Jane's birthday

Jane's birthday was lovely! We started the weekend prior when she had a sleepover with her friends. They started with minute to win it games:

Then they crafted:

They had ice cream sundaes and pizza for dinner:

Then they watched a movie (Wonder) and had a sleepover:

The next morning it was off to church:

On Sunday Grandma took her shopping! This is a fun tradition Grandma started years ago with Eleanor and now every kid wants to do it and so looks forward to it each birthday.

On Monday night I took my "last picture with my 10 year old!"

She woke up Tuesday morning to balloons!

It was a loooong day of school and field hockey. We decided skipping soccer was a good call so we would have time for presents, dinner, and cake! She came home to her birthday string:

Grandma was hiding on the string to surprise her:

Presents!

She loves her lacrosse shirt and blanket from Grammy and Opa!

And a label maker - Jane loves being organized!

We had penne for dinner and then it was time for cake! Strawberry with chocolate icing.

Jane, very dedicated getting the candles right. We counted twice after Eleanor put the wrong number on her own cake a couple weeks ago, hah!

Happy birthday, Jane!

We love this sweet girl!

Happy 11th birthday to our sweet Janer!

Jane is 11!

Jane is ELEVEN years old! Oh where to begin with Jane! She is 61.5 inches tall (almost 92% of the way to my adult height) and weighs about 95 pounds. This girl has both grit and heart like you would not believe. When she is determined, things happen. She crushed her 5th grade year getting straight A's and participating in safety patrol (for the whole year), chorus, Battle of the Books (competition team), Run Club, and started playing the trumpet. She played travel soccer, and rec basketball, lacrosse, and summer swim (medaling in all three of her events at the Champs meet). She is growing more insightful and has kept her empathy and kindness. She is rocking the transition to middle school, but is dragging her feet all the way. She joined the field hockey team as a manager this year, and we can't wait to see what other things she'll take on. She crochets, loves music, graphic novels, sports, and friends. 

Eleanor and Jane at 11:

Jane at one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, and eighteen months old. 

Jane at two, two and a half, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten years old.

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend was a much needed break for this crew! I think it's the first time they've had two weeks of school before a break (usually only one). The kids had Friday and Monday off and were very ready for it. 

Chris headed off Thursday to his annual Fantasy Football draft weekend. His team won their "Ryder Cup" tournament by one stroke, they ate food, drafted players, and hung out.

Meanwhile at home the kids and I had a quiet Friday (I had to work). Friday evening Eleanor headed out to a friend's birthday sleepover. Early the next morning, Jane and I took off to Richmond for a soccer tournament. Luckily our neighbors hung out with Ben and Rosie for the morning.

The soccer tournament went well - they tied their first game 1-1 (sadly we had an own goal), and won their second game 7-0 (Jane had a goal). They were seeded second in their bracket but sadly lost the semi-finals game so came in third overall - though Jane had an incredible PK!

Saturday night we headed to Busch Gardens where Ben rode Apollo's Chariot for the first time. He has gone from no roller coasters to all of them this summer!

Last 9am outdoor church of the summer:

Sunday afternoon we headed to the pool. I made the kids take the annual by the side of the pool picture:

That evening we had our neighborhood picnic:

The next morning we headed to Virginia Beach for the day to shut summer down officially:

Off to Planet Pizza for dinner where Rosie took her picture again with her "friend Brad."

Photo shoot on the beach:

Then off to Kohr Bros:

Playing on the beach at dusk before heading home:

Happy Labor Day!