Fall already and soccer is in full swing....

Geez where does the time go....I feel like a zombie sometimes in full robotic mode, wake up, shower, dressed, go to work, homework, soccer practice, dinner, bed, REPEAT with the only change at the week end insert soccer instead of work and that is my life....EXCITING RIGHT.....

And then you wonder why I have no time to blog.  I promised myself Sunday mornings will be my time to reflect the week and note the adventures of the Bowden clan but Sundays also seem to be my day to have a lie in so this is obviously not working for me so here I am trying to remember a month of activities but as I stated above my robotic life seems pretty easy to reflect.

Since Bambeano's birthday he has started soccer at his new club and I was quite apprehensive how this would all turn out but seeing how frustrated he was at his other club I knew we had to do something, yes I know he was a great goal scorer 29 in 13 games, but was he really learning the skill he displays on his DS and Wii when playing FIFA soccer I told myself NO.

So off we went to Boo Boo's club soccer complex for Bambeano's first game.  Unfortunately Bombshell was on rotation at work this week end so it was up a great friend and past assistance coach of Bombshell to step in the shoes of head coach.  I recognized the team from past Saturdays when Boo Boo had her games at Overcash Soccer Complex so it was apparent this team had been together some time.  Here we were with 4 kids from Bambeano's old club and several new ones, including 2 that had played pre-challenge previously.

Well the game went so so.  The other team scored quick on us but we held our own and the score ended 4-1.  They kids played hard and Bambeano surprised me on how much he hustled and he hustled.  I thought he might be disappointed he didn't score so I was eager to find out his feedback about his new club.  The verdict HE LOVES IT!!!!!!  Phew

Next week he was very excited and pumped for his game, it appeared all the kids were.  On a cold morning with parents in the shade the cool weather certainly woke me up and the wet dew on the grass, FALL IS COMING....

Bombshell was back as head coach and the kids were off.  One quick goal and we were up 1-0.  Then the goals kept coming....Bambeano got on the score sheet with a goal in each half.  With the score running high Bombshell told the kids to start passing no more goals.....the kids had other ideas...I'm guessing after the previous week's loss they just wanted a win.   Many goals later the score was 16-1 with 7 or the 9 kids scoring.  I felt so bad for the other team and I know Bombshell was mortified and felt just as bad for the other coaches.  After apologizing to the other coaches they were understanding knowing kids at this age just want to score.  How can 2 games against 2 teams be so different.

Onto yesterday and the team was a little group of South Americans.  Y'know these kids will be good.  Even one of kids comments was "we are going to get smoked"  Coach reassured the kids that they would do good and they should go out play hard and have fun.

Bambeano had his best game ever, this kid amazes me with how much his skill has developed by just merely moving clubs.  His determination in both defense and offense is unbelievable.  Another two goals and his tally his up to 4 with another win 7-3.

Boo Boo has had equally improved with her games.  Her extra practices for goalkeeping have definitely made an impression on her and her goal kicks are impeccable.  While she may not have been happy staying in her age group and being a U11 again she has warmed to the idea and has some great team mates.  She seems to be so much more confident and happier playing against girls her own age and less intimidated now there are no longer 6ft girls a year older.

Last week we had double duty of soccer, Bambeano Saturday and Boo Boo and Bombshell on Sunday, all 3 Bowdens came away with wins with the men scoring and Boo Boo having some great saves.  Her last coach told Boo Boo that for ever goal she saves it is like scoring for her team.  That comment resonates with Boo Boo every game and her gutsy attitude shows through.

More birthday celebrations this week with Bombshell's birthday, seemed to turn into a week long celebrations with his birthday last Sunday and then some celebrations Friday with some great friends.  We love a our favorite family.

Boo Boo had a pass on soccer this week end but not by choice.  Thunder and lightening were not our favorite friends yesterday after about 10 minutes of play the game was suspended for 30 minutes but while sitting in the car the rain came and game was canceled......now we had the rest of the evening to ourselves and did nothing but chill.

Fall is upon us now and the weather is changing life is about to get busy with some visitors, Grandma and Grandad, then Halloween before we know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here....

Here's to breathing and taking in all the excitement and adventures..........

A 7th year old birthday and 1st day of school.....Summer really over???

What a busy week we have had at the Bowden household.  Bambeano turned 7 and the 1st day of the new school year..... We now have a 5th grader and 1st grader, How did this happen...time flies.

Bambeano's birthday was a busy day of activities... first up a trip to NASCAR Speedpark.  Upon arriving we went to get our tickets only to be told the first 50 people were in free courtesy of 95.1 Kiss FM.  The radio station was on hand giving out some free giveaways.  What a result...... Bambeano was excited but I think Bombshell had his little kid come out in him as we had to go straight to the older race cars, poor Bambeano his birthday and he doesn't get to ride 1st.

Next up was a family race and Bambeano came up with the goods and came in 1st followed by the 2nd race in which Boo Boo came in 1st.   I captured his race on my phone........Jack's win

After the heat we went in for some laser tag and Bombshell won then we finished off with some mini golf.....Mummy wins mini golf...

After golf we decided to take a trip to UNCC (University of North Carolina Charlotte for my British friends and family) to check out the Women's soccer game.  When we arrived we sat with one of Lauren's soccer team mate.  While I went to the concessions to get Bambeano something to eat I came back to hear that Boo Boo and her team mate were going to be the half time show, scoring on Norm, the UNCC mascot.

It was a hot, hot day and the UNCC 49ers lost but it was good to watch a high paced game and I think Boo Boo enjoyed getting on the field.  Here is her video, I know a bit like ants on the field but I didn't have my camera only my phone, Lauren's Half time show.

After the game we went back to the Speedpark for more fun and finished the day of at Dave & Busters, I know a sucker, but Bombshell felt Bambeano's day should be special, and don't forget the Speedpark was courtesy of KISS FM.   Off we went round to Dave & Busters and the tickets were flying from the games.  Bambeano even got into a game of basketball with some teenagers.  After raking in the tickets it was now time to cash them in for their gifts.  Boo Boo decided to add her tickets to Bambeano so he could get an even better prize.  A new back door basketball hoop for his bedroom was his choice and with many points still remaining the two of them worked together and came away with a cuddly monkey.  Now for dinner....Bambeano's choice of course...Now we were at the mall with so many choices to choose from and he chooses Three Monkeys, a local pub near home, wondering what the attraction is, my bet is the golf game or Casey's goody candy jar for after dinner.

CHEERS!!!!

An early night was on the cards after a busy day for Bambeano's birthday and of course the first day of school on Monday....

Kids were up fairly easy but they have had something to do with the fact that I decided to go in a little later and see them off on the bus for their 1st day of school and of course the 1st day is not without pictures.....

have a great day at school Boo Boo and Bambeano look how you have grown in a year

2011-2012 1st day of School

2012-2013 1st day of school a year later.....

Soccer Saturday is back

With a blink of an eye we are in full mode of Soccer Saturdays......For now it is just Boo Boo and she starts off with a bang with a 3 game tournament hopefully progressing to the 4th game for the finals.

An early night Friday, Boo Boo's favorite NOT, for an early morning wake up call for our trip down to South Charlotte, about 40 minutes away or so.  With bags packed the night before it seemed a stress free morning or so I thought.

Rousing Boo Boo was like trying to start an earthquake, this girl will not move for ANYTHING, finally got her moving and boy was she grumpy, I could see this would be an interesting 1st game.  We get to the fields and had to park about a mile away (I know an exaggeration but it sure felt like it).  So with bags, camera and seat we made our way to the field.  Warm up was not impressive at all but y'know there has to be something said about Boo Boo and her warm ups.  If she has a bad warm up she tends to have a good game so here's hoping.

So 1st game up was FCCA and Boo Boo seems to have this thing about FCCA, they really have a love/hate relationship, more hate than anything, you remember the suspected dislocated jaw from a year back, right and then the comeback kid towards the end of the Fall 2011 season, well ever since then she is determined FCCA will never get the better of her...

So game on.....both teams came out to battle and given this was Boo Boo's 1st year with this new team it would be interesting to see how the girls jelled, boy did they gel.  Watching the play was great all the girls were passing the ball, Boo Boo was vocal as ever, this girl was on fire.  I know I am a proud mummy when it comes to the kids but this girl ROCKED it.  I have never seen her play as good as she did, complete SHUT OUT with some phenomenal saves we came away with a win 4-0 so I guess Boo Boo is keeping up with tradition in that bad warm ups = good games or in this instance GREAT GAMES!!!!!!

With a trip to subway for lunch it wasn't long before we were back at the fields for game #2.  We had called Bombshell during the break as he wasn't going to make the games on Saturday as he had a lot to do with Bambeano but I think with the excitement I told him about her 1st game he made it down to her game and she was pleasantly surprised.  I have this funny thing about Bombshell watching Boo Boo play, she has her best games when he is not there, funny that right.

So onto the 2nd game and this time it was Lake Norman, again another team Boo Boo has not had a favorable experience with them, in her words at the last game "mummy they even have boobies" so was there another opportunity for her to get her "pay back" as she likes to call it....well it didn't start off so good.  The refs called the game early before our coach even had an opportunity to be there (he had other teams at the same tournament) so the girls seemed a little on edge but they had some good attacks but the ball just would not go in the net, then from a goal kick the other team scored, having Boo Boo off guard but that was all the push she needed, that and her team.

They fired up the anti and came roaring back for a 7-1 win, now onto Sunday, another FCCA team and hopefully another win....but god had other plans.....

After waking up Sunday ready to get Boo Boo up for yet another early morning the storms rolled in accompanied with thunder and lightening, so here we were with a 2 hr delay and an opportunity for Boo Boo to sleep in a little but no sooner than that all games called off....so now what....a day completely free and an unknown of who would win, I wasn't sure but I thought it was based on points, 3 pts for a win and then if there was a draw it would be based on goals against, so a quick look at the standings we had 6 pts and 1 goal against, our rivals, yep you've guessed it FCCA, they had 6 pts but 6 goals against...

WE WON....1st tournament with a fairly new team and the girls did us proud all did a phenomenal job, now onto the regular season 9/9/12 not before Bambeano's games on 9/8/12

Hotlanta or bust.......

After a few weeks of catching our breath from our England trip it was time to enjoy a weekend with great friends and venture to Atlanta....after our successful Mountain Trip we couldn't wait to plan our next adventure and what an adventure it was.

Again we decided to not tell the kids where we were going or who we were going with....trust me 5 kiddos all bubbling with excitement before a road trip weeks before we leave was not something I think I wanted to handle.  Friday came and our friends met us at our house, after a quick switcharoo of kids in cars (we have Boo Boo and her best friend, while our friends had Bambeano and their twins) and off we went.

We had a busy but fun week end planned, hotel and pool, Coca Cola factory, Braves game and Georgia Aquarium were all on the agenda.  After a pit stop on the way for bathroom breaks and a stop at the mall for our Braves gear, we arrived at the hotel and checked in.   It was way past my lunch and those who don't know me should know when I don't eat I get cranky as ever!!!!!  I am not exaggerating just ask Bombshell and after this trip our friends can probably attest to this too.  A quick drop off of bags we made our way for a late lunch at a local pub that Bombshell had spotted driving round to the hotel, ahhhhh the refreshing wine and food NOW I was a happy camper.

We walked a few blocks down to the World of Coke and made our way to the entrance.   Damn this place was busy.... I am not sure how I felt about the place.  On some aspects I felt like cattle being herded from one exhibit to another, they obviously have not got the Disney memo.   The kids seemed to enjoy it so that was the main thing especially when it came to try the various drinks, the place was a mad house, it was a special treat for some of the kiddos who do not normally have the treat of soda.

After the hustle and bustle of the World of Coke we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for our next adventure a Major League Baseball game, Atlanta Braves vs, Philadelphia Phillies.  So with the cars in valet a call was made to have the cars brought round while we started to get ready and then we would make our way to Turner Field, or so I thought............Bring on meltdown #2 for the girl who hasn't eaten.

Our friends car made it round and some of the kids were bundled in while we still waited for my car, 5 minutes nothing, 10 minutes nothing, 15 minutes nothing so I went to the desk to ask about my car and if it was coming anytime soon.  Just when I thought I would not experience any more madhouses I was never  more wrong.  There was a family reunion trying to find out where their two rental vans were, one had "disappeared".....hmm not a good sign....finally I got the attention of an attendant and asked her for a status on my car, she asked my ticket number and disappeared, it looked like she went to the board of car keys but alas my car keys were not hanging there so without giving me any update she proceeded to the back of the office (where I could still see) and started to talk to the "runners" who collect the cars and the "runners" were glancing back at me....ARE YOU KIDDING ME not so much of an update!!!!!!!

Finally I collared another lady and told her that I was not being told of anything related to my car, she proceeded to call up to the main entrance and try and describe my car and keys.  I was just about done with all the mayhem and heat (we were in the underground garage).  Finally Bombshell had this "bright" idea that as there were 4 vehicles all the same model as mine we would go up as one was bound to mine.....Considering none on the key chains she described were mine I was not as hopeful.  Sure enough after traipsing back upstairs round to the front not only were there no vehicles the same model as mine but mine was NOT there, how's that for a surprise, they lost my car!!!!!!

Back downstairs we went and en route I received a text from our friends confirming they could see my car, it was now miraculously found.  I was so mad, hot and disgruntled I grabbed the keys from the attendant who had the gall to gleefully say "we found your car" and stormed off, and no I did not leave a tip, are you kidding me, this took about 30 minutes of my life away!!!!!

We made our way to Turner Field and parked, the place was bigger than I imagined and there were so many fans.  The last MLB game I went to was NY Yankees in 1994 when Bombshell and I were living in White Plains, NY.  Our seats were a far walk away but when we got seated they were great views.  The kids were in front and the adults sat behind.  Braves came away with the win and we stayed for fireworks.  It was touch and go whether we were going to leave after the 6th inning and make our way back to the hotel.  You see our hotel rooms both faced Turner Field, but as it turned out the kids wanted to stay.  I am torn on whether this was a good idea or not, the fireworks and atmosphere of being there was phenomenal and the kids made the jumbo tron but the exit from the parking lot was not the best experience to say the least.

The next day we had to be up fairly early as we were meeting the manager at the Georgia Aquarium.  The food service and catering is run by the company Bombshell and I work at.  The place was huge and enjoyable from the start to finish.  Lots of great educational pieces for the kids and the exhibits, especially the
Ocean Voyager with the underwater tunnel after taking in about half of the exhibits, grabbing some lunch and letting the kids run off some steam, we decided to make our way back to the hotel for some pool time and chill before returning back to the Aquarium for the Dolphin Tale Show.

While I chilled at the pool our ever so resourceful friends and cooked up an idea to consume the adult beverages we brought with us on the trip.......Welcome the new Deer Park "chardonnay" water only available on a Bowden/Woodward road trip.  So while we enjoyed relaxing on the side of the pool we also enjoyed some quiet time enjoying our chilled wine while the husbands entertained the kiddos, this is what I call HEAVEN :)  Thanks guys we owe you.....

So after some quick showers we left for the Aquarium to catch the show and finish off the exhibits before dinner.  I really enjoyed the dolphins but could have done without the theatricals and singing but it was still good.  Of course before leaving we had to hit up the gift shop Bambeano and Boo Boo both getting cuddly toys, for a shock while I scored a Christmas tree ornament and Bombshell bought we a stuffed toy too, how sweet.

Dinner choice was picked by Bombshell it was a little Italian pizza place that he had tried out while he visited Atlanta on business.  He raved about the place so we were all up for trying.  Must be good if the have a police officer outside directing traffic and parking it was that busy.  No frills here just BYOB and find a table.  We arrived and the place was heaving and we had 5 hungry kiddos but with pizza how wrong good you go. We entered and made our way to the kitchen out back where they had large bench tables family style.  SO the 9 of us sat and waited patiently for others to leave and seated at a table where another party were at the end.  Bombshell ordered the pizza and no joke 5 minutes or so the pizzas arrived.

Most people now my husband is a trained chef and loves experimenting and trying new foods.  I on the other hand am the most pickiest eater there is, just call me plain Jane.   I will admit since I started dating Bombshell some 18 years ago he had broaden my palette but I still like my comfort food.  So the pizzas arrived a cheese one for the kids and the some others, that I shall call froo froo pizzas.  Our friends and Bombshell started eating while I sat and sulked....I just wanted my plain old pepperoni pizza.  The kids were fast running out of the cheese and Bambeano also wanted pepperoni.  My super husband stopped what he was eating and went up and ordered another "plain Jane" pepperoni pizza, ah the things he does to make me happy (or should we say to have an easy life, I prefer the 1st option)

So after dinner we made our way back to the hotel and decided to give the kids a  treat and take them back down to the pool for a late night swim.  The adults enjoyed some down time with adult beverages again and just chilled.  After some time we took the kids back up to the rooms to get them settled while the guys went for a drink at the hotel bar.  I was exhausted and it wasn't long before I fell asleep.

The next morning we had to get packed up and leave our 2nd road trip adventure behind.  I later found out that the guys returned back to the room sometime after midnight and could not get in the rooms.  With the rooms joining the just took one key but it turned out Mummy safety mode was in full force as the security bolt was placed over the door.  They tried and tried to wake my friend up even calling the front desk to call the room with no success so it resorted to banging the door VERY loudly until one of us woke up, three guesses it was NOT me......I slept through the whole thing :)

All packed up and ready to go we left Atlanta behind and started thinking about where we could have our next road trip and when......THANKS GUYS for another successful road trip it was a blast