2009 In Review

GOAL! The Stuff dreams are made of!

Bare with me as I just put some stuff down for the boys: On April 19, 2009 the boys soccer team played in the semi-final game for their division. The team they were to play was placed in the second seat, we have played them now for a year and it just never worked out, they always lost. The game started with the wind blowing so hard against us that the Hurricane strategy was to just play defense and just keep them from scoring and when the half comes switch sides and play hard. It worked they held them the entire first 30 minutes. The second half started off like normal; however, this time the hurricanes scored first never in the history of these two teams has this happened. The scorer of this awesome goal was a first time for the player this season, Evan. Boy was it pretty right over the keeper's head into the back left corner, there was no stopping it. At this point the sideline goes berserk, Mama has tears in her eyes and could totally burst with joy and so starts the momentum. The boys played their hearts out, each time though they would come back and score. At one point, one of their players attached our keeper, got a red card and was thrown out of the game. Wow, none of our boys had actually seen a red card given to any player in all the years they have played. When the final whistle blew the score was tied 3-3! Now they have to play five minutes of overtime...no one scores. Double overtime another five minutes....no one scores. So in the event of a second overtime with a tie still remaining you have a shootout, whatever players are on the field are the ones in the shootout, at this point we have about 30 seconds left to play and the biggest defenders in the game and the coach yells for one of those defenders to come out and puts Evan back into the game, the whistle blows and we have to go straight to a shootout. Coaches come out line the boys up, put in their keepers and the first to kick is the Lancers. Score. Hurricanes, score. Lancers, score. Hurricanes, Score. Lancers, our keeper stops this goal. Hurricanes, Evan goes up, kicks and Scores! Again the crowd goes crazy, again Mama tears up, the boys all dog pile Evan and they are off to the Championship game!

This was a game I'm sure Evan will never forget, he had tried all year to score, but it just wasn't in the cards for him. Finally, in the game that counted for so much he connects and hits his target, not once but twice and for the winning goal. I think he floated for a week. The coach tells him after the game that when they practiced goal shots, that Evan was the only one on the team who didn't miss one so he had to put Evan back into that game for his chance. Evan is the youngest player on the team by two years. It was an awesome confidence builder for him. I'm so proud of him.

We're blowing around in the March Winds!

Wow, I can't believe its March already, where have I been? We've been skiing again and of course playing soccer, the boys started their spring season a few weeks ago, they had two games their first weekend and then have had three weeks off? Not sure why, but they start again this weekend and will play through April, then tournaments and then the State Games and then, then, then. Hopefully, then we can stop and enjoy some summer time stuff.
Sean is doing well in school, he's just finished a writing project and he's so excited because his teacher said it was excellent. He nominated his dad for a Character award and had to write an essay for it. He also says this is an on demand writing assignment for the EOG's. Not sure about that but hey if it's "excellent" we'll take it. Sean's only trouble right now is as usual his mouth, he just can't seem to keep it quiet. He loves to be the center of attention, I want to break him of that, but I don't want to break him from being outgoing. What a quandary?
Evan is doing well in school also, his grades are good and he's actually smart as can be. However, he's having trouble with the standardized tests and I'm really worried about him being able to take the EOG this year. Tried to get him a 504 plan, which means he can take the test outside the classroom alone and it will not be timed, however, he has to have a medical reason for this and well, anxiety doesn't count. So I've enrolled him in an after school program designed for helping with the test, I'm just praying that this will help. He gets distracted too easily and then he starts worrying about the time and therefore doesn't do as well as he can.

The good news is and I'm sure I'm going to jinx myself, but here goes. They are getting along nicely. Sean is being nice to his brother right now. Sean worries about his brother, but doesn't want him to know it. It's really sweet.

We went on our final ski trip for the year last weekend and it was great, the weather was around 65 and we skied in our short sleeves and ski pants, no gloves or hats, it was so nice to not have all that stuff on. And I'm so proud of myself, I skied a Black Diamond, woohoo. Now it's a black diamond in NC, not sure I could do one in Utah or Colorado, but it was a huge step for me. The boys are flying by me on it and cutting through the trails in the woods and still waiting for me at the bottom, but hey I skied it, several times too.

Here's a few new pictures...

Sean skiing down the mountain

Evan not wanting his picture taken

On the lift, man he looks so big

Evan on the lift....

2008 Year in Review

Little Updates

December came and went, Christmas came and went and now it's already a new year, the kids are back at school and things are getting back into the groove again. I can't believe how fast time is going.

We had a good Christmas, the boys got spoiled again as usual, but I can't complain because Sean surprised me with a new Nikon digital SLR camera. It's fun and I've got lots of learning to do, but I love being able to take the shots, the close ups and see them right away. I never thought I'd move away from film and I doubt I'll move completely away from it, but right now I'm having fun with it. I haven't downloaded the first picture either. I'm not sure what's wrong with me. Crazy I guess.

The boys finished up indoor soccer and they actually had a pretty good season. I think the spring season is going to be a good one for them. They picked up three new players, including one girl, but she's a great little player. They decided against Upward Basketball this season and I can't say I'm sad over it. Whew, a break.

In a week we leave and are going to the mountains for a week with some friends. We are going to ski and tube. I'm just hoping it snows a little more. But it's started to get a little colder and hopefully will be great weather for us. It's been in the 70s here on the coast and well I'm ready for a blast of wintry weather.

The boys are doing well, Evan I'm praying is back into his old self and he's doing good in school and doesn't seem to mind going as bad now. He's just as sweet as can be, and is in the loving mood where he just loves to give out hugs (only to me of course, but I don't mind) sorry Grandmama's! Sean is just as sweet as ever, I'm really enjoying these ages. I hope it last alittle longer too. I'm not ready for them to want to do their own things. But I know it's coming.


But I'm thinking with Smirks like these, I'm in for a real treat!!

My, how things can change

Saturday November 15, 2008

Sunday November 16, 2008


Nothing makes them happier than to play outside one day in shorts and the next in the snow!!

Sean turned 10!

Last Friday Sean had his tenth birthday!!! Wow, he's having a great year so far, he made the Principal's list at school which is straight A's and still loves school. He's gotten so tall and can pretty much look me straight in the eye. He had a fun party at the park where he played kickball with about 20 friends. They seemed to all have fun and amazingly no fights came about and they all played fair.

Here's my big guy on his birthday, being silly.

We took a couple of his friends to a skateboard park and they had a blast.


Sean is growing into such a sweet young man, he's watching out for his little brother and encouraging him to do good in school so they can go to Duke together. He worries about his family, his dogs, his friends, he's just got the biggest heart. I'm constantly in awe of him and the things he does. (not all are good things, but hey)

Happy Birthday Big Guy, we love you so very much and are so proud of you!

Smart Like a Fox!

I've been talking to the boys about always doing their best and trying hard. Both have a tendency to get a little lazy at times and that's fine occasionally, but not all the time. Evan has days where he'll just decide not to try at his classwork and he'll just mark answers on tests that have nothing to do with the question. Then thinks nothing about the fact that he makes a 25/F! I would have lost my mind if I made an F. Hopefully when report cards come out, he'll see that he doesn't get rewarded for making bad grades. The frustrating part is, we know he's capable.

So anyway, I've been talking to them every chance I get and last night I was telling Evan how he was just "smart as a whip" and Evan says, "really." Sean puts his two cents in and says, "I don't think he's smart as a whip" and I'm thinking Geez child work with me here. I can just see Evan deflating, I mean Sean is his idol. So Sean says, "well, whips just sit there and someone has to whip it to make it work."

Okay, yeah good point kid. So I tell Evan he's smart as a fox and then Evan says fox aren't smart. That's when Mr. Knowitall, I mean Sean says, oh yes Evan fox are really smart just like you.


Awe, how sweet I think and then he adds....

But they actually use their smarts!

Gotta love that kid!