More October Memories . . .

 

Loving the fall weather - it's been so mild and we don't want to come inside!

Love the warm days and the cool nights . . .

A new Mom friend I made at Saint James invited me to a sourdough making class at her house and it was a LOT of fun! I've always wanted to know how to make homemade sourdough!  It is much more complex than I ever realized -with lots of steps over 24 hours - but the final result is worth it!

Saint James Tennis Banquet - the "little sisters" who cheered for their sisters together all season came too!  Ali will be a freshman at SJA next year too and also plays tennis like Kate! The banquet got them both so excited for next year to be on the team!

{Molly, Kate, Grace and Ali Davis}

Sisters celebrating Molly's great season!

Bear doesn't know what to think of this skeleton recently added to our neighbors yard - he just stared at it forever . . .

Kate and friends at recess . . . 

One of my favorite neighborhood trees every fall . . .

More soudough baking!

Kate loves to do homework after school in front of the fire outside . . . 

I love this view from prepping dinner inside . . . 

Only a few volleyball games left and I do not want them to end!! Knowing she won't be playing volleyball in HS makes this season so bittersweet! They've all played together since 3rd grade!

Bear loves autumn walks . . . look at his smile!

Met Kirsten and Megan for a fall picnic lunch and we were all 3 wearing the same exact pair of sunglasses! LOL!

School Pix!

 

This is 11th grade, Junior Year of High School. The year with all the extra stuff - the clubs, the leadership positions, the AP and honors classes, studying for the ACT . . . She loves chocolate peanut butter ice-cream (just like her Mom) and Chick Filet and 7 Brew. She loves to make her own coffee every morning with her favorite creamers, over ice-always. She is a natural leader, so independent, putting a lot of thought and care into everything she does and expects the same from those she loves.  

This is (almost) 17.

This is 8th grade. Her last year at Cure' of Ars Catholic School where she has been in the same building for 9 years with her class of 70.  She graduates this May, hence the cap/gown for school pix this year. She loves making wishes at 11:11 on the clock. Her favorite snack is Taki's from Trader Joe's. She puts chick filet sauce on EVERYTING. She loves to play the guitar, the piano and listen to all kinds of music. She loves ALL sports, but especially tennis these days. She LOVES kids and babysits a lot - often saying " they don't even need to pay me I love it so much!!" she volunteers with kids any chance she gets. 

This is 14.

5A State Tennis Tournament in Wichita!

 

Mike and I  left at 6 am on Friday morning so excited to cheer for our Saint James girls tennis team in Wichita at the State Championships!  (Molly drove down with the team on Thursday)

Introductions were so cool!

Let's GO! They won their first match easily . . . 

But then had 2 tough losses . . . 

Grandpa Don drove down and Uncle Brian drove from Texas to watch Molly play! My cousin Kami, who used to play tennis in HS and Molly watched her play in state regionals in KC a few years ago - came to watch too! 

So Proud of Molly and this team!  Our #1 singles crew got 3rd place!

Our Week in Pix . . .

 Temperatures are finally starting to fall a bit and it's actually 

feeling like fall this week and I'm LOVING IT! Leaves are just starting to turn and land on our front porch/driveway . . .

Molly never misses a Saint James football game . . . 

Molly had a fun State Team dinner with her 5 teammates going to State.

4 Juniors and 2 Seniors made the top 6 - such a great group of amazing athletes who work hard and play with a lot of heart/kindness!

Kate and I volunteered at the Chick Fillet tent at 

the Cure' of Ars carnival with friends! Our last year to go to the Carnival - 

after having gone the last 13 years! So bittersweet all these lasts at Cure' this year . . .

Kate & Ruby - friends since they were 4!

8th grade volunteers

{Lottie, Kate, Norah, Charlie, Ruby, Cecilia, Livia}

Love volunteering with this girl!

Volunteer Shift Over - time to hang with friends!

{Kate, Cece, Isabel, Lucy}

Molly never misses a Saint James football game!

Molly had her big State Send Off at Saint James!

She and her doubles partner, Leah - ready in their STATE Sweatshirts!

The whole school celebrates them and the band plays while they cheer for them walking thru the school and the students line the hallways cheering them to State!

So proud of these girls! Was so fun watching them play this season! All 6 of their names are on the back of their sweatshirts - a season they'll never forget!

{Avery, Molly, Kiersten, Leah, Jenna, Grace, Coach Bomhoff}

And for a bit of levity - Kate likes to pretend to be my personal stylist - she will often ask if she can pick out an outfit for me to wear to a work event, parent function, date night, etc. She likes to pull it all together, even the jewelry! 

Last practice of the season for these Juniors!  Ready for STATE!

Love watching and cheering for this doubles power duo!

Social media blurb that Saint James put out . . . 

showing their runner up trophy from Regionals.

Tennis Regionals & Homecoming Dance Saturday!

Molly worked really hard this season and (and the off season) and was chosen to be one of the top 6 to go to Regionals for the St. James Team this year (70 kids total on the team) 

The ONLY bad thing, 5A tennis regionals were in Topeka the same day as HOMECOMING. 

Molly had big goals - to quality for state in doubles tennis with her partner Leah and also make it back to Kansas City in time for the dinner and dance with her friends! 

 

It was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL early fall Saturday to watch her play all day! We got to Topeka early to watch her first match which they won easily. 

The beautiful weather made for great nap weather for little sister . . . 

Their second match - they beat a team seeded above them - and it was so fun to watch!

Grandpa Don and Uncle Charlie came to watch all the matches!

This girl has so much grit! I LOVE watching her focus!

They lost the last match  - 

Ended the day in 4th and qualifying for State Tournament in Wichita!  

So proud of these two junior girls!

We left Topeka right after - around 4:45 p.m.!  

Molly literally changed into her dress in the car - after playing 8 hours of tennis!  I'll never forget the memory of Molly with the window down in the back seat - letting her hair dry out the window while we have the air conditioner also on full blast to cool her off. It was all hands on deck.

She quickly curled her hair and put on make up - Kate and I helped curl the back!

We pulled into the golf course as we were entering Kansas City right at 6:00 in time for photos with her friends! I still can't believe we made it in time for pictures!!!

Molly's friend, John Punswick asked her to the dance. 

He is also a junior at SJA-they made a really sweet couple.

Their super fun friend group! Was so fun taking pix with all the other parents - some we have known for years and some are new to us!

I thought that Molly had never looked more beautiful. She had just dominated in tennis all day and then quickly switched gears to be with her friends and dress up! She was so happy and it radiated JOY from her. 

{Mary, Molly, Vivian, Anna, Isabella}

Junior Year Hoco!

Love this crew!