We're Becoming Gracious Losers

We left this weekend's soccer tournament without a win and a record of 0 to 3. Any guess why?

Yep, we were slide tackled and fouled over and over again and not one of them was called, but perhaps it is even more important to mention we were really good at passing the ball to the opposing team. We left today's game with a score of 4 to 5.

You're Looking at a Star!

 

This happened today at Evan's soccer game.

 

Dad from opposing team: Son, don't worry! You can push that big guy around.

 

Evan turns to look at the dad.

 

Dad from opposing team: What are you looking at?

 

Evan: You're looking at the kid that won't get pushed around by your weakling.

 

I know I shouldn't encourage trash talking, but there is something really disturbing about an adult trash talking an eleven year old during a game. 

 

I guess Evan was right, though, because even with the weakling playing on top of Evan, Evan still maintained possession of the ball. He had such a great game today, but we lost again. This time 3 to 5. 

 

 

Game Day - We Like to Lose by One Point

 Today I finally got to watch my big guy play a game of middle school football. I'm sad to say that we did not win; it's tough to win when the center can't snap the ball, though. I have never wanted to play football before, but today I wanted to run onto that field and snap the ball myself. There are only so many high snaps and dropped balls a girl can take. I hit my limit today.

By the way, I see this picture and find it terribly hard to believe that my boy is only 11 and already taller than I am.










In the fourth quarter, things were looking a bit better. We got a new QB and the hand-offs were a bit smoother. It was too little too late, though. Evan had a 21 yard run with three minutes left in the game.

 

 

In the next possession, he ran the ball on the outside, cut back into the inside, and scored!

 



I'm so glad I got to see it!

 

The final score: 19 to 20. We get another try at it next weekend, but before Saturday rolls around again, I think I'm going to try my hand at recruiting. I know a team in need of a center!

Losing and Still Smiling

Keagan told me last month that he had changed his mind. Soccer is again his favorite sport.

I did a happy dance.

It's a shame that his team is just not able to make anything happen on the field this year. He is hustling and playing at the top of his game - even if the team as a whole isn't.

Luckily, this weekend's losses have not affected his attitude. If anything, they have motivated him to try that much harder.

I'm glad to see he still has that great smile. I can't say that I'm this happy with three losses.

Game Day

While I was at Keagan's soccer tournament yelling at refs and lamenting that his top-rated team has lost its mojo and can't seem to pull it all together, my parents and Wes were cheering on Evan at his first football game.

Sadly, the defense fell apart in the second half and we lost 18 to 19.

The good news is we get another chance to bring home wins next weekend!

God is a Cowboys Fan and so Are We

For almost nine months, today's date has been marked on our calendar: the Cowboys vs. the Titans at LP Field. Evan is a huge Cowboys fan and was so excited that they would be playing so close to home. We were determined to be there so we could cheer on the 'Boys. 

Then life happened. Wes got TDY orders. Keagan had a soccer game scheduled. Ticket prices were sky high, and I began to think it just wasn't meant to be for us.

Then this week a friend at work told me she had two tickets to today's game and asked if I wanted them. That's when I knew the rumor was true: God is a Cowboys fan after all. I immediately said yes, cut the check, and told Wes the good news. 

 

I was relieved to see the 'Boys pull out the win, and my boys couldn't have had more fun at a game. We will relish the feeling of victory because it might not happen again for a very long while. 

Who's the Toughest

 

In the spirit of cooler weather and football season, Keagan and his friend Alex have been busy every afternoon playing football. They have developed a rigorous training schedule complete with cone drills, intricate running plays, and conditioning moves that Keagan asserts will make Alex "tougher."

 

 

Thursday they decided they needed to put their own names on the back of their jerseys. They spent half an hour searching the craft boxes for the correct letters and then used several rolls of tapes attaching each letter to the jerseys. At last they were ready to play, but within half an hour, Keagan had been tackled on a bed of rocks that left scrapes and cuts all across his back and rib cage. He deemed himself injured and too sore to continue playing. Alex called him a wet towel and the game was suspended indefinitely. Oh, the irony! Who is the toughest now?

 

 

 

 

 

With



Football Fever

Today was the kick off of the football season with the annual Football Jamboree. Evan was pumped for game day - if you call quiet, composed, and introspective pumped. So perhaps on the outside he didn't appear to be pumped. However, on the inside I know he was excited. Quiet in his world often means excitement.We were at the game site two hours prior to kick-off. I think someone else was just as excited!

Evan was chosen as a team captain. This is quite the honor since he is the only sixth grader that starts on the JV squad.

He played every snap our offense had as one of the two running backs. (He is #45 and has on red socks.)

The third snap of the game Evan got the ball and headed to the in-zone. He made it 5, 10, 15, and even 25 yards.

 

And then it was stripped from his hands. He owes Wes 100 push-ups for not protecting the ball.

He later made up for it with several 5, 7 and 12 yard runs through the middle and on the right side.

In the end, we won 14 to 6. Next weekend is our first full game. Evan's goal is quite simple: secure the ball!

Practice Makes Perfect

We haven't had rain in three months, but it has stormed every day this week. I'm not complaining, but the lightning moved football practice indoors. Evan thought practice might be a little easier if held indoors. Not so. Coach had them running suicides with their helmets on. Then they worked on their first plays.

Evan's bread and butter play 42 Ice. 

Double Digits

Ten years old is pretty important when you are a military kid. It's the year commemorated with your personal ID card. Keagan got his today.

All week he has tried to tell us that ten is not just another year; it is a year of double digits and hence a year of change. He preached all weekend how a ten year old should no longer have to order from the kids' menu. So we relented and let him order from the adult menu each time we ate out; he didn't finish any of his meals.

Today he told me that now he is ten years old he should be allowed to have a girlfriend. When I told him no, he asked if he could have one in fifth grade. I told him no again, and he asked, "Who will I dance with at school dances if I can't have a girlfriend?" (Hence my reason to not allow him a girl friend in the first place.) I told him he could wait until middle school, and he said, "Well, it's a good thing my girlfriend,,,I mean the girl I like will go to the same middle school as me." Hummmm...

Holiday

We spent the holiday at the movie theater. Although most people frequent the movie theater quite regularly, we have not all four seen a movie in a theater since 2007 when we saw Kung Fu Panda. So a few years have passed, and, thankfully, our tastes in entertainment have changed since our last cinema experience, too. Today we saw the Game Stands Tall, and I learned we can't get away from sports even on the holidays.

After the movie, we played a game of miniature golf. I am proud to say Wes and I remain the reigning putt-putt champs. However, I think we have reached an important milestone in the kids' lives. No one cried today and now that this makes two games in a row without any tears, I think it is safe to say miniature golf is now a fun and enjoyale family activity.