Although I am still sidelined with an injury, my team played today for the division championship and emerged victorious. It was a terrific game which we won in a penalty kick shoot out. It was a fantastic way to end the season. Later in the day Maya and I attended our first father daughter dance. We had the best time and I only wish I had a photograph of us dancing together.

Today I was privileged to photograph this brave young lady as a favor for her father who is a colleague of mine. It is rare to look though the viewfinder and see grace on the other side. Today that is what I saw. After our session, her dad took this photo of us. Jeanine said it was the best one of the day.

Maya and her friend Julie are playing bingo at Willard Family Fun Night. It is more fun when you win. Nicolai went to the new Harry Potter film with friend Chloe and Kyle and spent a quiet evening at home nursing his sore noggin.

Kyle smashed his head into the goal post at soccer practice this evening and experienced mild memory loss. A trip to the emergency room confirmed a concussion and his medical directive is to avoid sports entirely for at least one week. Regrettably, he was set to travel to Bethesda, MD tomorrow for a soccer tournament and now will be forced to sit out. To add insult to injury, the doctor confirmed that his injury would not interfere with his ability to complete homework.

My Little Leopard.

My peaceful child.

Kyle, winning the ball in the air. Despite a loss this afternoon, Kyle played one of his best games ever. Even as his team’s chances grew slim, Kyle fought intensely to the end.

Endorphin girl took me out for a lunch date today. We rarely have a Saturday without some child related sport activity.

Scene from a party Kyle attended of the guys he likes to hang with.

On average, I drive past a dozen horses everyday on my commute to work. This morning, one was leaning over his fence nibbling on the grass. I hopped out of the car and walked over to him. He was very friendly and seemed to enjoy being stroked. He was less interested, however, in posing for me.

Few things are more beautiful than Nature at it’s simplest.

My cousin Vincent was in the area on business and was able to spend the night with us. My best childhood memories center around times spent with Vincent and our crazy adventures together. We share a passion for invention and engineering, and it was wonderful catching up with him.

I broke out my macro lens and did not have to look far for a fascinating subject.

I stopped on the way home from my soccer match this morning to capture this scene. I had to fight my way through brush and brambles and then jump out onto a log in the river to get this view. The match was a big disappointment. Had we won, we would have placed first in our division and been promoted to the next level. With 25 seconds remaining in the match we gave up an own goal and had to settle for a 1-1 tie. There is still a mathematical possibility we will win the division but we let a certain championship slip through our fingers.