Soccer, writing and swinging alone

I should probably split all these up and save them until a dry spell, but hopefully we'll continue to have fun and interesting things to photograph and post as spring continues.

Parker had her last soccer game this weekend. It was a big deal because she played willingly (no whining, crying or bribing) and she actually kicked the ball a couple times! Bob has it on video, or I wouldn't have believed it. They handed out trophies to all the teams and she's very proud of hers. The coach said she was 'most improved' which we are choosing to view as a compliment. I wouldn't let her take the trophie to school, so I did a picture and printed it out for her. She put on her pagent-ready smile and pose for the photo.

She'd also like you to notice that she's wearing a tank top. All weekend she's been fixated on tank tops, and wearing a tank top and did anyone notice that she's wearing a tank top?

This is what I'm saving as Parker's first written name. Her K's a little strange, and her E has too many bars, but you get the idea. She writes it on her papers at school now instead of her teaching doing it for her.

And yet another milestone.....swinging by herself! This is HUGE! Bob gave her a push to get started, and then she pumped her legs and swang and swang for as long as she wanted. I don't know if I captured it, but she had such a proud look on her face. Yes, those are pajamas.

So big and grown up

Parker has been 'growing' so much this week. Usually, when we put her to bed, she just lays there until she goes to sleep....and if she needs something, she'll call us upstairs. We've been lucky that, until now, she didn't realize she had any other options. 3 night ago, Bob heard her get up and adjust the volume on her music (louder), and 2 nights ago, she was very determined to look at books for a while, and then turn out her own light and tuck herself in.
Usually, in the morning, she'll holler when she wakes up for me to come get her. But this saturday, Bob heard her calling (I was gone running), but her voice wasn't coming through the monitor. He looked around upstairs and then found her sitting at her spot at the breakfast table, with a very proud look on her face. And she did it again this morning too. It doesn't really sound like a big deal, but for her, it's huge.

She's also been toying with the idea of not sucking her fingers anymore. Her friend Ava sucks her thumb, and Ava's mom and I had a ( purposely) loud conversation the other day about how we should have a contest to see who could stop sucking their fingers/thumb first, Ava or Parker. They overheard us of course, and Parker's competitive nature has latched on to the idea. Every couple of days she'll tell me "I think I want to try that contest." But then a few hours later....usually at bedtime she'll back out. The other night she made it all the way through story, but then called me up there after she was tucked in and said "I've changed my mind, I'm not doing the contest today. Maybe at school on monday for nap." I just think it's so funny that she's so conscientious about starting and stopping 'the contest'.