More Sounders

Wanted to post a quick update from the Pro Shop visit we had on Wed Oct 2nd.  Kasen was recorded doing a little promo work while we were there.  She ended up being on the Sounders Rave TV.  I've grabbed just the segment she was in (there is an appearance of her hair and bow before her grand ending).  Here is just here segment:

Here is the link to the original file from the Sounders site:

http://www.soundersfc.com/media-library/videos/features/2013/10-october/131003-rave-tv.aspx?svt=0

Sounders events

Kasen at Practice

The last week has been full of Sounders activities for the Pickerbockers.  Karl and Kasen got to go to a Sounders practice on Friday (9/27).  They got a chat from the coach (Sigi) about what the team was doing and what to expect.  They watched the practice and then got to meet the players.  Kasen got around 15 signatures on her jersey.  She was excited to meet all of her favorite players including Mauro, Andy Rose and Michael Gspurning.  Gspurning chatted with us as we walked toward the parking lot (and locker room) and Kasen got state how she was going to grow tall and play goalie.

Sigi giving us the details for practice

Kasen showing off her Jersey

That following Sunday we went to an actual game against the New York Red Bull.  It was just dumping rain most of the game but Kasen was great and barely complained.  She is a true fan.  The photo below was not from that game, rather the one before that on 9/13 vs Salt Lake (yes on Debra's Birthday).  This is her watching the team warm-up with her scarf up.  This was actually taken professionally and appeared on a Sounders blog after the game.

Kasen at the Sounders game - photo by janeg photography

Just the other night we got to go to a limited attendee signing with three players (Brad Evans, Ozzie Alonso, and Michael Gspurning).  It was at the Pro Shop at the stadium and there were like 50 people there.  Again she got to talk to players and get autographs (but they were not allowed to sign her dress, Evans even asked and she said no).  She asked Gspurning if "do your hands hurt when you save the ball" (answer was sometime).  She asked Ozzie "why do people call you honey badger" and he looked around at Brad and Michael and Brad said because he is an animal.  She didn't have a question for Brad, he asked her if she was going to ask him what people call him....he told us B-RAD.  It was really cool and fun for all of us, probably most for Karl 

Kasen with Michael Gspurning

Kasen with Brad Evans

Kasen with Ozzie

You ask, how did we get to do these things...Sounders have a reward program for going to games, buying stuff, and watching games.  You earn points and can redeem them.  Truly a great way to reward fans.

Until next time...

First Day of Preschool

Kasen (3.5yrs)

Kasen started preschool today.  While she has been going to a small Montessori school the past year, this is a huge shift.  This school is more more organized, will be a full day and has more kids & teachers.  Hopefully though she will meet some friends that she will know through elementary school (that is the goal).

Today she was super excited to go "to big kid school".  According to her, it marks the day that she is "bigger, bigger".  Honestly, I think it was the Monsters University lunchbox (with matching thermos inside) that was the biggest draw.

"Come on, Mom"

 Should I be worried that it looks like she is already annoyed by this required photographic moment?  Wait till she hears I plan to do this until she leaves for college!

Big Sounders Night

Summer is  in full swing here in Seattle.  Days are still pretty long and the calendar is full of activities.  Last night (8/3) was a big night for the Seattle Sounders and MLS Soccer, we signed the biggest name in US Soccer Clint Dempsey.  He was officially announced as joining the team pre-game (http://assets.soundersfc.com/2013/dempsey/index.html).  But that was not all that made the night special, the Pickerbockers got to be on the field for the last 20 minutes of the game and meet goal keeper Marcus Hahnemann.  It was pretty cool and great that we got to see Brad Evans put the dagger in with the PK in the last minutes of the game.  Here is a few post they put up from the night on Twitter

Super adorable Last 20 fans tonight! @karlpicard @TheEwingClan pic.twitter.com/Q26uVC8FXd
— Sounders MatchPass (@MatchPass) August 4, 2013

What a night for the Last 20! Thanks to @brad_evans3 for the PK and to @hahnemann1 for stopping by to say hello! pic.twitter.com/dOup6Cgf5P
— Sounders MatchPass (@MatchPass) August 4, 2013

More pictures soon but wanted to post something quick

A few more pictures

Hard to keep up with the posting with summer here in Seattle.  The hibernation has ended and the days and evenings are now packed with activities.  Kasen is off from soccer for the summer but we still get our fill with Sounders and she goes to Karl's games.  She is still doing swimming lessons and getting better and more comfortable in the water.  We have lots of visitors coming (some already have visited) for the month of July.  James and Amber our friends from Virginia were just here, Grammy Barb is currently visiting, and Nana and Pepe will be here in a few days.

Lately we have been busy with Zoo Tunes (conerts at the Zoo), the Seafair activities (Kasen saw the pirates at Alki Beach in West Seattle), the Greenwood Car Show in our backyard basically, her fist movie (Monsters University), and fireworks in Edmonds.  Coming up we have a camping trip in Aug we are starting to prepare for.  We setup the tent in the backyard and Kasen loved playing in it and pretending to sleep.

OK, enough on that on to what folks love a few pictures:

Getting ready for a bike ride to the zoo

Kasen's first movie

Ready for her singing career

Food coma after eating Dick's burger and fries

A little catchup

It has been a while and i figured I'd at least get some new pictures out for everyone.  We have been busy with house stuff, keeping up with Kasen, and a little traveling.  Kasen has gotten quite chatty these days and it is a lot of fun to hear her take on the world.  She is now in a swimming class where she is in the pool without Mom and Dad.  Soccer is moving that direction too.  She is definitely becoming more independent.

Enough with details...on to the pictures which is what everyone cares about.  Some of these are little animated pictures from a series.

Kasen playing red light green light

Kasen dribbling the ball

Kasen doing big kicks

Kasen at Mother's Day lunch

Kasen trying out the scooter

Kasen on the merry-go-round at the Zoo

Birthday and Texas

Sorry it has been a while since we posted. April has been quite busy with Kasen's birthday, Karl's parents visiting early in the month, a trip to Texas to visit family and attend Katie's wedding, and then getting back to the routine.  Finally we have a little time to get a quick blog post up.

Kasen had her birthday on the 3rd and it basically has continued for the month as we've seen family and friends.  She had a great day with some of her friends over, and Nana and Pepe were in town from Virginia.  She got everything she could wish for with more princess stuff than she could imagine.  Here she is with her cake (it was a cupcake cake).

She enjoyed her time with Nana and Pepe.  Maybe the most fun was a day we took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island.  She really enjoyed the trip, here she is on the top deck.

Shortly after Nana and Pepe left, Debra and Kasen left for Texas (I joined them later).  They headed to Corpus Christi for some time on the beach and hanging out with Grandma Barb.  They got to build sandcastles and had a great visit.  After a several days there they headed up to Dallas to get ready for Katie's wedding.  We had a great time visiting family. One night we eat at a pub near the hotel called T&P.  They had a giant Jenga game.  Kasen, Phea, Scott and I set it up like dominoes.  The girls really enjoyed it.  

The day before we left we went to the Stockyards in Fort Worth.  The girls rode in a stage coach, which of course was like a princess in her carriage.

We have a bunch more photos but I figured we'd start with these until we can get time to go through the ones on the real camera and not cell phones.  More to come...promise