Cadel is 7!

Cadel turned 7 last weekend! 

We started the day with the birthday tradition of mini donuts.

He was lucky since his birthday was on the weekend so he opened presents in the morning.

He has a new army now.  After presents it was off to a soccer game. 

Then we headed over to a place called Total Obstacle Fitness for his party. 

The coaches kept the kids busy for an hour and 15 minutes doing American ninja warrior and parkour-type activities.  It was awesome and every child there had a great time.  Probably one of the easiest and best birthday parties we have had. 

Chicago

We took a family trip to Chicago to watch Pat run the Chicago Marathon the first weekend in October.  It was a quick trip but we all had a great time and really like Chicago (especially Cormac).

One set of headphones is never enough.

Welcome to the big city! View from our room.

It wouldn't be a trip if we didn't see what new stuff the Lego store had available.

We rode public transpo everywhere. It takes the older kids no time at all to figure out how to navigate this stuff. We had fun getting around the city to watch Pat at different spots on the marathon course.

Marathon Expos are not really very exciting for kids (totally different story for adults).

But they did all make really cool signs to cheer Pat on and they all got cowbells (which are awesome for races, not for long car rides home).

After the Expo Pat went back to the hotel to rest and the kids and I went to meet up with my cousin, Lindsey, and her wife, Jennie.  It was great to see those two and the kids loved the aquarium.

Lindsey and Jennie had tickets to the dolphin show also, and the kids really enjoyed that.

After that we all went out for burgers, shakes and beer.

Then there was marathon Sunday for this guy. Pat was awesome and got a new PR (3:35:54)!

Everyone had a great time and Cormac is still asking when we get to go back.

A little catch up

It's been awhile...

But most of our time is taken up with school, soccer and school extracurricular activities.

This girl started soccer this fall and is really enjoying it.  She only goes for 8 week sessions so it isn't quite as intense as the boys and she is having a lot of fun.  She is about to wrap up the fall session and will then start the winter session in January.

When not at practice we are at games. 

And the kids not playing in the games find interesting ways to entertain themselves and each other.

She's cute, isn't she?

One night we had friends over and they brought sparklers.  All the kids had a blast with that and 6 kids went through over a hundred sparklers in a matter of minutes.

A new soccer season is upon us

The boys have started a new soccer season.  This year all of the kids are playing with a local soccer club, which is different from the rec league they played in last year.  Gus and Cormac are on travel/competitive teams.  Cadel will be able to play competitively once his year group ages up in January.  Maggie is also going to play but she won't be starting until the end of August and she will do 8 week sessions.  For the three boys this is year round.

So far, so good.  Last week was preseason camp and they all did well.  They all have fantastic coaches and I think this will be a fun year.

The soccer club got a block of tickets to the Nashville SC game last Friday.  Our club was also the escorts for the teams that night.  So, of course, Cormac jumped at the opportunity to walk onto the field with the NSC players. 

There is Cormac at the pregame with the captain of the Nashville team.

And on the jumbotron (yes, it's a guitar...it is Nashville after all).

And this is how these two spend a majority of the game.  But at least they had a good time.

Cormac's team has already had their first two friendlies.  They played both in Nashville last weekend.  They even have real uniforms!