Soccer and Dance

For the Spring 2017 soccer, Lea decided to coach a team made up mostly of kids from her neighborhood and Skyler and asked if Rachel wanted to play. I hadn't thought that soccer would be a good fit for Rachel (and I still think that, even though she loves going to practices and games), but I wanted her to at least try it. Since Lea was coaching and I had a really crazy April and May, I offered to take Rachel's team pictures. So, one day after practice, I took all Rachel's team pictures. Such cute kids! I was pretty proud of how they turned out, especially since the lighting wasn't very good and I had this small patch of shade to work with. Michael was my lighting test subject:

 Rachel loved being on a team with Skyler and Lea.

Michael improves so much each year. He's starting to be really really fun to watch. 

 In the middle of the soccer season, Rachel had her dance recital. She was so excited, especially because she got to get all dressed up with make-up on--twice! Once for her dress rehearsal and once for her actual recital. The recital was called "Ariel's Adventures" and Rachel got to dance to "Under the Sea" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid."  

 It took forever to get this girl's makeup on. Such a wiggly, wiggly little person. I was a little sad to put makeup on her perfect face, but we were all amazed at how blue the make-up made her eyes look.

Rachel is a performer. She lights up on stage. (Now where does she get that from ;) ) At the dress rehearsal, she had such huge smiles and really got into her song. At her actual recital, when she came out onstage, I could tell that she was looking for us, but she never found us. She didn't have as much excitement because she didn't know where to throw her smile. 

 She loved getting a bouquet for her performance: 

  

Rachel's favorite part about playing soccer was acknowledging her devoted fans. She was a little intimidated by the ball, and she never seemed to catch on to what she was supposed to be doing. I kept thinking that she'd start complaining about not wanting to go to her games or practices, but she never did. The opposite was true, in fact. I think after being dragged to all of Michael's things that she loved having her turn. And she loved playing with Skyler. 

Michael, on the other hand, loves the game--but usually only once he's there playing. I think he's just such a home body that he doesn't ever want to leave and forgets that he loves playing soccer. 

It was crazy having two kids to run to practices and games. I suppose it is a preview to what the next decade and a half of my life is going to look like!