end game

Last game of the season

Stallions vs. Colts

November 1st- 55 degrees and the sun is shining

it's a perfect day for football!

They changed the format for this last game, to give all the developmental players and second teamers more playing time. Whatever it was, it worked. Evan got no less than 10 minutes playing time in each half. He was all over the field.

The best moment was catching a pass on the 2 or 3 yard line.

look how many guys are on him! Still standing!!

Hold on to that ball!

The Stallions went on to win 19-6, although the score should have been much higher. (we had three turnovers on the goal line)

He had many great tackles as well...this is the only one on my side of the field.

Favorite moment of the game? Coach Fred grabbing and twirling Evan after this play and screaming "Now You're playing the game! Now you're hitting somebody!" Twirling in football? Absolutely :)

Great way to end the season.

homecoming

Yesterday was the last regular season game for the Stallions- their Homecoming game against rival Northville team the Colts. Of course, it was raining and miserable. They started the day off with a parade thru downtown in decorated cars. After the parade, I worked in the concession stand until game time. It was more fun than I thought it would be, and because the weather was so crummy, not busy at all. They were expecting a huge after parade rush. I think everyone went home to warm up. Not a bad volunteer job.

Unfortunately for the Stallions, things were just not going their way. The field was very muddy and slippery, therefore the ball was hard to hold on to. They never completed a pass the entire game. No runs over 6 yards. And lots of penalties. They seem to hurt themselves more than the opposing team. They were shut out, 27-0. Bummer.

The good news was, Evan played almost the entire game! Apparently he was fired up at practice on Thursday, and the coaches' took notice. He played offense, defense, safety. He played with the OC and the BO. He was all over the field. He made 2 or 3 excellent tackles.

first man on the line, ready to play

here he is taking a hit from one of their really good players. Ev had a hold of his jersery and the kid spun, taking Ev down and pounding him in the ribs in the process. He is sore today!

I should have made him turn around...the backside is far dirtier! The mud had soaked thru his pants, girdle, & pads to his underwear. I soaked everything in Oxy for several hours and it all came out, surprisingly. You could tell which kids played the most by the dirt level, and Evan was one of the dirtiest.

I also had the pleasure to be a 'booth spotter' during the second half of the game. Basically, you and a partner call out the numbers of kids in on a play for the announcer. Not as easy as you would think, because they are facing sideways usually. And when they all pile on someone, trying to figure out who made the play is practically impossible. But it was dry and warm, and an interesting perspective on the game.

Word is that they might have a playoff game (how it's possible is anyone's guess), so another week of practice for us. Ugh. I was hoping to get that time back.

Happy Sunday!

an eventful October

Only 4 days into the month and we have been busy!

• Evan had a great football game today. The Stallion won 31-19 against the Livonia Blue Jays. I only saw the first half of the game, and caught him taking this hand-off! He ran for about 8 yards, but when he was finally brought down (by 5 guys!), they shoved him back 5 yards. In the second half, he returned a punt for 25 yards!
• Emma had games on Friday night and this afternoon. Friday's game was awesome soccer...the best her team has played. Unfortunately, both games were losses. The frustrating thing is they are only losing by a goal! It's not like they are getting blown out or anything. We just need to get the ball into the back of the net!
• I woke up this morning to find that my etsy shop was featured in the shopping section of the Detroit Free Press! (I won't bother to link it, the shopping section isn't online!) The writer of the column contacted me last week, but I hadn't heard back form her. I wasn't sure if she changed her mind or what. It was a nice surprise!
• My baby knits are up on the Baby Gardner.Take a minute to check out her shop-she has lovely baby things!
• Michigan State was victorious over Michigan in OT. Go Spartans!
• Today was the last day of the season at our favorite ice cream place. We were standing out there in the cold eating custard in our hats and gloves.
• Will the sun shine ever come back? It's been a lousy weather weekend.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Evan's first touchdown!

As miserable as Saturday was for a football game, I'm so glad I didn't miss it, because Evan scored his first touchdown! The team got creamed in the end, but it didn't matter one iota :)

The pictures are courtesy of the team photographer, who does an awesome job! I have a shot from another perspective, but I haven't taken them off my camera yet.

I was sitting in the stands (alone), the boys were on the 5 yard line. I saw the QB getting ready to hand off the ball. I thought it looked like Evan holding the ball, but I wasn't sure. The crowd roars with the TD, and I'm still wondering if it really was him! I'm waiting for a sign from him, a thumbs up or something, but none is forthcoming. So I went down to the field and asked the team photograper, and she confirmed that it was him, and that she had pix!

I'm hoping that I can blow the top on up and use it in the redecoration of his room. That would be a cool focal point!

So today is cold, wet, rainy and windy. I think summer has officially left the building!

weekend recap

Hi, and happy first day of Autumn!

Our weekend was a blur of activity that usually requires a day or two of recovery. I expect the cycle to continue until the end of November. Scratch that. Probably more like January. Sigh.

A short pictoral of our weekend:

Evan & Aunt Roberta after the Michigan game. UofM won, he had a fantastic time, and talked Aunt Ro's ear off. He is the good luck charm for team's this weekend-every game he attend the home team won.

Friday was Em's big 12th birthday. Celebrations were very low key this year. In fact, this is the only photo I took (in part cuz I was busy, in part cuz she won't let me) She & I had her favorite dinner on Friday night (Noodles & Company), ate Ben & jerry's ice cream and watched Princess Protection Program. Cute girly movie. She fell asleep before the boys were home from the hockey game. She opened our gifts on Saturday morning,and her friend Kailey came to sleepover Sat. nite. Extremely low key. we had our family celebration on Sunday after Ev's football game. Another great haul, giftwise.

Saturday her team played a great game out in Brighton. The final score was 2-2, but they played really well. We brought Costco cupcakes for the team. If you haven't ever tried the Costco cupcakes, you should. Each one is the size of a softball.

I love the look of determination on her face in the first photo. She also got her first injury of the year when she took a kick to the knee. The girl dragged her cleat down Em's leg, and she has a huge black bruise.

Sunday was all about football. First home game of the season. First game I was able to attend.

singing the national anthem

GO Evan! He still is a bit scattered out on the field. His blocking is pretty good, but the tackling needs some work. Twice he dove at an opposing player and twice he got a faceful of turf. He needs to hold on and not let go!

I thought maybe he was going to go out and punt, but apparently he was just goofing around. Which is totally frowned upon, and I don't know why he didn't get his patootie kicked.

Here he is making an awesome play so the quarterback can run the ball. Oops, I think he got a penalty, however. Looks good on camera though! The Stallions won 33-28 in a last quarter nail biter.

The family party was a good time, but I've figured out how these things could be better. All the prep work we do, all the cooking and cleaning and shopping, that stuff is easy enough. What I would really like is if someone came in and did all the cleanup. All of it. That way, I could just sit back and enjoy the company, the conversations. Instead, I'm stuck washing a bajillion dishes and being resentful that I am missing all the good stuff. It's also when we're at our most exhausted, and more likely to snap at each other (ask me how I know). Party clean up. There's my million dollar idea. Who wouldn't love that?

This weekend will bring more of the same. Em has a game Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Evan's football game is on Saturday this week, and he has a soccer festival on Sunday. Needless to say, we will be split into groups all weekend.

And this, in a nutshell, is why I love Monday so much.

Be good!

time to hit the road!

ROAD TRIP!

The Treiber girls are hitting the open road tomorrow. Right after school lets out, we will be hopping into the car and heading north to Petoskey so that Emma can play in the Petoskey Autumn Blast tournament. If you don't live in Michigan, Petoskey is up near that break between the third and pinky 'fingers'. About a 5 hour trip. The weekend is supposed to be a nice one, and with the cool summer we have had, fall colors should be nearing premium time up north (It's usually still a few weeks away, but already we have many trees turning down here). I am excited to go, and to spend some time alone with my girl.

I'm also bummed because I will miss Evan's very first football game. Bart is going to take the camcorder for me, but it won't be the same. I wish I could be there to cheer for him, and to silently will the coaches into putting him on the field. The good news is that (right now) he isn't too upset with my not being there. he knows I want to be, but that it's important that I support Emma, too. The guilt we suffer for our kids!

School is going well for both of them. So far balancing sports and school hasn't been an issue, but I can see as we get further into the semester, having enough time to do homework could become a problem. And Ev never knows what practice he is going to on any given day. It's all written down and we have told him a billion times, but he still hasn't gotten it. I guess he is still on summertime-double-practice mode.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

first scrimmage

Last night was Evan's first scrimmage against another team. It was all very exicting, and the entire day before we went was spent preparing for the fun that was to come.

What came was an exercise in patience, both for Evan and for me.

Ev is on the freshman team, of which there are 2 parts. The Orange Crush, and the Black Defense. The OC is made of up of the younger guys, who are brand brand new to football. The BD is the older, second season freshman (because of where their birthdays fall, they couldn't move up to JV)

Since Ev is new to the team, he falls into the crack in between-too old for the OC, not trained enough for steady play in the BD. So he waits. And watches. And dies to play.

At first, I was about to throw a major tantrum because they were not putting him in. At all. 3 plays out of 20. We are here to support his play? I was seething.

During a water break, he was nearby, so I asked him. "Why aren't you playing?"

And his answer was "I have to earn my way in, Mom".

It killed me a bit. He has to prove himself to play. He has to play to prove himself.

He is #27, with the black scrunched down socks. And the tight jersey.

OMG! Do you see him taking this hit??

I have to learn to let go of my pre-conceieved notions of fairness and just let it be. Which is incredibly hard. I know he is thrilled to play. I know he loves it. And I want him to earn it. I just wish it wasn't so hard.

I would love to see him get his hands on the ball. It would be so worth it.

girdiron guy

Here we have a freshman Stallion. He's lining up for a play, or taking instruction, or maybe bird watching. Who really knows.

oops! He spotted me! My cover is blown. At least he can't smile and wave at me. That mouthguard makes him look fierce.

time for a water break. It's hot under all that gear. If you don't believe me, maybe you'd like to stop by at about 8:05 to help wrestle him out of it.

I love the look of concentration on his face, located directly under the clapper (?). He's getting ready to run a relay race for a prize, and he isn't about to be beat. Incidentally, his team won.

I can't say that I really understand about 90% of what's going on, but he is tackling and hitting and running plays and digging every minute.

he loved it

Day 1

he loved it

he's sore and stiff and sweaty

and he has a huge smile on his face

the return of soccer boy, OR How I Spent the Months of August, September, and October

photo taken last year at this time

So soccer camp starts tomorrow, bright and early. For him. Emma doesn't go until evening. I am happy; to be getting back into routine regular activity. I am nervous; I hope Emma will step up to the challenge of an advanced team, and that Evan won't collapse from exhaustion. I am excited; to see them both play this fall. I am beyond sad; I will have to miss Ev's first football game to go to Emma's first tournament (it's not fair!) I am exhausted; at the thought of how many hours I am going to log driving them back and forth to practices and games.

And, AND football practice starts this week. Monday thru Friday, 5:30-8:00. I don't suppose we will eat together ever again except on weekends.

It's only thru the end of October. You can do this. It's only 12 weeks.

Wish me luck.

oh Lordy, someone help me!

Today we picked up Evan's football equipment. The reality is beginning to settle in-my kid is going to play football and other kids are going to hit him! Gah!

(In the future, I will refrain from referring to him as cute. But look at him!)

running to catch a pass. it's a whole new world-one with no peripheral vision!

Ooops...we have a problem. The name is misspelled. Going to fix it tomorrow!

It's a whole family workout to get him into the gear. I was bathed in sweat by the time we got him in and out twice. This is his practice jersey and it is super extra tight. For the next 2 weeks he has to practice putting in the pads, snapping the helmet, and securing the shoulder pads himself. And he has to wear the helmut at least 45 minutes a day, so that he can get used to it. I have my very own bobblehead!

At least it isn't hot!

Tomorrow we have to go shopping for a girdle and cup! Oh joy!