Groomed

Someone was finally able to go to the groomer today.  We were so happy when we were given the green light from the vet that he was clear with shots and everything...because this little dude couldn't see a thing!!

The before shot...

And the after...
Nana, who was kind enough to go and get Bear from the groomer, also brought him by my classroom so I could see him. 

 

 

Now, any of you 80's movie fans???  I used to watch The NeverEnding Story all the time.  Cool, cool, very weird movie.  The minute I saw Bear, I thought--FALKOR!!!!!  Doesn't he look just like Falkor, the dog/dragon/creature from the movie????

 

Or is it just me????

 

Doesn't matter...he's cuter and now he can see.  We just have to hope that his ears don't get any larger or a gust of wind might make him take flight.

 

This has been an exhausting day. 

 

 

Don't worry...you're still handsome too.  



Giants Football

Saturday morning Matt had his first game as a Giant.  I kinda love that they are the Giants this year only because his coach used to play for the New York Giants and he said it is cool that the boys are playing under the same name.

I'm a happy mom because this game I could yell, cheer, and say pretty much anything I wanted.  I feel for the people/families around me because I felt like I needed to make up for the fact that I have to be silent at Ryan's game, and so I let it all out.  It felt good, it felt right, and I am obviously still in denial that only one of my son's accepts this.  I've got a long 15 years ahead of me.

Back to football...I just have to say that I love this group of boys.  It was so cute to see them at the first practice because they were so excited to see each other and play together again.  All but three kids are back this year and in the first game they looked like a team who has been playing together for a while.  I just love them.

This year all of the kids have wrist bands because they are working towards a no huddle offense. 

First touchdown of the game.  Pass off from Ryker to Matt.

I think this picture is a good sign.  As I have said before, Matthew is the more "openly confident" of my two boys, and is not afraid to boast about himself.  This is him walking back after the touchdown.  Calm and reserved.  When I yelled out to him as he was walking back, "Nice run, Matt!", he looked over and nodded at me and that was it.  Progress is good.

This was another good run later on in the game.

It did my heart good to see him not only do well, but as my mother-in-law pointed out...he was a better teammate than in years past.  After every play, he went over to the player who had the ball and patted them on the back.  If anything, that is what I am most proud of.  This is progress and I think it shows his growth in really understanding team play.  I told him after the game that I was most impressed with his support of others.

I can't wait for next Saturday!

Round two for the day...after the football game we headed to Pleasanton to watch our niece Mikayla play in a soccer tournament.  She did so good and I am a very proud Auntie.

You love the shoes, right??? 

And finally...a little follow up from the debacle that occurred at Ryan's game last week.  I had told him that I was upset because I didn't like the fact that we weren't allowed to yell or cheer for him and I told him that we had to come up with some rules or something so that we could show our support.  He thought about it and then said to get a piece of paper and we would write the rules for his games.  Here is a picture of the list that I keep in my purse, so that I can show him at a moments notice that I still have it, and that I will follow the "rules" as he stated.

I wrote down EXACTLY what he said so that I would be reading back to him his EXACT words.  Here they are...

1.  No yelling in his ear when he has the ball.
2.  No yelling when he has the touchdowns.
3.  No yelling good job, just say good job at halftime.
4.  Anytime during the game you can do a thumbs up.
5.  After the game you can say good job and do thumbs up.

*And finally, number 6, which you can see was added in pencil as we pulled up to the field right before the game.
6. No chanting Go Ryan! Go Ryan!

This kid....

Sparks

What do you call the thing right before it becomes a flame?  A Spark.  Welcome to flag football for 4 to 6 year-olds.  We're a flame in training.

Last night kicked off the beginning of flag football season for us.  As I have said in the past, shockingly it is my favorite sport of the year.  Yes, even over basketball, which is hard to admit.  But, listen, everybody is head over heels in the honeymoon phase of any relationship.  It's the good part, the part you love no matter what.  When flag is no longer an option and the helmet and pads become the next level, we're done and I can go back to loving basketball again.  Until then...let's go grab some flags!

Ryan Marini, Number 6 for the Sparks.
His words:  Mom, if someone comes to watch me play, tell them I'm number 6.  If they don't see the 6, tell them my last name is Marini and that is the name on my back.  Okay Mom?  Tell them so they know to find me.

I have no words.  Well, maybe a few.  But I'm practicing to be nicer, and understanding, and....appropriate.

The one difference between Matthew and Ryan....sheer determination.  If Matt missed a flag, he was done.  If Ryan missed, he is back up and full force to his target.

Here's the deal.  I wish I had more pictures.  I wish the ones I took were better quality.  I wish, I wish, I wish.  But it became very evident early in the game, when he saw me raise the lens of the camera that this whole thing was not to be captured on film.  He yelled at me from the middle of the field to put the camera down.  So, I had to get creative.  Oh, and along with not being able to take any pictures, we are not allowed to cheer for him as well.  That's right....No yelling, no cheering, no celebrating.  Nothing.  We are going to become that silent family that others talk about.  People will question why we even bothered to show up if we weren't going to support him.  I'm not used to this.  I told him last night that I am the biggest fan he will ever have...EVER...and it gives me the ultimate pleasure to root for him.  His response...."You can only cheer for me when I have the ball."  HIS FINGERS DIDN'T TOUCH PIGSKIN THE ENTIRE NIGHT!!!!! 

I told Rich that I know what I want for Christmas...A camouflage chair and a telephoto lens.