Soccer...FINALLY!!!

We are officially three weeks into Trip's soccer season and he FINALLY got to play in his first game this season! We were in Athens for the first game and then he missed last week because he had strep throat. Poor boy! He had so much fun and did a GREAT job! It was the perfect day for soccer. Finally, the cool fall weather arrived here in the South and it was a beautiful Saturday. Trip was the first to score a goal on his team, almost right after the game started. He was so proud! It is amazing to see he and his friends play this year and what a difference a year makes. They are much more aggressive and actually play defense. They are just so fun to watch. I think the best part about it all, though, was watching both teams hold hands and pray together before the game! So sweet! My parents got to come down and watch too, so Trip had a sideline full of fans! After the game, we all went out to lunch at a place where TJ and I could watch the Dawgs play and win! Yay! It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The weekend was a busy, but a fun one! On Friday, we took the kids to the County Fair. This is the third year we've been and they were so excited. They remembered some of the things from years past and each had a list of things they wanted to be sure and see and do. The best was to see Trip's courage as he decided to ride the things that had scared him last year. And, Mady was SO excited to be big enough to ride some like the kiddie coaster and the bumper cars! Trip shocked me by choosing to ride the bumper cars by himself while TJ rode with Mady. Of course, my worse fears were confirmed as the ride started and he couldn't get his car to move. I just knew we were in for a BIG meltdown. But, the sweet guy that was in charge of the ride jumped in with him and helped him for the entire time. I was shocked and so thankful! The kids and TJ also did the Ferris wheel. With my fear of heights, I just watched safely from the ground below. It wouldn't be a full night at the fair without some kind of injury, so Mady took care of that for us. While we were watching an animal show, she fell from the top bleacher (3 rows high), straight through and bit her lip big time. I've never heard her scream so loud! And, nothing could help. We tried a snow cone, a cold drink, even fried oreos! But, by that time, it was getting late, so we just headed back home. She's had a big, puffy lip all weekend. Poor baby! The next day, we had Trip's soccer game and a birthday party! And, then, I left TJ with the kids and went on a party bus with some girls in the neighborhood. It was so much fun. I danced so much that my feet are still killing me! The best part was our unexpected stop at Target that resulted in us doing a sort of flash mob to some line dance called the Wobble. Hysterical! I can only imagine what the employees and shoppers thought of this group of housewives shaking it at Target! Can't get much cooler than that! :-) Hoping we'll make youtube sometime soon as we were being taped by multiple onlookers.

Now, I'm just putting my feet up, gearing up for another full week of life. Counting down the days until my visit to California to see my friend Alison! Never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait for a 5 hour plane ride all by myself! I might actually get to read a book! Woo Hoo!!!

There were so many good pictures from the weekend, I couldn't choose, so please pardon all the shots!