Game 4 of Nightmare at the Rock Tournament

This game is the Championship Game to determine the winner of the U13 White Division at the Nightmare at the Rock Tournament. It is very exciting for our team. First off - we haven't done well at tournaments (record 0-2 ties-4 losses). At this tournament we have 2 wins 1 tie and now this determining game. We've already played the FC Rumble yesterday and beat them 2-0 so we know we can do it, but the question is can we do it under pressure and how much harder will the other team play.

At half time the score was 1-1. YIKES!
Robert had a great game! AGAIN he is so strong on defense. Here he is saving a goal with his back side. I didn't see the ball hit because I was looking through the camera but someone said it was a direct hit to the bottom. Funny.

I love taking photos and for some reason I was able to get quite a few of Robert in this game. Here he is heading the ball

Watching - timing

Passing the ball before the opponent arrives

dribbling for good position

look at the height of that jump for the header!

WOW! I'm impressed!

Okay, now we are on fire. Robert with the ball in total control.

"walking the ball" away from the opponant

The entire team had a great game and won the game 2-1. Goals by Ben and Drew (one an indirect kick). It was a great game - great victory! The boys were thrilled!

Robert receiving his Championship Trophy from his coach

Team photo: back: Jackson, Tyler, Dade, Matt S., Butch, Harrison, Ben, Ross, Matt G., Coach Rice. Front: Garrett, Alex G., Zach, Robert, Conner, and Brack. Not pictured: Alex D. and Drew

Game 3 of Nightmare at the Rock Tournament

The boys next game was at 12:20 pm - you can see from the photos that all the fields are extremely dry (dead grass) and flat, and the weather is sunny, but windy with a chill. We new that the team we played yesterday (and beat 2-0) had beat this team 7-0 so we were confident that we should win this game, but needed to be careful not to be over confident.

At half time the score was 5-0 our lead.

Robert as back up on the corner kick

Robert on defense in a one v one

Robert bringing up the ball

Ready and in position

on the move

one on two and Robert does a great job!

Robert plays every minute of the game. We won this game 10-1. Goals by: Ben (3), Matt S. (2), Conner, Garrett, Tyler, Dade, and Zach. This is confirms that we are playing the championship game at 3:30 in the afternoon. We have two hours between games.

Game 2 of the Nightmare at the Rock Tournament

Just as the sun is starting to set, the boys start to play their second game of the day (5:40 p.m.) Robert starts as right defense as he has all season. This is a big game - we need to win to stay in the standing (since we tied a game we should have won). It's a great game but I don't have many photos because of the lighting an time of the night.

Butch and Robert working together

Robert calm and controlling the ball

Butch and Ross ready to clear the ball

Butch is the defensive captain of the team. He and Robert work very well together.

At the end of the game - this is what the sky looked like -

was an amazingly beautiful view.

Now for the two hour drive home

Game 1 of the Nightmare at the Rock Tournament

10/30/10 - Greenwood, Indiana

Robert's Soccer team is playing in the Nightmare at the Rock tournament. Their first game is at 1:40 p.m. which means we have to be at the fields by 12:40 - with a two hour drive that means leaving Louisville around 10:40 - YIKES! That's right at the time Devon is running his last 5K race of the season. What is Betsy to do? She arranges for Robert to ride up with Drew to the game, and come up on her own after Devon's meet. It was so worth it. Devon ran a great race and I still made it in time for the game.

Today we played a team from Bloomington called the Cutters. We completely outplayed them, but did not come through with the goals. We had 15 shots on goal and 0 made it in. We hit the goal posts three times, and shot it directly to the goalie three (or more) times. They did have a very good goalie. Robert played defense the entire game. Above he is receiving the ball and will pass out wide.

This team had some very large boys on it.

Ben Rhoads #98: forward heading the ball

What a great photo! I had to include it.

Robert with his eye on the ball

Robert is always there to back up Ross. I love watching him play.

Final score: 0-0 Tie

It was a bit disheartening to not come away with a win. I think I will remember this game most for what happened off the field, more than on. We had a guest player, Dade. His mom shouted out a profanity from the sideline and was ejected from the game. I was so glad the ref threw her out. That is not tolerated!

Marissa runs in the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP race

10/30/10 - As it happens so often in our family, several very important events are happening around the same time on the same day. Today is no exception. Devon ran at the Metro Meet of Champions at 10:45 am, Robert left for a soccer tournament at 10:30 am (to play at 1:40 and 5:40) and Marissa ran in the Kentucky STATE CHAMPIONSHIP cross country meet at Masterson Station in Lexington, KY. The race started at 2:00 p.m.

Marissa running with Emma Brazeau and Rowan McWilliams.

Above:  Emma Brazeau, Marissa Lowe, Erin Edmondson, Katie Walker, Christina Ausley, Rowan McWilliams and Kelsey Hall - What an amazing team of hard working girls!
Marissa came in 67 overall at a time of 17.42.

She was 3rd for her team!

She did a fantastic job!!!

The girls team won 2nd place - STATE RUNNER UPS!

The boys team won 1st place - STATE CHAMPIONS!

1st place boys STATE

2nd place girls STATE

1st place boys Open

1st place girls Open

Metro Meet for Devon

10/30/10 - Devon's last meet of the season is at the Metro Meet of Champions. It is on the same course as the very first race of the season - the Tiger Run. It will be a great opportunity to see the progress of Devon's running.

Mid-race: looking strong

Sprinting to the finish ...

Sprinting fast!

Look at his stride.

Great job 5K in 18.21 minutes.

Devon with his coach after the race.

After the meet the team captain came up to Devon to congratulate him on a great run and compliment him on a super season. This was Devon's first season EVER running cross country and he was running faster and stronger than some of the boys that have been running for years. Jeremy asked Devon to consider conditioning for and continuing with cross country next year.

Spirit Week for Homecoming

What great fun. This week at the high school has been "Spirit Week"

Monday:  Sports Team Day

Tuesday: Super Hero Day

Wednesday: Zombie Day - Jessica and Devon decided not to do Zombie day - too much work

Thursday: Nerd Day -

Basketball Girl Nerds:  Jessica, Hannah, and Lucy                Jessica and Lucy in the halls

Friends:  Frannie, Alexa, Jessica, Amanda, and Attelee

Friday: Spirit day except Toga Day for Seniors

Jessica had basketball practice at 7:00 am that morning - so she got special permission to come home after practice to get ready for the big "Toga Day" She looked fabulous (thanks to a little help from her mom).

My beautiful senior!


All the girls together:  Brady, Amanda, Attelee, Alexa, Jessica and Frannie

Halloween Party

Friday night is the traditional spaghetti dinners for the middle school cross country team.  Tonights dinner was at Coach Levdahl's home.  The kids got to dress up in their Halloween costumes (if they wanted to).  I can't imagine there was a single middle school student not in costume.

Marissa and Katie Walker are eskimos

Robert is a Basketball head UK fan (he really is)

and Danny Walker is a Kentucky Farmer (y'all)

Aren't they great!

At the party:  Kelsey W., Katie Walker, McKenzie Mullins, Marissa Lowe, and Sarah Carey

Since Halloween is on Sunday this year, we didn't get or "go all out" on costumes.  The kids came up with some great stuff just from what we already had around the house.

Teaching Parenting Classes

Starting next Tuesday, November 2, 2010 I will be teaching the American Mother's, Inc. Power of Positive Parenting Classes at church for the following eight weeks.

I love teaching these classes! I really do. I believe everything they express. Most importantly I need to hear it over and over (I guess I'm a little thick skulled), and secondly I want to share this simple, proven and trusted method of parenting with others.

If you are interesting in attending: Please let me know. They are being offered at the Crestwood Building on Tuesday nights from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Jessica learns how to get home after being lost

Well, almost just as Robert's second game starts Jessica calls me to tell me she is done with the exam and is on her way home. YEAH!

Oh, Jessica is calling again..."your where? I gave you directions. It's okay, all you have to do is go over the bridge and then get off at exit 0 turn left, and get back on the bridge and follow the signs for 71N." "Enjoy Indiana while you are there!" "It's okay, you'll get home, but I can't help you if I don't know where you are."

Well, no worries - she made it home - I missed part of the game, but one of the parents from the other team said, "Have you ever considered getting her a GPS?" Ha Ha. Maybe for Christmas.

Devon ran in the St. Henry meet in Cincinnati

10/23/10 - Lucky for us Devon's meet was later in the afternoon, so Mark was able to see Marissa run at DeSales and then drive up to Burlington, KY to see Devon run in the St. Henry's meet. The St. Henry's meet is extremely competitive with St. X there and several others that we will competing with at state.

The course is more difficult than expected and just a bit longer than a true 5K. Devon was shooting to get his time under 18 minutes, but that was impossible on this course. The first runner in the JV race to cross the finish line finished at 18:15 - Devon was the 19th runner overall (top 20) and 5th for his team at 19:35. He did fantastic! He earned a medal in this race!

Devon's last race is next week on the same course as his first race. It will be a great opportunity to see the vast improvement from start to finish. So happy to see Devon's success at being on a team, participating, managing studies and sports, and to be so competitive.

I wasn't at the meet so I don't have photos to share (boo).

Marissa run her best at DeSales

10/23 A bit overcast but otherwise perfect weather for Marissa's 4K run at the DeSales Meet. This meet is held at the McNeely Park - it's a great course. It's hard to believe that Mark had surgery yesterday, and was at Marissa's meet today - he said he couldn't stand to miss two in a row. Marissa is such a strong and consistent runner - always improving - today was no different.

Here is Marissa on the first stretch that we could see her.

Someone had just commented that Marissa is always smiling - and here she is again, smiling as she runs past us. Only one more lap to go.

Marissa on the last half mile.

She did great! She finished with another PR - 17:29 (this is faster than her state meet last year). Marissa came in 23rd overall and 4th for the team. She is closing the gap on the top 3.