I've Got An All Star!!

Every season the soccer club hands out an All Star Award for one or two players on each team which the coaches vote on.  This season, I'm proud to say, that Jaykeb was selected by his coach, Casey!  He was one of two players from his team who was chosen.  The award was handed out at the club's 1st annual picnic which was held at the Ball State soccer field.

The picnic was a combination of both the rec and travel players and they had a really good turn out.  Hopefully they will be able to continue this in seasons to come.

The All Star selection criteria:

-Sportsmanship- player played fairly and according to the rules.  Respected their own coaches and opposition coach.  Respected their teammates and opposition players

-attendance, attitude, and effort in training sessions

-attendance, attitude, effort, and performance in matches

Below is Jayke and Elijah with their coach, Casey.  The other U9 academy team also had two recipients of the All Star Award (James and Luke) and are pictured with their coach, Davis.  Also in the picture is Chris, the "Coaches' Coach".  This is the first award that he "won" and wasn't just given as a participant so it was kinda a big deal for us!

Below are the rest of the award winners this season and their coaches.

Just Some Shots of The Boy

Happy GRANDPA'S Day!!

Jayke with P'pa....and 

Jayke with Opa...wishing them both Happy Father's Day!!

Who Knew!

That this was right down the road a ways from my Dad's house.  One day I was driving over and something caught my eye.  I kept looking and figured out I was seeing windmills all over the place!  How did I miss this?   Finally this afternoon, on our way home, Jayke and I drove up to Elwood to take a closer look.  Pretty cool! 

Relay For Life...There are no Words...

....for this!!!  That is the president of our company in his "Mister Relay" getup.  They have a competition to see who can get the most donations after performing on stage and taking a parade lap.  I must say, our representative SHOULD have won for many, many, reasons as I'm sure you can deduct from this picture!!

Jayke had a blast meeting new friends, watching the luminary lighting which is always emotional, and taking in the spectacle of the "Mister Relay" contest.  Midwest has a booth where we sell barbecue sandwiches, sodas, and chips.  Most of our employees from the main office donate their time and efforts slinging barbecue and taking turns walking for a cure.  Jayke was able to take his soccer ball and play in the center of the midway with his new friend, Perrin.  He is looking forward to going back next year!

Soccer Camp

One of the soccer dad's took these pictures for me at soccer camp this week.  It was a hot camp but they had a lot of fun.  

Soccer, soccer, SOCCER, SoCcEr!!!

This was a great season for Jayke in soccer.  He was one of the leading scorers on his team, being moved from defense to striker.  He got to play with Mason and Chase on his team and they became great friends both on and off the field.  They dubbed themselves the "Muska-crazies"!  It was agreed upon by most of the parents on the side line that when they put these three up front as their offense it was a thing of beauty to watch!  Jaykeb even scored a couple of hat tricks this season (three goals in the same game...for those who don't know)!

The team president is retiring at the end of this season and the kids all decided to wish him well by having their photos taken wearing mustaches in honor of the president's own infamous mustache.

Zoey even got in on the action!!!

A shot of the end of season picnic

Natalie and I serving the kiddos pizza at the picnic.  

Hot tub crew at the hotel for one of our tournaments

Tradition at the "Classic at the Rock Tournament" is to have your picture taken at the ROCK!

Above is Jayke's team and below is the combined two U9 teams

Jayke's celebratory run and little dance move after scoring...

After the tournament there wasn't much talking on the ride home...just sleeping with his medal in his hand...

New Kicks

I've created a monster!!  This child is obsessed with shoes!!  He LOVES shoes and not any ol cheap shoes, he has to have Jordan's or Lebron's or whichever is the hotest, newest shoe out.  Took him to get shoes for camp today and he got two new pair.  You would think I bought him a new car!  These are the current faves, his kds.  We even got stopped on the way out of the mall so someone could compliment his new footwear.  That made his day, and only added to his obsession.  He will be needing to get a job soon to support his new found love.

Bug Eyes

Jayke got sports goggles today for soccer and basketball...he loves them, I don't so much.

Awwww....Shade!

Got my pergola put up today.  This should help keep the sun from beating in the back of the house all day and keep it from heating up so much in the living room.  I hate that the majority of glass on my house faces west so for Christmas this past year my dad bought me this to try to help and today Jima and Mom came over to put it up for me.  Please ignore the broken deck rail that my mom managed some how.  I think she did it on purpose so I'd have to take the entire railing off. 

And here is why I don't want to take the railing off...My doves.  They come back every spring to make their nest in the planter.  Last year I had two babies in there and I worried over them all the time until they left.  Gave them a little roof to protect them from the rain and give them some shade.  Momma must like it since she has returned this year and looks like she is preparing to build too!

"Z"

Zoey looks so cute with all this long hair but we are going to have to get her groomed soon.  She gets so greasy looking if I don't bathe her often plus I'm sure this will be hot for the summer.  I wanted to get some cute pics of her before she gets cut...my little ewok!

The Life and Death of Carl...

....the carrot.  My coworker made this for me because I didn't want to partake in her healthy snack.  I'm sure she thought I would throw little Carl the Carrot away but I had other things in mind.  I documented his demise daily and posted the pictures on the wall of my cube.  

As you can see it didn't take Carl long to wither away.  Our big boss, the president of Mid-West Homes for pets was intrigued by my little carrot dude, (or maybe disgusted by his employees' blatant lack of productivity) so we made him one too!!

Carrie the Carrot who was equally as beautiful as Carl in the beginning, even more so with her long flowing pink hair and nice green skirt, soon met the same demise.  I decided to let Carrie die with her dignity and didn't photograph her in her advanced state of decay.  God rest their little carrot souls!! 

O.o