Where did the week end go?

Wow how time flies....Here we are already at Wednesday but boy did we have a fun filled week end, so much i will have to have TWO blog entries.  We had some visitors and the kids were really excited.  Grandma and Grandad (aka Chris' parents) flew up from Florida before departing back home to England.  Now they were only here for the week end so we had to pack in a lot (activities and of course wine, more pics to follow on that one)

So Friday afternoon with the kids out of school we all piled to the airport to meet their flight before racing back (with a side trip to Trader Joe's to stock up on wine :)) to get ready for Bambeano's soccer practice.  The nice sunny temperatures of 70's quickly disappeared when the sun went down so I sought refuge in the car to keep warm.  Now normally on Friday nights we eat out after practice with some great friends but alas they were preparing for their big adventure to Disney so we opted to return home for dinner courtesy of Chef Bombshell (No really he is a Chef) and of course crack open the wine.

Onto Saturday and by now you know it is SOCCER SATURDAY in the Bowden household.  First up Boo Boo, who with each game she plays is doing FANTASTIC in goal.  She knows every goal she saves is a goal scored for her team (her coach gave her this sound advice after she felt she let the team down when she let one goal in, he was quick to remind her all the goals she saved)  This game would be the first game she would actually kick her ball out from a goal kick and boy did she do great kicking way past the half way line, Bombshell was VERY impressed.

Here she goes with her first punt kick out and boy was it a good one.  Boo Boo is really coming into her element and doing great with her goalie skills. 

She really does enjoy this position and we are so proud of her.  She kept a clean sheet all game with her team winning 6-0.  WAY TO GO BOO BOO

With all the excitement Grandad fell asleep. Imagine that with all the shouting going on...... WAKE up Grandad we have got to get to Bambeano's game next.

With Boo Boo's game at 12pm and Bambeano's at 2pm we had to take 2 cars so Bombshell and Bambeano could leave ahead to warm up before the game.  Boo Boo had 30 minutes halves so was wrapped up with 40 minutes before Bambeano's kick off.  Grandma, Grandad, Boo Boo and I raced over to catch Bambeano in action.

We arrived at the field and Bambeano already had his sights set on having a GREAT game.  He definitely meant business with all to see; he had his number sprayed into his head.   His determination was very apparent and this I love....he sets his sights high and will do everything to make sure he achieves.  He asked me to rub his boots (cleats to my American readers), what I hear you say, sorry but it was a tradition the 1st time I rubbed them (his old gold ones) he scored and now he cannot go a game without me rubbing them and trust me there is a knack to this.  If I do not rub and it has to be at a certain time in a certain place he will not score - his words not mine - as so far it has been a very good omen.

I feverishly rubbed them and his parting comment was he was going to score for Grandma, Grandad and Mummy.  Of course I thought he meant one goal for all of us......No, No, No, Bambeano had other plans...........

Now this game was going to be interesting we had no subs so the kids had to play the whole game with only water breaks to help them, thankfully the weather was on our side.

AS you can tell by the picture Bambeano is in his element but I promise there were other kids on the field..... Bambeano just seems to have this thing called SPEED :)  And so he is off for his goal......

Now this game was a little different as Bambeano does not spend much time in his own goal unless we are up by so many goals. 

However, with the lack of players this week it was Bambeano's turn for a shot a goalie and he didn't disappoint......

Now remember early I stated Bambeano was going to score for Grandma, Grandad and Mummy......well he achieved his goal, 1 for Grandma, 1 for Grandad and 1 for Mummy, that's right a HAT TRICK for Bambeano with a winning score of 3-0. 

Way to go Boo Boo and Bambeano 2 games and 2 wins........

Stay tuned for our Sunday adventures to Biltmore..........  :)

A first for Mummy, Boo Boo and Bambeano.....

Yesterday was a trip to the races for The Bowden family.  A first for Mummy, Boo Boo and Bambeano, considering we are about 3 miles from the track this is an amazing feat, even my sister has been at a race at the Charlotte track before me and she lives in ENGLAND!!!!

So after a busy day of soccer with 2 wins we rushed back home to shower and get ready for the race festivities.......

The kids were in awe of all the people, including the squirming comments of why do they have no tops on (men), what does their chests say (not pleasant comments), why are they walking funny (drunk stumbling), and this was just at the beginning of the night.

After a trip around some of the race trucks the kids picked their goodies and off we went into the race track.

Bombshell scored some tickets in the Coca Cola suite so we quickly showed the kids the track before making our way up to the suite.

We were positioned between 4th turn and the finish line.

After getting settled and getting some food we sat down to enjoy the race, not before Bombshell had to go buy the kids fleece blankets the suite had the air conditioning on so low it was like a ice box in there.

What fun we had.....didn't stay to the end because believe it or not despite the loud thunder of the cars Bambeano managed to fall asleep.

All in all a great night and more importantly the kids loved it and we got to spend a family night together.

6 week in......

Wow how time flies.  We are 6 weeks into the school year and already parent/teacher conference are upon us. 

Now not before we get progress reports and on tender hooks I was eager to see how Boo Boo and Bambeano are doing and boy was I surprised, happily.

Boo Boo has not disappointed she is well on her way to a great school report.  Now she was a little apprehensive as she got 74% in one score which graded her at a D but with 13 A's who could be disappointed.  Bombshell and I certainly weren't.  We just have to bring her spirits up.

Bambeano is doing spectacular in Kindergarten which I knew he would only thing we have to work on his is excitedly behavior but other than that I am SO PROUD of my babies.

Soccer is off with a bang....the good, the bad and the UGLY....

Wow where does the time go....feels like yesterday I was sharing the news of new soccer seasons and here we are 3 weeks in!!!!



This ball WILL be MINE



Boo Boo is doing great with her team and has even tagged herself as the goalkeeper for the team.  She is definately getting into the stride of saving goals her team are 2-0-1 so far this season and she is really enjoying her new found position.  Here are some of her in action :)

 

Now she did do goalie somewhat in her rec league but not to the manner or competitiveness of what she is doing now.  Don't forget the fact she is playing in a division an age group older so many of the girls she is playing against are over a year older.

Unfortunately the latest game was just that a field of much older girls with rocket shots.  Boo Boo was still determined to work hard and managed to save a mighty power shot.  It ricocheted off her chin and feel loose on the ground.  Boo Boo didn't react so i knew something was wrong, thankfully one of her defenders cleared the ball out but Boo Boo was hurt :(

after 4 hours between urgent care and the emergency room with a suspected dislocated jaw she was given the all clear but to eat soft foods for 24 hours.  My determined daughter was a little apprehensive but thankfully got back in the game at practice on Tuesday.  Boo Boo you make me PROUD.

Well let's not leave Bambeano out.  On the soccer field we affectionately call him Lil Bombshell because he is definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to soccer.  His maturity on the field is well above his young 6 years old.  He dribbles the ball while looking for space and his gift to read or determine the next play is unbelievable.  Of course he is the opposite of Boo Boo in that he has a love for the net in a different way....scoring!!!!!

Winning the ball

and he is off

going for goal

and shoots

I was lucky enough to see the 1st and 3rd game and after 3 games his team is 3-0-0 with Bambeano scoring 6 goals in 3 games (2,1 and a superb hat trick on the 3rd) I can see his tally of 18 from last season may true and well be under jeopardy :)

Let's not forget Bombshell....he has 2 games under his belt this season.  The first game not so good :)  Playing the younguns with not a full squad is not a good way to start the season....heavy loss but the next game last week.......well let's just say Team Blue, not known as Hotspurs, came back with a full force with a great win.

Let's see how the season goes.... The Bowdens love their SOCCER SATURDAY