Soccer Tournament 2009

THIS is soccer weekend.




WE are tired.




WE are sunburned.




but.....




WE love it.






Jake and Jared are involved in House League Soccer, as well as my nephews (Bruce, Jackson, and Fraser).





Today (Saturday) all teams in all divisions were guaranteed two games. Working with a point system, the teams with the highest points move on to tomorrow to semi-finals and finals.




Looks like Bruce gets to put his feet up tomorrow and just watch his brother, Fraser, play. Bruce's team worked hard today; however, they lost both their games. This knocks them out of play, but he can return to try again in only nine short months! (Believe me, it will be here in no time).




The other boys move on to play again on Sunday morning. Finals will be in the afternoon, if they make it. Unfortunately this means we must play hookey from church and we'll miss the Youth Service (sorry Blake).




The Lord held off the rains for us today.... we'll see what Sunday's weather holds in store for us........ Anyways, here's lots of photos of our day.

Michelle watching the games.

Jared watching Jake's first game..... don't think he's quite awake yet.

Jake (in the Under 19's), with Katelyn (centre of photo) setting up a plan in Game #1 of the day.

Jake completing a "throw in".

Scott and Jake after their first win of the day.

Jared (in the Under 16's) playing goalie at his first game, which ended in a no-score game. A tie (Zero to Zero!).

And just how ADORABLE is THIS? Jake is sitting with team-mate Mallory...... sharing an I-Pod as they await their next game...... ahhhhhhhhhhh. I just COULDN'T resist taking a snap of THIS!

She is a cutie (and has the prettiest eyes!), and she's a darn fine soccer player as well!

Scott, Brad, Jake, & Mallory.

Bruce is in a different league than Jake, of course, but they have the same coloured shirts. He had jumped on Jake's shoulders and I noticed the number sequence.

Bruce and Jake.

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Speaking of number sequence, here is Jared (#20) with his two best friends (as well as our "adopted sons") Matthew (#18) and Christopher (#19). This photo was taken earlier in the season. Matt & Chris were at a baseball tournament today and couldn't make the soccer tournament.... hopefully they'll be available for semi-finals tomorrow! (Boys... get your priorities straight! [wink, wink])

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Three VERY proud soccer moms! Me (centre) with my two sisters, Wannett (left) and Danielle (right).

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A very kind person donated ice cream cones to all the soccer players as well as any parents who wanted a little treat. Here are Fraser and Beulah (my nickname for my niece, Celia) decorating their faces with vanilla ice cream.

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Jackson sat not too far away enjoying his cone as well.

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Carley, my niece, enjoying HER tasty treat.

Jackson actually looked like he had a moustache.

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Jake's team was in need of a goalie for Game #2. Their regular goalie was out of town and their second goalie had to work in the afternoon, so Jared filled in. He did spectacular. A little while later, the second goalie showed up (her boss was kind enough to let her slip out of work for a while).

Jared (third from right) as goalie for Jake's team in Game #2.

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Jake (third from left) getting ready to score another goal in Game #2. He said he's made 25 goals this season.

Jared (centre of field, wearing white socks) was required to play more time even though the other goalie showed up. The referee said he must play equal time in the second half as he did in the first. That was a rule that no one else had heard of, but Jared certainly didn't mind getting some extra time on the field. Jake's team won this game and so they move on to semi-finals on Sunday.

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Fraser and Jackson awaiting their second game.

Bruce coming off the field for a water break from all that hard, fast running! He had just finished eating a red popsicle at half time, so that's why he looks like he's wearing lipstick!

Jared (white socks) at his second game. A win! Off to semi-finals on Sunday.

This lady's name is Nancy. (She actually is a fantastic nurse and was in the delivery room for both Blake and Jacob's deliveries. She was supposed to be around for Jared's delivery too, but was on maternity leave with her own son and she selfishly would not come back to work to bring Jared into the world. I have, since, forgiven her.... well, not quite, but almost.....I'm tellin' ya, she's a great nurse!). I couldn't resist taking a snap of her new Golden Retriever puppy, Bella, who was zonked out for part of the game.

Bella woke up when I moved in for a close-up. Isn't she ADORABLE?

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Well, that's it for photos, folks. I can't believe how long this post has taken me.... I started about two hours ago! I'll do an update tomorrow on how everyone placed in the finals.

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Part of me is disappointed that the season has come to an end, but I'm reminded of that verse in Ecclesiastes 3 where there is a time for everything. And once soccer is done, there will be a time for supper meals at the table again; there'll be a time for saving all that gas money from trips to town two and three and four times a week; there will be a time of no more stinky soccer cleats; there will be no more times of hearing, "Is my soccer uniform clean?"........

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And there will be seasons of memories that I will cherish.

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I'm proud of you, boys, and I love you dearly. XO

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