All the Small Things...

Let's Hear It For the Fans!

Cheerleader in Training...

 

Okay, you should see some of the get ups I have in store for this lil gal to cheer on her brothers and sister this fall!  

Soccer, football, cheerleading... 

we are ready to 

GO, FIGHT, WIN!!!

Sports of All Sorts...

  Needless to say, the Greding's have VERY packed Saturdays.

This Saturday was no different.

3 soccer games and 1 cheer-- and a lot of fun!

Love to watch my girl cheer!  What she lacks in coordination, she makes up for in enthusiasm! ;)

 

And then The Boy... oh how I could watch him play all day long.  He was SOOOO brave to play with his skateboard injuries, but that's Patrick-- my brave boy.

 

And then there are the fans... the adoring.  

You name the place and they are there!

 

As much as I dream of a carefree Saturday afternoon, I wouldn't trade all this for anything.

 

*Chandler didn't play this week-- can't wait for more craziness this coming Saturday!  yikes!!!

Go Team!...

One of my FAVORITE things about Fall-- a new football, cheerleading and soccer season!!!

I LOVE watching my kids' sports.

They all work so hard and I'm always SO impressed at what they push their bodies to do.

 

SO, in anticipation of the upcoming season, I thought Wednesday Jones needed these...

C'mon!!!  How stinking cute are these baby leg warmers!?!?!  And a really good price too!

I grind my teeth at the mere thought of her chubby thighs in them!!!

 

Can't wait to get them!

Character...

Chandler is a great kid.  We have always KNOWN he was a great kid, but when someone else points it out to you-- when an entire football league points it out to you-- it's pretty special.

 

At the end of the football season we heard from Chandler's coach that he had been nominated and subsequently chosen to receive the CODY BADALATO WESTLAKE BRAVES SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.  

 

Cody Badalato was 14 year old boy who, tragically, lost his life in 2008 to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  

 

This is the description of the award from Cody's Memorial Blog--

The Westlake Braves established a scholarship fund in Cody’s name. They awarded 2 Westlake Braves players $500 Savings Bonds. These players exemplified character, good sportsmanship, came to practice and games with a positive attitude, gave 100% whether they were a 12 play-player or not. They showed compassion for others, and were a privilege to coach. The awards were presented by Cody’s Coach, Dave Baldwin.

As Dan and I stood on that field watching our son being acknowledged for his character, we were never more proud.  

Chandler will NEVER do anything more important on that field- on any field.  

I can honestly say I couldn't have been more proud if he was up for a Heisman Trophy.

 

On a side note-- watching Cody's mom present Chandler with the award was HEARTBREAKING.  I admired her strength for being there so much.  How hard it must have been to walk on that field her son had played hundreds of games on.  How hard it must have been to hug my son knowing that she wasn't able to hug her own.  My heart ached for her...

Summer Day #15

 

 

Okay, I must confess posting this after the US lost in the World Cup is not so fun.  :(  waa waa

BUT-- I still have really great memories of MOST of the game and our crazy US fan-base!

Our whole family gathered around the TV to watch the US play Ghana and before long Dan walked in from outside marching back in forth in front of the TV with our flag.  Well, then the pandemonium began!  KK had a turn at it and then, Scarlet, who can't be left out of anything had a go!  

We were a little down when Ghana scored the first goal, but knowing that the US is a 2nd half team, we still held out hope.

Then the gorgeous Landon Donovan scored his penalty kick and the house went MAD!  Patrick picked up the flag and took off running up and down our street screaming, "GGGGOOOOAAAALLL!" at the top of his lungs while we all stood in the front yard screaming "GOAL" as loud as we could.  It was about the funniest thing I've ever seen and I'm sure the neighbors think we're even more ridiculous than before.  

Let's just pretend now that that was the end of the game, shall we?!!?!?

No?  Well, the US lost and shattered our World Cup dreams and we were a sad house with a great memory of our crazy eldest son.  Worth it?  YES!!!!

Summer Day #1

So it's the first full day of summer and where else would you find the Greding 6 1/2  than at a soccer field?

Patrick had a tournament in Camarillo (Yeah!  A hometown tourney!!!).  The weather was perfect, the games were exciting and Patrick played great!  They ended up with a loss (own goal- yikes!), a tie and a win.  Not our best tournament results, but still super fun and a great day in our awesome California weather!!!  A fun way to start off our summer!

We then headed home and watched the US tie England in the World Cup!!!  HOORAY FOR THE USA!!!   It was a very soccer day for us.

  

To complete the first day of Summer, Michelle, Megan, Jennifer and I headed to Muvico for a little dinner at Bogarts and then Sex and the City 2!  I LOVE spending time with my friends!!!

 

 

  

His Joy...

 

I don't know who was more excited about this day- Chandler or Dan!  

It was so fun watching him do his thing again and I must admit, I was a very proud mom.

He was drafted onto the team with the intention of being the 3rd catcher, but worked really hard and started the game and is now the main catcher!!!  I'm so thrilled for him.  He LOVES being a catcher.  It is VERY stressful to watch as a parent, but if it's what he wants, then I'm very happy for him.

GO ANGELS!!!

GO CHAN CHAN!!!
 
 

Patrick's Night...

 

A Typical Saturday in Fall...

This was the day of Halloween.  I needed Scarlet's hair to be SUPER curly for her costume that night, so that's why her hair is in crazy ties.

It's always so crazy for me to watch Scarlet and the other kids play soccer on the exact same fields I played soccer on when I was her age.  Dan played on these same fields too!  

Of course, Grammy and Pa are at all the games too.  Oh, and baby K is always on the sidelines throwing the ball to whoever will play with him.  

Saturdays...