To soccer or not to soccer??

Dearest Jackson,

Thanksgiving Break started with a soccer tournament.  Your team played really well even in the wind and rain.  You ended up playing 4 games that weekend and y'all even made it to the Championship!  Although you lost that final game, we were so proud of you and your team for earning a 2nd place medal in a really tough tournament!

I'm so glad that your dad snapped this picture after that game as it might have been your last.?.?.

Despite what the date says up there, I'm actually typing this on January 11th and the update is this...Since then, you've told us repeatedly that you don't want to play on a soccer team anymore.  At first, we thought you just needed a break since you'd played sports continuously since February.  So we let you sit out of Winter Soccer and hoped that you'd miss it enough to want to go back.  During your time off, you've kept playing soccer in the backyard, have watched soccer on television as often as we'd let you, and even planned a soccer-themed birthday party.  But it's now time to register for Spring Soccer and you're still claiming that you're uninterested.  We might be ok with this -- if you could actually explain why you feel this way.  But you can't.  The best you can muster is that you just like playing alone and that you don't want to play against opponents (Yet you want us to sign you up for another season of baseball.?.?.).  Your dad and I have our own theories.  First of all, you're no longer the best on your team.  You've been the best on your soccer team ever since you started playing and this past season was the first time that a few players were better than you.  We were so glad that you had some teammates to learn from but it seems like maybe you were intimidated as opposed to grateful.  Another thing is your coach's style.  He has very high expectations and he sometimes relays them through yelling.  Again, we welcomed this change as we saw you learning so much from him.  I think this was such a drastic difference from coaches of the past that you struggled to adapt to it.

And to think that you might not get back out there - that has rocked our world, bud.  While I know this sounds insignificant in the grand scheme of things, it's currently consuming our thoughts and discussions.  We know you and your capabilities.  We know how much you love the sport.  We know that when your coach says, "Our team needs your skills, Jax!" that he means it.  If we thought that you really were over it, we wouldn't question your choice in the slightest (Remember your 1 season of basketball?  We let that go without a fight.).  Instead, we struggle about how to handle this.  On one hand, we want to honor your feelings and never force you to do things that you don't want to do.  On the other hand, we think we could help you overcome your anxieties and that playing on this team is good for you.

Here lies the cliffhanger...

Renaissance

Dearest Jackson and Colt,

We took another trip to Houston to visit The Lake Family.  This trip, we were highly anticipating meeting the newest Lake, who arrived in September.  He was just as cute as we imagined and we all loved on him as much as we could!

We also ventured out to a Renaissance Festival.  In hindsight, I can say that I had NO idea what we were getting into.  Even now I'm finding it hard to explain so here is a blurb straight from their website:

The Texas Renaissance Festival is an interactive theme park that embraces different eras, including the 16th century and beyond. The 55-acre theater is filled with live entertainment, food, fun and professional actors who stay true to character for eight themed weekends in October and November.

The Texas Renaissance Festival is the Nation’s largest, most acclaimed Renaissance theme park.  It is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday, October 11th through November 30th.
The enchanted 55-acre village comes to life as all of Europe comes to pay homage to the King and Queen with Eight Themed Weekends.  Hundreds of costumed performers are showcased in over 200 daily performances.  Visitors meander along shaded cobblestone walkways visiting almost 400 shoppes overflowing with unique arts and crafts and offering delicious foods and beverages.  All ages will be amused by the games of skill and human-powered rides.  Revel in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and beauty of this authentically recreated 16th Century British village with lush landscaped grounds and vines.

It was interesting - to say the least!  Either the fact that it was very chilly or that I was very confused caused me to take very few pictures of the experience...

 Oddly enough, I want to go again!  And I for sure want to hug on tiny Adrian again!!

Viper

Dearest Boys,


Do you remember Viper?  I have a feeling that by the time you read this, she will be a pet you only remember from stories.  And that's understandable because she never quite developed a relationship with either of you.  That was her personality though so take no offense.

Grandma and I found her (and her sister) in our neighborhood one summer when I was home visiting from college.  I lived in a dorm so I couldn't have her and Grandma thought she only wanted 1 cat at that time so I called your dad and practically begged him to take care of her.  He told me that cats could be a lot of work but I was smitten.  The bond between us was short-lived though.  As soon as Viper went to live in an apartment full of guys, she became hooked on your dad.

We've worried about her often over the years and took her to the vet on more than one occasion thinking that her health was failing.  Each time we paid for tests and exams only to be told that her issues were purely psychological.  Her "moodiness" really flared up in the last few months but this time was different.  She started to skip meals and could no longer jump up to her usual places.  We knew what was happening but went around and around about how to handle it.

One day it clicked and we knew it was time to end her suffering.  We enjoyed a few more days with her and carefully explained the situation to the two of you one night at dinner.  That night was heart-wrenching as I heard crying long after your bedtime.  When I went upstairs I found you, Jackson, sobbing in your bed.  You said you were sad for Viper and you didn't want her to die.  We cried together for a bit and you finally fell asleep.

I met Dad after work one day and we took her to the vet together while you two were still at school.  The doctor knew our history so she understood our decision.  Upon examining Viper, she found a significant heart murmur.  Somehow, that eased our guilt as we realized that life truly would be better for her on the other side.

When we brought you home from school, we all wondered around in a zombie like state that evening.   The house was different and we all felt it.

I'm not sure if we'll ever get another cat but I know Daddy and I will never forget Viper.

MVPs

Dearest Boys,

I'm typing this from the end of the tunnel.  I've been following this little light since August and we finally made it here.  In this instance, the "tunnel" was Fall Sports and 4 separate teams are responsible for making the light sometimes impossible to track.

You've played your final games of the season, celebrated with your teammates, and been awarded trophies/medals/accolades.

Since this season left me wondering "Will they want to play again?", I took along the camera to your final games and parties...

 

While every ball player was given a trophy, your coach only gave out one award.  He said, "Ok, I think you all know who swept MVP this season." and about 5 of your teammates interrupted him to yell, "JACKSON!"  He then rattled off your impressive stats and you listened proudly.  ::mommy bragging over::

 

Colt, although we lost your hat at some point this season, I'd say your first try at team sports was a success!  You always looked forward to playing/practicing and you displayed a nice balance of silliness & focus. 

 

Colt, as you were given your trophy your coach had awesome things to say about you!  He said that you were a consistent hitter and that you could have a great future in baseball!  If there was an award for "Most Fun Had", it would be named after you!

 



Jax, this is what you'd do during game - you had your own scrimmage on the field next door

 Soccer games are difficult to photograph....sorry, this is all I have of your last rec. game, Jackson.

Colt, this is what you do during your brother's games

 Jax, here's the last game of your 1st academy season:

 

My camera seems to have focused on the wrong group of people here...but, trust me, you were dribbling all around your opponents ; )

 

You & Braxton, your best friend on the team

 

 

You & Coach Damon, the coach who has taught all of us!

So many fun memories...but now it's time to turn off the light and enjoy the break until the next train comes.

Halloween '14

Dearest Trick-o-Treaters,

 

Halloween was nearly perfect this year!  First of all, it fell on a Friday.  I'm wondering if it can piggy back off of Thanksgiving a follow the "last Friday of the month" rule from here on out!?  Staying out late, eating candy for dessert, and sleeping in late the next morning?  Yes, please!

 

We also had amazing weather.  The temperature was right around 60 degrees - so the air was chilly, making it actually feel like fall, but not too cold to enjoy the festivities.

 

The only thing missing from the fun was Daddy.  He's in Austin for the F1 race.  While you two seemed to have a great time, I sure missed having him with us.

 

The night started at 4:00 when your school had a costume parade, Colton.  Your class took a lap around the parking lot and you were one of many ninja turtles this year.

 

 

 

We took our time eating dinner and getting ready and didn't costume up until a little after 6pm.

Then, I tried to get a picture of my two favorite turtles by the fireplace. 

Try, try, try again.  Give up ; )

 

 

On our way out the door, I told you I needed to text one to Daddy and you finally gave me a winner:

 

 

We visited a few of our neighbors...

 

...before hitting up our favorite house a few miles away.

After doing some more trick-or-treating in Grandpa and Grandma's neighborhood, y'all enjoyed handing out candy at their house.

 

Now we're nursing our sugar hangovers and 2/3 of us haven't even changed from our pajamas!

 

Seriously, Halloween law-makers -- the last Friday of October.  Annually.  Please!!!