Happy Thanksgiving!

One season ends...two more begin...

We just finished up with Owen's super soccer season last Saturday (lost in the first round of the playoffs, but Owen had two goals) and now we have free time again. :-)
No, not quite. The end of soccer season means the beginning of basketball season for Sara. Owen has decided he needs a break (me too, Owen, me too) and won't be playing basketball this year. Anyway, Sara loves playing Upward basketball and is excited for practice to start in December. Still, we get a break until then, right? :-)
No, not quite. Sara went to auditions for winterguard this week and is excited about being part of the Byrnes Spin Club this year. She'll have practices at Byrnes (odd seeing her walking my halls) and several competitions after the first of the year. Most of the competitions are close by(upstate), but a couple are out of state (road trip!!). Either way, grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc... are invited to attend with us.
So, the kids are busy and that means we're busy right with them, but I'm not complaining. It's good for them to be involved in things they enjoy. It keeps them focused and out of mischief. It also will build people/team skills and memories that will last a lifetime. Besides, what mom doesn't relish every opportunity to beam over the accomplishments of her babies?

We're too old for trick-or-treat...

For the past several weeks Daniel and I have been asking the kids about their plans for Halloween. We wanted to get their costumes early before they got picked over. Owen didn't want to trick or treat. He didn't last year. All he wanted was a bag of his favorite candy and to stay at home. So we weren't surprised when that's what he wanted to do again this year, but when Sara joined the "I'm too old for trick-or-treat" chorus, we were in shock. Sara LOVES Halloween. She always has. Instead, she wanted her best friend to come for a sleepover. That was the plan...until 7PM on Halloween when the first trick-or-treater arrived. Suddenly, the kids (all 3 of them since Kaitlyn was with us) decided that they did want to go after all.

So, what do you do for a costume at 7 PM on Halloween? Raid the closets and the old toy chest, that's what. Thankfully, Kaitlyn had brought her costume from last year. Her plan had been to entertain the kiddies by dressing up and handing out the candy so she was some sort of Nordic barbarian (with fuzzy pink boots too....). Sara dressed in black (always a good bet on Oct. 31) and added Owen's Darth Vader mask, a red cape (leftover from a little red riding hood costume from a few years ago), and a light saber. Finally, Owen found parts of his old Zorro costume (mask and belt) and a sword to add to his solid black clothes. They pulled it all together in less than ten minutes and spent the next hour collecting all the candy in the neighborhood. Like the Friday night dance party, it was free and fun. In fact, they probably had more fun this year than ever before.

MVP, MVP, MVP

Saturday marked the end of the regular soccer season. Owen's team will get to participate in the playoffs, but I'm not holding out for any miracles. Not to say that they didn't accomplish their goal - to learn more about soccer and have fun. They did those things. Just not everyone on the team was as serious about the game as Owen. A few of his teammates were like-minded, but three or four enthusiastic guys aren't enough to win the game week after week.

Owen did his best (actually, THE BEST). He scored 8 goals this season. We're very proud of his effort and achievement. He was exciting to watch. When he could get the ball downfield, he could usually outrun the other team's last defender and score. His biggest gift, his speed. He digs his heels in and pumps those arms. Hey, that famous Toney determination is good for something!