Spring Formal

This weekend is AOII’s spring formal. I got these great pics from Mak. 

I absolutely love how happy they both look! 

Another Tally in the W column

Here we are with another tally in the W column. We won Thursday night 2-1.

(I’m going to need an intervention from the photographer.)

 Keagan is playing with the knee wrapped, but he’s clearly playing in pain. He refuses to sit out. At the end of Thursday night’s game Coach moved him to right back. He assumed it would require less running. Would you know the opposing team tried to take advantage of the limping player by taking the ball to his side of the field three times in five minutes? Keagan was working that sideline, though, like his life depended on it. His “squishy” knee gets four days of rest before our next game. 

Go Hawks!

Rivalry

Wednesday night’s game was against our local rival. Typically this is a very competitive game and all of the community soccer fans come out to watch. Our stands were full of elementary aged soccer players as well as school mates. 

Some of my favorite people came to watch the game. 

We kicked off just as the sun was setting. 

And 61 minutes later we came away with a 9-0 mercy rule win! 

Pure joy! This win has us sliding into the first seed spot for the district tournament. 

My #14 is giving it his all and playing with so much heart despite the knee pain and inflammation.

❤️ him!

On the Road

Today Keagan and I hit the road headed south for another ID camp. We have toured this school, we have approved the campus and its academic programs, and now we are back for soccer. 

The azaleas are in bloom. The trees are green. The campus is beautiful. 

The new soccer complex is turf. The bathrooms are clean. The soccer facilities are just about the best we have seen for a D2 school. 

Keagan played 50 min in the midfield and then kindly asked if he could play his “real” position. The last twelve minutes of his playing right back was great, but this highlight from the beginning of the scrimmage was fun to see because he rarely gets this close to the box. 

Camp ended at 9:00 and then we made the trip back over the mountain to home. Three hours in the car is far better than seven. 

Tomorrow is a rest day for Keagan. Then we are back at it again on Wednesday for school ball. 

Soccer Told in Pictures

Co-Captain Meets with Refs Before the Game

Team introductions. Keagan is #14 but I always spot his pink cleats first.

Pre-Game Hype - I love how every player, not just the starters, runs into the huddle prior to kick-off.

We won at half 9-0 due to the mercy rule.

Keagan was moved to right back at the end of the half. I believe this will be his position for the more competitive upcoming games. 

Thursday’s game will be tough. I hope I see our name again on next week’s undefeated list.

He is Risen

Happy Easter! We are celebrating with church, a delicious meal, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. 

When Evan came home for spring break, he wore a pair of dirty sneakers to church because he forgot to pack any nice shoes. I made a bid deal about it. This month he packed shoes, but he forgot to pack church clothes. I was lucky enough to find a polo and a pair of khaki shorts at the bottom of his laundry bag last night. Easter was saved!

The boys would have been happy with just cash, but what’s Easter without some sugar and chocolate? 

We had everyone’s favorites for Easter lunch. 

I love decorating for spring. 

The best part is this weekend marks Vikki’s first weekend in Tennessee. Every holiday can be spent together now!

My House is Full

Evan came home for Easter break on Wednesday night. He made it down I-40 after the high speed police chase, he made it before the tornado sirens went off in Nashville, and after the storm hit Clarksville. It was perfect timing.

My house is full of boys tonight. They hooped after watching the Mavs game, and now that it is dark, they are gaming on the PS4s. 

I’ve spent almost all day in the kitchen cooking, baking, cleaning, and prepping for tomorrow’s meal, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Dogwood Winter

Sunday was Keagan’s ID camp in North Carolina. We drove this time instead of flying. Keagan remained injury free this time, but I have a permanent cramp in my right calf from pressing the gas pedal. My lower back only moves to the right, and I can’t lift my left leg. This is what happens when you drive 15 hours in two days and sit for five hours in metal bleachers. But I’d drive through the snow in the mountains with a bad back and permanent leg cramp for this guy any day. 

We stopped in Knoxville to pick up Evan for a late lunch. Keagan is always enthralled by the size of UTK. This trip he saw a couple of the robots that deliver food to students. His eyes were as big as saucers taking all of that in. I wish I could have heard his thoughts. 

The camp was well-organized, the coaches recognized him, and while I thought he was still playing a bit conservatively, I thought he highlighted some of his best skills with small sided play. However, this go around, he got to play 11v11.

He liked this school’s coach, its modern buildings, and the housing options. I’d love to see him be a bulldog. 

We made it back home without any snow falling on the blooming dogwoods, and dusk brought this beautiful sky. Now all I want to do is lay flat on my back and sleep.

Next time we have a quick weekend turn around? I’m flying. 

Mercy Ruled

Tonight’s game was cold, windy, and wet. We were looking for an early end to the game so we could get home and out of the cold rain. Within 30 seconds, we had our first goal. I thought for sure the game would be over by the end of the half.

Keagan had the knee wrapped and played extremely conservatively, but once we were up by seven, Coach pulled most of our starters and put in the bench. This move delayed our mercy rule win. 

However, in the half hour he was on the field, Keagan had some terrific passes that led to goals. He was awarded two assists, maybe three (you tend to lose count after a while). The game ended in a mercy rule, 9-0, and Keagan remains injury free for Sunday’s ID camp. 

Go Hawks!

Back at It

Today is student-athlete day. I’m lucky enough to have this guy to celebrate! Keagan was back on the pitch for last night’s important, must-win district game.  The past three months have taken us on a wild ride with two back-to-back MCL sprains. We have been reassured the structure of the knee is perfect; these injuries have been unusual because of their similarities but just flukes. It was so good to hear people cheer when he took the field last night. He was awarded the assist for our second goal with this corner kick. 

Tonight’s 3-2 win against a rival team makes us one of the only 30 undefeated high school teams in the state. 

We play again Thursday and hope to keep the winning streak alive!