Bode + Soccer = LOVE

I heard a rumor but I didn't think it could be true. Ben told me that Bode loves soccer. 

That couldn't be, I told him. I used to have to bribe him to go. We'd show up 20 minutes late to practice because he was fighting me. In his first season I'm pretty sure he wore his shinguards over his footie p.j.s 75% of the time. 

But Ben, feeling some deep-rooted feeling for youth soccer (the things you learn about your spouse when you have kids!) insisted that we continue signing Bode up. He said he'd take the lead this season since we knew I'd be busy with photography. I said okay.

And on this Saturday, I got to see what Ben was talking about. Bode really does LOVE soccer!!! It's incredible! He sits on the sidelines and uses terminology like "out of bounds" and cheers his teammates on by name. And when he's in the game, he's IN THE GAME; stealing the ball, playing defense, scoring goals. It's amazing! And I'm so glad that I got to see him in action (and heal my PTSD after so many years of struggle).

GO BODE!

Bode's cute buddy...

(a cool spectator)

(Their pre-game cheer? "PAY ATTENTION!!" ;)

After I saw Bode score a goal!

(sweet sister! With her INSANE callouses from the monkey bars...)

(If every contest/competition could end with a cheering tunnel made up of both sides, that would be magical. Can you imagine this happening in Washington after the election?! ;)

HOORAY for Fall Soccer!

Sprague Lake with My Boys

"The Mountains are calling and I must go!" Said me...NEVER. Seriously. It's embarrassing how much more I prefer a city to a forest. (Especially being a Colorado girl). But in this busy season of life my soul was craving the restorative powers of the mountains. I couldn't get it out of my mind. The thought that there was a beautiful show of yellow aspen trees and blue blue sky just waiting for me on the other side of a 30 minute drive (yes. THIRTY MINUTES!) and I wasn't seeing it was almost unbearable. I just knew that my soul needed that. And our family needed that. So we planned a mountain morning for the day after a GAZILLION photo shoots.

Mimi was supposed to be with us, but got invited to a last minute birthday party. Since it was themed around the show "American Ninja Warrior" (that's her jam) we let her go. So it was just me and the boys. Heading to the mountains. For two hours (until we had to get back and pick up Mimi). I didn't care. Even if I sniffed the mountain air, I felt like its powers could still heal me. 

So we went. And like any good family adventure, there was complaining. And convincing. And bribing with cotton candy. (yep, that's how we roll). But my past experience has taught me that once we got out of the car, it would all be worth it. And it was. As much as I needed to breathe free and easy looking at God's splendor, so did my cranky Bode.

We got out of the car, had a snowball fight, walked around a lake, threw rocks, talked to strangers then went home. It was short and it was wonderful.

 I mean, are you KIDDING me!? Nothing like a majestic mountain to make you feel small and insignificant. Which sometimes when you think you hold the whole world in your hands, is just what you need.

(you know what i love about being a Colorado girl? You roll out of bed with greasy hair, a flannel and leggings and rejoice that you don't live in Texas).

Thank you God for making mountains.

(and I included a few extra "mountain stunner" pictures for my Indiana bestie xo)

****