All-Star Soccer

I know I have had a lot of posts about soccer lately, but that is what happens when you have kids that have been playing for three months plus.  Last weekend (November 19 & 20) was the All-Stars State Tournament that Clark and Emma had been getting ready to play in.  So as Carrson and myself  were going to be coming back from our cruise (another post to come) my sister Jennifer and Annabell came down to watch the kids and get them to their games since they were in Dothen, Alabama.  I thank her and her husband for letting her come here for the week! 

Back to the soccer tournament, like I said Carrson and myself were gone and the boat was due in the morning of the start of the tournament.  We were able to get in and on our way earlier then we planned but we still missed Clark's and Emma's first games.  We got word that they both lost (Clark 2-1 and Emma 3-1) but they still had other games to go.  We got to the field just in time to see Emma's second game of the day and she did great.  They won 1-0 but it wasn't enough to go on.  So Emma's team went out on a winning note.  But at last her season is over and I think she is ready to be done.

Emma throwing the ball in.  She was one of the girls designated to throw the ball in and she always did a great job.

By the end of the season she was a lot more aggressive and she would get in the middle and try to get the ball.  She did a great job and was able to get the ball most of the time.

U9 Prattville girls team.

Watching Em's game. 

Like I said we missed Clark's first game on Saturday and then we missed his first game on Sunday (due to miss communication, he didn't think he played till twelve when he had had a nine o'clock game).  So dad gets him to the field and they were asking him where he was (with us not being there for Saturdays game we had no idea when he played so we went off what he told us and he hadn't heard right).  Come to find out he ended up missing his first game on Sunday.  They lost that game also, I am not sure of the score but from what we hear they did great, other then one of there teammates got his face smashed in and a broken nose and a slight concussion.  Who says soccer isn't a contact sport.  

Clark was able to play in the third and final game.  He came in and played hard.  The team they played (we understand was a competition  team not a recreation team) thumped them.  I felt so bad for the team, I was just hoping the game would be over so they could be done.  They came out playing hard and almost had a few goals but in the end they lost.  They did a great job playing, they played so hard that I am so proud of them.  To be honest I am glad soccer is over for now and the only problem is basketball is starting up next Monday.  As of right now Clark and Ryan are on the same team so that means two practices instead of four.   So hopefully we can slow down a little and enjoy the season that we are entering into.  It is one of my favorite seasons.

Clark had some amazing kicks and saves.  He is amazing to watch.

U18 Prattville Team

Watching the game.  Aunt Jennifer and Annabelle

Having the game a few hours away meant having to stay at a hotel and since we don't stay at hotels that often the kids think they have to go swimming.  Just our luck the hotel had an indoor swimming pool.  Clark, Emma and Andrew were able to swim Ryan on the other hand couldn't.  While we were gone (he decided to disobey and in the process) he got his finger caught in the door at church and ended up having to get stitches.

I had to throw this in, I thought it was a cute picture of Andrew and I didn't have a picture of myself at the games.  This was taken after we had gotten home after the games.

U9 District Champs!!!!!

 Today was the District Soccer tournament in Opelika, and since there were two teams in the girls U9 division we had to make the trip there.  Granted it is only just over an hour away but it seems like soccer has taken over our weekends for the last few months and we were looking forward to sleeping in past 6:30.  We didn't have to be to the soccer fields until 3:00 but because I have an automatic alarm clock from getting up at 5:30 or is it the fact that I am getting older, I still was up before 7:00 am, I guess you can call that sleeping in.  It was nice nice not having to rush out the door and be to the soccer field at 8:00, and actually eat a hot breakfast of French Toast and bacon instead of cold cereal.  It was yummy!!! 

Well back to the game and the reason we went to Opelika, Emma had two great games, granted they played the same team for both the games.  She played in the midfield area, and was more aggressive then I have ever seen her.  She has progressed so much this year.  Secretly I think she really likes to play soccer but has to give me a hard time because she wants to go to dance instead.  I keep telling her soccer funner then dance.  Here are a few pictures of Emma from the games today.

 

 

 

 

 The winning team. 

 Giving the thumbs up!!  Talk about excited, they HAD to win to be able to go!!  They proved tonight they can win the State Tournament.  They play so great together.  There is a girl on the team that is a little bit bigger then most of them and boy can she boot it down the field.

The winning team all got a first place plaque!!!  Talk about a bunch of excited girls.  I wish I had half their energy, maybe I could get something done.

I can't forget about Clark, he also made the U18 All-Star team, they didn't have a game today due to the fact there wasn't another team from our district, so he doesn't play till State.  His team did play a scrimmage game Tuesday night and they beat them 6-0.  It was a travel team from Wetumpka.  They played awesome!!  I had gone to talk to Emma for a minute turned around and was talking with one of the mom's and looked up just in time to see Clark go down.  We didn't know what had happened but come to find out Clark had the ball and was going to score and the goalie charged him and somehow Clark's leg ended up underneath the goalie.  He didn't get up right away and the coach ran out to see what was wrong, here I was thinking broken leg/foot but thank heavens it is just going to be a bruise.  He is fine, he had a little help off the field, walked/ran of the injury and got back in the game.  He didn't score but he had some awesome assists and passes.  He loves to play with the older kids (remember he is only fourteen and the youngest player on the team).  I think playing with them he has to step his game and play harder and be more aggressive!!!  I love to watch my kids play the sports they love!!!  Just think soccer still has a few weeks now and then basketball starts the week after Thanksgiving!!!

Good Luck Clark and Emma at State!!!!!

HapPy HaLLowEen!!!

I know Halloween is over, but I had blog about it today.  We had a fun/busy October and I am not sure if I am ready for it to be November.  It just means the year is almost over and Christmas will be here before we know it.  It seems like my days all jumble together and then they are over and I wonder whatever happened.  Well I am going to pause for a few minutes and reminisce about Halloween and the fun times we had.

Andrew is Jake from "Jake and the Neverland Pirates".  He sure makes a cute blonde Jake.  See the resemblance.

Hmmm what to do, should I turn you into a newt.

Emma is a witch who's favorite color is pink, or as she will tell you a pink witch. 

I'm going to get yoouu!

Ryan is a zombie who just finished his dinner. 

Clark is a peanut M&M, doesn't he look yummy?

The clan! 2011 was great.

I tried to get a few pictures of the kids trick-or-treating but the sun was going down and the flash at a distance just isn't the greatest so this is the best picture I had.  The kids had a blast going door to door, even Andrew was running (at first).  He had woken up with a cold and cough Saturday morning and wasn't feeling very well.  I took the wagon to help him,  being two years old I figured he would need to take a break and have a ride.  He did very well up till we got to the end of the block and had another block to go to get home.  But that didn't stop him he would ride and when the kids were coming back from a house I would be ready to go and here I see him running up to the house, he had decided he wanted to go.  He was cracking me up.  There was also a house that was decorated like a cemetery that looked awesome, but Emma wouldn't go up to the door because they had people out there scaring you as you walked up to the door. She wanted me to walk up to the door with her, I was telling her when I was Clark's and Ryan's age I loved to go to the Haunted Houses in the area, they were a blast well except for the chainsaws, and the haunter's can't touch you, they are there to scare you.  Fun times, fun times. I know I am crazy but I enjoyed them with my friends!!  We will have to see if we can find something here to take the kids to next year.

Our pumpkins a glow!! They look awesome!!

Hopefully you had a fun Halloween season and are enjoying your fall weather.

Carving pumpkins

One of our fun family traditions at Halloween is carving pumpkins.  This year Ryan went simple, he decided he didn't want to do a picture that had a lot of detail, and I think this is the first year in a few years that Clark has not carved an "Aggie "A".  It's funny, Emma went with a detailed one this year, she did a lot of her own carving but had mom and dad help on the outer edge.  All the pumpkins look AWESOME!!  I will have to take a picture tonight while they are all lit up. This year I had spaced off getting pumpkins till the kids reminded me last week, man this month has flown by.  I can't believe it is already October 31st.


Clark

Everybody hard at work marking there pumpkins.

Looks just like him!!! hehehe  (Sorry, "Look at the resemblance".)

Ryan

Careful not to mess up, one wrong cut and it's ruined!

 

Ryan's twin!!! hehehe

 Emma

 Too bad they don't come already clean.

I have to concentrate, leave me alone!!

Emma's friend!! She was so proud of her pumpkin. 

Andrew--His first pumpkin (well one that he helped with)

I have to what?

Eewwe!!!  Seriously, as he would stick his hand in the pumpkin he would say eewwe (or however you spell it).  He was so funny to watch, I couldn't get him to put his hand in at first.

This is what you use to get the yuck out?

He started to get braver and actually started pulling pumpkin guts (as we call it) out.  But then he would throw them and the others.

He wouldn't let me help, I tried to get him to put his hand on mine but nope, he had to do it himself.  It only lasted for a short minute.  Notice the tongue, he has the Draper trademark, check out Emma too.

Andrew and his "punkin".  He loved it, he didn't like the fact that he couldn't play with it.

HapPY HaLLoWEen!!!