An evening on the deck

How do you relax?

Some have a drink

others of us do brotherly yoga

Whatever works for you.

Everyone loves a sports montage

For better or for worse,

we're back to spending all day Saturdays

at one field or another.

The weather has been amazing

and 3-4 games a day does make the day fly by.

Boy are we glad to live 5 minutes from the fields--

at least we can run back and forth for a snack

or a break.

Any-who,

here's a few good shots of us in action.

Beckett's team moved to the bigger field this year

which means 7 on 7

and goalies.

He played goalie in a game or two

but was pretty bored.

His team is pretty darn good

(holding #1 in the league right now!)

so he pretty much just stood there

waiting for something to happen.

He's really stepped up his game this year--

lots of speed and hustle,

some nice footwork,

and even a goal or two.

He's nearly always in the thick of it

on offense

and not much gets past him on defense.

Weston's team has a lot of heart.

They get out there and try.

Despite their efforts,

all their games have ended in 

the mercy rule.

But that hasn't stopped them from 

trying some new plays

and keeping up their hustle.

Weston really likes defense

and he's made some awesome stops this year.

Jack's team has had some ups and downs.

They often score one or two

and then somehow lose it and get

4-5 scored on them.

Jack has been playing midfield more

which Mom and Dad have enjoyed watching--

his ball-handling skills are not too shabby

It's been fun watching him do more than

boot it down the field

And me?

I can't get enough soccer.

I LOVE my team--

it's so fun to have all my teammates

also as my classmates.

When we drive into practice,

I'm all about waving and calling out to everyone

like the social butterfly I am.

And Mom and Dad are constantly impressed

with my hustle and speed.

I can fly down the field

once my coach turns me loose.

And I totally win for best picture

of the year.

It's been a good season so far!

 

A new sport

With the start of middle school

came the opportunity to try new things.

Well, at least in a normal year.

However, the sports teams got the go-ahead

and Mom and Dad thought cross country

would be a great way for me to meet some new friends

and get involved at school.

I begrudged agreed.

So after 3 weeks of practice,

today is my first meet 

Neither Mom nor Dad ran cross country

(neither of them liked running until the last few years)

so all of this was new to us.

Then you add in COVID and, well,

we're just winging it.

My family figured out where to get a view

of the starting line...

they donned their masks

and waited for the start...

and off we went!

We made some zigs and zags around the school

and my family lost track of me for a bit.

Full disclosure, they thought I was one of the 

last few BCMS runners for a bit.

Given our complete lack of experience,

my only goal for this meet was to not come in last.

So you can see how they might be looking for me back there.

But NO!

I was rocking it!

I passed all sorts of kids

including my running friends.

Pushing it to the end...

I came in 17th in my heat,

running 1.3 miles in 11:26.8.

My new PR.

And the best part?

I liked it!

Maybe I found my sport!

Making virtual school work

None of us was really sure what this 

was all going to look like 

or how we'd make it work.

But honestly, it hasn't been that bad.

Me, Jack, Dad and Mom when she's off-service

gather around the dining room table

for a day of virtual meetings.

Mom and Dad have been really impressed

with Jack and my commitment and engagement.

So is Ms. Wallace--

she stopped by today and gave me

a coupon for an ice cream cone 

for my hard work!

Thanks, Ms. Wallace!

I really miss seeing my friends

but this made it a little bit better.

 

Too "good" not to share

So this is my picture of me diving--

"I can dive."

I started the picture in landscape

and then changed my mind and made it portrait.

My erasing apparently needs some work.

I'll let you make your own judgement...

 

A better Soccer (and Football) Saturday

The rain is gone

and the weather is perfect for 

some serious games!

Jackson returned to the Phantoms

for his 5th season.

He's mostly a defender but really upping his skills

when they put him in midfield.

They lost today,

but Jack had a few good plays.

Weston was chosen as a team captain

for their first game today.

Unfortunately, they still lost the coin toss.

He's on the Chiefs this year--

a brand new, young team.

They got stomped,

going to mercy rule (where they clear the scoreboard).

Ouch.

But Weston had a few awesome sacks and pulls

on defense.

He was fun to cheer for.

Tuck?

Rocking it on the Thunderchickens

aka the Fire Sharks

aka the Fire Pirates

(depending on who you ask)

Me?

My Pirates were sidelined again

because our field was a swamp from all the week's rain.

Sigh.

Hopefully next week.

Despite the slow start,

it's awesome to feel a little normal again!

There goes another one!

After my harrowing first lost tooth experience,

I've learned to not tell anyone when I've got another one.

So imagine Dad's surprise when I just popped

this one out!

The grill is just getting better!

 

Huskies and Mustangs

On one hand, it's hard to believe it's back to school already.

On the other, since we've been out since March

and we're starting after Labor Day, 

it feels like this day has taken FOREVER for this day to come!

Let's do this!

Beckett:

Weston:

Jackson

(notice the school change!!!):

And, without further ado...

ME!

In this COVID time,

it does look a little different

with 2 of us at home

and 2 of us in person

so we needed a little different picture

to capture the moment

And one for the frames

Beckett hit the bus,

mask and hanitizer ready!

And since it was my very first day,

I got a special drop off a little later

to mark the special occasion.

Looking a little nervous...

but when I found my soccer team,

a bit of those nerves disappeared

After a few pics,

we headed down the hall

checked in with Mrs. Palmer

and settled right in

while Mom held down the fort

with the Bigs at home

Is it weird?

Yes.

Is it nice to get back to school in some form?

YES!

Like we keep saying,

if nothing else, it's memorable!

'Twas the night before school...

when we all hopped in the Jeep

to get ice cream, so fun!

A tradition we should keep.

Our clothes were laid out,

ready for the next day.

To HPE we are going!

As Huskies we'll play!

Ok, Mom's out of rhymes.

Let's see what hybrid school is all about!

So long, Corona Summer

Well, one last weekend

until it's back to school.

We've been out 5 1/2 months--

we're not really sure what to think about this!

So we're choosing not to (yet!)

We headed to the lake

for four more summer-filled days.

We got to eat some of Pappo's fish--

we haven't had a fry in probably a year!

We played on the zip line

and had some very important

"Town Council" meetings

with all the men of the lake.

And, importantly, we did a lot of swimming

It looks a lot different from last year

when the water was nearly to the trees above our heads,

but we still had fun shimmying up the rocks

and exploring the cliffs

(much to Mom's dismay)

We went for a cruise in Pappo's boat

And did a lot of cruising in ours

It was a cruising kind of weekend

Perfect.

We did a lot of playing with Reid and Alice too

We couldn't remember the last time we "beached it."

We put it to good use--

we tried to make an aquarium

and put Chad the Shad in it,

but the water kept leaking out.

Ahh.

We had fun anyway.

And it wouldn't be a weekend at the lake

without a lot of hotdoggin'

So long, summer!

It's been a memorable one!