Swim Meet, Family and Coaches

I wanted to make a comment or two about the swim meet from my point of view, behind the lens. And this is not just from this swim meet but all that I've attended. First I want to commend Soren on commitment and dedication to her sport. Soren you have honored your mother and father by giving your BEST in both practice and competition. What a fine example you are to your cousins and friends.

Second I commend Pete and Sara for your dedication and sacrifice of time and money to support Soren. The money and especially TIME that you invest in Soren and Reese will surely bless their lives and they will remember it when it comes time for them to do the same. Soren will remember the warmth of a mother's hug between meets and the care of finding food and drinks. The videos, yells and little prays and flow during these meets will never be forgotten.

Finally I want to commend Pete as a mentor, coach and most of all a strong, loving, caring father. One that Soren looked for after each race to receive words of wisdom, instruction and the touch of a firm steadfast hand of love hearing the words "Good Job Soren".

What a wonderful family God has blessed us with. Saturday Soren was represented by 11 family members including Great Grandparents. Thank You Lord for this family.

Thank You for ALL my children, sons-in-laws, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, parents and grandparents!!

And so goes "Family Matters".

Love Ya

Pop's

More pictures are posted on Sara's Blog link.

The Disco Triathlon

Nana had her first race of the season this past weekend. She completed the Disco Sprint Tri at Johnson Branch on Lake Ray Roberts. It was a 500 yard open water swim, 16.7 mile bike and a 5k run. She had a great race, smiled from start to finish! Her times were: swim: 10:54 bike: 1:03 run: 31:51 for a total race time of 1:51.

taking off for the swim start

smiling at the end of the swim

smiling on the bike

leading the way (or holding up traffic, it depends on your point of view)

still smiling!

smiling on the run

yep. still smiling

Finished!

Avery and Alissa came to watch, and they brought their parents, too

I (sara) raced, too. I am working on my race report and will post it on my training blog www.imcozumel.blogspot.com

We finished off the day by celebrating Pop's birthday! We ate, drank and were merry. Zach and Pete went running in the hail storm and missed being struck by lightning by mere feet. It was quite exciting. A great weekend, as usual. Nice job on another very successful race, Nana!

Hockey

Sunday afternoon rolls around and it's time to watch Mat play hockey......I still haven't figured out why anyone in their, Ok so we get to Grapevine and we see the star player leaving his car. What is all that stuff in the bag......Great Scott! and he has two sticks! Too much to carry. Anyway, “…Most of the best hockey players on the American teams learned the game watching TV or playing a video game. American bred players are few and far between.…I've been told however Mat comes close to being as good as the stars from across the border….and can boast of being one of The Colony's superior players.

The cold weather game of choice as Mat grew up in Irving was roller hockey. This was a game played outside with teams of six or seven players using short curved sticks. Players propelled a ball into a cage somewhat smaller than a soccer goal. The young Mat became a proficient roller hockey player and easily transitioned into hockey as that game gained hold with both players and public to become “the winter game.”

I suppose most hockey players get hit in the head enough times that they can't tell the difference between winter and summer......so what was it Sunday 105 degrees? OK inside now and cooled off.

The game is on Mat looking good as he starts on the bench!

Well it's not long before he gets a chance to play and play he does. He goes from one end of the rink to the other and low and behold he puts the "puck in the basket" and Kara gets all excited, we yell and take pictures, I heard him say "Yow Baby" and Kara screams again! Hummm....

Mat's team quickly adds to the score and it's not long before the other team makes a come back. It was exciting and the fans were going crazy. Kara and Mom and kids found some good buys at Kirkland's... Mat made some awesome saves to keep his team in the lead. They inched it out 5 to 3 after 3 quarters.

I guess this was follow the leader! Maybe 3 blind mice.

It was fun watching the game although I did expect some blood or at least one fight; didn't happen they all left as friends should do after a hard played game.

Thanks Mat for the entertainment, I will attend more games.

Pops