What we learnt at Country Week

It may just sound like a week of playing soccer in rain, hail and shine.....but is so much more....
It's about 

*Mateship

*Making new friends that quick become team mates

* Learning to give respect to those who give so much of their time

*That rain and cold are no deterrent  to 12 and 13 year olds

*That our state is a big place and there are a whole bunch of other kids that are passionate about soccer too

*Having your mum as the team manager is not as bad as your son first thought.

*That sometimes you win and sometimes it is more about how you play the game

*It is vital to fill a young mans world with good male role models

*Dads are better at analyzing a game of soccer than mums 

*Haircuts and coloured hair spray are the best fun you could add to playing the game

* That we would do it all over again ...after a few days of catching our breathe.
 
 

Soccer Life

Can I say that being part of a winning team makes all the difference.....but you already knew that right?

This is our fifth season of being a soccer family.....and that season just came to an end. 

This was the first season in that five that we have had any noteworthy success....
 

Carnival day today and we made it all the way to the semi finals ....I say we because it really does take a team of family members to make it all happen.

Months of 7.00am Saturday starts ...rain  or shine.......requires all of us to be on board.

A great dedicated coach and team members that become friends....are the other pieces to having success.

Glad to have some slow Saturday mornings back but will miss that opportunity to encourage, cheer and say well done to our boy....

Cupcakes and soccer and being brave

We are in a season as a family where I feel that for each of us we have our own biggish things going on......

So our boy has...

 all that comes with finishing primary school and making decisions about high school for next year......

Soccer is happening and he has had the opportunity to try out for a regional team heading towards "county week " in October.

A little procedure to remove something from his  tongue also has been on our agenda for a while. Seeing him overcome some perceived fears was awesome.

Random collection of happenings that are significant for him.....and because he isnt flying solo through all of these things it adds to the colours of our week. I know in the very near future I will look back and miss all these things that seem to take up so much planning, running around and mum involvement.

I quietly was very proud of my contribution to the cupcake stall raising funds for the soccer club......just another thing to add to the mummy resume along with taxi driver, nurse, hug provider, loudest supporter on the boundary line, braving the freezing evening training times,"application form writing encourager"......and all supposed to be done with a smile! 

A Weekend for the fit.....

This past weekend was all about the sporty types in our family { Sadly I dont get to be at dance class otherwise I could add Meg in here too}

It was the opening game for the soccer season.....a cool early morning was perfect for a team of 10/11 year olds raring to go.

We headed straight down the highway south after the game to prepare for the 1/2 ironman to be held on Sunday morning.

Again a very grey day that provided perfect race conditions for both athletes and spectators.  After overcoming a last minute dash to the transition setup, our ironman was off and swimming......then cycling.....then running.

This is number 13 for him and you would think we would have it all down pat...the watching and supporting thing! For some reason he doesn't recall spotting us at all  and we lost him on the run....
Word got to us that he had problems with his hip and knowing that he was a little undertrained going in, jumped to the conclusion that his race must have been over .
I waited.....then decided he would make contact when he could. We cheered his brother over the line and just waited.....

But somehow we missed him out there and he successfully ran across the finish line thinking that we must have had dramas that kept us from the sidelines!!!!

Anyways never a dull moment.....all finished well and we are super proud of him once more.....  
 Even more so that he was able to pull up for work the next morning like a trooper!

So I am adding to my thankful list....


* The soccer season kicking off
* Perfect race conditions
* A weekend to hang with my sister as we cheer from the sidelines
* No rain despite it being very close
* The sun appearing  as the day progressed

#1295 A solid finish for our 13 time ironman

Being a soccer mum

Don't let the blue skies and sunshine fool you.....

It was freezing and we got drenched through at the start of the morning....

Today was the last Saturday in our Soccer season....Round robin day ..lots of short games against all the teams in our league...

I was flying solo today as the soccer dad is still down and out with the nasty flu....and a bout of getting wet through was not a good plan...

So I got to spend the morning with my sister and brother in law as my nephew plays in the same team...

It has been a good season...the boys have improved throughout the weeks and just when they feel like they have gelled as a team it is over for another year...

As much as I love the soccer thing....having Saturdays back and the slow morning start is a welcoming thought...

Do you remember playing a winter sport? I came form a netball family...fairly hard core we were....rain, hail and shine we played...cheered on by our parents and coached by our dad to keep improving ...which only came by training harder and practicing more...At the time I think we thought dad was a hard bargainer....but now I am a parent on the sidelines..I get it...
Especially if we are going to stand in the rain for a few hours.....I know there needs to be fun...but effort is always a good thing to see...

Today sadly soccer dad didn't get to see the game face...the hunger for the ball that I saw today...the one that we have been encouraging all season....

Oh well there is always next year....
so for now I really enjoyed the hot shower on returning home and then curling up in my pj's to finish a riveting book for the afternoon.

24/52

Him: { Sorry for the overload } but it is soccer season

Her: The latest experiment...Salted Dark Chocolate Popcorn

and that was the weekend.....

Laid back yet full to overflowing.......

that was the weekend..... 

Zucchini slice, brownies and banana bread baked for two families welcoming new little ones....

Soccer matches....opportunities to encourage team mates from the sidelines....

Chocolate covered popcorn and pretzel treats for watching a movie on the couch...

...and being given a home grown pumpkin that will be made into soup, scones and maybe even something to bless someone else...

So Happy Monday to you and here's to a week full of goodness and the unpredictable.

Joining in with Em at The Beetle Shack

 

The Weekend.....

Soccer

Beautiful rain free day

Celebratory baby shower

and

a brand new baby niece to gush over

What could be better?

Hope your weekend was filled with good things.

Ten On Ten

Ten photos on the tenth day.....life as it unfolded......

Soccer has begun.....new Saturday morning routines in place

The rain threatened for our first game......but held off to make a stunning morning to be watching the guy play with a new bunch of little guys.

There was some quick brownie making to be done

A meet up for early Mothers Day celebrations....due to the unpredictable weather it went from a picnic lunch to picnic afternoon tea....to afternoon tea at the cafe....

No one was complaining about scones and hot chocolates...or whatever it was that took thier fancy.

Presents were shared....

...and that weather ...never eventuated....instead we had the most perfect of afternoons.

Joining in with Rebekah