Las Vegas 2013

For the past 4 years we have traveled to Vegas during the doldrums of winter... for a soccer tournament. 

Though the destination screams "PLAY! PARTY!" it typically turns out to be a well needed relaxation trip.  Just enough heat to thaw my frozen Colorado bones, just enough sun to tint my winter white skin, and just enough city (restaurants, shopping) to tide me over till spring soccer season.

This year Madison's team played in the LV Mayors Cup; this tournament draws teams from all of the United States and even internationally!  There were teams from all of the western states of NV, AZ, CA, but there were even teams from states as far east as Pennsylvania!  Madison's team was placed in a bracket that included a team from NV, the #3 team in CA (#15 in the nation - we are #250), and a team from Vancouver Canada!  Though the girls didn't win a game they played some pretty competitive soccer against some great teams.

Nevada:  Lost 1-2
California: Lost... by a lot... it was incredible to watch this team play! They had some incredible plays, were incredibly fast, technically sound, and at least one of their players were invited to play on the national team!
Vancouver Canada: Tied

Their record earned them a consolation match, which pitted them against another Canadian team, this time from the province of Alberta. 

It was a fun experience to play international teams, one of the customs in international matches is to give the opposing team a token from where you are from.  Each of the Canadian teams gave our girls pins (which were quickly attached to their soccer bags) from their province.  Our girls gave the other teams post cards from Colorful Colorado!

Overall this tournament was one of the best we had played in, it was pure soccer with very few dirty plays - unlike the Colorado league we play in where it is common place to be assaulted and come away with multiple bruises or injuries from foul play.

We did a bit of shopping at the outlets, I got a summer dress, and Madison got outfitted with a summer wardrobe... B got a hat. 

We dined at a fancy steak house called the Golden Calf at the very end of the strip on Sahara.  From the outside it looks old and maybe a bit shady, the inside is pure "old skool" mob boss!  The a la carte menu and enormous steaks (with prices to match), and a bottle of bubbly, set our bill at almost $500.00.  When Madison and Tia looked at the bill I think their jaws hit the floor.  But- what the heck- you can only splurge like that once in a great while, so why not do it in Vegas!

This may be our last trip to Vegas with Madison's club soccer team.  Right now she is pretty sure she will only play school athletics in high school, and not continue with the local soccer club.  Which made this trip all the more nostalgic.

Cleaning Out the Camera

We took our nice Nikon camera to Steamboat with us, but after two pictures...

the battery died. In an effort to prevent a repeat of this in Idaho, I thought I'd better charge it up and see what treasures were stored away in its memory.

First I found some great pictures of a Desert Bighorn Sheep. We came upon this little guy on our way to hike Bangs Canyon early this summer. Our hike was great, and the kids splashed around in the creek that runs through the bottom of the canyon. Of course the camera got forgotten in the car for the hike, but at least they captured this guy.




Second were a few pictures of a bird that landed in our window. Madison was able to catch it and let it go outside. We were all really amazed that the bird didn't freak out or even flutter it's wings while she petted it and took it into her hands.




I also found some more pictures of Maddox's preschool graduation. I especially enjoyed seeing his funny faces, and the wide open mouths of the other kids singing their little hearts out.

Finally there were a few pics of Maddox's 5th birthday. These were of the impromptu cake he had on his birthday, when we were supposed to head to Denver for the zoo but he came down with an ear infection. We just couldn't go with out celebrating since we were home anyway.

Steamboat Mountain Tournament

When we found out we would be playing in a tournament in Steamboat, I was so happy. I love Steamboat, next to Telluride it is one of the most beautiful cities in Colorado. I could live there, but it is such a huge tourist town I don't think I could handle all the people.

Because it is a tourist town the hotel the team stayed at was almost $200/night... totaling almost $600 for the weekend. With our big family vacation coming up, we opted to take our pop-up and camp in a campground. This was perfect for us because Maddox could run around and play, and the weather was almost perfect... just a tincy bit hot in the afternoon, but the night was cool and crisp. The only downer was the amount of mosquitoes. Maddox and I got eaten alive!

I think if I lived there I would run every day... Anne and I took a morning run along the Yampa, and it was absolutely beautiful. I expected to be gasping for air because of the elevation, but it wasn't so bad...or we were compensating by running really slow! It was also quite communal; there were so many other people out running and biking on the trail, it was energizing to be amongst others of like running minds. The run also passes the botanical gardens which was amazingly luscious and bursting with color, heck I could have run laps through the gardens for an hour and been captivated by it's beauty the whole time.

Enough about my love affair with Steamboat, and on to the real reason for this post... the soccer tournament...

This last soccer season has been, well, trying... to say the least. But we have had new hope with a new coach coming on to the team. The little bit that we have watched at practice and from what Madison has said, that hope has been sustained. He is actually doing conditioning with the girls AND teaching them situational soccer, explaining how a drill they do in practice helps them in a game. I really didn't know what to expect coming into the tournament, and I am happy to say the difference this coach has made in just a few weeks is day and night! The whole team looked amazing! They played with a confidence and fire I haven't seen in over a year.

Madison's friend Tia, is our forward, and in the past year she hasn't scored but 1 or 2 goals; in this tournament she scored at lest 6 or 7 in the 5 games we played. Our middies and wings did an amazing job getting the ball up to her, and their defence was impenetrable (the one goal scored on us was a questionable penalty kick).

Game 1 vs Storm 2-0 WIN
Game 2 vs Castle Rock 2-0 WIN
Game 3 vs Broomfield U11 2-0 WIN
Game 4 Semifinals vs Broomfield U12 2-0 WIN
Game 5 Finals vs Rapid City Rage (SD state champs) 3-1 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

This weekend was also a big weekend for Madison, her confidence had been crushed by the previous coach, and she had gone from being the most aggressive defender and one of the best on the team to not starting. This was super frustrating for Brian and I (being we are both uber competitive) because we knew she was not playing to her potential. Madison, being the resilient young lady she is pulled herself up by the boot straps, got into a new pregame routine, and came out much improved. I am proud of her and am excited to see what this next season holds for her personal growth.


Learned: It's a bit early to be singing the new coach's praise, but I am amazed at the difference a coach can make... both for the team and for the individual.

And the Sports Just Keep on Comming....(but I am not complaining)

Madison's soccer season came to a close at the end of October. Typically this means that we have a bit more free time, BUT a few weeks before soccer ended she started basketball AND Maddox also started wrestling. So we continue to fill our evenings with various sports practices, and our weekends with games. Thankfully the farthest we have to travel for basketball is Fruita.

It is so fun to watch Madison play sports, we see a completely different side of her. Off the field/court, she is so kind and calm; but on the court we see such a competitive spirit, complete with scary faces...hopefully I can capture the contrast on film.

Maddox is having a great time with wrestling. Even after an hour of wrestling practice and even more running around he comes home wound up. He is picking it up pretty quickly too. Most of the kids wrestling have been wrestling for at least a year, and they always pair him with kids his size, which means he is practicing against kids that are 6 or 7 years old thus having 3-4 years of experience. It took me a while to realize this and get over my worries that he was completely uncoordinated, compared to the kids his age he is doing great! I am so proud of how he goes out there eager to learn, works hard, then comes home and practices on me. He has had multiple successful take downs on me!

Learned: It brings me so much joy to see my children try new things and work hard. Even though it takes a lot of time and planning on the parent's end, and sometimes the laundry doesn't get done, it is worth it because I know how athletics instills such important life lessons... perseverance, commitment, hard work... just to name a few.

At The End

Sunday we finished the last game of our soccer season. It has truly been an adventure one in which the girls have developed some tremendous skill, learned a lot more than soccer, and we (parents and girls) have become a close knit family. Along the way I couldn't see past the end of the season or possibly the end of this team, but coach kept telling us that things always change, that kids become interested in different activities and families move away, but I kept thinking this wouldn't happen to our team.

But 4 girls are leaving us... 2 moving away, and 2 choosing something different... I am so concerned for the future of the team... how can anyone replace those that are leaving... how will those that do replace them on the team fill the space left in the happy family? I think I am more concerned about it than Madison, I guess that is good...

Early before the morning game on Sunday (possibly our last game together) coach sent an email to the girls... I copied it and will use it in Madison's Soccer scrap book but wanted to save it somewhere else too so here it is...

Well ladies, we are at the end. The end of a year that has seen a group of little girls become young athletes. Athletes that have had much success on the field while learning how to work as a team with team goals in mind and not those of individuals. We have had girls that can score, while others use any part of their bodies to stop goals. Others who have stopped attackers and others who have made the passes leading to goals. Each player has done what it takes to achieve success.

Take away all the wins, and this team has achieved great success off the field as well. You are all outstanding students with many interestes away from the field and that brings as much happiness to my heart as anything could. I love soccer, but what you learn from the sport is far more important then what the score was in any particular game. You are learning what it take to be a good team member, thinking of your teammates before yourselves. This is a character trait that will serve you well in life.
I can never express myself well enough to each of you in the joy I have felt this year as your coach. This team has been my relief from life, a time to come out to the field at night and enjoy a pure love and respect for the game I love. You have all become my girls, no matter where we go through the years, you will always have my heart.

As I have said, this team will change, it will never be the same. Families are moving, some girls will play for other teams next year but, we will always be able to look back and remember the great season the Grand Junction Fire FC U11 Girls Premier Team had.

I am writing this before the last games of the season, not knowing what the out come of today's games will be and really it isn't important. What is important is that you will know in a matter of a few hours that you each gave your best to become the best you could be at this time of your life's. You will all become better! Better players, students, young women, college students, wife's, mom's, soccer coaches and grand parents at some time of your life's. I have done my job if I have helped at all during the this process.

The subject line states, "At the End". Really this is just the beginning. The beginning of a new point in your life. An exciting time of change and continued growth. I wish all the happiness in your life and we all move forward. Thank you again for all you have given to me.

Your Coach,

Larry

Learned: Considering change is always difficult, I will choose to believe coach, that this is really just the beginning. It has been an outstanding soccer season, with many vitories, most of which came off the field.

Las Vegas Trip and Tournament

On the 23-26 of this month we headed south to a bit of (slightly) warmer weather for a soccer tournament in Las Vegas. We left dark and early on Friday morning, and arrived in LV with some time to go and check out the Strip. Madison loved the hotels, but the actual walking on the strip made her uncomfortable (don't blame her...) She really wanted to go to Madame Tussauds, which ended up being pretty fun. The best people that I got to see were Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Daniel Graig, Chris Angel, and plant the flag on the moon with Niel Armstrong. It was pretty funny because Ari believed that I had actually met Dwayne Johnson (not only do we love Peyton Manning, but we google over Dwayne too). I only let her believe it for a little while....

On another evening we went to Avatar (again) but this time we saw it at the IMAX! I thought it was amazing the first time, but WOW and double WOW! it was even more incredible at the IMAX. A huge thank you to our friend Aaron G. who when early and bought all 9 of our groups tickets, then saved us incredible seats while we were rushing from dinner and trying to find the place...phew we made it though!

Now for the tournament results: Game 1 against NV Racing Angels a 2 to 1 victory, Game 2 vs Ballistic NV a 2 to zip shut out victory, Game 3 against Heat NV a 3 to nada victory, and Game 4 against LV Premier a 2 to goose egg victory, and 2010 Silver State Tournament Champions!! It was fun to watch the girls do so well, and have so much fun! So proud of our girls!



Learned: There is a WHOLE lot more to Vegas than the Strip...

Team Dinner

Last night we hosted Madison's soccer team's first team dinner. I had something a little special up my sleeve for them besides plain old spaghetti and meat balls...

When the girls all sat down for their dinner I gave them each a menu. For their appetizer they could choose from penalty kick, goal kick, drop kick, header, and corner kick. For their main course they chose from different soccer positions; keeper, stopper, defender, midfielder, forward, and coach. Then for dessert we served some fancy foot work moves such as the rainbow, zig zag, left right left over, and chest trap. When they looked at the menu they were a bit confused saying "none of this is food!"

Each of the items they ordered corresponded to the specific cups, plates, and utensils they would have to eat and drink with. Some of the items they drank from were juice pitchers, tea pots, sippy cups, and beakers. Their dinner was served on or in pot lids, platters, corn on the cob holders, tiny bowls, huge bowls and ice cream cone dishes. Then they had to use items such as ladles, slotted spoons, ice cream scoops, chop sticks, and other miscellaneous items.

It was quite amusing to seem them feasting on a messy meal with these silly items. They all loved it and had a great time.