Miami Sports Weekend 2.0

We scheduled another Miami sports weekend over Thanksgiving weekend.   Volleyball, football, boys basketball, girls basketball ... that is a lot of games, and a lot of Miami sports gear!!  We drove from Naples to Miami and went straight to the men's basketball game.  We were all pretty tired but had a blast at the game.    We stayed in the Gables at a pretty swanky hotel .. the kids loved it!! 

Highlights of the trip

Watching the volleyball team beat FSU!!!  

Watching William winning the slam dunk contest at the Women's basketball game (see video)

Spending the morning at South Beach

Attending Mass together on the University of Miami campus

Carving out time from our hectic schedule to enjoy each other!! 

All of my favorite Kanes/Canes!

Geared up for the big game!!

Are you ready for some football?

Cutest Cane in the crowd!

Rough game for the football team.  My Kanes were very sad!!

Only picture of Momma from the trip. Yes, I was there!!!

He was nervous to go on the court but played it cool!!  He was the crowd favorite.  All his siblings were cheering and jumping up and down!!

Andrew with a spirit hat at the volleyball game!!

Sitting front row at the volleyball game!

Another picture with Sebastian

THE U!!

We had the most fun at the volleyball game!!  Everyone was totally into it!

Posing for another picture for the pesky photographer (ME!!)

We spent the afternoon on South Beach ... walked to beach, played in the park, visited the Kardashian store Dash (for Katie!), ate at a delicious Italian restaurant on a recommend from the Teixeiras ... what a great afternoon!!

Another Altar Server

So we have a trifecta altar server team.  Matthew joined Andrew and Katie as altar servers at Corpus Christi.  It warms a momma's heart to see her children serving the church.  Matthew did a great job his first mass and continues to serve.  Yeah Moo!!  We are so proud of you.

Thankful for our William

Loved this turkey picture that William did for Thanksgiving.  How sweet that he is thankful for us ... but we are so thankful for him too!!  He is such a super little blessing to our family.  Fun, feisty, cuddly, fast, athletic, smart, witty, stubborn!!  I had a great time at his Thanksgiving party and performance.  Mrs. Hickey does such a great job incorporating faith and fun into their performances.  We did a full feast as well ... yep - I did 2 turkeys!!  I guess that is the role of the room mom.  Also made homemade cranberry sauce that surprisingly, lots of the little kids liked.  The kids sang 8 fun songs.  They were so proud and even had costume changes.  How lucky and thankful are we for Mrs. Hickey!

Alina and William  - she is the sweetest girl in the class!!

Derrick and William - reading buddies!!

Loved how they actually had a baby in the papoose!  

Cutest turkey boy ever!!

Wrapping Up Fall Sports ....

This was the year for adding another Kane into the Sports season rotation. This fall we had Andrew playing HS football, Katie Varsity volleyball, Matthew Pop Warner football and Julia Little League Tball. Makes for one busy momma and daddy, but we are proud to say everyone gave it their all, learned a ton and we all gave a collective sigh of relief when it ended. And then .. WINTER SPORTS started!!!

Julia ... our Muckdog!! Wow - you quickly you forget how adorable tball is!! Love this picture of Julia scoring her first run!! Especially how Sean is pointing to the base ... even in tball he is a stickler for the rules!!!

Catching in the final game ... and yes, you gotta love the purple glove!

Matthew making the tackle in the Storm Bowl Victory!!!

Wow -- Bowl Champs. Very exciting for a team that has only 1 victory in 3 years!!

#13 - Always so focused!

District Semi Finals - Good pass!!!

Season is over!! Katie learned so much on Varsity!! Not it is time for Club ball!!

Grandparents and Veterans Day

One of the best days at WPS is our combined Grandparents & Veterans Day!!  Pawpy came up from Naples this year to celebrate with the kids.  It is kind of tough to be a pawpy of five kids!!  He had to run from classroom to classroom!!  We started the day visiting William, Julia and Matthew's classroom for pictures, notes, stories, trivia, food and love!!  We quickly made it to the gymnasium for the Veteran's day ceremony.  We saw Andrew but didn't snap a picture.  I think Pawpy loved being with his grandkids and being honored as a Veteran!!

One of the most touching moments of the ceremony is when the PK3, PK4 and Kindergarteners process into the gymnasium signing "I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag".  Not only is it an adorable song, but the entire student body sings along from 1s grade to Seniors!!  It always brings me to tears! 

Mr. Moo .. looks like Daddy like a little boy!

Julia was so happy that Pawpy came with her to school!!

Look at that amazing award that William presented to Pawpy!

Best part of the ceremony -- the PKers signing I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag!

For student government, Katie handed out poems that all the students wrote for the Veterans.    What a special touch!

Bell Wedding

We had the honor of attending the wedding of Lisa and Bill in November.  Taylor (Lisa's daughter) and Katie are great friends and we wouldn't have missed this wedding for the world.  Plus, how fun was it to have one on one time with Katie just with Mom and Dad.  They were married outside at  Shingle Creek Resort.  It was a lovely ceremony ( a little windy!) and Lisa looked so happy and beautiful.  Sweet Pea (Lisa's grandma) was one of the highlights of the wedding.  

The reception followed in a two story round ballroom.  One of the coolest venues I had ever seen.  There was tons of food and of course dancing -- and the kind of music I like!!  It was such a fun night for the three of us.  We are so excited for Bill & Lisa and their future together!

Katie looked so pretty - Thanks for the dress Kiki!!

We are so lucky to have the prettiest backdrop in the world.

So fun to get dressed up with your sweetie!

Besties

All the ladies!

Bride's cake - yummy and pretty!!

Oh ... I can fast forward this and imagine them dancing together at another wedding!!  Sigh ...

The beautiful bride and groom!

Trick or Treat 2011

We headed to Keene's Pointe for trick or treating.  Although we love our neighborhood, the kids didn't think 12 houses would fill their bags!!  So we headed over to KP - Andrew, Kate and Matthew met up with their friends and off they went!!  I hung out with Laine and Emily and took the little kids around!!  It was so much fun, very busy, and we got loaded down with goodies.  Can't believe I didn't take a picture of all the loot!!  

Power nap before the fun begins!!

Knights need their rest!!

One of the happiest trick or treaters I have ever seen!!

And they are off!

One of my favorite pictures I took this year!!  Perfect color, focus and shows the anticipation!! 

Best friends through and through!!

WPS Varsity Volleyball

Katie played Varsity Volleyball at WPS this year - we had 2 new coaches, Coach Alicia and Coach Amanda.  We had met Coach Alicia from OVA and were excited for her energy and skill development.  Katie played libero this year.  She had a great year on a very young and inexperienced team.  In addition to playing high school season, she played mini club at OVA!  A very busy girl but balanced it all beautifully with school work as she always does.  

WPS Varsity Volleyball

Practicing in the sand

I want to look like that!!!

Dig Pink - playing for breast cancer awareness

Hey - Lakers on 3, Lakers on 3!!

Playing outside!!

Great dig!