WHS XC Banquet

This past week, we got to celebrate Sadie at her first high school banquet, held for cross country. 

She started running this summer, but it was not consistent since we travel so much. She enjoyed seeing friends & meeting new friends before school started. And it helped get her in better shape for soccer. Little did we know, she would end up loving it! Unfortunately, she only ran the first half of the season because then she got hurt, however, she was still able to attend the banquet & celebrate with her teammates:

It was our first Wakeland celebration & I was so excited to see all of the decorations with orange & navy! We've been in green the past few years:

We had a great time & I really enjoyed hearing the coaches and the students speak, especially the seniors. It's clear these coaches have done a great job fostering a welcoming community & I am so glad Sadie got to be a part of it. Even though the season is over, she is still training and meeting other girls to run before school a few days a week & is already talking about next year. I love that she found something to help her stay in shape for soccer, that she truly enjoys & will always be a lifelong sport she can do:

Up next - high school soccer! Her first game is less than a month away. Let's go Wolverines!

NCL The Big Event 2026

Yesterday afternoon, we got to celebrate The Big Event, which is our annual tea & style show for National Charity League with Sophie for the first time and this year's theme was Tea on Broadway! I kind of get a back seat view since I am on the board and help pay for everything, but it's always fun to see it come to life when you get there:

We tried to get a picture of Sophie's class, but we did miss a few of the girls:

All of the tables were decorated for a different Broadway play & ours was Mamma Mia, which is one of our favorites:

We had the tea first & then we had the style show put on by the Junior class. Sophie loved this part & can't wait to walk the runway herself!

I didn't take any pictures during the event, but I did find these pictures afterwards. Apparently, the girls had fun having a photo shoot outside at sunset:

Such a fun evening!

Halloween 2026

We kicked off Halloween the week before when our church had their fall festival. All 4 of us volunteered so I didn't really take any pictures, but someone shared one of Sophie with her friends:

The fun continued at school because it was red ribbon week, so Sophie had dress up days every day. Sadie even dressed up for soccer - their "family" did a Dr. Seuss theme and the freshman were the things:

Sophie's friends did a secret Boo where they all surprised each other:

It was so fun having Halloween fall on a Saturday! We almost ran out of time to carve pumpkins but thankfully Sophie did that day so we could put it out that night:

Only she would put make up on it & with a bow. Ha!

Sophie left earlier because her group always meets for an early party & then heads out together. Sadie volunteered with our church at a trunk or treat that afternoon so at least we got one quick picture together before they headed out:

Her & a friend wanted to be football players - I was thinking she would want to be a Longhorn and that would be super easy because we already have a Longhorn jersey, but that would have been too easy. Instead, she wanted to be Josh Allen:

This group goes together every year, but they have definitely broken up into couples or smaller groups:

We partied at Dana's house until the girls took off:

Thankfully a few moms sent me pictures throughout the night:

They even ran into their Spanish teacher:

Meanwhile, Sadie was at home because she decided to skip trick or treating this year. At the last minute she decided to be a black cat (because we had to figure out something quickly, with what we had at home!) and she went to a party later that night:

It was kind of a chill night for Bryan & I. After we stopped by our party earlier with Sophie, we came back, watched football, visited with neighbors & handed out candy. In a surprising twist, Sadie came home from her late-night party earlier than Sophie - she ended not coming home at all & crashing at a friend's house. It was a fun Halloween, but you know me - I am already moving on to the next holiday! I don't have a Christmas tree up yet, but the girls do have their Christmas sheets on their bed & they have been wearing their Christmas pajamas - it.s never too early for Christmas in our house!

Pink Out Rivalry Volleyball Game vs. Cobb

Last night, Sophie ended her 7th grade volleyball season with our last game against our rivalry school, Cobb. It also happened to be Pink Out:

It was definitely the loudest & most crowded I have ever seen our gym! Sophie used to play club volleyball with several of the Cobb girls, so we know a ton of Cobb families, which makes it extra fun:

And there is a group of girls that all go to church together, so a few of their leaders came from BLUE & KLife:

They were so excited to have an extra cheering section for them! This group of girls did awesome this year & were undefeated:

Afterwards, a whole group of them went to Raising Cane's to celebrate from both schools:

Sophie had so much fun and it's kind of bittersweet for the season to end, but they have their first cross country meet tonight & basketball tryouts start next week. Let's keep it going Lady Gators!

Pink Out Rivalry Football Game vs. Cobb

Last week, our football teams celebrated pink out against our rivalry school, Cobb! Not only was it a beautiful evening, but we have a lot of friends at Cobb, so it was an extra fun night:

The girls got these pink football jerseys for camp this summer & they looked so cute in them again for this game. Can you tell they were excited?!

It was so fun watching them interact with the other cheerleaders since so many of them know each other:

and with all of our friends in the student section also:

I even asked if I could have a few pictures with Sophie since I had a jersey too & they turned out so cute:

We even had a surprise visitor, Sean, who is one of the leaders of our youth group. The girls are always excited to see him:

It's hard to believe we only have 1 regular season game left & then hopefully playoffs!