1st ever soccer practice

These pictures loaded backwards but these are from Jacob's 1st soccer practice. The kid above is not Jacob but I loved the verse & really like that we are playing for a church league that focuses on using their God given abilities & emphasizes team work.

Logan had a hard time understanding that he had to stay on the sidelines.

I think Inman had as much fun as the kids. He will be the asst' coach this season.

Jacob taking a shot

Pictures before we left the house

He is trying to act so cool but he was SO excited. He told me he had been waiting "his whole life" for his first soccer season!

We had warned Jacob that there would be girls on his team this season. I was a little worried when the first kids to get there just happened to be all girls. I was thinking to myself, "I bet when he has been waiting his whole life, he wasn't imagining a team with all girls!" Thankfully, the next kids to arrive were 3 or 4 more boys!

One more spotlight

One more spotlight for Logan. The next couple of weeks will most likely include pics of Jacob's first soccer practice this week, first day of school, first soccer game etc so I thought I would include one last spotlight for Logan.

Logan is really confident walking now. He loves that he can follow his brother walking instead of crawling. He loves carrying something in each hand while he toddles around. He is interested in the dishwasher, the cabinets & drawers, the toilet, the fireplace, trying to get out open doors, brother's baseball bats....you know all the things that he shouldn't be in to! He is not afraid to let his brother know how he feels about something & even tackled him the other night in the bathtub. He has started the "my heart is broken, fall on the floor temper tantrums." He is also very sweet & will give us big hugs although he is too busy to be the cuddler that his brother was. The last time we were at the ped, he weighed 25 lbs! So all in all, he is a happy, busy, growing boy!

Logan

Logan is BUSY & into everything. These pictures really don't do it justice but do show his climbing abilities:)

I have more pics to post but thought these were cute!

The Friends We Keep-Blog Book Review

My book review for this month is The Friends We Keep by Sarah Zacharias Davis.

Sorry this one is not a give away but stay tuned because there will be a give away next month!

When given the title & summary of this book, I was immediately interested in this book. I have always been intrigued by friendship among women & have a found such comfort in my girlfriends. We are all human though & will ultimately be let down by even what could be described as the best of friends. 

Sarah did a great job exploring the need for female friendships, why we crave that relationship, & how we can foster that bond. She also investigated why friendships occasionally turn competitive, those that may be co-dependent, what might make a friendship dissolve as well as other sensitive subjects that we may have encountered in many of our own relationships. 

She opens up & shares many personal stories that most likely led her to devote an entire book to these subjects. My only  even slight criticism was that there were a couple of sections in the book that she referenced many other sources, writers, books & movies. I am sure this was to build on her point or support her own findings but a couple of times, but it led me to think "Wait! I want to know more what you think or I was enjoying your view on this particular subject."

She is a great writer & the book left me wanting to read some of her other books. 

Sorry this isn't the longest review ever but if you are like me & find relationships very interesting particularly those among women, be sure you check out The Friends We Keep!

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores the questions every woman asks about friendship and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

Check out Random House's website to get your copy

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446114

Random House also asked that we post info about Kay Arthur's40 minute Bible Studies.

Although I have not yet started this study, I am looking forward to it. There are many topics & this is a study that does not contain homework. 

The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.

BrOtHeRs

GBCN girls Summer Get Together

Last week we got together with my college friends & their kids. Every year we get together with all of us in the summer & in the fall/winter with just Mommas (& nursing babies are allowed:)

We love that our kids are friends too! Yes, it sounds a little chaotic but it is a blast! This year we were up to 12 kids ranging from 6 months to 11 years old.

We have to keep mealtime as organized as possible. Boys ate in the sunroom & girls in the kitchen. We had everything ready before we called them in & when we went to the pool everything was in baggies & labeled with their names.

Kids group photo (they are used to this!)

Backrow: Bryson, Graysen holding Morgan, Anna

Front row: Brent, Ethan, Logan, Jacob, Sydney holding Amelia, Miah, Avery

Don't worry Logan, you can go to the boys area soon!

Don't worry these 2 were supervised despite the fact that Logan looks like he is about to turn on the hot water & that they could both fall in at any minute!

This year some were old enough to race

Even the Moms got into the action!

Good thing no one else was at the pool, we took the whole pavilion over!

What do you do with 12 children at dinner time?

Go to Moe's for kids eat free night!

We had so much fun, even a surprise visit from Lori! I am so thankful for these friendships & look forward to many years together!

Blue Like Play Dough winner!

I told you that the selection process for the book giveaway would be VERY official! Look as the official makes sure all of the entries are legit.

The selection (he got a kick out of this!)

And the winner is LEIGH BAILEY!

Yea! As I wrote the entries down (ya know, very officially) I would think "oh, I want her to win. Oh, wouldn't it be fun to blog that so & so won..." But I am thrilled that Leigh won!

Leigh is a part of our church family. She is very active in the preschool & children's ministry. She is awesome with the kids & both of my boys love her! Who wouldn't? She treats each of the children as if they were her own!

Leigh, this is a great book & I know you will enjoy the encouragement it offers! You are a great mom!