Harlingen Heartbreaker

Austin and Ethan's soccer team advanced to the Western Districts as an undefeated team. The season had been phenominal and the kids had worked so hard. This was their 5 season together and they were really "getting it". We traveled 5 hours south to Harlingen Texas to compete in the Western District tournament. We we ready for our 3 games on Saturday with hopes of advancing to Sunday and on to state.

Our first game started at 7:30 in the morning, which meant an arrival time of 6:45am!! And it was sooooo cold. There was frost on the ground and my feet were numb within minutes of arriving. Not really fun. The boys were dressed in there under armor and running tights with hats and gloves to try and stay warm. Those running around on the field were the lucky ones!!

We played a great first game, posting a win 4-1. The second game was another story. When we arrived to the field we were surprised to see a team full of young men ready to face our 13 year old boys. They all (except maybe 2-3) looked years older than our boys. And they were good. Come to find out that the team we played would probably be 1 or 2 leagues above us in skill level excpet they don't have the money/time to travel as far as they would have to to compete. So they killed us. Our boys ran their little hearts out and gave it everything they had, but it was clearly not enough. They were outplayed and only managed to score 2 goals to their 7.

After that defeating loss the boys didn't have anything left for the final game that afternoon. Playing three games in one day is so trying, but to have the mental and physical drain from their second game on their backs was tough. We tried everything we could to boost them and encourage them, but they weren't able to "snap out of it" and ended up losing again to a team they have beaten before. With that loss their season was over.

Once the shock wore off the boys were able to see that they had had a wonderful season. They accomplished a lot and ended up 5th in the Western District's. Not many teams can say that!! So it was a good season...and now the boys have one more season together before they split the team, so they are determined to make it past Districts and on to State...Way to go Rangers!!

Just a note

So it's a little crazy around here...but I wanted to post so those who read this will know that we're still here....

December is usually quiet...in fact, I remember thinking it was not fair that everything was cancelled in December because people were "too busy". Library story time would end the beginning of December, dance classes finished up a couple weeks before Christmas for "a break", even friends stop calling on you in case you're in a holiday frenzy. And I was usually bored. It's no secret that I'm a girl that likes to be on the run. I like to have something on the calendar...to me that means I've got a purpose that day. I would spread out my errands to make sure I had something to do the next day.... And then my kids grew up and I took on more responsibilities...like a part time job, a room mom, the ward Activity chairman, and rural living!

So now I've joined the "too busy" bunch that wishes just something would fall off the calendar for a while. I find myself thinking, "when does dance end again?", or "do I really have time to go to lunch with XYZ?"

And add in the fact that we're leaving town for 2 1/2 weeks on Thursday. Monday and Tuesday I have a 2 day seminar to attend from 9-5, a Christmas dinner for work, and visits to make to all those friends I will miss over Christmas....and I live in the boonies. But living in the boonies is a whole 'nother post. That definitely has something to do with our house being on the market!

So that's what we're up to...probably as busy as the rest of you....but I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

New Camera!!

For Christmas (a little early) we got a new fancy DSL camera....the Canon Rebel something. It's wonderful and complicated and easy all in one. I've only had a few days to play around with it, but it's amazing!! I've got a lot to learn and I can tell it's going to be great. Mostly I've just practiced with the focus feature and faces. I'm having fun with my close up lens. The clarity of the photos is great...a true upgrade from my point and shoot. Here's some of the first shots I took when I was playing around today:

Thanksgiving Week

We had a great Thanksgiving week. On Sunday we packed up and drove to the Villages in Flint, Texas for a week getaway. David had to work, but the kids and I were able to play until he was through and then play some more. We enjoyed being together and doing different activities. We had a good Thanksgiving dinner and movie night too. We wish we could have seen our extended families, but we had a good immediate family Thanksgiving. We have lots to be thankful for. The mini wave pool at the waterpark was relaxing!

A ride through the lazy river!

Evan was terrified at first sitting on the horse, but by the end he wanted to run, run run!!

McKinley wasn't old enough to ride, but they let her sit on Red until it was time to go!

Checking the girth so Austin won't fall off!

Putt putt golf every day!

Two horse power paddle boats...these were a work out!

David getting photo credits for Thanksgiving dinner. To his credit he did breakfast that morning and did carve the turkey. Everything else was my doing!

Everyone ready to eat...except maybe McKinley who looks a little sick here. She wasn't and everyone ate until they were full...and then some.

Timeshares??!! NO!

For the week of Thanksgiving we packed up and headed out to Tyler, Texas for a week at a time share resort. No, we didn't buy a timeshare...this is the "sampler" package they pitch for you to "experience" the whole time-share/resort vacation. Boy, am I glad we didn't and never will buy a timeshare. David and I saw through the high pressure salesman the first time they had us out to the Canyon Lake resort for a "presentation". There are so many holes in their pitch that it's almost laughable. They pitch you on the great value of the paid week each year. For a price you own one week at a resort. You can even trade your week and/or trade with other owners. Once you get finished paying for the deed you get to pay annual maintenance fees that add up to about $800 a year...every year...forever...until you sell it (and you can hardly give timeshares away right now!)
Pitch #2 is that it makes you take a vacation each year since you've essentially "prepaid" for it. Well, that has never been a problem for me. If I want to take a vacation I make it happen. In my opinion, David's job merely gets in the way of my true desire to travel and explore! Pitch #3 is the ammenities of the resort...mini golf, pools, basketball, organized games, etc. Sure, we enjoy those things, but again, for the price that's a lot of mini-golf! I guess it boiled down to the fact that I can plan, in fact, I enjoy planning, vacations that are fun, adventurous, and frugal! I can do soooooo much better on my own thank you! And I'll use the $14k +$800/year to finance a lot of vacations to remember.

Walk-A-Thon Winner!!

**scroll down for a second post**

Each year at the elementary school, the PTA has a walk-a-thon for it's big fundraiser. The kids get people to sponser them and then they walk (or run) as many laps as they can in 45 minutes. The school raises a crazy amount of money, but it's the only thing they ask of us all year! For the past two years Evan has come home from the walk-a-thon and told me that he won...he ran the whole time and got the most laps of everyone in the school. I told him "great job" and kept the "yeah right" to myself. I have always known that Evan was a very confident child!!

This year I was able to volunteer at the walk-a-thon and see all the different grades come out and do their laps. I planned on walking with Evan and McKinley to share in the event with them. When it was time for Evan's class I found him and he was so serious...kind of in "the zone". He was ready to do this thing! Any ideas I had of walking with Evan were quickly put to rest as the kid sped off for his first lap. They make the kids walk the first 1/2 lap so they don't stampede each other, but there are some very fast walkers in the 3rd grade. I quickly figured that if I stood in the middle of the track I could watch Evan run (yes, I said run) bye each time. And run he did. I have to take back every negetive thought I had about the little guy and his bragging...he was telling me the truth. I watched him run for the entire 45 minutes! He completed 18 laps, which equals out to 4 1/2 miles! Come to find out that was the most of any of the kids that day from Kinder to 5th grade! He was, IS the winner of the walk-a-thon! Wow!

So, congratulations to my little winner!! Evan Smith, 3rd grade!

Soccer Crazy

(photos won't upload?!)

What a weekend in the soccer world...local and MLS both!!

Our 97 Rangers team (A/Et team) competed in the bracket playoffs for a chance to advance to Western Districts. We had 2 games on Saturday and the team played one on Sunday without us. The first game on Saturday we won handily 5-0. The second game of the afternoon was against the #1 team from the other bracket who was also undefeated. This game was a killer, hard fought battle of two very evenly matched teams. The match was physical and tough, but clean and fairly called. We took a very early lead 1-0 that lasted through the half. Then they tied it up 1-1 and the battle continued. Close to the end of regulation time they scored on us, leading us 1-2. But on that kickoff play our forward took it upon himself to even the score 12 seconds later!! It was a rollercoaster of a game...the kind that make you wonder why it's called fun. The remainder of the game was an intense battle for that final score...but we ended with the tie. What a game!!

The team pulled off a 3-0 win on Sunday to end with a point tie with the other #1 team. The decided factor then came down to goals scored...and we outscored them in our first game by 1 point. What an important point though, because now we head down to Harlingen in a couple weeks as the #1 seeded team, so we will playt he #4 seed in our first game. Just an easier pathway for us. I couldn't be more proud of this team. They have played together for 5 seasons or more and are really coming into their own. All their hard work and endless practice is paying off. And they are having a great time! Thanks boys for the fun!

GO RANGERS!!

Then on Saturday...Salt Lake Real MLS playoff game. Go to this link and watch the highlight real:

http://web.mlsnet.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=7131977&team_id=t121

What a game....so long, such a fight!