Sonlight Garden

the champs

My boy!

These boys and coaches

What a game, what a season. We are so proud.

What a game. It was quite the nail biter. I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted because, well...it was such an awesome game!!!!

Go to the finals

They won this game. The "final four" of middle school basketball. They play for the city championship today!! We are so proud of these boys. Could you send up a prayer that they play their hardest. I am so nervous for Joe that I could vomit. He, though, is as cool as a cucumber.

 

Patrick and Football

I haven't really posted alot about Patrick and football this year. This is Patrick's first year in pads. He was hesitant at first but when he found out his Dad was one of the coaches he was all in. 

Patrick is a funny kid. He is very focused and serious on the field.

When the coaches call the players over he is usually the first one there.

One morning before one of his games he was sitting at the kitchen table studying the playbook because he wasn't sure of one of his assignments.

I love this picture. Those are my guys. Joe is always on the sidelines watching his brother, Terry the coach, and Patrick waiting to get back in the game. 

And speaking of coaching. We have awesome coaches. One of them being my husband ;0) they are super encouraging, positive, and fun. The kids love them. Believe me, some of the coaching we have witnessed from playing some of these other teams is absolutely ridiculous. How it helps to yell at a bunch of eight year old boys who are just learning how to play the game is beyond me. 

It is fun to watch these little guys play. Paddy, we can't wait to see what you do :0)

life lessons and football

( I started this post three days, I am going to try and finish it today!)

Lots to blog about...no time to blog it.

You know how it goes.

It has been busy around here. School is in full swing. We started our second week of school and whamo!! We are all feeling bad with allergies? colds? Oh well, the work load is "light" this week.

Football is also in FULL swing. Joe and Patrick are playing. There is a lot of practicing and time involved with this sport. But they sure do love it. ( I love this picture of them!)

And we love to watch them play. 

(Joe is number 10)

Joe has had three games so far. The first was a kick-off jamboree game and they won. The third was a scrimage for them but for their opponent it was an official game on their roster. They won that game also. 

The second game was a tough one. They were playing awesome in the first half and then their opponent rallied and came back and won the game. It was hard.

These team sports are tough. There has to be a winner and there has to be a loser. It is hard to see your child give it their all and see them lose. You so badly want to protect them from that disappointment don't you?

This group of boys handled it with grace though.

 These are tough life lessons. But, in the end it is good for them, those lessons. Because sometimes in life you are going to work your hardest, give it your ALL, and things are just not going to turn out the way you want. It is life. 

This is how God changes us, molds us, grows us, makes us who we are.

This boy, this move here and big changes, the challenges he has faced this past year, it has been tough. 

We were talking the other day about this past year. I asked him if he remembered this time last year and how hard it was for him, and to see where he is now. He did. I saw a shy smile come across his face.

He is growing. He is handling the disappointments well. He is moving on and learning from these life lessons. He is becoming quite the young man. God is working on him. 

We are so proud.

 

For you Joe

This is from Joe's very first track meet. We are super proud!

football

Patrick had his first flag football game this past weekend. Paddy played flag football in Florida at the Y, but this league is a little more intense. They wear helmets and mouthpieces and they are allowed to block. Patrick had a great block on one of their runners, he fell and accidentally tripped him. And then he had a great run on the ball and got some good yardage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (walked away from the computer for a minute and I am not quite sure what Amelia did, and I can not seem to fix it!)

On to Joe's game. The team they played was rather large. They were physically bigger and they easily had double the players. Let's put it this way. They had an offensive line and a defensive line. Our offensive line is also our defensive line. This team was tough. I told Joe after the game that it was a real character builder. He said "that's for sure." Joe had some good tackles and blocked a pass intended for a receiver. He did a good job. They all did. They played their hearts out. The final score was 26?-6. We lost, but good lessons were won. I stood for most of the game and felt like I was going to vomit the entire time. I am always so nervous watching him play. He amazes me.( Joe is number 10)

 

 

 

 

 

football

I had mentioned before Joe is playing football this year. His first game was a couple of weekends ago. I forgot my camera last week so these are pictures from his first game. They lost their first game by one touchdown. But they played hard. Joe is loving tackle football. Each week he gets a little more aggressive. Which in football is a good thing. We are loving watching him play. It's a blast. I sit there and wonder how it is that my baby is out there playing football. He looks so big. Sheesh, they grow so fast. 

7 on 7 tournament

Joe is playing tackle football this year. To get ready for the upcoming season all of the Catholic schools (and there are a lot of them here) enter their football teams in a no pads, two hand touch football tournament. Joe and his team played a total of five games that day. They lost the last game which was for the championship, however they played hard and we are so proud of them. They gave it their all. Joe had a blast and had some awesome plays. He is number 10.

 

 

 

 

Of course I am going to put in some cute pictures of the baby and Catherine. The "littles" were so good on that very long hot day. They drew pictures in their notebooks.

 

 

Great job Joe!

Nun Run

Last Saturday we participated in the First Annual Nun Run as shadow runners, here in Florida. This was a small run of about 30 runners. It was the total opposite of a Disney 5k. I told my children if you enjoy this 5k, then you enjoy running. There were no characters and music and photographers( except for Sussette, who took awesome pictures by the way) nothing to keep your mind off of how tired your legs feel. Julia said she is just going to run Disney 5k's from now on. It was just you and the pavement and the quiet. I loved it. It was just what I needed. I always feel soooo much better after I run....peaceful, yet energized. 

 Joseph came in fourth place over all. (go Joe!!) I finished 2nd in the 15 and over category (go me!!) Julia finished third in the 15 and under (go Julia!!) and Aubrey finished 1st in the 15 and under (go Aubrey!!) 

I have a load of pictures. Sussette took a bunch photos. I promise I won't post all of them. 

Joseph coming into the finish line.

 

 

Aubrey coming into the finish line.

 

Julia and I coming into the finish line

 

after the run..

 

 

I knew I liked this guy

We are big Seminole fans in this house. (go noles!) But Tim Tebow you rock! And so does your dear mom. Hats off to Focus on the Family. I can't wait to see this Super Bowl commercial.