Family Fun

Today's football game was canceled due to field conditions, soccer friendlies were rained out, and all four of us looked at each other and asked, "What now?" 

We hit the road. First stop was the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga. The weather here was perfect for a walk along the Tennessee River. I was eager to see colorful fall leaves, but everything here is still green.

We wrapped up our afternoon with a football game in the hotel pool, and we have arranged our dinner plans around tonight's A&M game. 

May I remember the happy memories we made today when all four of us are in the hotel room together, experiencing real togetherness, this evening. 

Happiness is (Expensive) Soccer Cleats

For the first time in a long time, Keagan had to have new cleats because he actually wore them out before he grew out of them. He was cleated last weekend and the top of the shoe tore across the middle as he ran across the field. So we went shoe shopping. 

Soccer cleats come in wild color combinations and can be found in just about any neon color. Keagan can't resist neon or wild; Flashy is his middle name, after all. However, today he wanted to buy pink cleats. I refused to buy my boy pink, even if all the "good" players wear it with pride. I demanded he pick something else out. 

After lots of huffing and puffing, he found a pair of black shoes with neon pink and white stripes. I agreed these were much more respectable for a boy...until I saw the price tag. Suddenly, the pink shoes were not so bad and I tried to back track as quickly as possible. 

I apologized for jeopardizing Keagan's perfect shoe selection, and kindly offered to buy him the pink shoes. He refused. I strongly suggested he get the shoes proven to be worthy of the best. He refused. I came just short of demanding he put the black ones away and find the pink in his size, when he stopped me and asked, "So pink wasn't okay a few minutes ago, but now you want me to get them. What's going on?"

I told him I wanted him to be happy (perhaps I was really more concerned with a happy bank account). He replied, "I am happy - with the black shoes."

He is now the happy owner of black cleats with neon stripes that cost almost double the price of pink cleats, and I'm wishing my boy would have chosen pink. 

ISO Photos Taken off the Field

I realized this week that most of the pictures of the boys taken in the past two years were snapped while in uniform. Today's picture is no exception, but the great news is Evan's team won this game 3-2. It may be our only win of the season so I will cherish this photo and its memory.

Today I made an appointment with a professional photographer. Ironically enough, because of our game schedule, we couldn't find an agreed upon time until November.

 

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.