Grace Girls 2013 Photo Shoot

Every couple of years we like to get the girls' pictures professionally taken.  I think the girls look so darn grown up and beautiful (so what if I am biased)!  These pictures were taken in October 2013.  Charlie had just turned 8 and Ryan is just about 9 1/2.  Enjoy.

 

Oui, Oui!

Bonjour and bienvenue to Charlie's "Night in Paris!"  For Charlie's 8th birthday, we had a French themed slumber party.  Charlie is becoming quite the party planner. 

 

Some of the fun party accents :-)

 

 A French dinner party awaits... on the menu:  French dip sandwiches and French fries with French vanilla ice cream with fresh fruit.  So French, eh? LOL

 

Little Picassos are in the house!  Each girl drew their own Eiffel Tower to take home as part of their party favors.  They turned out so cute.  Every mom from the party has told me that they are each hanging in their daughter's rooms now.

The finished masterpieces!

 



We hired two high school AP French students to teach the girls French.  They taught them colors, numbers, simple phrases, and how to sing "Happy Birthday" in French.

 

Finally...Time for slumbering!

 

I guess I was too exhausted to take pictures in the morning but of course we served French Toast and croissants for breakfast!  Morning party games finished out the  party.  The fave... pin the moustache on the Eiffel Tower!

 

 

Happy Birthday to my precious baby girl!  Love you Char Char!



Summer Tournament Season

Starting in mid July, the girls had soccer tournaments every single weekend (except one weekend).  We were a crazy soccer family.  The girls played 3-5 games each, every weekend until after Labor Day. A little background- both girls play for the same club "Beach Futbol Club" and they both have the same coach.  Ryan plays for the U10 team.  Charlie plays up a year on the U9 team.  What is great about this scenario with the same club and coach, is that both girls played in all of the same tournaments.  The down side of the that deal... each tournament we had between 6-10 games between Saturday and Sunday (if they did well in the tournament, they played more games).  Is this good or bad???... well, they got either first or second place in almost EVERY one of those tournaments.  So proud of them both... but made for very long, hot weekends on the soccer field.

 

 Here are a few of the highlights...

 

Ryan's team ("the bigs") celebrating after a win in San Diego

 

 

Charlie's team at the medal ceremony at the Albion Cup in San Diego.  Her team took 1st place! Charlie is second seat toward the middle

 

The champions.  (Char is right behind the trophy)

 Another pic of the champions!  First official tournament for this team and they bring home the gold!  (Ryan's team is YET to bring home a gold!  Talk about one jealous big sister)

 Charlie and Coach Rich

 Charlie and her best friend Angel

 

Ryan's team took second place.  Happy but a little disappointed.  Last year they took second in the same tourney.

 The best part was getting to meet Baby Jack and hang out with big sister Annie!  Jeff, Julie, and the kids came out to support the girls at the tournament.  So cool!

 

Pyramid Cup Long Beach - another first place for Charlie's team

(and Ryan's team got another second place!)

 

Ryan's team got yet another second place at the tough United Cup Tourney

Waiting in between games at the Blue's Cup.  Neither team placed in this tournament but were both very excited to be invited.  Blue's Cup is invitation only and only the most prestigious teams get invited.  Go Grace Girls!

 

Charlie is loving being a super star soccer player just like her sister!

 Just look at that smile!