Five years later we have grown to love Tennessee as much as our home state of Texas. Our adventures as a military family continue in the land made famous for country music and hot chicken. As much as our lives have changed with our twenty plus years in the military, much remains the same. We spend our weekends playing soccer, our winters on the beach, and our holidays with family.
This is Keagan’s junior year of high school, but only his first time to have a semester exam. His freshman year school was closed for final exams, and last year nobody took exams due to equity concerns with virtual students. So he’s had to study this month. A lot. Especially algebra. After missing one half of algebra 1 due to school closures and 1/4 of geometry due to multiple quarantines, this year’s algebra class has caused us both an enormous amount of stress and angst. He’s gone to tutoring to fill skill gaps. He has an ACT class where he gets extra practice with math. He watches videos to try to learn how to solve inverses. It has been a struggle.
On Tuesday, though, we learned he earned an 84 on the exam. This was big news for us and such a confidence booster for him. We celebrated Tuesday night - all six of us - with cookies. I may have also drank half a bottle of champagne.
It was short-lived, though, because three more finals followed on Wednesday, and he had to hit the books again for AP Lang and US History. The countdown to winter break has begun!
We were up so early today that the neighborhood Christmas lights were still shining brightly. We were on the turf for half an hour when the sun began to rise.
We had a hard fought game against Michigan that ended in a 2-1 win!
We would have loved to have hung around and soaked in the win a little longer, but the real feel was 24 degrees. Instead, the team captain gave it a strong, “1,2,3 Nashville” and we ran for the cars. It took me 2.5 hours to defrost. Keagan said this morning’s game reminded him that he has no desire to go to school in the north.
After playing all weekend in shoes that were duct taped together and after hearing the team make fun of his ripped shoes for weeks, Keagan came home to his early Christmas gift.
This face means the shoes are perfect!
Merry Christmas, Keagan! Let’s do this again in two weeks.
Keagan and I slept in this morning, we had brunch in Carmel, and played soccer late in the afternoon.
Keagan’s pep talk before the game paid off.
Or maybe it was the guest coach who sparked a fire in the boys when he said, “Let’s play some soccer, run your arse off, and give it your f’in all.”
We beat the team from Ohio 2-1. Keagan’s tackle led to the counter attack that scored our first goal. I don’t have that on film, but I have some strong defense.
It’s early. But we are in pjs, under the covers, and watching football. The alarm goes off really early tomorrow morning.
It’s showcase season - my favorite season! What could be better than travel, soccer, and a great road trip partner rolled into one? Our first tournament is at my favorite soccer venue and one of the best cities. I could live here minus that pesky thing called winter. We headed north and arrived in Indianapolis late Thursday night. Our first game was this morning against Louisville.
We lost - lost big - but Keagan played great! Really.
After our game, we had hot beef sandwiches at Portillo’s and drove downtown for the Pacers / Heat game.
We scored great seats for only $36!
I think I have the numerous Indiana famous round-abouts mastered, but I still question the transportation director’s signage and designs for highway exits. We were in the car less than two minutes today when I almost missed the first turn, and I hear Keagan chuckle and murmur, “Here we go!” I’m glad I was able to keep the excitement of riding shot gun with me alive and well.
We were in the thick of heavy downtown traffic, numerous road closures due to construction, and holiday themed horse drawn carriages when we were forced to turn right and happened upon this.
Tonight I’m thankful for bad signage and wrong turns.
Note to self: Never say never. At one time I thought the orange and white checkered bibs were just about the worst thing any college kid could wear. Time changes opinions. Case in point. My own son is wearing the once hated bib and I bought it! Nothing screams school spirit like this lovely fit.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, now that the family has returned home, now that all seven loads of laundry have been done, it is time to decorate for Christmas! While Evan and Mak watched the Tennessee football game and Keagan and Madi watched a movie, I decorated.
I had to have my fireplace stone painted white for no other reason than this.
I bought this nine foot flocked and pre-lit tree this summer for $399. I had no idea what I would get when I opened the box today, but I am so very pleased. This is better than I expected!
My winter themed tiered tray is a carry over from last year. I love a clean, neutral color theme.
Decorating my German dough bowl with each new season is my absolute favorite task.
Most of these holiday pieces were given to me by a dear friend. Every year I pull them out and think of all the years we’ve been friends.
Now I’m kicking back, putting my feet up, and enjoying the beauty of the twinkling Christmas lights.
Today was filled with Christmas shopping, more great food, the Tennessee basketball game, long naps, and board game fun. Tomorrow the Texas crew heads back west.
