August-December 2017

My goal is going to complete the blog updates from the last million years and attempt to stay in real time from now on.  Blogging is something I really like, but it is so hard to maintain that on a regular basis!  I don't mean to neglect it, but it isn't something I can just sit and do unless I plan a time to do it.  

So thankful for this man and his health.

Open heart surgery in August and he was up and moving soon after.

My best friend lost her dad in October to the same kind of heart issue that Dad had.

Every now and again I catch myself thinking about Dad and Roy and how thankful I am.

I started coaching my girl last May and we had competitions through December of 2017.

It was a long season and it was hard, but we had fun!

I think she's ready to do it again and I am gearing up to coach again!

Hayes plays soccer and Libby does cheer.

The girls color on the sidelines while we watch soccer.

It is lovely.

Last season our soccer team was terrible.

As in, we never won a game.

This season was awesome and we went undefeated!

Cheer comp season was similar to LAST soccer season.

We didn't win one single competition during regular season!

We still had a GREAT time!

In October 2017 we put our house on the market and got full asking price in 10 DAYS!

Fall Festival at Winston is always a good time!

Our BFF Kinsley!

Soccer Sundays

This was my soccer weather on Sunday.

I did NOT want to go play.

I was so certain that our game would be cancelled because of the rain and thunder!

I was wrong!

The field was in good shape and it wasn't too squishy.

No standing water, so we played.
It rained off and on the entire time we were out there Sunday.

I loved it.

I got to run and I burned 1300 calories!

I need to play soccer every day.

I love exercising, but there is nothing as challenging as racing towards the ball.

I had makeup on before the game.

Thankfully I had baby wipes in the car to remove it as my mascara was running down my face.

Post game sweat/rain look.

My sweet toe got crunched during the game.

But I won and got the ball!

It didn't look too bad on Sunday night....

But this morning it looks pretty gross.

I doesn't hurt, thankfully, just looks nasty.

Soccer Sundays

Yesterday was soccer game #3 for our season.

I had a blast!

In game 2 I tried to play a little too hard, or maybe I didn't stretch long enough...

either way, I pulled my quad muscle and thought I was dying for a good 2-3 days.

I wasn't sure I would even be able to play yesterday, but I made it through the whole game.

Good thing too, since we had no subs and just enough to play!

I've finally found a no slip solution for my hair.

I'm a picky girl about the headbands or hair apparatuses that are used.

I don't want it to slip. 

Like, at all.

And I don't want to have to mess with it.

Like, AT ALL.

So I got Brady Bands.

And my life is now complete.

If you don't have these you need to go order some now.

We played a Gwinnett Soccer Association team in Lilburn yesterday.

I drove allllllllllll the way to the other side of Atlanta, past Stone Mtn, and finally arrived at the fields.

Literally across the street from one of our friends' schools.

Porter coaches wrestling at Parkview and was totally thrilled to see his school.

Such a nice campus and located across from really nice fields.

Our game seemed like a really long game, but it was a good one.

The other team didn't appear to be in great shape, so they were easily outrun.

They only made it to our side of the field offensively once or twice.

Our sweeper is amazing and I'm so thrilled that she's got my back, especially since I'm still crippled.

Our offense is awesome as well, and very young, compared to the rest of us....

So they play well together with lots of energy!

The first couple of sprints and kicks for the ball reminded me that my leg was still recovering!

I was in liveable pain for a good 30 minutes before my leg finally let me play!

I can still feel the injury this morning but I know I'll survive.

I wore my heart rate monitor and tracked my calorie burn for the game.

1400 calories friends.

1400.

I need to play soccer every single day so I can eat 400 brownies, ok?

Geeeeze Louise.

 

Our team is undefeated, yay!

Hoping to continue that streak this weekend.

This weekend is the first game on our 'home' field and I won't be able to play.

I've got sister duty (that I'm pleased to assist with) at a bridal shower.

I can't wait to spend some time with the bride to be and her maids this weekend.

Saturday mom and sisters came to play at my house.

It was a nice thing before life gets crazy with spring stuff at school and wedding madness!

We had Chick fil A (duh) and then a cupcake buffet.

I had one whole cupcake and 1/4 of another one.

They were worth every.single.calorie.

And then I ran 5 miles.

Boom.



Pause Disney...for soccer..

I played soccer yesterday afternoon for the first time in 5 years.

I haven't played competitive soccer in about, um, 10 years.  Possibly 11.

I played briefly in college until I got hurt and couldn't play anymore.

Stress fractures=no more soccer for me in college.

So, for the last few years I've wanted to be able to find a league in my area to play in.

I looked online, but didn't find a whole lot that I was impressed with.

I wasn't looking to play for blood with big scary men.

I wasn't trying to be competitive and crazy with women either.

Co-ed kinda creeped me out as well.

I just wanted to find some ladies who wanted to play for fun.

I posted on FB and asked if anyone knew of such a thing.

I got a reply from a dear friend and began my search.

I found it!

League of women, who are fun and not terribly serious.

No practices, just games on Sundays!

March-May.

I can handle this!

Yesterday it was so nice to push myself to my physical limits.

To inhale that cold, crisp air and feel it rush into my lungs.

To feel that familiar sting when the ball collided with my thighs and knees.

The fancy imprint of the ball reminded me of that hours later...

It was windy and freezing, but I had a blast!

The race to beat the competition to the ball and the victory of the win.

The trash talk that is quickly shrugged off as soon as the last whistle blows...

I found some confidence that was hidden behind some of the things in my life.

I got complimented and encouraged by my teammates.

I played in the mud and squished around on the field, which is my favorite thing about soccer!

I spent 90 minutes grinning and enjoying every play.

I felt like I was me again.

I'm not sure if its the soccer, or the fact that I'm doing something only I can do....

But it made me really happy.

It brought me satisfaction on a level that I don't think anything or anyone else would.

This wasn't for my kids, or my husband, or my family, or my job or students... just me.

Soccer Sundays are my thing!

There is just something about competition that makes my day.

I love a good race and I love winning.

Who doesn't?

Today, however, my legs are on FIRE, and I don't feel like I'm winning.

Now, I'm active.

I run pretty regularly and the people at my gym know my name.

I don't spend every waking moment getting my sweat on, but I'm not on the lazy train either.

But let me tell you, running on the treadmill doesn't compare to running on that field.

And no amount of fitness classes can prepare you for the sudden stops and starts of a soccer game.

Now I know why my coaches made us condition for weeks before we actually played games.

First of all, I'm older than I'd like to admit.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.

And my feet hurt today.

I can barely walk without cringing in pain.

Also, going up and down stairs, snail's pace.

Using the toilet, us ladies have to sit down every time.

It has become a bit of a production today.

Sloooooowwwwwly seated and slow to rise.

I keep telling myself that I'm reminding my muscles to function and look pretty.

Here's the bottom line:

1.  I had entirely too much fun, more than I even thought possible.

2.  I can't WAIT until my next game!

3.  I need new cleats and possibly some shoe inserts, since I'm old...er.

4.  Next week I shall stretch after the game...