What a great Saturday Sports Day!

Each Saturday morning at the breakfast table we ask the sports players how they are going to do during their event(s). Each week the youngest member of our crew announces a number of goals she plans to make. This morning the announcement was seven. Now that is a bit aggressive, yet we don't want to rain on anyone's creativity.

The day started with soccer. Our youngest had two soccer games. We knew she had one. The second was a scheduling surprise.

So we go see the Blue team play, they haven't come up with a name, and the young lady scores seven goals in her first game. The picture below is one of the seven going into the goal.


During the second game which followed within minutes of the first game she scores six more goals. That was surprising. Thirteen goals in two games. Very impressive.

We also discovered it is very difficult to take action pictures with the camera when you are trying to watch your child. You should see some of the shots we delete after the games.

At the same time all the above activity was going on Boodles, our ten year old, was playing a game at the other end of the sports complex.

Boodles played a different position than she had before and the ball was flying toward the goal. She scored a goal of her own, sent another sailing off the goal cross bar, and assisted on two other goals. She had also set up her team mates with some great crossing passes. Boodles and her team in Pink won their game



She was very excited about the result of the game, the team work displayed, and her contributions to the win. It was great to see her creativity on the field. There are no action shots from this game because dad can't multitask with watching, screaming, and taking photos. I'm working on it.

Saturday afternoon we switched to football.


What happened to Florida? Welcome to Southeastern Conference (SEC) football. Urban Meyer, some times you feel like a Nutt, sometimes you don't. Didn't you notice that Urban's press conference isn't the same when he and his team lose in The Swamp.

Then Auburn survives their game putting a beating on the Volunteers from Tennessee. I feel bad that Payton came to manage the spin for Coach Fulmer. Things will be rough in rockybottom for another week.


But the night cap was the featured game. Bama versus Georgia. Crimson Tide versus the Bulldogs. Number 8 in the nation against number 3. The first half was unreal. Georgia played like number 2, the stinky stuff.

Hey Dawgs, remember last year? We did. Ug Ah! 31-0 at halftime. The Tide rumbled over the blacked out dogs oh! sorry, Dawgs! I couldn't believe how quiet it was between the shrubbery!

It appears that Dawg don't hunt or do football at least last night!

If they clean up the penalties they might have a chance. Coach Richt has a persona of being on the up and up, but he has a team that is the most penalized in the SEC. We appreciated the help.

Just having some fun. Georgia has a real talented team. I can't wait to see the Georgia vs. Florida game.

Can't wait to see the poll rankings! ROLL TIDE!

The Soccer Machine Continues

The number this weekend is Five. Yep, the goal scoring machine has applied her skills again. She went out with the other members of her team and played some serious soccer. Dabba scored five goals on her own.

Prior to the game soccer team pictures were taken. There was the individual shot taken then the team picture. I can't wait to see those developed.

This young lady is serious about her soccer. Early this morning there was 15 minutes of practice kicking with me and her older brother, in the house. It was fun to see the serious preparation. All of the years of watching the older siblings get ready for their events has rubbed off. Beautiful intensity.

There was only one game today so we will have our next installment of Dabba soccer in a week.

It appears the only thing that went wrong at the game was my camera. It was very warm.

A New Soccer Season Begins

Our youngest child has been going to soccer practice and games for the past five years with her older siblings. She began by sitting in a stroller, progressed to toddling along the sidelines, and then running in the fields near by. Last spring she was a member of her own team. Today she had her coming out party. She apply her soccer skills and abilities relating to kicking the soccer ball.

What a day it was! She scored four goals in her first game. I know, I'm her dad so I am suppose to brag politely. But, four goals. Impressive.

Can't wait to see week two.

Princess Scores First Goal - Soccer Career Finally Launches

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After years of being made to go to soccer games as a newborn, hauled to matches as a toddler, and as she got older being asked to behave or play with the other kids while a different sibling was playing....it has finally happened!!! (Drum roll please!) The Soccer debut of our youngest child. (Cymbals Crash, crowd cheers, and proud parents dab away tears.)

Okay, I have to admit. In 28 degree weather, with wind and snow flurries, at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, there were a few distractions. Like pre-game pictures with friends. Our Princess is on the left that is her good friend from down the street on the right.

But, it warmed my heart to have all the family, minus one who spent the night with friends out, to root for one on my favorite members of the Garage Door Brokers team or "The Doors". At least they will have cool theme music. But man, it was cold.

Things got warmer as she scored her first goal. "The Doors" are a machine. We have another game at 12:30 today. It appears to be headed to a balmy 32 today when the sun comes out.

The day has arrived. All the crew are in activities, sports, church, a school program. Let the coordination games begin.

Last night as we prepared for the events it was like an ops briefing for the D Day invasion, minus the Stormin Norman video and charts. Maybe the charts would have helped. One game at 8:30, another at 9:30, two at 12:30, luckily on fields across the street from each other. Pick up child spending the night out, feed the whole combined crew, clean cleats, spruce up uniforms between games, addition to the op order, have much warmer clothing just in case. Prepare for the away matches for other teams.

It is on, full blast.

My wife is a Soccer Mom, minus the Mini-Van and the wind suit, thank god! I am the grumbling soccer dad, trying to stay calm and be a good soccer parent. With three different levels of soccer players I have to remember the rules for each level. Just lining up for the Garage Door Brokers will be enough, older brother, Sam's, has some more rules, but not offsides. Then eldest sister, Select, has the whole book.

Have to hurry. There is a Soccer/Family operations briefing about to start in kitchen. I have started saving my tasks in my TREO so I get the reminder. This is great. I can have my electronic reminder working for me at work and at home, one stop shopping for telling me what to do. Oh! this could be a conflict with the spouse since she does that job also! (Did I just use my outloud blogging voice?) (Just kiddin honey, Stormin Norman, Sir, sweetie.) Once that TREO buzzes I am like one of Pavlov's dogs trying to figure out where I am suppose to be and what and who I am to have with me.

Will keep you posted on "The Doors", Sam's, and Select, the three soccer teams. Oops, the Treo is reminding me about the ops update.

Have a great Saturday.

Weather Delays the Soccer Debut of Princess Dabba

An ice storm came through our area last night. This was welcomed by the older siblings that were let out of school for the day. Our youngest member of the family saw the inclement weather as an inconvenient extension to delay her soccer debut.

Isn't it interesting how people see one situation with such different points of view.

It appears the soccer debut of Princes Dabba will have to wait until next Monday evening. I can tell you there was some serious practice put in today in the house.

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer - It's Spring Time

Let the games begin. More appropriately let the practices begin. Three of our four kids will be participating in soccer this spring season.

And the inaugural season for the youngest has finally arrived! Princes Dabba, who has been going to soccer practices since the stork delivered her to the sidelines, has her first practice on Monday evening!!!!! We have tried on the shoes, the shin guards, and tested the water bottle, at least two or three time times. We have even had to read Froggy Plays Soccer. " You can kick it, knee it or head it, but you can't use your hands." She is so ready!

The Minister of Plain is ready. He has played for five seasons (fall and spring) and filled in for someone last spring. So, he is on it. He has been practicing kicks and preparing his moves on the X-Box 360. He has assured me it makes him mentally tough to practice. (That gets points in my book for creative though process.)

Queen of Chocolate loves her competitive team. She scored 5 goals the other night in a practice game, work out, and try out. It went very well. She will be practicing a couple of times a week and traveling to some tournaments. She started walking, running, and jogging and practicing her ball handling skills again. She is getting all of the long arms and legs going in the same direction and can boom shots toward the goal. I know a couple of seasons ago I wasn't a big fan of standing in front of the goal before so I am sure there will be a few bumps and bruises for the opposing goalies if they get there.

Thank goodness football on television doesn't have the yellow card. But, I am in training also. I am making sure I can explain the definition of offside and adhere to the "play well with others concept". At least while coaching you can talk. Being a soccer parent is tough.

So the crew could be coming to soccer field near you. There will be weekly updates! You have been warned.