Cook. Craft. Enjoy.

Almost A Month

Yes, I know it's been a month since I've posted (sigh).   No excuses, no complaints, just an "I'm back, thanks for sticking it out with me".  :-)

While I don't have anything foody to share with you today, I wanted to put a shout out to Liam's new soccer team - the Infernos.  Their first game was last weekend and it was SO hot.  Game time was at 11:45 and the temperature was already over 100.

Liam had to play the entire game (we only had 7 players show up) and during the 4th quarter it was all he could do to walk after the ball (poor kid was so hot and tired!)  They all played a great game, though, and won 6-0.   I'm hoping this will be a great start to a great season.

Thankfully our game this Saturday is at 8am -- it will actually be pleasant outside and we won't have to melt.  (I feel sorry for the poor goalies who have to wear long sleeve shirts and gloves!)

GO INFERNOS!

Soccer Season Begins

Soccer

Go Fire Dragons!!

Today's games was a good one though it seemed like our players couldn't get into their groove.  We did win (3-1) but the kids were competing for the ball and not doing their normal teamwork.  It was exciting seeing Liam play goalie and eat grass saving a goal.  (No damage done except for some grass literally in his mouth.)

Soccer

So far Liam is having a great season. As of right now their team is undefeated (go Fire Dragons!) but more important to that is they are having a great time. The league they play in does not keep score and one of their mottos is "everyone plays".

(Warning, rant ahead...) Yesterday we played a team that had some of our parents so upset. Before the game started the other coach told our coach that they were undefeated and that they had never even been scored on. Sounds like a little bit of an ego problem to me, doesn't it? The first half (we play 10 minute quarters), they scored one on us and we just couldn't get it together. The 3rd quarter, however, we scored 6 goals on them while holding them to the 1 they had already scored. The difference? The coach had played the same kids in the 1st and 2nd quarters and changed to different kids in the 3rd quarter. While that in itself would have been fine if he had let those 2nd set of kids play the whole rest of the game, he pulled them out and the first set of kids got to play over 3/4 of the game. Watching the other kids on the sidelines, they weren't even paying attention to the game -- just kicking the ball back and forth to each other so you know that's how things work on that team. We felt so bad for those kids that weren't given the opportunity to play their full share of the game but unfortunately it's not up to us to do anything about it. However, one of the parents on the other team asked us "Your coach plays everyone?" so we're hoping that they'll say something to the coach or the league. I know if we were on that team we'd be up in arms about it. These kids aren't playing for awards .. they're playing for FUN. Yes, it's nice to win, but it's good for kids to lose too. (End of rant)

Otherwise, it's been a great season for us. We love our coach and he's done an awesome job of teaching the kids the value of teamwork. I'm just sad there's only 2 more games left!

Another Soccer Season

Yes, it's that time of year again ... fall soccer!  Liam got to move up a division this season so he now has practices once a week in addition to our Saturday games.  I'm so excited to see him out playing a sport he loves so much and hope their team, the Fire Dragons, have an awesome season.

Sporty Weekend

This weekend is Spring Fling for our softball league.  What does that mean?  Tournament play.  Today we had 2 games (won one, lost one) and tomorrow we're guaranteed at least 2 more games.  (I believe we play until we've lost 2 more).  The only problem with this is that it was hot today.  It was registering 104 on my van's thermometer when we left this afternoon at 4:00 and tomorrow won't be any better.  Today's mantra for the girls was HYDRATE!

They do have a small concession tent set up, but I'd rather bring things from home so tonight I set out to make some pepperoni rolls to take with us.  That, carrots, apple slices and sunflower seeds should hold us pretty well for as long as we need to be there.  Don and I split one tonight after cooking and it's a good thing they're already marked for tomorrow or the batch could be close to gone by morning.  I'd love to make more of these with some deli turkey or deli ham instead of the pepperoni and that would make a perfect grab and go lunch.

Pepperoni Rolls
(bread dough recipe taken from "Sweet Rolls" from The Bread Machine Cookbook by Donna Rathmell German)

For the Dough combine the following in your bread machine and send it through the dough cycle:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Once the dough cycle is complete, divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll out to a rectangle.  Place 9 slices of pepperoni and a small amount of shredded mozzarella cheese onto one side and roll up.  Tuck in the ends to seal.  Cover and let rise for about an hour; brush with oil (I used basil oil); bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until done.

Saturday Sports

Today was a busy, busy sports day for us.  Adrienne had 2 softball games -- 9 and 10:45 and Liam had soccer at 11:30. 

Adrienne's team split the games -- the first winning the Orange Crush (who were undefeated!) and the second losing to the Green Monsters.  The really great thing about the games, though, was that Fusion really looked like they were a team.  They had some great plays and it was just awesome.  Good job, girls!

Liam's team won their game 5-3 with Liam scoring 2 of the goals.  They had a great time as well - and it's nice that the weather has cooperated.   Go Electric Eels!

To celebrate their wins tonight we went to Red Robin for dinner -- it's one of the kids' favorite places to eat.  After that we drove to HobbyTown USA and picked up the new White Dwarf magazine as well as the Games Workshop book How to Make Wargames Terrain.  I'm hoping to start work this week on making Don and Liam some great scenery for their Warhammer guys.  Doesn't that sound like a fun way to spend spring break?  :-)

Electric Eels

Today was the start of our spring soccer season.  Liam's new team, the Electric Eels, won their first game 3-1.  Liam still has in his head that he needs to just play defense, but he still scored 2 of the 3 goals.  My mantra for his last quarter was "keep your feet on the ball".  What fun it is, though, to watch these guys play.  I'm sure this will be a great season!

Other sports news, Adrienne's softball team has 2 games this afternoon but she's still not feeling up to life yet so she'll be sitting them out.  Good luck Fusion!

Fusion Softball

It sure does seem like spring.  80 degrees and cloudless made it a perfect day for softball.

Our girls did fantastic and had one win, one loss today.  They should be very proud of the way they played -- GO FUSION! 

Opening Day

Whew!  What a day we had!  It started at the field at 10:30 this morning and we didn't leave until almost 6pm.  We had photos taken and 2 games (which, unfortunately, we lost -- but the second one was *so* close) and everyone had a great day.  Go Fusion!