Let the sporting begin

 The past two weekends have been soccer.

More soccer.

With a little bit of volleyball mixed in.

 I am still working on gym lighting.  The best pictures are after the games.  

Merry's team won one tournament and lost another.

This is what Merry does during the soccer games.

 Jacob's team had a little bit of a rough start this year.  It is mostly new team members with a new coach but they still managed a tie and a win.

Jacob has got to try some other positions as well.

 Grace's team won one tournament and then won their 1st season game.

Looks like it should be a great season.

This is what happens when you spend too much time playing soccer.

Happy first day of school

 Jacob rolled out of bed, put on an old t-shirt and barely made it out the door for pictures, that is what tenth grade does to a person.

 Merry, looking slightly happy to be going to 8th grade.

 Grace looking very happy to be going to 6th grade.

 Adam was very happy to be going to 4th grade, just not so happy to be wearing a collared shirt.

Eliza was ready for 1st grade in her unicorn apparel.

Happy 4th of July

Fourth of July we spent at the lake. Getting pictures of everyone is quite a chore. Jacob didn't want to join the picture in his awesome matching Willie Nelson shirt and by the time he showed up the sun had come back out.

While we were waiting for all the people to show up for the picture.

Adam, happy his awesome t-shirt.

Eliza laughing at Merry.

Grace  looking very pleased about something.

We took the mat out to center of the lake to swim.

Brian came along in the kayak to photograph.

The pictures were a little over exposed so I had to put them in black and white.

But these of Eliza's tricks were too awesome not to save.

Some how during the day all the kids from the neighbor's party showed up to play manhunt and light fireworks.   It worked out well because they took the kids tubing on the lake.

It was a day filled with smoked foods, swimming and fun.

Baseball and the beach in St. Pete

We went to the Rays baseball clinic.  Even the girls played.

All the players.

The real reason they played was for the free lunch.

Afterwards we went to Treasure Island for some beach time.

Treasure Island has the best assortment of coquinas, we call them donuts.

We had races with them and found the biggest and smallest and most beautiful.

All the kids in the surf.  Merry loves the water and is always submerged.

Looking for shells.

Properly supervising, I never know what pictures are going to show up when Brian has my camera.

All the pretty donuts.

After the beach we were going to go the Rays game but all the seats for our vouchers were gone.  Instead we went to downtown St. Pete to see the wall art and go to dinner.

The girls were fascinated that one of her teeth were blackened out.

Waiting for a table for dinner.

Eliza loved the Donkey Kong.

Jacob looking so happy to be there.

More cool art.

I am not sure what all the posing is about.

Run, Merry, run.

 In the morning we got up and swam in the hotel pool.

Rather the Grace, Jacob and Eliza swam in the pool and Jacob and Merry slept in.

After I hauled all the kids out of bed, we headed to the sunken gardens. 

Jacob looks thrilled to be there.

Their favorite part was the bird that said "hey baby" when you walked by.

Next we visit the glass museum and the glass blowing demonstration.  It was super cool, my favorite were the blown glass fish.

After lunch at the Shrimp Shack we headed back to the beach.

Fort De Soto this time.

The sandbar was so shallow we found a ton of sand dollar shells.

A nice salty look from Eliza.

After all the salt water is out of her mouth.

Happy Father's Day to this great Dad.  Who is always happy to drive us around and photograph our shenanigans.

It was such a beautiful evening on the beach.

More of this guy.

Me and this guy.

Me in my favorite place, with my favorite people doing my favorite thing.

Merry is the best sand dollar finder even though she can't snorkel with her glasses on.

Eliza and Grace building castles.

Grace looking rather confused.

A  group of manatees came by in the evening and Jacob was able to follow them all the way down to the pier.

All wrapped up for the evening.

Watching the sunset.

It was a great way to spend Father's Day weekend and great memories were made.