March Randomness

This was Clara's dream, a puppy to cuddle with her in bed....

And Hattie gets to carry the leash sometimes, too...

Yet another amazing skill by Ms. Carole...our personal hair stylist. Here's a peak at a rare Clara haircut...

What Makes Me Smile - 2nd Grade Essay by Clara

Another demonstration for us that this transition to St. Timothy's School has been a good one. Last year Clara was hardly writing, and when she spoke about school and life it was all in somber tones. Not so much now! The words are flowing, and it's all so positive.

Clara & Mama Sharing Love of Soccer

Clara has picked up Kate's love of soccer. Kate has been able to assistant coach each of Clara's teams, and it's grown beyond that. They go to as many UNC Women's games as possible, and they watch all the televised US Women's National Team games together. Clara is getting more and more into the game, finding the same enjoyment in it that Kate had as a child.

Clara's 8th Birthday Party (at Soccer Genome)

Now, we celebrate Clara's eight birthday. She elected for a joint party with close friend and soccer buddy, Lillian Parke. And they choose Soccer Genome, the same place the girls do their skills training. Obviously, they love it.

Coach Norris runs a bunch of second grade girls through games and drills. They get into it. Way into it! We leave Coach Norris a nice tip for always staying so even-tempered in the face of sugar-filled, excitable kids.

Clara and Lillian ham it up. They know it's their hour!

One of our favorite UNC players, star defender Julia Ashley stops by for a visit on her way out of town. 

She even brings her dog...

Happy birthday songs...

And Hattie keeps herself entertained shocking people...

Introducing Luna Snowball

We made a swing up to the foothills of Virginia where, just over the North Carolina border, we met a most interesting breeder of Bichon Frise and Westland Terrier dogs. For months, the girls have been asking for a puppy, and now we relent. We find this little Bichon. She was born in late November, but has been a holdover in a litter otherwise long since sold. She's timid, skinny and has a patchy coat. The breeder tells us her litter mates chewed at her as the runt, thus the funny looking coat. We come to suspect this story.

But we make the transaction and haul this little pup back to Raleigh. The girls name her Luna Snowball. She pukes on Kate on the ride home.

The girls are in the love, and the adventure begins!

Darcy McFarlane Gives Grasshopper Pep Talk

Just another case of world class athletes coming to our girls' soccer games. Here, Darcy McFarlane, former UNC midfielder and then professional for the Glasgow Celtic Football Club, gives the Grasshoppers a half-time pep talk.