The Last of Summer Soccer

Here are the last of the soccer pictures.  The game ended in a tie last night.  It was a team that had beaten us before.  It was a great way to end the season.  Now on to High School.

All but one of these pics is taken by Anthony.  I missed one of Megan's goal's because I was chatting.  Anthony took my camera and told me that I wasn't doing my job.  He did get some great pics.

Since the beginning of the season these two have been trash talking about this game.  This is Megan's good friend Baily.  Baily is the goalie, you may remember her from a few post's back when she ate a bug.  Baily's strategy was to run at Megan while screaming.  To funny.



The ball is kicked.



and the goal was scored.  Look at the girls checking it out and laughing.



There is a long history with this team.  I won't go into any details but whatever team Megan is on has never lost to this team.  And they still haven't lost.



I love looking at the pictures of Megan playing.  She makes it look easy.



I took this one.  She was very pleased at the score.

Almost Over

That's the way I feel about summer.  School got out so late this year that I feel a little robbed of time.  This might sound a little crazy but I feel like this is the last summer where it is just us as a family the way it's always been.

Next year my oldest baby will be 18 and will have graduated.  Decisions will be made about his future and whether he will be home or leaving.  If his plans for working next summer go the way he wants, he will be gone most of the summer.  We spend most of their lives cutting the apron strings one string at a time.  And while I tease him that he's out when he's 18, that is one string I am not ready to cut.  I know that just because he will be out of high school and 18 doesn't mean he is going anywhere.  It does mean he will be starting a new and exciting chapter in his life.

Who would have thought that the end of July could bring this on.  It could be that I am just a very deep thinker.  Or, more likely, I need some more sleep.  Anthony is working this summer in a cherry orchard.  He has spent most of his time cutting down trees and building new fences.  However, this is harvest time.  So he is up at 3:30am to head out to the orchard and home around 5pm.  I have been getting up with him and making sure he has something to eat and enough caffeine to make it through the day.  He was so cute when he got his first paycheck.  I am sure the neighbors are very pleased at his new and very loud stereo for his car.


As for the rest of the clan.  Jason's finger is healing nicely.  He is ready to get back to karate.  He took the month of July off because of Megan's soccer schedule.  We have also seen lot's of Joey around this summer and that has been great.  We really miss them and wish they would come back.  Although, I had forgotten how obnoxious the two boys can be when they are together.

Megan is finishing summer soccer this week.  It has been a great and fun season.  Starting high school soccer has been stressful for her.  She really has not wanted to go to the summer work outs but has been forcing herself to go.  Finally, last week was the turning point.  One of the seniors dropped on the ground after lifting weights and said "I can't move anything."  Megan thought it was so funny, because she has been feeling that way all summer.  She is now looking forward to our beach trip, so that she can run on the beach to build her agility.

Here are some pic's from the last couple of games.  Long post from me today.







This one was a goal.  She had a great game and scored 3 goals.  Their team sponsor gave out $5 Diary Queen cards for goals, good plays and good team sportsmanship.  Megan has brought home 5.



The Fans: Grandma, Grandpa and Steve.



This one is funny.  Notice the matching socks but not shirts.  These two played select together and are good friends.   They did a lot of pushing and playing around on the field.  It must be hard to play against your friends and team mates.  Sadly she is moving this week and we will miss her.



And these two.  What can I say, it's what summer is all about.

The Empty Porch

My parents have come and gone.  They stayed as long as they normally stay, but it just seemed so fast this time. 

It was a great visit.  We ate out almost every night, sat around and talked and went to soccer games.  The kids always fought to go over to the hotel and spend the night.  This year Jason was the only one who went.  It just shows you how much the kids are growing up.  Jason also decided not to listen to grandma when she said to stop jumping on the bed.  He feel off and broke his finger.  Poor grandma feels horrible.

Cheddar and I keep going to the front porch, where we spent so much time, and the chairs are all empty.  I miss them already.  They will be back for Thanksgiving, even if my Dad doesn't know it yet.

How We Spend Our Evenings

Megan and her team will play 13 games this July.  Monday thru Thursday, and it makes for crazy summer nights.  I love this age group.  The games are fast, intense and very good.  She has played 2 of her 4 games this week.  They lost both, 3-2 and last nights game was 8-1.  Guess who scored the only goal?  Yep, that would be Megan.  It was a painful loss but still a good game.

Here are some pictures from Monday nights game.  The pic's aren't great but you get the idea.  I  didn't take the camera last night.  It had been a long day and I just felt like sitting and talking with the other parents.









We would also like to do a shout out to team mate Sabrina.  Welcome to the yellow card club.

It's That Time of Year

Summer Soccer time again.


The season is off to a great start.  Not only is she doing summer soccer but is also working out every day with the high school team.  Fall is going to be a busy time, between football and soccer.

Her first game she scored 2 goals and 1 goal the second game.  Where are the pictures you ask?  I had may camera in hand but missed the shot on all three of them.  The last goal the coach had the nerve to be in my way. 

A cute story.  The goalie gloves she is wearing belong to her coach and they smell really bad.  As she was putting them on, one of the boys on the team grabbed his bag and dug out his gloves for her.  The next game she takes the field wearing the stinky gloves.  On the side line he is digging in his bag for his gloves, looks to the field and says, "oh, I guess she doesn't need them."  I mention this to Meg and she runs over and asks if she can borrow his gloves again.  Huge smile on his face as he gets them for her. Jessie and I watch this scene play out and giggle. I tell Steve the story and he says "tell him she won't be needing his gloves, we will be buying her some."  More giggles from Jessie and I. 

We are looking forward to my parents visiting this week.  They will be here on Thursday and are staying for almost 2 weeks.