Last game of the season...and senior night!

Friday was the last game of the 2014 soccer season for both Austin and Ethan.  It has been a challenging session with definite ups and downs, but the boys stuck with it and played through to the very end!  So proud of the team!

Austin was not feeling very well (fever/stuffed up), but he didn't want to miss the last game of the season and the last game of his high school career!  After all it was senior night!

 He played really well and finished his high school career with some exciting moments.  These boys have really bonded and have a lot of fun together.  They are all headed in different directions after high school, so it's been so fun to see them together for the season.  Before the game they took time to honor the seniors of the team and the parents who were there with them!  What a proud moment!  I love that boy! Congratulations on a great season!

Dying Easter eggs

We waited until the last minute to do our Easter eggs this year.  McKinley and I found ourselves home alone and decided for our girls time we would dye the eggs.  After all we picked out the glitter egg dye kit, and that's pretty girly.  We were able to use our brown chicken eggs (we picked the lightest ones) and the color was bold enough to cover them just fine.  I think they turned out pretty well!

Happy Easter!

A whole new look!

Today Austin got his braces off!  And he got a haircut!  Who is this fine young man???  Isn't he handsome? This day has been 3 years and 2 months in the making!  He's pretty excited about today.  Congratulations!!

High School soccer

Austin and Ethan have started their high school soccer season and I was finally able to get to one of their games yesterday.  So many of their games are far away and right after school which is a busy time with the other kids.  But I try to make the home games when I can.  Austin played defense in the game yesterday and did a great job.  He played the entire game with little rest.  And the other team was pushing the whole game, so he was kept very busy.  

 They ended up conceding 3 goals, but defending away a lot more than that!

Ethan got to see some varsity time too!  He was subbed in with 3 minutes left in the game.  But he's only a sophomore and he's behind 4 seniors fighting for his position, so it's great!  He did great with the time he got and is determined to secure his spot on varsity!  I love watching my kids play!  Go SAHS!!

Players Showcase Las Vegas Tournament

Blue Knights took off for another weekend tournament this past weekend.  This time we traveled to Las Vegas and participated in the Players Showcase there.  Only Evan and I made the trip this time, since Dave and the boys had work and McKinley has had enough soccer for now.

 Each game we played on a different field in and around Las Vegas.  We had some fun finding the fields and a little bit of fun driving around and exploring.  Our games were afternoon and evening games, so we had each morning to sleep in and do a little bit of fun before the games.  One morning we stayed at the hotel and swam, the next we went down to the Las Vegas strip to the M&M store and the Addidas store.  We also made a stop at the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (from the show Pawn Stars).

The team played very well.  Our first game we played very well and ended up with a 1-2 loss.  The second game was an easy 8-0 win and then another game that night was their best game with a 0-2 loss.  The team learned a lot and played very well...so I think it was successful.  We're starting our season now, so no more traveling for a bit.

 All in all it was a great time.  I love these boys and how they are so positive and supportive to each other.  We've been with most of them for 3 years now and they are just great kids!  Go Blue Knights!

Survived the off season...!

I'm a very passionate Real Salt Lake soccer fan and I'm very fortunate the the soccer season here in the US is nearly 9 months long if you count pre and post season, so there are only 3 months...December, January, and February that I have to wait for my team to be back at it.  Unfortunately that coincides with the cold weather that already puts me in a bad mood, so sometimes winters are tough.  But this year time went by pretty quickly.  It helped that we were in the season til the bitter (and so so sad) end and that pre-season was televised via the internet starting mid-February.  BUT...the season officially starts on Saturday and I am ready.  David and I attended the season ticket holder's open house and tour.  We were excited to see the new team lounger and a surprise wall photo that included the son of one of Dave's cousins!  Pretty cool.

So we're all set for the season.  We will be at all the home games and cheering on the away ones!  It's so fun to have a pro soccer team right here 10 minutes away!  Go RSL!

Sweet 16!

My amazing Ethan Charles Patterson Smith turned 16 yesterday!  How that happens I have no idea.  It really does go by so fast.  Ethan was a complete surprise pregnancy to us and we're so glad he came to us!  He has always been a wise, gently soul in a little body.  It does finally feel like he is catching up to his age, but he is such a great kid.  He is a peacemaker in our home and very obedient.  He's smart as a whip and his humor is off the charts, but subtle.  He doesn't have to be the center of attention, but handles pressure well and stands up for himself like a pro.

To celebrate we took him out to TGIF for lunch.  He thought that was weird since it was only Monday, but it was sure quiet there on a Monday after Superbowl Sunday.  He enjoyed a delicious meal with Dave and I and also enjoyed missing the first few periods of school.  I told him he could miss the whole day for his birthday, but Ethan decided that he really shouldn't miss his World Civ class and went to school anyways...remember, responsible Ethan.

It's been so fun to be Ethan's mother.  He's taught me so much and he's strengthened my resolve to be more mild and yet strong at the same time.  I know that he will push himself to go far in this world...I can't wait to see what his path is.  I'm so proud of him preparing to serve a mission and challenging himself with good classes.  Now if we can just keep the girls away and the great circle of friends he has I'm great!