Ballers

These two made the middle school basketball team!

I've been so excited about possibly watching them play middle school soccer together in the spring that it never occurred to me that they might also play basketball together. Let's be real, though. Keagan will see little to no court time. He's probably the only kid with baby teeth playing against young men with facial hair! But he made the team and gets to play with his brother.

My excitement is overwhelming!

Fall in the Mountains

The boys picked me up from the airport Friday night and we drove east to Asheville, NC (to play soccer of course), but after game one, we did some site seeing. 

The mountains were beautiful, the scenery stunning, the food delicious. The city became even more memorable, though, after winning both games. 

Who wouldn't want this as a backdrop?

Teacher Leaders

My week in DC was a complete whirlwind! I did so much, met so many people, learned so much that I don't even know where to begin. Here's what I can best remember.

1. I'm not a people person. Loud, abrasive people are super annoying. They don't even have to be on the soccer field; I will still recoil from attention seekers. 

2. I've never been more excited to see my boys and hear country music blaring from Tootsie's than I was today. 

3. If I lived and worked in DC, I would need a completely new wardrobe. I'm certain Ann Taylor would be my new best friend.

4. I'm not the only one who has a strong opinion about education. I'm not the only one who has been stifled for so long that our voice has almost been silenced.

5. There are still good people working in DoDEA headquarters.

6. I have the best job, the most meaningful job in the world!

Missing Mom

I'm TDY this week in DC for a teacher leader conference for DoDEA teachers of the year. I had not been gone for seven hours when Keagan called. "Mom, Dad messed up the potatoes. When are you coming home?" 

Last week Keagan came to my room crying. I asked what was wrong and he told me I just couldn't be gone for a week. "Who will help me with my math homework? I have an A. I can't risk losing my A because you aren't here to help me." I reassured him he would be fine, but then he said, "I can't eat pizza six nights in a row. Please tell me you are cooking all of our meals and putting them in the freezer."

The poor guy misses me, or maybe just my cooking. It's good to know I'm missed. I wondered if the boys would be able to handle my absence. The multiple texts I receive every day have almost convinced me that I'm irreplaceable. 

Tonight I had dinner with an old friend.

DC was perfect tonight. Beautiful pink sunset. Ducks in the water quacking. Friends by my side. And I briefly thought, "I could totally live here again." Be assured that feeling was short-lived. But I'm enjoying every minute of my six day visit!

Spirit Week

It's Spirit Week at the middle and high school. Today was decades day, the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s. My boy chose 60s, as in 1860s and went as a cowboy. 

His best friend went as an Indian, and the two of them told anybody who would listen that they like to play Cowboys and Indians on the weekends. If that wasn't funny enough they also said they pretend the cows on Specer's farm are actually bison and they pretend to hunt them with bow and arrow.

It was either that or go with the year 1660 and dress as Puritans.

Soccer Saturday

We spent the beautiful, weather perfect-weekend in one of my favorite cities in Tennessee, and this is all I saw. 

I may love Chattanooga, but I love watching my boy play soccer even more. It's a good thing, too, because this is all my calendar includes until Thanksgiving. 

We are one step closer to spending our spring playing RPL.

Meanwhile, Evan spent his free Saturday Reffing a few U-8 girls' games. 

Oh! Be still my heart. That's him bent over and teaching the littles the 

game of soccer. 

Finalists!

It was scorching hot on the pitch this weekend, but there are few places I'd rather be, especially when I get to see this.

Or this. 

I never, ever thought I'd see Keagan starting as a defensive player, but each game he gets a little better. Today was his best game yet. He got two yellow cards this weekend and that makes me giggle a bit, but he's the team cheerleader and the obvious leader in the backfield. We can all easily overlook yellow cards from aggressive playing when so many other positives result in his time on the field.

We didn't bring home gold, but our 3-5 loss to an excellent team was hard fought. We can wear silver with great pride!

Weekend Fun

Evan is with Wes in South Carolina playing RPL soccer games ( and having some fun too). After Sunday's early game, they visited Falls Park. 

My parents and I are in Murfreesboro with Keagan playing soccer. After our very early (ungodly early) morning game today, we stopped for brunch. Unbeknownst to me, the restaurant required us to cook our own breakfast! Keagan ordered French toast and cooked it himself.

After devouring his bacon, six slices of toast and his fruit smoothie, he asked, "When do we play here again?" The kid is now choosing soccer tournaments by the choice of local eateries.