State Champs!

CCV Stars U14 Boys ~ 2011 State Champs

It's been an exciting year for Blake's soccer team. Over the past two seasons we've watched his team mature and develop into a force to be reckoned with.

Pre-game huddle/prayer

The CCV Stars Black team won a couple tournaments, took first place in state league and entered the State Cup championship as the Number 1 seed. They swept all the games of the State Cup, which takes place over about five weekends, with no goals against them.

Blake in action.

In the final game against Sereno, a club that has been the dominant force in Arizona for the past decade or two, Blake's team emerged the champs with a 2-1 victory.

Blake had been plagued with a nagging knee injury since late March and hadn't seen much playing time in league games and the early games of the State Cup. But in the final, Blake was back to his usual aggressive, to-be-feared self, playing more almost three-fourths of the game.

"Blake's a tank," I heard one parent utter on the sideline.

So proud of the team and our tank.

The tank, plowing in.

Number One!

Blake with his medal.

Still Toothless After All These Years

She's still as cute as ever but it seems like it's been years since Allie could take a bite out of an apple or corn-on-the-cobb without a problem. Actually, it's been more than two years for the first one, which she lost in April when she was 4!

I can't remember exactly when the second top tooth came out, but I know she's had that double gap all of first grade and the two front bottom teeth are with the Tooth Fairy and are grown in now.

The dentist assures us all is normal and those two permanent teeth are there on the x-rays to prove it. So until then, we'll continue to admire her darling little toothless smile.

Hair Today ...

Blake's new haircut.

A week or so ago Blake conceded his signature long locks were looking a little on the shaggy side and asked if one of us could take him for a trim.

Brett did the honors and when Blake walked into the kitchen upon his arrival home, I couldn't stop my mouth in time before uttering, "Hey, Justin, how's it going?" "I know ... it sucks," Blake said, shaking his head in what appeared to be an attempt to get it to fall just the right way to perhaps meet the lower end of the approval standard. But no.

Then I opened my mouth again and put the final nail in the coffin. "It's cute ... It kind of looks like (friend)'s hair." "I know ... that's so lame ... I'm getting it all cut off," he said. So back we went for the second haircut of the day (the things we do for our kids ... ).

We told the hairstylist that he just had it cut and he didn't like it. "A little too Justin Bieber for ya?" she asked. "Yah," Blake sheepishly replied.

And as he stole a glance at his new 'do in the reflection of the window, a revelation came over him. "Wow! I can hear." "Good ... you can turn your crazy rap music down."

Blake with the long hair he's had for about the past four years (minus one short haircut two years ago).