week of his actual birthday. Do you know what happens in our family if you have a big birthday and conveniently are not home?! Here's a little glimpse:

We decorated the outside of the house, and got busted by one of the neighbors.  Little did she know that we also went inside :)  I had good intentions - do the balloons, and some streamers and signs.  A certain someone (who will remain nameless, but may or may not be pictured above) took it a *little* further!  We even got Kate in on the fun.

WPWTW Continued

Finally - another round of WPWTW pics! Note:  these pictures are in no particular order!

The west-coast friends and east-coast friends - plugged in, relaxing on the couch in Raleigh while the dads load up the cars!

First night at the beach - spaghetti!  We were able to fit all 11 kids around the table for dinner every night.

A view of the living space - huge leather couch, good-size flat screen tv, surround sound, foosball, and plenty of seating for everyone to eat the same time.  We had 5 bedrooms downstairs on the 1st floor; this was the 2nd floor (with a laundry room and an additional bathroom), and 2 master suites upstairs on the 3rd floor

Plenty of outside seating too - this is where a good chunk of us ate lunch every day.  There were 3 decks total (1 for each floor) with lots of seating everywhere.

Our view - we were technically 2nd row (right across from beach access), but we were thankful that we didn't have a huge beach house blocking our ocean views!

This was the view on our first night there... those were some ominous looking clouds.  We were able to get most of us out to the beach for a few minutes before the storms started. 

This was the scene before most dinners - kids hanging around, looking for a snack, adults hanging around waiting to be served an adult beverage!

And this was the scene most mornings - kids plugged in to something.  Everyone needed a little bit of space and calmness in the mornings!

While the kids were plugged in, adults were busy drinking coffee and making the day's grocery list

Todd & I had breakfast the first morning - German pancakes, bacon, and fruit!  Yum!

Everyone loves an I-pad!

Afternoon views - a little rest, a little snack, and everyone is happy!

Even little Owen stayed happy as long as he could see his mama!

All cleaned up from the beach with a margarita in hand - life is good!

Dinner was outstanding every night - everyone brought their A game since each family had to cook at least one dinner

Owen and Jeff

Owen and Sarah

Margaritas = goooooood!

Another relatively peaceful dinner - at least as peaceful as you can get with 11 kids at one table :)

Reagan and the I-pad

Lunch time was an absolute zoo every day... there were leftovers being re-heated, sandwich stuff everywhere, fruit, chips, etc.  But everyone was fed, and that's all that matters!

More lunchtime chaos

We enjoyed margaritas for a few days :)  And then made more!

Sometimes beer is just easier

Most of the kids slept downstairs... 2 rooms slept 7 kids.  It was awesome!

Every now and then an adult would pop down to make sure everyone was behaving, or at least mostly behaving

Delicious pork chops!

We always had Manuel to finish off the leftovers!

Shannon & Kerry

I think everyone got a chance to get away without any kids for a little while - Todd and I took advantage of some alone time and walked around the island early one morning

Checking out the view over to Sunset Beach

This one is for sale... those are also the biggest sand bags I've EVER seen!

Making mojitos - YESSSSS!!!

Sweet silly Gaby

Lots of love

Most of the little kids needed some re-assurance throughout the week... the house did get a little crazy from time to time!

Sweet Stella

When things got too loud, Kate would come find me and chill out for awhile

Or dad... she's not picky!

Owen thought the giant glass table was hilarious - he JUST fit under it!

Abree enjoyed being the oldest kid there, I think!

A rare picture of Layla - she did NOT like to have her picture taken!

Making new drinks ... when a beer just isn't strong enough by itself!

Only Jeff & Todd agreed to do a Hawaiian shirt picture

Jeff, Sarah, Reagan & Owen

Jeff & Sarah

Kerry, Shannon, Abree & Layla

Kerry & Shannon

You know us :)

 

It was a *tad* windy out!

Jon, Devon, AJ, Stella, & Greta

Jon & Dev

Manuel, Marci, Gaby & Lucas

Manuel & Marci

The Margarita Mamas

The 5 Guys

Enjoying some girl time

The guys played with the cameras - a lot.  Seriously. 3000+ pictures from the week!

The last night at dinner - goofy kids

Missing the Hobbs' kids!

WPWTW 2012

Ebbing dinner was FANTASTIC!

Sweet silly girls laughing hysterically over something!

A little bit of coloring

Table manners at their finest :)

Sharing the I-pad

Even the littlest ones had a good lesson in sharing

Dance parties were fun

Doing the limbo with Jon

Lunch time on the deck

Gaby & Kate

AJ, just chillin'

Thanks for the house, Fraziers!  It was awesome!!

WPWTW '12