First gold

E's 5-2 (B) hoops team kicked off their season with a 1st place finish at Eden Prairie's Kickoff Classic!

This team is the third year together for this squad, and their first "gold" finish.  The next weekend they "played up" in an A tournament and were within a bucket of the state's #2 5th grade A team (Chanhassen) with four minutes to play (yes, they rank teams at this age... I know).  I'm so proud of the work these girls have put it and happy to see it paying off in ways that mean something to them.

Things are really starting to click for this crew.  It's going to be a fun season!

5th & 3rd grade

School photos.  Fall 2019.  E (5th Grade) & S (3rd).

Season tip-off

The 2019 hoops season kicked off with Sawyer's rec squad.  She's got a pretty good team... but yikes, it is TOUGH to go back to rec (temporarily, that is, she can return to travel in January) after playing travel last year.  

Fun to see her showing patience, fine-tuning some basics and working on her assists game.  This said, the season may be ugly.  Game one her squad won 52-3 (in six minute, running time quarters).

Back on the ice

Hockey season returns and S couldn't be happier to be flying around the ice, and into one other, with her buddies.  

Ready, down, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut...

Never thought I'd be playing my original favorite video game (Tecmo Bowl) against my own daughter 30 years after first falling in love with it.  S was not impressed with the graphics, play selection or speed of the game, but humored me and thought she was hysterical when stealing plays.  smh

I bet I played that game over 1000 times primarily against my brother, Adam and Jay over a two year period.  

Veteran's Day

E's North Woods Elementary choir put on a remarkably powerful Veteran's Day memorial service for loved ones past and present of the school's students and staff.  The Corcoran, MN VFW chapter provided the Color Guard and offered a few words about what being a veteran meant and were honored alongside vet parents and grandparents in attendance.  Among the names on the stars on the back wall were E & S's great grandfather Cal, grandpa Bob and Uncle Ozzie.

We're #5!

On November 9, the undefeated #17 ranked Minnesota Gophers hosted, and BEAT, the #9 Penn State Nittany Lions in what was the biggest Gopher football game of my lifetime.  The Gophs early lead and dominance slipped in the second half and the game wasn't sealed until a final minute goal line interception by Jordan Howden.  Pandemonium ensued.  Fans rushed the field. Celebrate bumped across the PA system.

A great day to be a Gopher.  Rah!

Halloween

Man, we've come a loooong way from princess-themed Halloweens.  I'm not exactly sure what this year's costumes were... something bloody, creepy, zombie and sport-oriented.  

I mean, even the dog is creeped out!