Photos from 1st Game

Noah is the kid with the white sleeves making the tackle. After the game the linemen were praised for making that big score possible. The first year players were praised for stepping up and proving themselves. Due to injuries and illness lots of the boys were forced to play positions they've never played before. While the coaches cheered and praised the boys they warned them that the lopsided score would spread throughout the league and the other teams will come gunning for our team to prove that this game was a fluke. The kids were told to enjoy the win and come to practice this week with the same intensity they showed in this game.

Eagle Football

Noah had a great first game. His team shut out the Bulldogs 52-0. He played every down but one in the first half which ended with a score of 34-0. He played less in the second half so the subs could get some playing time and we wouldn't run up the score too much. On offense he played tackle instead of tight end which is his usual position. On defense he played defensive end. He pressured the quarterback and blocked one pass and caught an interception. He also got a sack and had assists on several tackles. I was so proud of him. I'll have to post pictures later. Forrest took the digital camera camping so I had to use the 35mm camera with film that I have to take to the drugstore for developing.

It was a wet, wet game. The game started an hour late. Since we were the last game scheduled for the day all of the delays from the rest of the games equaled a 5:45 start instead of 4:45. By looking at how the parents were bundled up in the stands you'd have thought it was October instead of August.

Forrest and Alyssa will return from camping today. Can't wait to hear all about their trip. I'll try to post photos later today.

Weekend Plans

This was supposed to be a kid free mom's weekend. Forrest and our friend Dennis were supposed to take our four kids camping so that the moms could go shopping, watch chick flicks, and get pedicures. That was the plan until the football league decided that Noah's team should have their first game of the season tomorrow. So now the camping trip has become a father/daughter trip and Noah is staying home with me. He's going home to spend the night with a friend after his game tomorrow so I will have tomorrow night free. We have four chick flicks from Netflix to watch. I'm not sure I can stay up late enough to watch all of them. Alyssa has demonstrated her best OCD traits in preparing for this trip. She made lists, gathered supplies, and was a great help to Forrest in the packing of the trailer.

Noah has worked really hard this week to earn a starting spot at defensive end. He is also on the kicking team and the receiving team. He's second string at tight end, but he might get to start since the kid who starts ahead of him wrenched an ankle at practice last night and sat out the second half of practice.

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. I didn't get my closets reorganized or the photo albums completely updated. However, I took every opportunity to sit on my deck to read and look out at the water and my rose garden. That does more to recharge my batteries for the coming school year than cleaning and organizing chores. Those things can wait for rainy Sunday afternoons.

Jamboree

Noah's football team, the Blue/white Eagles, played a practice game against a team from Marysville. I don't know what they feed those boys in Marysville, but they're all big. Noah is one of the bigger kids on his team, the kids on the Marysville team start at Noah's size and go up. Noah is number 89. The Eagles struggled in the first half, but they battled back in the second half and played much better. This was considered an instructional game so the coaches were on the field with the boys.

This coming Saturday will be the first real game. Noah isn't starting, but he's one of the first boys off the bench. Since this is his first year he has a lot to learn. He's still over thinking. He doesn't want to make the wrong move, so by the time he makes a decision about the right move it's sometimes too late and he misses his block. The boy just needs some time to develop the type of instincts he has on the basketball court. It was hard to watch the boys struggle. The Marysville team had a dominating 150 pound running back who scored a touchdown on their first possession (Noah only weighs 124).

The weather sure feels like it's football season. It's cool and rainy. I have stadium coat picked out from Land's End that I was waiting to buy in a couple of weeks. I may need to order it sooner if it doesn't warm up. I was hoping to get in a few more hours reading in the sun on my deck before school starts. Hopefully the weather men are right and we'll get some high 70s temps before the end of the week. It looks like March outside right now. I hope the hot weather doesn't return just in time for the first week of school. That would be miserable.

A Great Book

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a terrific book. I read it in a day and a half. It's my book group's September selection. It tells the story of a former circus vet during the depression as he looks back on his life from his 90s living in a nursing home. There's a love story at the heart of it and tons of period details about life on the road during the 30s. A great end of summer read. Enjoy!

More 3 on 3, Driving, and Boo

Once again our weekend revolved around a basketball tournament. The results weren't as positive this time around. The boys finished 3rd. The field of teams was much bigger, and the boys faced many of the same players they play against in their regular AAU season. I was impressed with the boys' grit. They kept their heads up and kept battling. They lost their first game and then won 3 games in a row before losing game 5. Alyssa had a chance to hang out with some of her babysitting pals. Last night we had the basketball families over for a barbecue. The weather turned very cold for an August evening so I passed out sweatshirts and we huddled around the fire pit. Thankfully it didn't rain. Our house is not big enough for seven families. We fed the kids first and then we sent them off to the park to play hide and seek. One of my friends noticed that we're just like junior high--the men clustered together around the grill yapping while the ladies hung out in a group on the deck.

A driving update: Alyssa drove on the freeway for the first time today. She was nervous at first, but she really enjoyed it and said that it was easier than she thought it would be. Alyssa took the photo of our crazy dog, Boo. I've been trying to get a photo of her on the picnic table all summer, but she always jumps down when I open the door. I don't know how Alyssa managed to get the shot.

T.B. (Tired But)

I spent the past two days in Seattle at a Professional Learning Community conference which of course required way too much sitting in addition to the long car rides down and back every day. The keynote speakers were great and most of the break out sessions were inspirational and informative. However, sitting for 90-120 minutes at a stretch is murder on my body. I don't understand why educators who support best practices in teaching which of course don't include prolonged stretches of sitting and listening think it's OK to expect adults to do it.

Despite my aches and pains I am very excited to get back together with my grade level team and work on developing common assessments and working collaboratively. I predict that this will be a great year.

CHAMPIONS

Wow! What a great weekend of 3 on 3 basketball. Noah's team, Sudden Trouble, won the 6th grade division. The boys were a perfect 6-0 this weekend. They figured out that passing, cutting, rolling to the basket, and pounding the boards for rebounds is a formula for success. Forrest and T's dad, Eric handled coaching duties this weekend. Alyssa got to spend time with several of her babysitting clients. Most of her charges are siblings of Noah's friends. I alternated between photographer, cheerleader, and scorekeeper. The second place team is made up of the rest of Noah's regular AAU basketball team. It's always hard to play them. Last year they knocked us out of this tournament. This year it was our turn. Next week we get to do it all again at one of the local casinos that hosts a tournament for the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Laundry Woes

Football gear is disgusting! I took the advice my friend gave me about not trying to wash Noah's practice pants every day. I'm washing them every other day, but boy do they stink. Baking soda in the washing machine seems to really help. Forrest says that when he played football in high school he only washed his practice gear once a week. GROSS! Noah's shirts (both the one under the shoulder pads and the one over the pads) are soaked with sweat after every practice. He's always been a big sweater, but this is ridiculous. He drinks 32 oz of water and 20 oz of Gatorade during each practice. Thankfully the coaches are very good about drink breaks during practice. Today the boys have their first full contact practice. Noah's been sore every morning this week, I'm betting tomorrow will be worse. He's loving it despite the aches. I'm really not looking forward to keeping this gear clean once the rain and mud return.

Football and Driver's Ed

Well our carefree unscheduled days are over for this summer. Alyssa had her first driver's ed class yesterday, and this morning I'm taking her to get her learner's permit before I drop her off at class. She has had babysitting jobs the past three days in a row. I feel like I haven't really talked to her for days. Noah had his first THREE HOUR football practice yesterday. He's usually my early riser (6:15), but this morning he slept till 7:30. He's a bit sore. Forrest did football duty last night so I'll be hanging out at the football field tonight. While I'm at practice with Noah, Forrest is going to take the girl out for some driving practice. She needs to log 50 hours before she gets her license in February. I checked out a heavy Sherlock Holmes volume from the library so I can read while I wait around for my kids. It's too far to drive back and forth between all of their activities. Alyssa wants to leave in 20 minutes so we can be first in line to get her permit. Better get going.