why did we go all the way to florida?

soccer, of course!

this journey started about a year ago, with jacks and ryan trying out of an AYSO soccer team that would travel to west palm beach, florida in the summer of 2010 for a tournament with other AYSO teams from around the country.

jackson made the team! so it was outdoor fall soccer, two sessions of indoor winter soccer, outdoor spring soccer, practices, scrimmages... all leading to the AYSO national games on the international polo grounds. oh, and don't forget fundraising when we weren't playing soccer!!

the polo grounds blew my mind! it's a huge expanse of green grass that's so soft and perfect... or at least it was on the first day! get this: there were 24 teams in each of the 4 age divisions, boys and girls--almost 200 teams from the continental u.s., the virgin islands, and trinidad and tobago! in the blistering florida sun, 400 cleats tore that grass up pretty quick!

the little team from idaho played well, but sadly didn't win any of their 5 games. jackson played well, learned what playing his position can do, saw the game played beautifully by some really good players and had a BLAST!!

being completely without grace or atheltic ability, i had never been to a tournament--let alone a tournament of this size. and even tho it was steamy and hot, we were sunburned on top of sunburns, our team was losing... it was so much fun! i would do all of it again in a heart beat!

we're so proud of him for trying, staying with it and personally succeeding!!

the soccer scoop!

• 250 plus AYSO regions applied for teams to go the AYSO national tournament...


• 24 AYSO regions were picked (and 12 of them were california regions?!)...


• idaho falls was one of the regions picked...


• there were 25 kids in idaho falls who tried out for the team, and jacks made the cut!!
  

so we will be in west palm beach in july watching him play soccer on the international polo club's fields! and you maybe you're wondering if ryan is all bunched up about not making the team... and the answer is a big, fat no. because he doesn't have to fundraise, practice or do any of the hard work... and yet he still gets to go on the family vacation to florida and even get to play in the soccerfest on the day before the tournament. yes, it is good to be ryan!

* * * * *

a caramel macchiato update:

• we went to starbucks to get the prototype
  
• went to the library for the opaque projector--for a supreme logo reproduction
  
• the cup has been made out of paper mache and chicken-coop-stuff
  
• we're painting the cup tonight with the first coat
  
• we're still working out the eye-holes and who'll carry the bucket due to the irony of being vulnerably encased in the cup...

this time last year, i was desperately painting bones for jacks' skeleton costume. so knowing we're not paper mache-ing on wednesday makes me feel like we're ahead of the game!! why we can't just buy costumes? i'll never know...

soccer...

...it's our game!!

missing...

... a retro coleman cooler with a bottle opener handle (said cooler was holding 100 year old whiskey, beer and sandwiches)

... variety of fly-fishing equipment (rods, reels, fly boxes)

... camera (MINE!!)

all items may be found along the shores of the south fork of the snake river, please let us know if you have seen them

things (thankfully) not missing:

dave... and his good fly rod, thank goodness for the lifetime guarantee... oh, and the sun screen and cigars

my dad--with the bum hip... and who is said to be out-fishing the great trout-slayer, but the camera with the proof is sleeping with the fishes*

scott and scott's dad's drift boat... the drift boat that spilled out three of my favorite guys in the world into the river!

and one heck of a fish tale...

one that gets better with each telling

_____________________

so while i have no camera to document the {big sigh} momentous moments of my childrens' lives, i luckily still have my phone...

pre-soccer game snap in my office

GO SHOCKERS!!

(cute coach, huh?!)

*sleeps with the fishes just like luca brasi

the season is almost over!

i can't believe that the season is almost over, and i haven't posted any pictures of my guys playing soccer! what kind of soccer mom am i?

well, obviously, i didn't get a picture of ryan playing tonight either--

the yellow dragons lost... again.

but here he is next to our cluttered countertop (with just a few of the fruitflies from the peaches buzzing around--how gross!) explaining to me how thistalman battles his foes.

and who is this thistlalman?

he's a new character is ryan's ever growing comic book empire. it appears that thistalman is strong in his powers and able to swoop in and take care of evil-doers (see the picture of ryan demonstrating the "swooping"). in addition to said thistalman and his band of battling creatures, we have a whole book about the adventures of moose man and beaver boy. and that's dedicated to me... his "moose" momma! i'm so proud!

tomorrow is jacks 2nd to last game...

hopefully, we'll get to see him in action!