June Miscellany

Wild Dunes

We loaded up and headed to Wild Dunes for a week at the beach. Each girl brought a friend (Clara brought Lillian Parke, Hattie brought Ellie Lippman, and Kate brought Kate Parke). And Paul was left to fend for himself.

We had great weather, and the girls were plenty entertained by hours in the ocean and pool, long bike rides to the marina, and generally getting to explore Wild Dunes with more freedom than they've ever had before.

Soccer Transition - Kate's Letter to Spirit

Hi Spirit Family!

It has been such a strange past few months in so many ways, and not being together as a team for our spring season was definitely one of the most difficult parts.  We missed being together at practices, we missed playing together in games and tournaments, we missed giving each other high fives and hugs!  During difficult times, I try to find any possible silver lining.  The silver lining I am able to find in this situation is that we will always have our amazing memories from the fall season (and even earlier) to cherish and never forget.  We will always be a family, Team Spirit, and nothing will change that.

I have been the head coach of Spirit for the past 2 years, and the assistant coach for the team the year prior to that.  I've always known that our team had incredible talent and skill (and our undefeated season last spring proved that)!  As some of you know, we had several Spirit players who tried out for NCFC's Classic program this week.  We got the calls yesterday that 7 Spirit players have been invited to join various teams of the 09 Classic North division.  A huge congratulations to Clara (09 White), Olivia (09 White), Avery J (09 Red), Lillian (09 Navy), Sarah (09 Navy), Kelsee (09 Navy), and Caroline (09 Navy)!!  We also say goodbye to Ava, who will be playing on a team with one of her very close friends for the upcoming 2020 fall season.  

I have absolutely loved being both Mom and Coach over the past few years.  Even though I only have one biological daughter on this team, I truly feel like I have 13 since I love these girls like my own.  As bittersweet as it is, because Clara has accepted her invite to join Classic, I too will be leaving Challenge for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.

With that being said, I am so excited for Coach Sean to take over as the new head coach of Spirit!  He is such an incredibly dedicated coach, and I know that Spirit will be in amazing hands as he takes over that position.   

I will miss this team immensely, words can't do it justice.  Spirit will always have a place in my heart, and I am so excited to watch Spirit games in the fall!!

Darbee & I are starting to think about possible options for a team party (figuring out how to do it with restrictions in place), as we would love for a chance to have everyone together again to celebrate!  No definite details yet, but we would love any ideas!

Sending tons of love to you all 

GO SPIRIT!!

Coach Kate

Hattie's Tennis Lessons

Hattie's outdoor sport for the summer is tennis, and she has signed up for lessons with Caroline, a young coach who played at Mount Olive College in eastern NC.

Hattie wasn't so sure about lessons to begin with, resisting a bit at the idea of putting in the work on a summer Saturday morning. But once the lessons ended, her first words upon getting back into the car ...."I want to be a professional tennis player."

She does have a knack for putting the ball where she wants it to go, so who knows?

End of the Strangest School Year

Nearly the half the school year was spent in quarantine - making it the strangest ever transition from spring to summer.  But it's over and we are in full summer mode already. As usual, we ended it with the buds getting ice cream at North Hills and playing on the green.

It was an excellent year for Hattie in second grade. She finished with flying colors, received outstanding grades on her report card, and was presented with the Sunglasses Award by Ms. Pfeiffer and Mrs. DeHart.

Clara finished strong in fifth grade, proving that the middle school transition was a cinch. She got all A's all year, grabbed the top award for Literature and Grammar, was recognized with the top award for physical fitness, and a couple more thrown on top.

Now summer is in full swing, and the girls are taking advantage.