Commissioners Cup

We have loved watching the boys play football this season.  It's been a long season, it's sad to see it end.  Nolans team made it to the final game in the commissioner's cup.  We were disappointed to learn they would play this game on a Sunday.  We don't play sports on Sundays but have certainly made exceptions here and there for things.  This was a game we were willing to make an exception for.  The coach texted us and told us that he would support whatever decision we made.  That was nice of him knowing our family's position on playing sports on Sunday.  We decided that if we were going to go we would go and support Nolan as a family.  It was during fall break and at the last-minute JJ ended up needing to go to church.  He needed to conduct and preside in sacrament meeting.  Everyone in the bishopric was out of town or sick that morning.  JJ went to church with Lucy and Garrett, and I took Nolan to the game.  If they came right after sacrament, they would only miss the first part of the game.  I got Nolan there for the warmup and listened to church on Zoom in the car.  They didn't miss much of the game.  It was a slow game with very little action.  It came down to a tie of 0-0 as the game ended.  We went into overtime, sudden death.  Each team had four plays from the 10-yard line to make a goal.  The other team went first.  They didn't score, then it was our turn.  We ran two plays with no luck.  The third play the coach ran a play to get the ball to the middle so it would be lined up for a kick.  The fourth play they put Nolan in to kick the ball!  I was so nervous!! He has been working so hard and just the day before spending hours at the field with JJ kicking.  After the game where he missed those kicks, and they lost the game Nolan has really put in some work becoming better.  This was his chance to show his team how hard he has been working.  Lucy, Garrett and I were cheering for him in the stands.  Everyone was cheering for Nolan! It was farther back than other kicks because he had to kick from where the play ended.  He got all lined up and had a great kick, it was beautiful!!! It was good and we won the game with three points. What a memorable moment for Nolan and our family.  I was so proud of him!!! He was so excited as well.  After the kick JJ went out on the field and picked him up and gave him a big hug.  I know JJ worked so hard with Nolan.  They watched lots of you tube videos on kicking and spent time together practicing. He got a special call out by his coach in the little post-game talk, he named him MVP of the game.  The coach knows how hard Nolan has been working.  It really shows when you work hard at something.  Lots of people commented that it was the perfect way to end the season for Nolan.  They knew how hard he took it when he missed those kicks at that game.  We are proud of Nolan for working hard and not giving up on kicking and playing football after that game.  It was a big life lesson for him.  He was on cloud nine the whole day and never took his medal off.  He even wore it to school on Monday. 

Varsity Game

Friday night the varsity team played the first game in districts.  Garrett went to stand on the sideline but also brought his uniform in case they put him in.  He said he was pretty far down the line to go in. I didn't go to the game, but JJ, Nolan and Lucy went.  JJ texted me in the fourth quarter and said Garrett was going in.  They didn't even notice him go put his uniform on, but Nolan noticed him running onto the field.  Garrett said in the third quarter the head coach went down the line and picked a few players to go get their uniforms on.  We were winning by a lot.  Garrett was picked to put his uniform on.  He said he was shaking with excitement as he got dressed.  He got to play four plays, nothing significant happened but he had a blast.  As long as varsity keeps winning Garrett will keep practicing with the varsity team.        

 

Halloween

We had a really nice Halloween, very relaxing!  The kids are on fall break, so we were able to spend the day together.  We carved pumpkins together and watched Charlie Brown and the Great pumpkin.  Each kid did their own pumpkin, and they did a great job.  Nolan needed a little help with his fangs, but he came up with the design on his own and drew it on his pumpkin.  I made some soup and pumpkin banana bread.  My Dad came over as well as the Elmores.  Garrett asked earlier if he could put a fire in his pumpkin.  I told him sure, like a candle and he said no a fire.  So, as we were starting the fire in the firepit he put wood and paper in his pumpkin and started a fire.  Our neighbor Jeremy had some of those things that make the fire change colors.  He put one in his pumpkin and the fire turned green.  It was actually pretty cool and maybe a new tradition!  Lucy had a few friends come trick or treat with her.  They all had matching masks that they wore.  Garrett and Nolan trick or treated with a few of the neighbors.  Garrett only went a little way and then walked over to his friend's house to hang out.  Nolan trick or treated forever!  He called JJ and had him bring him a new bag and take his full one home.  He got so much candy!  We didn't have as many trick or treaters.  There were a lot of houses with their light off on our street, so we think that kept people from coming down our way.  We had fun vising around the fire and handing out candy.  It is fun to see all the costumes and interact with the kids that come by.  I am glad we had good company to share our evening with.  I am also glad we are off school the day after so we can sleep in.        

Nolan played a game in Washington on Saturday.  Grandpa came to watch him play.  He had a good game and made 3 out of the 4 kicks.  The one he missed was into the wind and sun.  He had a great game and enjoyed having Grandpa come watch.  They have one more game, the commissioners cup game next weekend.  

Garrett had his last JV football game Monday evening.  Grandpa came to cheer him on, unfortunately it wasn't the most exciting game Garrett has played.  Garrett had a great season.  I can think back to so many games that he had great plays in that really made a difference.  I can also think of a lot of games especially in the beginning that he didn't play a lot.  He improved over the season and the coaches started to give him more playing time.  I think he is turning out to be a good football player.  He has worked really hard and come a long way since starting to play.  After the game last week, the head coach told him in the hallway how good he played.  The coach even told Lucy how well her brother played.  I am excited to see him develop more as a player!  It will be strange to not have football on Monday evenings anymore.  I have enjoyed cheering him on!  

Turkey Trot

Nolan ran the Turkey Trot at Holt High school.  All of the kids have enjoyed running this race over the years.  Nolan is very competitive, when he come home, he was excited to tell me the kid that usually wins the race for his grade wasn't participating this year.  He said he had a chance without that kid running.  He was pretty excited.  He ran really hard and was in second place for about half the race.  As he passed me in one of the spots, he knew he was going to get passed.  He wasn't happy about that and after that ended up walking for a little bit.  He came in fourth place and had a great time of 7 minutes 12 seconds.  He got a medal and was proud of that.  He wished he could have won or been in the top three.  I told him he should be proud of himself for running such a great race.  The next day at school a kid in his grade who took I think second, or third place told me how good Nolan did.  I thought that was so sweet, I told that kid he had a great run too!  I think this is our last Turkey Trot run.  Another last for our family.      

We have been dog sitting for the Elmores this week while they are in Utah for fall break.  Jack has loved the company of Harley and Bentley.  It has kept us busy taking care of all three dogs.  We took them to the park Sunday afternoon for a nice walk.  I love the mile loop at Brommelsiek park, especially in the fall.  The leaves are starting to change and it was a beautiful afternoon.  I thought to myself "I wonder how many times we have hiked this trail."  I really do wonder.  It has been 12 years that we have lived here and it is one of our favorite hikes.  I have countless pictures of the kids climbing up that tree that is leaning over and several pictures of the kids with the pretty leaves.  I loved hiking there again today and enjoying the afternoon.   

 

We were able to attend Nolans football game as a family.  It makes me happy when we can all support one another.  I know Nolan certainly has been at all of their games.  Sometimes just because he is the youngest and gets dragged along to them.  He enjoys when they come watch him play too.  I know they are into the game too and love when they cheer him on from the stands. 

We went straight from the football game to our ward fall party.  It was at the Hunters home this year.  That was a fun change from the typical chili dinner and trunk or treat at the church.  I know the Hunters worked so hard on preparing things for the party. We got there a little late, but it ended up being good.  It was a hot day and by time we got there the sun had gone down a little and it cooled off.  We had a chili dinner, and the kids went on a hayride.  They had a trunk or treat for the kids.  Nolan didn't bother with a costume.  He just kept his football uniform on and went as a football player.  It was a fun evening, and we enjoyed socializing with the ward.  We missed having Lucy with us.  There was also a stake dance that evening that she wanted to go to.  We are glad she had fun going to that with her friends.  It was a busy day and we fit a lot in.    

 

Kicking and Losing

Nolan has really enjoyed kicking for his football team.  Ever since being given the chance to kick he has made every kick.  We knew the day would come when he would miss.  He hasn't really ever practiced or been trained on how to kick.  He has just gone out there and kicked the ball and made it.  Saturday's game was an important game.  It decided which tournament we would go to, and we really wanted to win this game.  Nolan went in for his first kick and missed it.  I could tell he was really disappointed.  I was thankful that JJ was able to be down on the field with him.  I knew that Nolan was going to need a pep talk and not let this get in his head.  He kept telling JJ something was different.  He went out for the second kick and missed again.  He was upset again.  Thankfully after each kick JJ would be able to calm Nolan back down.  It was a very close game! There were several mistakes made on the field.  It came down to the last 7 seconds of the game.  We were down 18-19.  Nolan went in for a kick after touchdown.  We needed these 2 points to win the game!  I was so stressed for Nolan.  If it would have been any other day when he had been making his kicks, I don't think I would have felt so nervous.  Everyone in the stands was cheering for Nolan.  His teammates were holding hands and cheering for him.  Nolan got all lined up and ready to kick and the other teams coach called a time out.  He did this twice!  Each time Nolans coach would kneel back down by him and give him another pep talk.  We knew the other team was trying to make Nolan nervous.  I know he was nervous enough.  Lucy and Garrett were with me in the stands, and we were all cheering for Nolan!  He finally got to kick it, and he missed.  We lost the game.  I was so sad for Nolan.  As we walked down the stands so many parents came up to me and told me Nolan did such a good job.  They all felt so bad for him.  One Dad said if he would have made the kick it would have been like a Disney movie.  He also helps coach the high school team.  He said any coach will tell you Nolan did not lose this game.  It was lost by the whole team.  Nolans coach told everyone the same thing after the game.  There were lots of mistakes and he said he even made a bad call that resulted in a touchdown by the other team.  Nolan didn't lose the game, even if he felt like he did. By time I got to Nolan he was crying pretty hard.  He told me he never wanted to play football again.  We had some good talks with Nolan after the game.  We told him we weren't going to quit.  We were going to work hard and improve.  JJ watched some videos with him on YouTube about other athletes not giving up.  The read quotes and decided they were going to work on kicking.  We ordered some kicking gear and JJ told Nolan he would spend time with him kicking and becoming better.  It was a hard day.  I felt so bad for him, it was a lot for a 10-year-old to handle.  Sometimes it is good to realize all the life lessons you can learn when playing sports.  It isn't always easy.  There are times you have to work hard for things you want.  I know this experience will make Nolan a better athlete and kicker.     

That afternoon we went to Lucys basketball in Chesterfield.  We invited Grandpa to join us.  After the game we went to his house for a fire.  We roasted hot dogs and made smores.  It was a beautiful evening, and Grandpa was so thankful we reached out.  He told me more than once while we were there how much fun it was.  He texted me later in the evening and thanked me for including him in Lucys game and coming over.  After an emotional day it was good to have fun at his house and relax.               

 

DRE Trunk or Treat

We are experiencing a lot of "lasts" at our house this year.  With Lucy graduating high school and Nolan leaving elementary school it's a big year at our house.  We took Nolan to the trunk or treat at the school.  It is crazy to think back to our first trunk or treat at the school.  It was so lame and there was barley anyone there.  Now they are totally different, it is packed full of people and the trunks are decorated so fun. Each trunk usually has an activity for the kids to do so it takes a while to visit all of them.  Nolan saw some of his friends but was a little disappointed they weren't interested in getting candy.  They wanted to play on the playground.  Nolan wanted to get candy. We waited with him in the lines and got a bucket full of candy.  One of the trunks handed out these really cool glow wands.  They didn't have very many and Nolan didn't get one.  He was so disappointed.  I thought it was going to ruin his whole night.  He decided to make the night fun regardless and was happy to go home with candy to enjoy.  It was a fun night at our very last DRE trunk or treat.