Super Striker

Typically, spring soccer winds down the first week or so of May around here. Anything past that and the heat makes it tough to keep playing. That means it is fall again before league play resumes. So you can imagine how much we all really look forward to our one little "soccer oasis" in the summer when the Texas Soccer Academy comes to town!

This is a really fun camp and Wonder Boy always enjoys his time there. To top it off, we have noticed a marked improvement in his ball handling skills and, perhaps more importantly, his confidence each summer after the camp winds down!

The organizers of the TSA bring in coaches from around the globe. This year Wonder Boy's coach was from Ireland. The kids get a kick out of the fun accents and as a result pay attention to every word said. That helps them make the most out of every sweat soaked moment of camp, I believe.

This year, the Boy had the bonus honor of being named Striker of the week for his age group! For a kiddo who prides himself on his passing, this shows a new aspect of his game that is starting to develop.

Now I can hardly wait for fall soccer to get here!

Stay Tuned

Summertime has started! People everywhere (especially those 18 or younger - you know ... the too cool for school crowd) are slowing down and gearing up for some much anticipated R&R.

As for us ... well ... not so much. :+P

Summer, especially the break between semesters, is one of my busiest times of the year. I'm not complaining though. Not all of the craziness in our lives has been about work. There's been a whole lot going on around here, including a wrap up of soccer season and even an elementary school graduation!

I promise to start some back-dated posts here soon that will recap some of these wild and wooly days ... so stay tuned!

Falcon Flight

Live. Learn. Soar. Those words are the motto for Wonder Boy's elementary school. Over the past 5 years, I think he's done quite a bit of all three. He's had some amazing teachers, met and made some good friends, and even had an adventure or two along the way.

There were field trips, major assignments, take home projects, and semi-annual productions. Who can forget the 3rd grade museum ? Or Wonder Boy's tribute to Leonardo daVinci? And there is a certain teacher who will long tell the tale of the boys who decided that one of them should serve as the big finale of the marble run (& ended up swallowing the metal marble in the process).

We've all been blessed by being part of the neighborhood school. It brought us closer to our neighbors. The teachers and staff made us feel like part of a family.

So while it's a time for Wonder Boy to stretch his wings and soar to a new school, it's a relief to know that he's had such a solid start to his educational career.

Thanks for 5 great years! Here's hoping the future will be just as incredible!

20/20 vision

They say hindsight is 20/20, but today I have something else in mind.

We're celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary! In many ways I can't quite wrap my brain around that number. When I look at it, I can't help but think that TWENTY seems like such a long time. I mean, that's nearly half my life! But how can that be?

I still remember every detail of our first date: from the blush on my cheeks when presented with a lovely long stem red rose to the fluttering of my stomach during that first kiss. I recall what we ate, where we hung out, and how I felt for almost every moment we were together. It seems like yesterday; not twenty-some-odd years ago.

But at the same time, I can easily think back on twenty years worth of memorable moments. Our first place. Our first dog. Graduations. Jobs. Houses. Wonder Boy! It all adds up faster than I could have ever imagined.

Still ... as I sit here to ponder things on this, our twentieth anniversary, it's not as much about looking back over the last twenty years as it is about looking forward to the next twenty years (& then some)!

We have plenty more in store for us, of that I am certain. I can imagine vacations, holidays, family adventures, graduations, milestones, WONDER BOY, and maybe even a few more additions to our little clan along the way.

I feel like, even though we've got 20 years under our marital belt, we're just getting started; just settling into our stride as we take off for what is still to come!

And I am so glad we get to walk this road hand-in-hand together!

Mom's Day '12

Mother's Day. As far as Hallmark holidays go, this has to be one of my favorites. Not because I'm showered with attention from my guys (though that is an awesome perk), but because it is another chance for me to stop and be thankful for those things that really matter in this life.

THIS is what matters, folks. No grand gestures needed. Just some quality time with my favorite people. Including a hug, a kiss, and a quick photo with my favorite 10 year old.

Spring Wrap Up

As happens all too soon each season, this weekend brought the end of soccer for the spring with an end-of-season tournament. Wonder Boy's team matched up yet again with the dreaded white team. And though they again played their hearts out, they (again) dropped this one to the other team.

It was with that loss weighing on their minds that they faced the maroon team in the afternoon game and you could tell it had lit a fire in them all. They played hard, despite the searing Texas heat. And this time came out with the win!

As always, we were the proudest cheer leaders on the sidelines - proud of the whole team for all they accomplished this season! They learned a lot about the finer points of the game this spring and by the end of the season were really clicking as a team. What could make a parent and fan any prouder?

We're already looking forward to soccer camp in June and then the start of fall soccer in September!

Not So Lucky 7

For the last game of the regular season, Wonder Boy's team drew a rematch with the top ranked team in the division. The boys all played super hard, but luck was not on their side. They had lots of good opportunities to score, but the ball took some unfortunate bounces and in the end, the other team came out on top.

Games like these are tough. Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way. And then you start to second guess yourself. And you get more easily frustrated with your coaches and teammates.

For the most part, the boys held on and played their hearts out. But you could feel their frustration, regardless.

I guess it's our job, as their family and fans, to help them see all of the things they did WELL, so they can focus on THAT the next game out.

Wonder Boy and team get a week off to rest up before the end of season tournament on May 12 - 13. I'm sure they'll be ready!