Tis the Season...2023

It's been a busy few weeks as we head into Xmas. I can hardly believe it's almost here and I still have lots to do! But then again I always keep myself busy with lots to do. 

Two weeks ago, I was gone for the weekend with Austen as he played his first two soccer league games of the season in Kansas City. They won both 4-1. First games back together after the high school season and without their coach since he was in Nashville at a college showcase with his girls' team. But these boys did what they had to do and brought home two wins. They are going to be a fun group to watch this season as there is so much talent on this team that the starting positions are coveted and very hard to come by - if you're not playing well there's someone equally talented on the bench who can easily replace you without so much as a blip on the field. With a roster of 21, it's only the top 15 or 16 players who will make the roster to travel to games. Very, very competitive on this team. And, they just found out they will likely get to play their ECNL rivals in the State Cup this year. That's huge bragging rights as typically these teams don't play each other because they play in the ECNL league but there's always the argument about which league is better. Austen wants to play in both the National League and the ECNL league as he wants the exposure in both and the right to say, we're just better. From what I've seen from the players on our team, we play with more skill while the other players have skill too but tend to rely on dirty tactics and aren't so nice to each other. Anyway, can't wait for that match up in May. But until then, Austen is practicing and had his first college ID camp at Bowling Green University in Ohio last weekend. Tom drove him the four hours there and back in one day so he could compete and check out the campus. He's had contact with the coaches and it's also one of the few schools that has architecture and men's soccer (D1). I give Austen a lot of credit for being very realistic about where he can play. He's done his research on the rosters. If they recruit a lot of international players, he crosses them off his list. If they only recruit MLS Next players (those who don't play in high school), he crosses them off the list. He looks at the top D1s and crosses them off the list. He's got some D3s and some lower level D1s on his list and some D2s may pop up (Papa is still trying to convince him to go to his college which is a D2 - Austen says no because it's too small and Catholic!). We've encouraged him to really explore Club soccer too. That way he can go to school for school but still continue to play as a lot of these schools have really competitive Club teams that you must try out for and are pretty hard to make. Anyway, lots going on with Austen this year as a Junior - school is hard, ACT prep and soccer recruitment. It's going to be a big year! 

As for the girls, Peyton is all in on the college search (for herself). I've told her to give us a break. We can only focus on one kid going through this process at a time. She thinks she needs to have it all figured out now - where she's going and what she wants to do with her life. It's exhausting. But, we did just pick her high school classes which was a process in and of itself - very opinionated on what she should be taking. Okay! We also went to the athletic fair for incoming freshman at the school where she barely talked to the swim, cheer and water polo representatives/coaches (all sports she currently does) and made a beeline over to the soccer table to talk with them about her joining girls soccer! What?!! She hasn't played since the 5th grade and she played rec soccer. Seriously, I don't understand her sometimes and don't know why she would give up her Club swim season to play a sport where she doesn't even have a chance of ever making Varsity and if she does by Senior year, she's going to sit the bench! No idea what's going on in her head or maybe she thinks the coaches will just automatically like her because they know her brother and that's an in for her. She did tell them that Austen was going to help her (and he would be the last person to help her so I don't know what she was talking about). I guess we'll see how this goes...

As for Hailey, she's making Xmas cookies, reading her books and just qualified again this year for the school Spelling Bee. But she said it's too much pressure and hasn't fully decided if she's going to participate this year. She did not participate last year because she freaked out about going up on stage and having to spell in front of all those people. I think it's so cool but she's so nervous, I'm not sure she'll do it. We gave her a free pass last year but would love to see her push herself outside of her comfort zone this year and participate. Hopefully, we can convince her and her teacher can as well. 

That about wraps up 2023. Hoping to report back on Xmas with some photos but if I don't get a chance to check back in before 2024, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

Only Wins This Year! No Ties!

Kansas City Action

Hanging out with Papa after her Sephora Make Up Lesson

Making Xmas Cookies!

There Are Two Swifties Now!

The T. Swift House

A few weeks ago, Hailey decided she now likes Taylor Swift too. That did not go over well with Peyton as she didn't want to share her love of Taylor with Hailey. But she quickly realized that now that there are two Swifties in the house she might have a better chance of persuading her parents (us) to buy tickets to that second Eras Tour she wants to attend. 

Now, these two listen to T. Swift songs together (Hailey used to roll her eyes and ask me to switch the station before when one of her songs came on), bond over making T. Swift cookies and bracelets as well as hit the local library for a T. Swift extravaganza. 

They even both wanted to visit the local house that decorated their house for the holidays in T. Swift fashion. We drove by and got out and took pics! 

Our nights are now filled with PowerPoint presentations on why we should take them to the Eras Tour in 2024 when she returns to North America (specifically Indy). I feel like tickets are more expensive than the first go round and really the only date that probably works is my 51st birthday. While she would put one a pretty epic show for me to celebrate my day, I'm not sure I'm ready for round two of T. Swift. But maybe. 

So Much Fun at the Library with T. Swift

Library Extravaganza

Making T. Swift Cookies

Battle of the Books!

Hailey is really busy and involved with school these days! She does many after school clubs the other two weren't interested in or didn't have time for (granted Peyton's last few years of elementary were affected by COVID). 

This year, she joined the Student Leadership Team and also the Girls Inspiration Club. Both clubs are designed to develop leadership skills and instill confidence as well as get the students to think about others and contributing to charitable causes. She likes both of these but she really loves the third club that she joined this year...Battle of the Books!

Students must read at least 7 of 20 books to compete in the district battle in February which is no problem for Hailey. She's already read 7 and moving on to read more to give herself/her team a better advantage if her team gets picked to compete in the district battle. For now though, they compete against each other every Tuesday after school by answering questions about any of the books on the assigned reading list. Hailey loves it! This is the kid that would go to her brother's soccer games and read a book (even though she plays soccer herself and could learn a thing or two from watching!). 

A few weeks ago, I took her to the library to check out some of the assigned books and you could visibly see the two of us exhale as we entered the library. We were home. I too absolutely love reading. Wish I did it more. But one of my favorite places is the library or the bookstore. I could spend hours in there. Hailey feels the same way so it was nice to share that love with her. I just wish they had Battle of the Books when I was a kid! Go Hailey! Keep reading and I hope your team qualifies for the district championship!