After spending the day with Mommy, Auntie and the rest of the girls getting all ready and pretty, the time came for the actual wedding. Lauren joined Maile, Chris and I at the wedding ceremony and then hung out for the cocktail hour before heading home to get some baby sleep. Maile Girl stayed for the whole reception and danced for pretty much the whole night. We had been having some dance parties at home in preparation and I think I created a dancing monster. So much fun dancing the night away with Maile Girl!
Daddy and Maile all dressed up and ready for Auntie's wedding!
Mommy and Lauren - taken a few minutes before Lauren passed out for the ceremony 🙂
Let's get this show going!
Maile's note to Auntie Elyssa and Uncle Stephen congratulating them on their marriage...
Maile takes in Auntie Elyssa and Uncle Stephen's first dance...
After Auntie’s first dance it was time for Maile Girl to take the dance floor. First with Mommy:
And then with Daddy:
Before she left for the hotel, Lauren snuck in a dance with Daddy too:
(Click here for the video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
(Click here for the third video.)
Maile loves playing with the sidewalk chalk at Grandma and Papa Boston’s house – it also helps that they have a nice big driveway to draw on! Yesterday, Mommy taught Maile how to play hopscotch and Maile Girl added some Mandarin flair to the game (mainly by writing the numbers in Chinese). Lauren (with an assist from Daddy) got in on the action too!
(Click here for the video.)
Christine took the camera down to our soccer game last weekend. She got some great shots of Maile Girl and the other kids in action…
First we all stretch out...
That is one happy soccer player...
Maile Girl on defense.
Taking a break (mid-game mind you) for some fun with our teammate.
Maile Girl had one great run where she went the length of the field and almost (so close!) scored!
by Papa K on September 23, 2013
Maile isn’t new to soccer – she started a couple years ago with Soccer Tots and plays at school as well. However, she was never a part of a soccer team until this year when she became eligible to join the Mixed Under 5s PKS Pandas (her school team)!
And Daddy has a new role too – Coach Matt (or Coach Daddy as we agreed Maile could call me). Yes, a life long goal of becoming a kids’ soccer coach has been realized. (In all seriousness, I’ve been very much looking forward to doing this with Maile … and Lauren too when she gets a bit older.)
Coach Daddy and Maile Girl ready to rock!
Our first practice and game went okay – but unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate so it was pretty wet out there. The kids were champs for most of it – but definitely got a little tired and cold. And we need to work on learning which direction the goal is.
Here are a couple videos of what under 5 “soccer” looks like:
This one cracked me up – our team is the green team. Need to work on “engaging” the other team a bit 😉
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
Hard to believe that Maile Girl is already starting her third and final year of preschool. It wasn’t so long ago that we brought Maile to Presidio Knolls for her very first day of school – but man, it’s incredible how much she has grown these past two years. Lately, Christine and I have been hopping on Vimeo and just searching back a year or so – watching those videos compared to now blows our minds.
Maile at 4 headed to her first day of school...
Me too? Not yet, Lauren, not yet...
Maile and Lauren (8 months)
Mommy and her not-so-little-any-more girl...
Maile and Daddy
When Maile went down to San Diego last week with her Grandma Gail and Papa Cal she brought along her camera. This weekend we engaged in the age old tradition of reviewing one’s photos after the trip. Luckily, Maile only took 5 photos – so things went pretty quick.
You can check out Maile’s photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mailegirl. (Dad note: I mentioned this awhile back, but I set up Maile’s camera so whatever photos she takes automatically gets posted to that Flickr page. She’s actually started taking a fair number of pictures and the site is pretty fascinating view of what a 4 year old finds interesting…)
But even better than the photos, are the stories Maile came back with about everything she saw…
(Click here for the video.)
A nice picture of our family (Maile at 4, Lauren at 6 months)...
... but I like this one better 🙂
The sisters - already building an amazing bond...
... one more time!
On Saturday, we combined forces with a classmate of Maile’s (named Aman) and threw Maile and her friend a summer jam birthday party. The jumpy house was in full effect and Christine and Aman’s mom came up with a fun art project where the kids decorated little canvas backpacks with block prints and markers. All the kids had a blast – in fact, we had so much fun we didn’t take too many pictures! One of the other dad’s took some a few great ones though to share…
We are 2 + 2 = 4! Yes!
Maile and her birthday buddy, Aman
Helping with setup by blowing up some balloons - considered teaching Maile the magic of helium, but held myself back this year...
Maile Girl was very pleased with her rainbow cake
Oh man, I want to eat that rainbow so bad.
Make a wish. No, you make a wish.
Last week we headed to Chicago to visit with GG Bea and GG Irv for the July 4th holiday. Grandma and Papa Boston came in as well. It was Lauren’s first chance to meet GG Bea and GG Irv and Maile’s first visit since last September. I am always so thankful when I get to visit GG Bea and GG Irv with the girls – and this visit did not disappoint. Lauren charmed with her smiles and giggles and Maile wowed everyone with how much she has grown up this past year.
On Wednesday night when we arrived we went to dinner with GG Bea - that smile was permanent on her face the whole time she was with Maile and Lauren!
On Thursday, Papa Mike and Grandma Jill brought Maile and Lauren to visit with GG Irv (Christine and I were off to a wedding for the day).
More to come on this trip – we also got to spend some quality time with Aunt Julie, Cousin Donna, Uncle Jimmy and the Vick family cousins…
On Sunday, we took the family down to the Pride Parade. With such a monumental week, we thought it’d be fun to go and celebrate and one day Maile and Lauren can tell their kids that they were there in 2013!
We got there a bit late to fully take in the parade, but we were able to watch a bit from afar. But the whole scene was crazy and fun with music and dancing (and lots of other stuff!) all over the place. Maile seemed pretty oblivious to the more explicit stuff we came across and loved all the costumes and colors. For her part, Lauren had fun sleeping on Mommy.
Maile picked this fairy outfit all by herself - it was perfect for the parade!
The girls en route to the party!
Maile, Daddy, Mommy and Lauren out front of City Hall at Pride 2013
Maile and Daddy taking in the parade and waving our rainbow flag...
Maile saw this lady and asked if she could take a picture with her - it was either her hair or the whip she was holding. Definitely the hair. Right?
My fabulous ladies striking a pose!
And to top it off, Maile Girl got an epic face painting done 🙂
