Indy Showcase

We are in Indianapolis for a soccer showcase tournament. I’m wrapped up on the sidelines like I’m in the Arctic Circle. I bought new boots anticipating cold and I’m so glad that I did. At today’s game, I was sitting on the sidelines with every part of me under multiple layers. Keagan came out of bounds for a ball and said, “Mom? Is that you? Do you have enough layers?”

In the second half Keagan was elbowed in the eye. He was pulled from the game and had to undergo concussion protocol. We are hoping the eye remains open tonight and doesn’t swell shut so he can play tomorrow. On a positive note, we won today’s game 1-0 against Louisville, and Keagan was awarded the game winning assist. 

After both of us completed school work, we went to dinner in downtown Carmel with friends. This city is just beautiful! I could do without the hundreds of round abouts, but I love the architecture and Christmas lights. The downtown looks like something from a Hallmark Christmas movie. 

Tomorrow we play indoors. I can’t wait to see how we perform against the local team, and I can’t wait to watch the game without layers of blankets in my lap. 

It’s Looking Like Christmas

It feels so good to have the Christmas decorations placed, the tree up, and the front porch decorated. The ferns were trimmed and moved indoors. The philodendrons were moved to the dining room. After nine loads of laundry and a full day of decorating, I’m able to sit back and watch football. 

Saint Nicholas comes in one week!

Happy Shopping, Fishing, Playing Day

The week with the fam is coming to a close. This year we stayed close to home and avoided the big crowds in Nashville. Whereas last year we went to every holiday event offered, we didn’t attend one event this year. Instead, we have eaten, played games, watched football, online shopped, made cookies, and eaten some more. 

The cousins at the kids’ table. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for Evan to take a normal picture? 

Evan and Jamie spent the afternoon at the river fishing. 

This picture is gorgeous! 

Daddy repaired electrical shorts in our ceiling fans. They all work now and no sparks are flying at us. I think that’s a good thing. Jamie repaired a loose shower head that I didn’t even know was loose. The great thing about Jamie is he always finds something to tighten, fix, or improve and then he just does it. 

Keagan and the girls played FIFA. 

Vikki and I went shopping at the downtown boutiques. We picked up a few gifts for ourselves and did some online Christmas shopping for the kids. (We are still looking online for that PS5.)

Mom and Caroline made turkey cookies. With so many pies and pralines and brownies and pumpkin rolls, who could possible think about eating a cookie? Caroline!

Tomorrow morning they hit the road for the return trip to Texas. We will get our beds back, but the house will be quiet again. Until next time. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🦃🏠

The turkey is smoking. The dressing is baking. The table is set. We are ready to feast. After being separated from family for more than twenty years, there was very little that could change my mind about having my family at our house for Thanksgiving week. Not even a world wide pandemic. We have people sleeping in every room of the house. We are piled on top of each other in the living room while watching football, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s the Best Week of the Year

It’s the best week of the year! My whole family has made it to Tennessee, and in between work, soccer training, online classes, and homework assignments, we are filling the days with shopping, fishing, board games, and the trampoline park. 

Evan and Jamie spent Tuesday afternoon fishing at various ponds. Evan caught this four pounder!

Madi had dinner with us on Tuesday and had a movie night with the girls.

We attempted family photos on Wednesday. But nothing can compare to our 2018 backdrop in Jackson Hole.

We can’t break tradition, so lunch for Thanksgiving Eve was at Five Guys.





We played a few board games that included inappropriate comments and big laughs. 

Now we rest before preparations for tomorrow’s feast!

Triangle, NC

Keagan and I are spending the weekend in North Carolina for a soccer showcase. I skipped work and let Keagan skip a day of school which means this is a big deal. Keagan has spent two days emailing coaches his profile and has been hoping for a scout or coach to come watch him play this weekend. 

I love this area. I have dreaded the drive through the mountains for months anticipating a long and slow drive, but now that I’m out of the mountains and I’m in the triangle, I totally see the appeal of going to school in North Carolina. Our hotel is in Carrboro, our fields are in Cary or Raleigh, and we have driven every inch of both college campuses in Chapel Hill and Durham. 

Duke is gorgeous - absolutely gorgeous -  but because we lost, Keagan was in no mood for pictures this afternoon. I got the backside of the chapel instead. 

We beat the Charleston NPL team on Friday 3-0. We lost to the Charlotte ECNL team 1-3 on Saturday. 

On Sunday we play a team from Florida. (Update: We won 1-0.) Win, lose, or draw I’m loving my time with Keagan. 

December takes us to Indy. I can’t wait!

U19 Division 1 State Champions

Today was Evan’s last dance with the state soccer tournament. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to something that has consumed so many days in the last fourteen years. 

But we are so excited to celebrate his third state championship! We won this afternoon with a score of 6-0. The defense maintained a strong line and no goals were scored in three games. 

Tomorrow we are back on the pitch for a friendly, and in January we are headed with the team to a tournament in Florida. There are still so many unknowns with the spring and the pandemic, but I’m hoping we will transition from travel to school ball and back to travel in June with relative ease.