Valley Center Tournament

We spent much of today at Valley Center High School watching Allison's team playing in a field hockey tournament.  It was hotter than heck, but we have enjoyed watching and learning a new sport.

Allison started in all 3 games and did a good job passing and moving the ball.  They won 1 game and lost 2, but they continue improving and building the program.  

Blessed!

So the struggle has been real!  The emotional roller coaster that is senior year and college applications is sometimes overwhelming.  Taylor is in such a blessed position to have so much opportunity when it comes to choosing a school, but she is scared of making the wrong decision and picking out what her next move will be. One minute she comes to us asking for advice and the next, she is accusing us of nagging her. I am confident that she will "take care of business", but it is also hard to let go.  After a rough night last night, Matt, Allison and I received this text from her today.

I think it was just what we all needed to re-group and find the joy and love in this process.  As Matt commented back to her, it was just like a giant "family group hug"!  Feeling beyond blessed and lucky to have such a wonderful crew to call my family!

SDSU Game/Sky Show

We took Grandpa Al to the SDSU vs. New Hampshire football game tonight.  It was the first game of the season and SDSU is looking to have a great year!

 We got seats up high since after the game will be the KGB Sky Show and it also made a great view for the game!  

The Aztecs were big winners with a 31-0 win

 and the Sky Show was amazing.  All of the classic rock music was sequenced to represent a full day in San Diego. Both the music and the fireworks

were spectacular and it was a fun night out with the family!

SPIRIT WEEK

This was the first SPIRIT Week of the school year to get ready for the first home football of the season. 

Tuesday kicked off with Superhero Day!

 Wednesday was Decades Day!

 Thursday was Wacky Tacky Day!

 They finished off the week with Red Wave Day!

 Taylor was so proud other work painting Parker's beard!

Allison and Macy have become such close friends just like their big sisters!

Matt and I took Alan to the game Friday night and met up with Wendy, Feliza and Matt. 

The girls got Rubio's after school (love that they are doing so much together) with their friends and then got in line early for the Red Wave.  Taylor got front row and said it was the best night EVER!  

 Allison loved her first experience in the Red Wave and is so happy to be at GOHS.

One last pic of Taylor, Lexi and Vanessa before getting covered in red and blue powder.  Great Oak won big over MLK and it was a fun night for all!!

Falls Sport Rally

Tonight was the GOHS Fall Sports Night Rally.  Allison's field hockey team was being recognized, Taylor's was working it with her WSB class and Matt and I volunteered at Allison's team booth.

 We were there early to set up the pop up and get everything ready to sell hot dogs, chips and drinks.

 I prepped food and took orders and Matt grilled hot dogs.  We sold all 144 hot dogs and almost all of the chips and drinks for a successful first team fundraiser!

 It was great sharing in the event as a family!

Taylor worked with WSB and this SPIRIT can picture made it on to the home page of the GOHS website!

The field hockey girls were called out along with water polo, tennis, football, cheerleading, cross country and a few others I may be forgetting. Allison loved getting loud cheers from all of her WSB buddies too!

She is looking so cute in her new uniform and is excited for a fun season of field hockey!!  Thanks for the pictures Taylor :)

OC Kickoff Classic Champions!

I was in Irvine all weekend for Allison's tournament.  They had 2 games on Saturday and won 3-1 and 3-0, with several girls scoring and great teamwork!

They were back at it Sunday morning with a 6-0 win to advance to the afternoon championship.  They played Golden State and although it wasn't their best soccer, they won 3-0 to take home the title.

These girls are growing so much as players and really connecting on and off the field.  They scored 15 goals and only gave up 1 and played some great soccer!

Way to go Arsenal!!

Senior Spot

One of the perks of being at senior at GOHS is getting to paint your senior lot parking spot.  Taylor and her friends all got spots next to each other and spent the morning painting their designs.  She went with her love of the Hawaiian islands.  

I think it turned out great!  I also loved that the freshman spent last weekend prepping the spots and Allison got to prep Taylor's.  Fun little connection!

Back when Taylor was a freshman, her group of friends all took this picture on the day they prepped the senior spots.

Today they recreated the same photo as seniors! Still great friends, but so many changes in just a few years!

Field Hockey

Thanks to the encouragement from a middle school soccer teammate, Allison decided to take a leap of faith and tryout for the GOHS field hockey team!  We watched it during the Olympics to learn the rules, bought gear online and went out to the park the day before tryouts so she could practice using the stick.  She went to 3 days of tryouts this week and anxiously waited for the coach to post the roster on the school's website.

Allison was #14 for tryouts and she made VARSITY! As a Freshman!  So incredibly proud of her and loved seeing the smile on her face.  She was beyond excited!

She is going to be one busy girl trying to juggle M-F field hockey practice, T/Th soccer practice, homework and WSB, but she's got this!  We are excited to learn a new sport and cheer her on.

Way to kick some field hockey butt Allison!! 

First Day of School 2016/2017

Our sweet Allie-cat is officially a high schooler and couldn't be more excited about it!  She spent time at the orientation and Welcome BBQ yesterday and was all dolled up in her Red Wave attire for the first day!  Allison is already enrolled in WSB and looks to join Interact and play soccer.  She is also showing an interest in field hockey and I look forward to seeing what else she finds.  Class of 2020 has a nice ring to it!

 Thank goodness I have 4 more years with Allison. Otherwise this day would have been even tougher!  Our Taylor B is a senior and I just can't believe this is our last year with her at home.  With college applications underway, it all just got very real and I'm just trying to enjoy each moment rather than cry uncontrollably.  She will finish out her 4th year of WSB, continue her role as Secretary for both WSB and Interact, complete her 2nd year of NHS and hopefully get a part-time job.  It's going to be a busy year!

I'm thrilled that these 2 get one year together and hope they form an even stronger bond!  I'm also thrilled that I don't have to drive carpool this year! Wishing you both a fantastic year at GOHS!

Birthday/Goodbyes

Andrew turns 18 on Wednesday

and leaves for college on Saturday so we took him out for a birthday/goodbye dinner at BJ's.  He is very excited for his new adventures at KU and all that awaits him, but these 2 are sure dreading saying their goodbyes.  We wish him the best of luck and are grateful he has a few scheduled trips home throughout the first semester!

19

It was a busy day with soccer championships, high school registration and work for me, but we made time to celebrate our 19th anniversary!  

We had a nice dinner and drinks at 1909.  It is still hard for me to believe we met 26 years ago as I was just about to get my driver's license.  Matt has been my best friend for all of the adventures, struggles, highlights and everything in between.  I'm grateful that he continues to challenge me, works so hard to support our crew, still makes me laugh and is "usually" up for my crazy adventures. I get excited talking about future plans and also cherish the day to day.  I love you Matt!  Happy Anniversary!

Class of 2020

Allison is officially registered for high school!  After soccer, she rushed home for a quick shower and I took her to registration.  She got her class list, took her yearbook pic and picked up all of her spirit wear.

Each freshman also got a chance to put their handprint on the 2020 boards.  These will be left in storage for the next few years and then displayed at their graduation!

One more week of summer vacation...

Carlsbad Cup Finalists

Allison's team played in the Carlsbad Cup this weekend, with games at 3 different fields around Carlsbad.  They won Saturday's game 1-0 against Portland.  On Sunday, they tied LA Galaxy 1-1 and lost to Livermore Fusion 3-2, but still had enough points to advance to the championship game this morning.  

I had to work so Matt went down to watch.  The game was tied 1-1 after regular time so they went to PK's.  For some reason, the coach pulled Allison and put in the other keeper for PK's.  We are all puzzled by it, but had no control of the situation.  Her team ended up losing 3-1 in PK's, but ended as Cup finalists!