Double Rainbow

A couple weeks ago, Heidi and I somehow got talking about rainbows. She said, "I've never seen a rainbow." I didn't realize this, but not surprised - not something that happens too frequently. Then she said, "we need to call God to make a rainbow for me to see."

Well, we had some serious weather move through Atlanta tonight! As a result, when I was driving up our street, here's what I got to see!

Heidi was asleep when I took these pictures, but she woke up when I opened her car door. So I took her out in to our cul-de-sac and was able to show her the rainbow. She seemed excited about it - in her drowsy state. She did comment that she couldn't see the different colors too well. :-) That's my detail-oriented child.

Emma's Fun Run

Emma's school fundraiser this year was a Boosterthon Fun Run. Each student was to get pledges and then participate in a Fun Run. We collected pledges from friends and family (THANK YOU!) and then Emma did the Fun Run this past Thursday. They said most kids would run between 25 and 35 laps.
Heidi, Rachel and I went to the school Thursday morning to cheer Emma on.
Emma did SO well - I was really proud of her. She stayed on task, participated fully, and completed 28 laps! :-) She had a smile on her face almost the entire time!
She really probably could have done a couple more, but she discovered the water station. They were supposed to get a small drink of water after every 5th lap. In watching her, I think she was there a little more frequently than that. ;-)
It was a really fun time of music and all the kids were really enjoying it. Each kid got a "Leader Launch" t-shirt and on the back was a circle with boxes around the perimeter numbered 1 to 35. As they crossed the start line, a teacher with a sharpie would mark through the next box - that's how they kept up with the number of laps. And they did a great job of mixing it up for the kids - a skipping lap, a "give all the moms high-5's" lap, walk a lap with a friend, etc. It was a fun event and the fundraiser was a gigantic success for the school!

Video: "Walk a lap with a friend." I have no idea who the other girl is. But if you listen, you can hear the announcer say "pick up the pace" and they both take off running. :-)

Emma's First Soccer Game

Emma had her first soccer game yesterday. Her team is the Killer Whales! :-) Yes - a bunch of Kindergarten and 1st grade girls - the Killer Whales. The girls came up with their team name themselves. Makes sense (sort of) since their uniforms are black & white. This game was a little confusing in that the team they played was gray and black. But it's not like there's a lot of passing going on at this level. They play 5 on 5 with a goalie and 1 defender. So it kind of turns in to 6 individual little "teams" trying to score a goal.

Emma did well. It was a really hot day - which she complained about - but we're counting on it getting cooler and cooler as the season goes on. There was a pretty constant effort to encourage her to follow the ball and be in the mix. But she ran around the field with the other girls. I'm not sure she ever got a foot on the ball, but that's ok - 8 more games still to go.

In the mix (she's the short one right in the middle).Running towards the group (shirt is a wee bit long).Emma and Claudia after the game.

Rachel's Birthday & Baptism

We had a celebratory Labor Day weekend around the Smucker house. My birthday was Friday, September 3; Rachel's birthday was Saturday, September 4; and Rachel was baptized Sunday, September 5. (And in a much less celebratory manner, Jason and I ran the US 10K Classic on Monday, September 6 - well, he ran it, I covered the distance.)

We enjoyed having Jason's parents, sister and our little niece come down for the weekend. Then all of my family joined the party on Sunday - for Rachel's baptism and then a picnic party at the park. It was a really fun time and we were so thankful and grateful that so much of our family was able to be there. We missed those of you who couldn't make it, but understand the miles. Now for the pictures....

The Birthday Girl (yes - that's a boo-boo on her forehead - just in time for birthday pictures; she rolled down a hill at Emma's soccer practice).
Becca & Rachel playing - can you say parallel playing?Budding musicians. They were both actually blowing into the recorders and playing notes.Baptism. "Thanks for the beautiful dress Grammy."Cousins.Family.Sacrament of Holy Baptism. "Thanks for sprinkling me Grandpa." Rachel actually screamed pretty good during the process."Welcome to the family, Rachel."After church it was off to the park for a picnic and party. And of course CAKE! "Hmm...What's this?"
"This is all for me?" Cake face."Mmmm. Tasty."Time for presents.Lots of helpers (Mom, sister Heidi, cousin Lindsay, cousin Kelsey, and cousin Ryan)."Now I have my OWN baby doll (rather than playing with Heidi's).""What a day!" She was asleep as soon as I put her in her car seat to leave the park.
And for her 1 year stats - she is 27 1/4 inches long and weighs 18 lbs 8.5 oz. She has 7 teeth, but is drooling like crazy, so I'm guessing we'll see some more soon.

Happy Birthday Rachel!! We love you! Can't wait to see what this year brings.

Emma's Soccer Practice

Emma is playing soccer for the first time this Fall. She expressed interest in it, so we signed her up for a church league near us. They had their first practice last Thursday but Emma wasn't really interested in participating. By the end of the practice she was sort of participating. But they had their second practice tonight and she did so well (if I may say so myself). She followed directions really well, she waited in line for her turn to do the drills (not every time, but this is serious progress), and she participated in every aspect of the practice. :-)I don't know how this video will work - it's kind of big. Hopefully it will load.


She is on the same team with a friend of ours, Claudia (Claudia's younger sister Juliette was in the same preschool class with Heidi last year and our families have become good friends). Here Emma and Claudia are doing "toe touches."And here is the cheering section (Juliette & Heidi) - both SO wanting to play. Maybe they can play together next year on a 4-year old team. :-)