Abby Wambach Weekend

We didn't buy Caroline anything for her birthday or have a party for her.  We let her get her ears pierced and surprised her with a girls' weekend in South Florida. The US Women's National Soccer Team came to play vs China Saturday night.  We got a surprise visit from her good friend Mia who lives nearby.  It was a short visit and dinner, but they are such good friends and got their groove back quickly.

Then Caroline and I headed to the game.  It was a beautiful night.

We had great seats and USA won 4-1.  Abby Wambach scored 2 goals!

Abby Wambach was having a a fundraiser for TOPSoccer and Caroline went to have lunch with her.  Here she is waiting to meet her and get her jersey signed.

They talked about how much money she "raised."

And posing for a great picture!  Caroline was so excited!

Abby asked all the kids to give her an autograph to take home with her.  Here is Caroline giving hers.

After lunch, Abby answered some questions from the kids.  She is a very motivational speaker.  She talked about how the year after she was named Player of the Year, she was cut from the U18 National Team.  She said that situations arise in our lives and we can choose to either fight back and get better, or we can give up.  She said she chose to fight and get better and that every time she is out there, she is not only proving to herself that she can do it, but she is also proving it to that coach who cut her.  Caroline and I talked about it on the way home.  I told Caroline that she showed that same spirit when she didn't make the Blue (A) Team in soccer.  She fought hard, practiced hard, and showed that Blue Team who the "A" player really was, when they played during the regular season.

It was a great weekend.  Only one more week of school before Christmas Break!