Turkey Day

I was pretty impressed with Wes's fried turkey, our nine sides, and four desserts on Thanksgiving Day, but Keagan said our meal was just "normal with nothing exciting." That didn't seem to bother him, though, when he went back for thirds. We watched a marathon of football on TV and played "remote controlled football" on XBox Thursday afternoon. 

 

On Friday we took a trolley tour of Nashville, had Tennessee barbecue, and introduced the fam to Goo Goo Clusters.

 

 

 

 

Today we said good-bye to everyone, so we begin preparations for Christmas. A little shopping, gift wrapping, and decorating all taking place today!

Family Time

My family is spending the week with us because Wes is pulling duty on the holiday. Thanksgiving day will be filled with food and football, but we needed some where to go/something to do the day before the holiday. 

 

 

Everyone has told me it's a must see, but it took us four years to actually believe them and go. Today we toured the Opryland Hotel and Gardens. It was far better than anyone's explanations or pictures! The flowers and water falls were just beautiful

 

All three gardens were decorated for Christmas and just seemed to go on and on with no end.

 

 

I'm so glad we followed the local's advice and made the trip. Another great family day!

 

Farewell Soccer

We gave up only two goals this weekend and scored 11, but it wasn't enough. We lost an important game one with 20 seconds left in the game, and we came home early Sunday. Keagan had a great weekend playing left back, midfield, and Stryker.

 

Interestingly we were in the middle of game one in the stadium when we heard a series of gunshots. I told the other parents it was nothing to worry about because we were in Memphis just two weeks ago and heard gunshots and assumed a gun range was nearby. But then a series of sirens interrupted our game, and we soon learned we had all heard a drive by shooting. I don't think I drove faster than 40mph the rest of my time in Memphis. 

Today we packed away the soccer uniforms and cleats. It saddens me to put it all away, but it will make spring season all that more sweeter! Here's to new friends, new teammates, and a new season!

 

Ready to Ball

Tonight's Junior Varsity game was only two - six minute halves, but Keagan got to start over some of the 7th graders. This is an accomplishment in and of itself. He had a strong defensive game, but after a 10 point lead at half, we lost by two points.

It was a disappointing loss, but we get to try again Monday night.

Better than Ever in Two Short Weeks

This is what happens when your boy has a great game.

Someone from the opposing team decides he is too much of a threat and decides to take him out.

At Monday's night's game, Evan had half of the team's points. Another player went for Evan as he drove in for a layup. He took Evan's legs out from under him, and Evan crashed to the gym floor. He jumped up and finished the game, but Wednesday, he couldn't walk. We took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with a deep tissue contusion. He will be out 2-3 weeks.

We are bummed, to say the very least.

Bummed.

Thankfully, though, he doesn't have anything broken. He will be back to prove himself. You can bet on that!

He Outdid Himself Tonight

True to his word, Evan proved himself tonight. It was our first middle school basketball game of the season, and Evan really outdid himself. He had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Better than his stats, though, was his behind the back lay-up that wowed the crowd. When I thought it couldn't get any better, he did his spin move under the goal before going up for a basket. I won't lie. I went wild in the stands. I mean, I went wild cheering for him. He told me last June he planned to do these two moves in his first school basketball game, and he worked all summer long perfecting those moves. He did it tonight and I was so proud of him!

 

We beat Kenwood 45-34.

Financial Advice from a 14 Year Old

Evan: "When I'm an adult, I'm not using a bank. I mean, the Stock Market could crash and I would lose everything. I don't care if you think it's stupid, but I'm keeping my money in a shoebox under my bed. Banks cannot be trusted with my money or anyone else's. It is much safer that way. Just wait. One day it will happen. I will still have money and you won't. You will wish you stored your money in a box under your bed, too."


The wisdom of a now 14 year old.

Brothers

Blond hair and blue eyes. Brown hair and brown eyes.

Small and agile. Tall and powerful.

They are nothing alike physically, and yet their mannerisms are so much alike. 

Case in point. The tongue is out when there is a play on the ball.

 

 

Hands on hips in between plays.

 

To be so different, they are so much alike.

Celebrate!

 

On Wednesday Evan fastened this birthday hat to his head with Bobbie pins and walked the 8th grade halls for all to see and wish him a happy birthday. Crowds of kids gathered around his locker in between classes and caused major traffic jams. On Thursday he went to school and found himself with a new locker at the end of the hallway and...on the bottom row! The ultimate punishment for my 6'1" class clown!

We finally celebrated Evan's birthday today with cake and ice cream. This pesky thing called sports got in the way Wednesday and Thursday nights.

 

 

May all of your wishes come true, Baby Boy!

Evan is 14

Evan is 14 today. My opinionated, strong-willed, dry-witted baby boy is almost grown! He is unpredictable at best, loves to debate political issues, and has a passion for sports that rivals any ESPN contributor. He eats ice cream by the pint, loves to snorkel in the ocean, and binge watches "Law and Order" episodes like a retired cop. He is a leader, an athlete, and a scholar. He loses every single thing he owns, forgets to put on shoes when we leave the house, and plays "Where's my Phone, Mom?" daily. He looks just like his dad but shares a brain with me.

He is Evan.

I would change nothing about him; he is perfect as is. Evan is 14 today.


Happy birthday, Baby Boy!

Basketball Season

Tonight was the kick-off game for the middle-school basketball season.

Evan has high hopes for this season. His goal is to win the district because he has won district while playing both football and soccer for the middle school. But if tonight's scrimmage is any indication of how well we will do in a true game situation, then we should just count on playing to have fun.

On the positive side Evan had two steals, four rebounds, and a basket in his eight minutes in the Jamboree.

Next week we play our first game and Evan is out to prove himself!