Andrew fell asleep doing his homework.....maybe Scott is right, maybe I should have them do their homework as soon as they get home from school.3/31/11
it's late
Andrew fell asleep doing his homework.....maybe Scott is right, maybe I should have them do their homework as soon as they get home from school.
HAHA!!! or as Melanee would say "ahah"
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/03/31/so-um-like-i-really-want-this-job-ya-know/?ncid=webmail
Melanee and dad....you HAVE GOT to read this article....it will make you think of one certain TV interview! LOL!!!!
Melanee and dad....you HAVE GOT to read this article....it will make you think of one certain TV interview! LOL!!!!
Busy Day
I have a lot to do today. One of my co workers always asks me, "Why do you do this to yourself?". I have my regular work hours. It's my day to volunteer in Andrew's class. I have to bake cakes for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold dinner. I need to coach soccer practice. Buy bread or rolls for the Blue and Gold dinner. Attend the Blue and Gold dinner. Attend the Young Womens stake girls camp meeting. And most importantly WATCH THE SHARKS game. There hasn't been a Sharks game since Saturday and I am really excited. They can also clinch a playoff spot tonight. They are also playing one of the teams I hate the most in the UNIVERSE. GO Sharks. I can rest tomorrow, I hope. No time today. No time for blogging or the internet, either, so Good Bye.
3/30/11
First Place
3/29/11
Chico Science Faire
Golden Gate Bridge
3/28/11
Levi's Birthday
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| This picture turned out great! |
Levi has a special ability to feel a package and GUESS accuratley what is inside of it...he was correct on 3 of the gifts and pretty darn close on the last one. Happy Birthday Levi, hope you enjoyed coming over!
And today is also LOGAN COUTURE's birthday!
3/27/11
Dawson's Creek
When Melanee was a freshman in high school I would wake up every morning at 6:00 am, while she was getting ready for seminary, I would watch Dawson's Creek. (Scott would take her to seminary). They showed the episodes in order and there would be another episode at 7:00. I was VERY into the show. It was super dramatic and enthralling to me. I guess you could say that I was obsessed or addicted to the show. We had a babysitter for Bradley and Andrew at the time named Joann. I would have to be at work at 7:45, so I'd always miss the last part of the 7:00 show. I set the VCR so I could watch the show in it's entirety each and every day. I still vividly remember the day the SERIES finale was on. When I got home from work that day, Joann was excited to tell me what happened. As I drove her home I listened to her.....not wanting to....but what else could I do, I'm a polite person. She recounted all that happened. I was upset because it was NOT what I wanted to happen. The couple I wanted to get together DID NOT (in Joann's version). I went home and did NOT watch the tape. Her story had RUINED it for me. Later when I DID watch the tape.....JOANNS version was WRONG. She had told me the wrong name of the girl......WHAT!?!?!???!!! Yeah, I could NOT believe it. Haha!!! Anyway, the other day Melanee texted me randomly in the middle of the day and said, "I just heard the Dawson's Creek song and thought of you" then a few days ago I HEARD THE DAWSON'S CREEK song, so I thought I should blog about my OLD addiction....the one before the San Jose Sharks! haha
Please COMMENT on this
OK, Melanee and I are having a difference of opinion on something. I feel the way I do and she feels a totally different way. I know she is 20 years old and she gets to make her own choices in life, but I also know that I AM RIGHT! haha. So read this blog post taken from her blog so you can understand her side of things--- then read what I have to say.....then COMMENT-
What the heck...
Okay, so my mom got hecka mad at me last night. I know that no one reads this blog, but I wish a bunch of people did so that my mom could read their responses and realize that she is being silly, and has absolutely no reason to be mad at me.
So, about six months ago, Beth and I began to plan to run a 5k race together... We have been sooooo excited about it. Beth has been training like crazy. Yesterday, she texted me and was all excited because she had just picked up my race packet. I am really excited to do this thing! Yeah, I don't like running, but I have ALWAYS wanted to do a 5k. I don't know why... I do though. So I am so excited that I have the opportunity. The date of the only 5k that we found was April 9th. That was perfect because it was far enough in advance that if anything came up, we would be able to schedule around the race. Beth already paid for me. She didn't tell me that it cost any money, she just paid for me because she cares about me and is super nice.
My coach told us this semester that we were going to be playing in a 7 vs 7 tournament. He finally found out the date like three days ago. It is also on April 9th. I went and talked to him about it yesterday. He was totally okay with me missing the first 45 minute game. That is right, they are not even real games. We have 15 girls that are all going to play in this 7 vs 7 tournament. That is WAY to many. In this tournament we have four games. It is a really laid back tournament, it doesn't count for anything, it is pretty much equal to a pick up game. I don't even think that anyone is wearing real uniforms. AND I play about four hours of soccer a day. That is so much more soccer than anyone else I know plays. I love soccer. I have priorities, soccer is one of them. But I am mature enough to realize that some things are more important. And I can choose what things that I want to do in my life. My mom may not understand, but the 5k is important to me.
My mom is mad that I am being "flaky" toward my team. But I am not. I will be at 3 out of the 4 games. Everyone already knows that and they are totally fine with it. Everything is already worked out perfectly. My mom is the ONLY person in the world that is freaking out about it. I wish that she could see that its not as big of a deal as she is making it out to be. I used to be like her, I thought soccer was the ONLY thing that mattered. But I have grown up. Soccer is one of the most important things EVER. I love it sooo much. But it is not the only important thing. Even if the race seems silly to my mom, she should be able to understand, and not get mad.
Ten Reasons:
1) Beth and I planned this first
2) Coach is okay with me missing (pretty much would rather have me not be there so he can let all the girls have more playing time, and so he has one less girl to worry about.)
3) All the girls understand and are excited about my race and want me to have fun.
4) I love soccer and play EVERYDAY.
5) This tournament is just a silly one, they are just pick up games.
6) I am GOING to the tournament still. I'm not skipping the whole thing.
7) It is not even going to be a real 90 min game.
8) I am really excited about the 5k.
9) Beth paid for me already.
10) Everything is already planned out. It will make everything worse if I try to change it to the way my mom wants it.
Here's what I think and why I think the way I do. Melanee is a team captain. Melanee is one of the best players. Melanee has always HATED when her teammates miss games. At the spring tournament a few years ago, her team had to borrow players from the other teams because her teammates weren't dedicated enough to show up to the tournament. Melanee was very angry. Throughout all the regular season and even nationals, Melanee has voiced concern when teammates choose other stuff over soccer. Now she is doing the same thing! "Treat other people how you want to be treated"....not "an eye for an eye".....if she didn't like what others have done in the past, she shouldn't do the SAME THING. And one other thing that I think about is that when my team won the State Cup we got to go play in Western Regionals. Western Regionals were held on the same weekend as High School Graduation. Some of my teammates chose to go to graduations. Some of us didn't. Without all of our team, we lost every game at Western Regionals and it was a big disappointment, waste of time, and a waste of money for those of us who did go. Soccer is a team sport. A team needs all it's members to be a team. Melanee is part of a team. I don't want her being the one who is letting her teammates down, the one who picks graduation. I am still bitter about those girls! I missed my graduation. My team lost. I was not happy! I am still not, I guess!
COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT away---
What the heck...
Okay, so my mom got hecka mad at me last night. I know that no one reads this blog, but I wish a bunch of people did so that my mom could read their responses and realize that she is being silly, and has absolutely no reason to be mad at me.
So, about six months ago, Beth and I began to plan to run a 5k race together... We have been sooooo excited about it. Beth has been training like crazy. Yesterday, she texted me and was all excited because she had just picked up my race packet. I am really excited to do this thing! Yeah, I don't like running, but I have ALWAYS wanted to do a 5k. I don't know why... I do though. So I am so excited that I have the opportunity. The date of the only 5k that we found was April 9th. That was perfect because it was far enough in advance that if anything came up, we would be able to schedule around the race. Beth already paid for me. She didn't tell me that it cost any money, she just paid for me because she cares about me and is super nice.
My coach told us this semester that we were going to be playing in a 7 vs 7 tournament. He finally found out the date like three days ago. It is also on April 9th. I went and talked to him about it yesterday. He was totally okay with me missing the first 45 minute game. That is right, they are not even real games. We have 15 girls that are all going to play in this 7 vs 7 tournament. That is WAY to many. In this tournament we have four games. It is a really laid back tournament, it doesn't count for anything, it is pretty much equal to a pick up game. I don't even think that anyone is wearing real uniforms. AND I play about four hours of soccer a day. That is so much more soccer than anyone else I know plays. I love soccer. I have priorities, soccer is one of them. But I am mature enough to realize that some things are more important. And I can choose what things that I want to do in my life. My mom may not understand, but the 5k is important to me.
My mom is mad that I am being "flaky" toward my team. But I am not. I will be at 3 out of the 4 games. Everyone already knows that and they are totally fine with it. Everything is already worked out perfectly. My mom is the ONLY person in the world that is freaking out about it. I wish that she could see that its not as big of a deal as she is making it out to be. I used to be like her, I thought soccer was the ONLY thing that mattered. But I have grown up. Soccer is one of the most important things EVER. I love it sooo much. But it is not the only important thing. Even if the race seems silly to my mom, she should be able to understand, and not get mad.
Ten Reasons:
1) Beth and I planned this first
2) Coach is okay with me missing (pretty much would rather have me not be there so he can let all the girls have more playing time, and so he has one less girl to worry about.)
3) All the girls understand and are excited about my race and want me to have fun.
4) I love soccer and play EVERYDAY.
5) This tournament is just a silly one, they are just pick up games.
6) I am GOING to the tournament still. I'm not skipping the whole thing.
7) It is not even going to be a real 90 min game.
8) I am really excited about the 5k.
9) Beth paid for me already.
10) Everything is already planned out. It will make everything worse if I try to change it to the way my mom wants it.
Here's what I think and why I think the way I do. Melanee is a team captain. Melanee is one of the best players. Melanee has always HATED when her teammates miss games. At the spring tournament a few years ago, her team had to borrow players from the other teams because her teammates weren't dedicated enough to show up to the tournament. Melanee was very angry. Throughout all the regular season and even nationals, Melanee has voiced concern when teammates choose other stuff over soccer. Now she is doing the same thing! "Treat other people how you want to be treated"....not "an eye for an eye".....if she didn't like what others have done in the past, she shouldn't do the SAME THING. And one other thing that I think about is that when my team won the State Cup we got to go play in Western Regionals. Western Regionals were held on the same weekend as High School Graduation. Some of my teammates chose to go to graduations. Some of us didn't. Without all of our team, we lost every game at Western Regionals and it was a big disappointment, waste of time, and a waste of money for those of us who did go. Soccer is a team sport. A team needs all it's members to be a team. Melanee is part of a team. I don't want her being the one who is letting her teammates down, the one who picks graduation. I am still bitter about those girls! I missed my graduation. My team lost. I was not happy! I am still not, I guess!
COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT away---
SOCCER
Well, this has recently been a HOCKEY blog and the playoffs are coming up soon, so I foresee it being a hockey blog in the near future, so I better take this time to write about soccer. As I mentioned in my post earlier about my great Saturday, there was a USMNT game yesterday. I was thrilled that they were playing and was so excited that it was against a good team Argentina, the team with the awesome uniforms. Well, the US got new uniforms and I think I like them even better than Argentina's uniforms!!! Seriously!
I got to watch most of the game with William, but I was also texting with Melanee during the game, so that was fun. I have lots of opinions on the game and the players...haha....doesn't everybody??? Yeah! But mine are RIGHT!
I thought the US playing the first half with 3 center mids and only one striker did NOT work! I don't think Jones did anything but WATCH the game and walk around aimlessly. I thought Edu was out of position most of the time. I think Altidore needed help up top and he drove me nuts with his getting the ball, putting his head down, and quickly dribbling straight forward right into 4 defenders. He should have held up a bit and waited for support. And he needs to stop falling to the ground while looking at the refs, then whining at the refs when they don't call anything!
I read somewhere that the playing surface was grass sod placed over artificial turf. I could tell the grass was bad everytime Onyewu kicked the ball he fell. I wonder if the field planners made the surface horrible on purpose, knowing Messi and crew were good ball handlers. They are great dribblers and passers. Not so good in the shooting department.
I was sad to see that Jonathan Bornstein was not a starter. I was sorta hoping when Onyewu's knee buckled awkwardly that they would move Bocanegra to the middle and let Jonny Bornstein play on the left side, but he didn't ever get into the game. Maybe, hopefully, next game! Onyewy is 6'4" tall and he got OUT JUMPED by a 5'5" Messi one time.
William was excited that Jonathan Spector was a starter at right back. He blocked many shots, saved goals in doing so. I don't even think that he was beat on the Argentine goal.....that wouldn't have been a goal if Bocanegra, would have closed his legs. he was NUTMEGGED. Spector looks taller, stronger, and healthier than ever. He looks way different with his short hair, too, but not a bad different! He has a defensive stance like a basketball player. It's kind of cool. I read Jay DeMerit write on Twitter that guarding Messi is like being a 12 year old and trying to play tackle football with your 16 year old brother and his friends.....haha...so true!
I didn't see Landon Donovan do much. With three center mids, I don't know why he was sneaking towards the middle so much. I thought that he and Dempsey should switch sides and they did. On the kick off Dempsey put forth little effort to get to the ball that was kicked to him....he had some good moments, but nothing outstanding.
Michael Bradley (Mike Brad) looks like the Canadien cartoon character from the 1990's Cailou! He needs to work on his headers!
Howard was the MVP of the game. He has great timing and reflexes. Bet he'd make a good hockey goal keeper also!
The young 18 year old who scored the only US goal made a superb play on that goal....he was in the right place and kicked it with the correct foot UP and OVER the goalie. So EXCITING! Great skills.
Hey have I written that I really LOVE the new red jerseys?
I got to watch most of the game with William, but I was also texting with Melanee during the game, so that was fun. I have lots of opinions on the game and the players...haha....doesn't everybody??? Yeah! But mine are RIGHT!
I thought the US playing the first half with 3 center mids and only one striker did NOT work! I don't think Jones did anything but WATCH the game and walk around aimlessly. I thought Edu was out of position most of the time. I think Altidore needed help up top and he drove me nuts with his getting the ball, putting his head down, and quickly dribbling straight forward right into 4 defenders. He should have held up a bit and waited for support. And he needs to stop falling to the ground while looking at the refs, then whining at the refs when they don't call anything!
I read somewhere that the playing surface was grass sod placed over artificial turf. I could tell the grass was bad everytime Onyewu kicked the ball he fell. I wonder if the field planners made the surface horrible on purpose, knowing Messi and crew were good ball handlers. They are great dribblers and passers. Not so good in the shooting department.
I was sad to see that Jonathan Bornstein was not a starter. I was sorta hoping when Onyewu's knee buckled awkwardly that they would move Bocanegra to the middle and let Jonny Bornstein play on the left side, but he didn't ever get into the game. Maybe, hopefully, next game! Onyewy is 6'4" tall and he got OUT JUMPED by a 5'5" Messi one time.
William was excited that Jonathan Spector was a starter at right back. He blocked many shots, saved goals in doing so. I don't even think that he was beat on the Argentine goal.....that wouldn't have been a goal if Bocanegra, would have closed his legs. he was NUTMEGGED. Spector looks taller, stronger, and healthier than ever. He looks way different with his short hair, too, but not a bad different! He has a defensive stance like a basketball player. It's kind of cool. I read Jay DeMerit write on Twitter that guarding Messi is like being a 12 year old and trying to play tackle football with your 16 year old brother and his friends.....haha...so true!
I didn't see Landon Donovan do much. With three center mids, I don't know why he was sneaking towards the middle so much. I thought that he and Dempsey should switch sides and they did. On the kick off Dempsey put forth little effort to get to the ball that was kicked to him....he had some good moments, but nothing outstanding.
Michael Bradley (Mike Brad) looks like the Canadien cartoon character from the 1990's Cailou! He needs to work on his headers!
Howard was the MVP of the game. He has great timing and reflexes. Bet he'd make a good hockey goal keeper also!
The young 18 year old who scored the only US goal made a superb play on that goal....he was in the right place and kicked it with the correct foot UP and OVER the goalie. So EXCITING! Great skills.
Hey have I written that I really LOVE the new red jerseys?
LOVE the red
I don't care what Dax thinks, the new USMNT red uniforms are WAY better than the blue ones with the white Miss America sash. I was SO excited that there was a USMNT game today and that it was actually on ESPN2. And I was thrilled that it did not overlap with the Sharks game. I got to watch both in their entirety...well, that's not entirely true, I had to leave in the middle of the soccer game to RUN to Safeway, fastest Safeway trip EVER....I even went through the 15 items or less aisle with MORE than 15 items. I got back to see that no goals had happened in the game. I taped what I had missed. Then I started watching the hockey game the second the soccer game was over....I didn't miss even a second...in fact someone was still singing the national anthem when I flipped to channel 698.
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| Why do hockey players DO THIS? |
Anyway, got to see Logan Couture score. That was sweet. I really want him to get the rookie of the year award. I was wearing my sweat pants and my USMNT t shirt (the old one because the new one was still in the washer) and I had to (got to) go with William for the pre dance photo shoot with the parents. So I decided that I should change my clothes. I walked over to the VCR, pushed Record, walked to my bedroom (which is about 3 steps away from the VCR) stepped in, closed the door and heard William say "mmmmmmmmmmommmmmmmmmmm". It wasn't the sound of "MOM!" like the Sharks scored...it was a more somber "mom"...the Coyotes had scored. WHAT!?!?!???!!!! oh, well, maybe it's good I missed it. I drove William to the house where they were taking pictures and it was a NICE house. We have a few doctor friends, have been to a few RICH people's houses before, but this may just have been one of my all time favorites.....through the front door was the fancy sitting room area, behind that was the pingpong, pool table, pinball machine room, out that room was part of the backyard with a TENNIS COURT, then down the hall was the "great room" and it was GREAT. The kitchen was fabulous, the tv was HUGE, the dining room area was so fancy and nice, out the windows I could see a huge pool, they also had a outdoor kitchen that even had what looked like a pizza oven. They had a fancy little pond area where the pictures were taken. The pond even had fish in it! I don't know if you can tell from this photo but the little photo shoot area was beautiful-
I wish I could have gotten some close ups, though!
I rushed home and saw that the Sharks were WINNING 2-1. I watched the rest of the game, happily! They won 4-1!!!!! I forgot to mention that I spent part of the morning shopping with William online for a new "LUCKY" Sharks shirt. I didn't find the one I wanted, but that's ok, I got a black Sharks shirt, and you know "black goes with everything". Seriously, think about it, how many things can I really wear with a teal shirt????? Black or jeans, that's about it. (That's about all I have, but you get the idea, having a black Sharks shirt will be perfect, especially if it really is "LUCKY" cuz it's pretty ridiculous to wear a Canadien's shirt or a Blackhawks shirt while watching Sharks games, right??? I had a 20% off discount, so I went ahead and also bought a Sidney Crosby t shirt. It's also black. I can't wait to wear it to school and show the little first grader MY Penguin shirt. (Whenever she wears hers, I tell her that the Penguins are my second favorite team.)
William isn't home yet, so I can't tell you how the dance went, but I had a great day! AND DAX, the new red uniforms are THE BEST! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!!!
3/26/11
Spring 2011 Twirps
Tonight is Pleasant Valley High's TWIRPS dance. If you've been reading my blog for a long time, you will already know what TWIRPS is....it's the "The Woman Is Resonsible to Pay" dance. William went last spring, too, remember he was wearing Crocodile Hunter clothes? They also have a formal TWIRPS dance once a year. Here is a picture of William and his date Caitlin---- 
Here they are with the other couple they went with---
They went out to dinner at a Japanese restaurant for dinner. Hope these clothes were accepted there...haha....the theme of the dance was Electric Feel, whatever that it...but everyone was supposed to dress in neon and it was a "casual" dress code. I didn't get a good picture of them, but William brought Katelyn flowers that were the colors of her dress and tights and orange and yellow, too...beautiful. She really liked them, too!
#17
When Melanee was a freshman, she tried out for the varsity soccer team. The year before the Pleasant Valley High soccer team was reallllllllly good, but they lost a lot of seniors. There was no JV team, so all the people trying out were trying for the spots left vacant by the seniors. About 2 weeks into "tryouts" there is a BIG pre season tournament in Stockton. By this time the coach had not concluded his tryouts or selected his team, but he needs a tournament team and needs to pass out the uniforms to the girls who will be playing in the tournament. Of all the kids trying out he picked 5 freshmen to go to Stockton--- Melanee, Jamie, J-Lo, Summer, and Brittney. (Mel, did Brittney go?) Anyway, the coach had the girls pick their numbers, but planned to pass out the uniforms at the parent meeting later that night. When I went to the meeting, she had told me that I would be picking up #8, but while I was at the meeting, the coach informed me that after that practice that day a player who was not planning on playing (a senior) decided to play and she was #8 last season, so he gave Melanee #16. #16 was bag full of the jerseys, shorts, socks, sweats, jacket, etc......they were all size SMALL and they were DIRTY, stained, stinky, ripped, and just plain DISGUSTING. (the previous player had NOT washed the uniform after the last game and had NEVER taken care of any of the stuff, I don't even think the socks MATCHED and she had worn the bottoms of the socks OUT). You also need to know that when Melanee was a freshman, she was VERY modest. All of her shorts were long basketball shorts. Her t shirts were not tight. She wore clothes to be comfortable, not necessarily to look good. She did NOT like SHORT shorts, and would NOT have been comfortable in a TIGHT uniform. I doubt she would have ever worn the sweats because they would have been too short and the arms of the sweat jacket would have been too short. She would have HATED it. The big, thick winter coat wouldn't have gone around her shoulders. I was even worried that she wouldn't play as well if she would have had a too tight uniform. So, I asked the coach if I could switch it with a size Medium uniform. Since there were only 18 players going to the tournament and 22 uniforms, he said, "Sure". So I went over to the bags that were still sitting there and looked through them.....only #17 was medium sized, (and CLEAN), so I took that one.
HAHA. Not the story you were expecting, huh? 17 doesn't mean anything! #17 is not really a number with any special meaning. It's not the number of a favorite athlete. It's not the number she wore from her youth years (those shirts only go up to 13). It was just a nice uniform in the correct size.
A funny thing about the "cleanliness" issue was that one of the previous #17s had left a black permanent marker next to the shorts, so on the side of the shorts, on the white area was a big black ink mark. Only on Melanee's shorts.
The girl who ended up getting #16, her mom bought all kinds of stain eliminators and special oxyclean and did all kinds of treatments to get out the stains of #16 and she had to buy new socks.
No, the number was not picked by Melanee. No, I don't even think she liked it. She was definitely disappointed when I came home without the #8 bag. But now that she has been #17 for 7 years including Butte United, it is HER number and it is an AWESOME number. I really love it.
3/23/11
Bradley and the soccer team
OK, practice yesterday was going HORRIBLY. The boys just DO THEIR OWN THING and DO NOT LISTEN. ANNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDD Bradley was being an IDIOT. For example, I told the whole team to run around the grass field. They all do, Bradley goes a little way, then comes back to me. If he doesn't RESPECT my instructions....NO ONE will. He made me MAD. Wouldn't go finish the run!!!! Next drill. I explain to them to dribble to the end line then DON'T SHOOT, because the angle is SO BAD, when they get to the end line, PASS the ball to their teammate standing in front of the goal, he will tap it in and SCORE! Bradley was first in line, he dribbles down and SHOOTS! He, again, made me so mad that he didn't listen.....back to the theory that if he doesn't respect me NO ONE WILL. Next drill, 3 versus 2. The 3 forwards will ALWAYS have an open man to pass it to because they outnumber the defense. The drill is TO PASS to the OPEN man. Bradley goes first. Dribbles ALONE right up the middle and SHOOTS, never passing once. I am MORE than MAD now. Tell him to sit out. He refuses. Then for the next 15 minutes or so he mopes around saying that EVERYONE hates him. I don't know why this thought came to my mind. I've never done this before. I've never even seen it done by anyone else ever! But I got this (what I thought was) a wonderful idea. I gathered the players in a circle. I told them to look at the ground. Then I told them to ALL close their eyes. Then I said, "Raise your hand if you HATE Bradley." In my mind I seriously SERIOUSLY thought that NO ONE would raise their hand. I did NOT think that ANYONE hated Bradley and I didn't think ANYONE would seriously raise their hand KNOWING that it was Bradley's MOM asking the question. (And it also NEVER crossed my mind that Bradley would PEEK!!!!!!!) Sooooooooooooooo, guess what????? EVERYONE, all of them, EACH AND EVERY one of them RAISED THEIR HAND. They all ADMITTED to HATING Bradley! And Bradley looked. OH MY GOODNESS. Am I a BAD mom or WHAT?!?!?!????!!! Am I a BAD coach or WHAT??!?!???!????!!!!!! 11 year old boys!!!!! They are the WORST! Do they NOT think???? What were they thinking, even if they DO "hate" Bradley, what are they doing ADMITTING it to his MOM???!????!!!!! And ME, what I am doing PUTTING THEM (and Bradley) into that SITUATION.
I don't think this can ever be "solved". I don't think this experience will EVER be forgotten by Bradley. I can ONLY HOPE that from it he will try harder to "be a friend", like that saying "to have a friend, you need to BE a friend." I don't like that Bradley thinks that everyone hates him. I don't like that Bradley doesn't think he has any friends. But he has to know that he might need to change the way he acts in order to be more accepted by his peers. I don't think that saying "be yourself" works with 11 year old boys. They have to act "normal". It's so hard to grow up and learn these lessons! And I feel AWFUL that I made that situation happen. I WISH I could take it back.
I feel I've failed Bradley as a mom...and a coach........I want a DO OVER!!!!!!!)
I don't think this can ever be "solved". I don't think this experience will EVER be forgotten by Bradley. I can ONLY HOPE that from it he will try harder to "be a friend", like that saying "to have a friend, you need to BE a friend." I don't like that Bradley thinks that everyone hates him. I don't like that Bradley doesn't think he has any friends. But he has to know that he might need to change the way he acts in order to be more accepted by his peers. I don't think that saying "be yourself" works with 11 year old boys. They have to act "normal". It's so hard to grow up and learn these lessons! And I feel AWFUL that I made that situation happen. I WISH I could take it back.
I feel I've failed Bradley as a mom...and a coach........I want a DO OVER!!!!!!!)
William GOT ACCEPTED
William just found out that he was accepted to Southern Virginia University......you know, the college Melanee attends. AND.....the BIG news here.....he has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship!!!!! $5,000! So, I guess it wont be long before I will be seriously missing two children, who will be over 3,000 miles away. Well, at least they will be together. Wait wasn't it not that long ago they fought constantly about EVERYTHING and totally bugged each other??????? Yeah, that was A LONG time ago, they have both grown, matured, and WOW, TWO kids in COLLEGE....I wonder if I should stop calling them "kids"....... nah!
SVU Blog
If you want to see more pictures of Melanee on her trip to New York....there are a few on the SVU blog listed on the column on the right side of my blog. That school must REALLY like her....that is about the 4th or 5th time she has been pictured on their blog! And the other day we got a personal letter written by the PRESIDENT of her college congratulating us on having such a wonderful scholar athlete. He told us we should be proud of her. Well, we ARE! SOOOOOOO Proud. Such a good kid!
I'm Famous now (sort of)
My Sharks poll question was used on tv tonight during the Sharks game.....it's on the CSN website right now if you want to still vote.... http://www.csnbayarea.com/pages/sharks They even mentioned my name and Twitter name...I'M famous! SO cool!!! And the Sharks WON!!!! Happy Day.
3/20/11
March Birthdays
William's 18th birthday was on St. Patrick's Day...March 17th. We went out to dinner at Red Lobster. 
North State Relays Invitational
Chico State hosted a big track meet to kick off this year's track season. All high schools big and small from alllllll around here were represented, but it was an "invitational" so the races were limited to the top teams, best participants. It was a relay track meet, meaning all the races were relay races. William ran in two races. The first one was a 4 x 800. In that race each runner ran two laps. William's team came in 5th place. Their first runner started them out in the back, the other 3 runners couldn't make up the deficit. The second race he participated in was the 4 x 400. Each runner ran one lap. William was the second runner. He passed everyone. Here are some pictures. I wish my camera was faster, but by looking at these you can see how William passed each runner. He is the one in the navy blue. 
Name that little Shark
3/15/11
Summer Musical Audition
Tonight is Melanee's audition for the school musical. If you have your speakers on I put the song she is going to sing tonight first on my play list...if you cant hear it, it is "The Impossible Dream" from the musical "Man of la Mancha". GOOD LUCK Melanee!
3/14/11
3/13/11
Bird
As you probably know, Scott loves birds (*possibly as much as I love Sharks)! Well, today he found this bird looking at our new baby chicks, so he grabbed it. If you can tell from the small picture the bird didn't like being held, that is Scott's finger in it's mouth. (If you were wondering, he did let it go.) Who do you know that catches birds with their bare hands???justification
I know that everyone can learn from losing, that losing builds character, that not everyone can win, that youth sports are not all about the winning......so I think I need to justify my statements that this is the worst season EVER. I will start with my older team- This season is bad because of the disrespect the players on my team show me. They play where they want to play on the field, doesn't matter where I tell them to go. They don't want to come out when it is there turn to be a sub. They all comment on my coaching decisions, for example when I told Spencer to go in for Daniel, he said, "no, not Daniel". And when I told this one kid Andrew (not my Andrew) to go in for Alex, he said, "I want to go in for Bradley." They can't do that! That is DISRESPECTFUL. At practice they tackle each other, throw balls at each other, and don't participate in the drills I have planned if they don't like them. If they are acting "bad" and I tell them to run to the fence, they either don't go or just walk. I've had a parent from this team comment on my substituting fairness (she thought her son was out too long). I've had a parent tell me that they turned in the fund raiser money (they didn't). I've had a mom come pick her son up from practice at 5:50 (practice is over at 5). I've had practices where only 4 players have showed up and no one called to say they weren't going to be there. The list goes on.....so it is not just the losses which are getting me down. The players don't pass to the kids on the team they don't like. They don't run or try hard if they don't feel like it. They are mean to the not skilled kids. It is just HARD on me, especially after having such a wonderful group of boys last year. Last year the boys loved soccer, respected me, were friends with each other, and were HAPPY to play soccer. That team was amazing. The experience of coaching that team was thrilling. It was a special group of kids! You may say that all kids are special, but the dynamics of this team, this season, are not the same.
Then if you want to hear the facts that makes coaching Andrew's team hard...I will list just a few. I have one "special needs" kid on my team. (I had a different one last year.) I know this kid from school. He has a FULL TIME aide. At soccer, I have to deal with him and the whole rest of the team ALL BY MYSELF, and I am not specially trained and it's hard. I also have another player who could also be classified in this same category, but not as severe. Of the 13 players, 6 of them have never played soccer before. Of the 13 players 5 of them are as skinny and frail as you could ever possibly imagine, a strong wind would blow them away or the other team could tap them and they might break.....really fragile, not athletic kids. I think I only have 4 players who can actually KICK a soccer ball, a kick that will go further than just roll off their foot, like the other 9, who have no strength, power, or technique. This team is LOUSY. I've tried ALL the practice drills, pep talks, games I know to teach them soccer and skills.......then on Saturdays, game days, they go back to the bunch ball swarming style of play that the 5 year olds play. And then we get beat. The boys are nice, so I guess that's a positive, but add this experience to the experience I am having with my older team.....add that we have 2 practices for each team a week, plus games.....and my whole week is filled with the game I love, but I'm not loving it right now!
Then if you want to hear the facts that makes coaching Andrew's team hard...I will list just a few. I have one "special needs" kid on my team. (I had a different one last year.) I know this kid from school. He has a FULL TIME aide. At soccer, I have to deal with him and the whole rest of the team ALL BY MYSELF, and I am not specially trained and it's hard. I also have another player who could also be classified in this same category, but not as severe. Of the 13 players, 6 of them have never played soccer before. Of the 13 players 5 of them are as skinny and frail as you could ever possibly imagine, a strong wind would blow them away or the other team could tap them and they might break.....really fragile, not athletic kids. I think I only have 4 players who can actually KICK a soccer ball, a kick that will go further than just roll off their foot, like the other 9, who have no strength, power, or technique. This team is LOUSY. I've tried ALL the practice drills, pep talks, games I know to teach them soccer and skills.......then on Saturdays, game days, they go back to the bunch ball swarming style of play that the 5 year olds play. And then we get beat. The boys are nice, so I guess that's a positive, but add this experience to the experience I am having with my older team.....add that we have 2 practices for each team a week, plus games.....and my whole week is filled with the game I love, but I'm not loving it right now!
3/12/11
WORST soccer season EVER!
Read that title again and believe me IT IS TRUE! You would NOT believe some of the stories I have to back up that statement, too! Oh MY Goodness!!!!! I can NOT wait for this season to be OVER. I am even SERIOUSLY thinking about cancelling practice this week (because it is spring break AND because I need a BREAK!) Andrew did play well in his team 10-2 loss. (If it's possible for someone to play well in that kind of a blow out game.) He didn't score, but he ran up and down the field and TRIED, unlike his little teammates. And for a quarter of the game he played goalie and they only scored ONCE on him.
Bradley's team is another source of frustration. UGH!!!!! 3/11/11
New York New York
Melanee is home from her 5 day long trip to New York. She had a BLAST. She did a lot of things while there and I have found some picture to share. I hope she will put more up on Facebook, that's where I found these. If she does, I will add more to my blog later.
They left Buena Vista early Monday morning. I think they got to New York at around 4 eastern time. They stayed in a nice hotel, I know this because Mel sent me photo evidence that the hotel provided Shampoo, Lotion, AND Conditioner. All THREE! The first thing they did was to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. 
Monday night they visited Time Square. 
On Tuesday Morning, they took the subway to the temple. 
They also went to the MET museum. If you want to see more photos of the museum, check out Melanee's facebook photos. 
That evening she got to sit FRONT row at the play Wicked....for FREE. 
One of Melanee's all time favorite restaurants is Olive Garden. She got to go to Olive Garden ABOVE Time Square. Good food....good location. 
They also got to go to the Statue of Liberty. 
And there are NO Jamba Juice places anywhere near Virginia, so Melanee was thrilled to get a Jamba Juice in New York City. Look at that smile. I know there was more on the itinerary like Wall Street and Phantom of the Opera, so come check back again soon, hopefully there will be more photos to see.
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