Soccer Season

We are right in the middle of the fall soccer season and this year we have 2 soccer players!  Bryce was able to play for the first time and that adds a whole new level of cuteness to this sport.  I think he is enjoying himself at least on most days!  They had to bump up some of the younger players to the 6U age group and Bryce was one of those.  Playing with kids 2 years older for his first season can be a challenge but he has fun running around out there.  I wish so bad I had his first goal on video.  He kicked the ball in and then came running over to me to give me the biggest hug.  It melted me for sure and was so precious.  I think that made the whole season worth while.  We got a laugh out of Bryce, which is pretty normal, after his first game.  He asked his coach after the game if soccer was over because he wanted to play football.  We may not have a soccer player on our hands for long but we will take it while it lasts.  
I got carried away taking his picture but I can't help.  I love this boy so much.  And his "bull high five" as he calls it when he makes that hand sign is just too funny!  Where he comes up with this stuff is beyond me.

About to play but making sure we were watching.  

Now big sister Kate is back in her element on the soccer field and is just so much fun to watch.  This girl gives it her all and runs all over the field.  I love watching her!  She has become such a good little player and I think soccer is definitely her thing.  I love having a little baller.  I didn't get an individual picture yet of Kate because I had to be with Bryce while she was getting pictures made.  Since Kelly helps coach her team he was with her during pictures.

pure satisfaction after she scored a goal

St. Lucia

This year we spent our last full week of summer vacation on an adult only vacation in St. Lucia.  We had such a fun time and it has taken me this long to actually write a little about it because it's hard to compress so much into a short post.  I think I have over 500 pictures between all of us but I'm only going to share some of those!  We went with 2 other couples, Alan & Jennifer, and Westley & Dawn. We had such a fun week and if your looking for a trip to St. Lucia, I highly recommend the Sandals Grande.  We spent a full week there so we really got to take advantage of relaxing and seeing what the island had to offer.  Most days we stayed at our resort and just enjoyed everything they offered there which if you've been to a Sandals resort, you know it is a lot.  We snorkeled, kayaked,  rode the Hobi's, attempted to stand up paddle board until the wind had other plans,  played volleyball, and just relaxed.  The beach was beautiful and we definitely stayed entertained.  We did hike at the park next door which offered a beautiful view from the top and one day we took a tour of the whole island and experienced a lot of what St. Lucia has to offer.  We loved this tour and had the best tour guide, The Yellow Bird!  During our tour we went to a banana plantation, ate at a home in St. Lucia, went to the volcano hot springs where we got into the springs and had a very entertaining mud bath.   We went to the famous pitons on the island and snorkeled there.  We saw so many beautiful places and things.  It is truly a tropical paradise for sure.  Kelly and I honeymooned in St. Lucia so it was fun going back and experiencing more this time around.  And its always fun being with friends.  Sandals has nightly entertainment at the resort and each night is something different.  We probably enjoyed the country western night the best but they were all so fun.  It was an awesome way to end our summer.   We got home on a Sunday night and school started back the following Friday.  We spent that week getting school supplies and going to open houses.  Jen actually headed back to work on Monday with the teachers.  Since the trip we have been back on a busy schedule which has also played into why I am just now posting anything.  It was such a fun trip though so I wanted to share some pictures!

our room for the week

We loved the cute rock messages in the grass

Our tour of the island showed us so many beautiful views .  This first one is one they say looks like a high heel shoe.

Stop 1 was a banana plantation.  They showed us the bananas at all steps in the process.  The plant is really amazing to see.

On our way to our next stop we saw this guy who would let you hold this boa constrictor.  I think the snake was tranquilized which made us holding it a little easier.  I had to do it for my Kate though.  She would have loved this and she did love getting the picture.  I think the rest of our family thought I had gone crazy.

The best tour guide, the Yellow Bird himself!

Our first views of the Pitons

Next stop...mud baths!  We all flashed back to Costa Rica on this one!

Getting ready for MUD!  The Before Picture 

 The After!

We got to wash off more under this waterfall!  It was so pretty and soooo cold! 

On our way to snorkel

A white sea urchin is one you can actually hold unlike the black ones that would hurt!

This was a bat cave with so many bats inside that crack!

 

Hubby the Hobi driver

Girls only on the Hobi Cat!

Some of our favorite snorkeling was done right at our resort!  We saw some beautiful starfish that I had never seen anything like.

On Friday we took a hike at Pigeon Island National Landmark which was a state park right beside our resort.  There were 2 points you could climb to, one was Fort Rodney and the other Pigeon Mountain.  We got some awesome views from both and it was a good little hike.  It was definitely some good exercise for us and definitely worth the time!

Us ladies spent some time at the spa one Friday afternoon after our hike and then guys kept the volleyball nets going

Such a fun fun week.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to go and for great friends to experience with.  We had ball!  Now where to next?!  (and do they have hummingbirds?)

Headed home but with so many memories to take with us!