My Baby's Done-Mixed Emotions

Last Saturday ended a family tradition...Elijah (my baby) had his very last Pop Warner Football game. We have been playing in the league for 15 years, my husband and I met and fell in love on that field, all of our kids played and my step-daughter was a cheerleader. We have been doing this for what seems like FOREVER.

Elijah's team made it to the playoffs, lost their first game and went into the loser's bracket. They played their final game at 8:00 p.m. last Saturday. I thought, "It's finally done, no more drama, politics and drama!!" You sports parents know what I'm talking about, half of the parents are living vicariously through their kids, one would think that these kids were in the NFL. I was ready to be done, or so I thought.

As the game was winding down, we were slaughtering the other team...I started to get a little emotional. This is the last time I'm going to watch my baby play youth football, how weird this is! The clock slowly ticked away, the buzzer sounded the final game of my son's Pop Warner career. As they were going to shake hands, I normally wouldn't even pay attention, but I found myself standing alone off to the side, watching and taking in the moment...my baby would now be playing in high school. The final end to a perfect game, the kids pouring the ice cold water in the cooler over the coaches head (who also finished coaching his very last game), laughing, cheering and hugging.

As we were walking away, very quiet, a cheer coach, Amy, came running up to us, hugged us and said, "I can't believe you guys are done! You have been here ever since I started coaching 15 years ago...it's going to be weird next year not having you guys around." That did it for me...I got a little teary eyed, I hid it from my son and husband. As we got into the car, I asked Elijah, "Are you sad that it's over?" He said, "Kind of but I'm ready to play high school." My husband was still quiet, we drove out of the parking lot...honking, waving and saying our final goodbye to our Pop Warner family. I'm shocked that 15 years has gone by SO FAST!
THE MEMORIES

Elijah way back when running strong.

Elijah now...still out running the competition!

One of many touchdowns to come!

The final year...touchdown #???

Vote!

I just got home from voting a little while ago...with all the speculation and talk about long lines, I had my game face on ready to be patient. I lucked out, either I beat the crowds (I was there around 4:45pm) or everyone sent their ballot's in. I had only two people in front of me, one of them was a young kid, probably just turned 18. It was kind of cool to see someone so young taking an interest...I know I didn't at that age.

My sister's son registered (just turned 18 in October) because she is very involved (politically). She will have no part of a child in her house who is old enough to vote...stand by and let their vote be wasted!LOL! That's the one area that she definitely puts her foot down with her kids. I need to find out how that experience went for him. He didn't really want to, but I'm sure that she briefed him on everything since she reads and re-reads everything to make sure that no one is trying to trick her with the verbage! He will be one VERY informed 18 year old when he walks in to cast his vote, whether he likes it or not.

I hope everyone took advantage of their right and privilege to vote. We are so lucky to live in the USA, please be sure to take the time to do your part...our ancestors fought and died for this right. They gave us the gift of having the freedom to choose who will lead our country. Your vote counts!

Pacific Coast Hoops Fundraiser/ Season Kick Off

I have been working on the fundraiser/kick off luncheon for PC Hoops and Mike Burk's family. I finished the article and submitted it to the newspaper, hopefully we'll get some donations mailed in. Here it is...if something is tugging at your heart to help this family, please feel free to mail in a donation of any amount to the address listed below~

PACIFIC COAST HOOPS SEASON KICK-OFF / FUNDRAISER FOR THE BURK FAMILY

Pacific Coast Hoops will be holding a Season Kick-Off Luncheon/Fundraiser for an active member of the Huntington Beach Community. Mike Burk spent several years coaching youth basketball, soccer and baseball. His love for his family and the children he coached was evident to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Mike passed away on September 2, 2008 and will be greatly missed. PCH would like to extend our sincerest support to Mike's family, wife Karen and their boys Richard, Michael and Matthew.

Please join us and help make a difference:
WHEN: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH
WHERE: EDISON HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
TIME: 1:00PM - 4:00PM.
WHAT: POT LUCK LUNCHEON
PRICE: $5.00 A PLATE - ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE BURK FAMILY

We will also be having a sample sale: Fourstar, Altamont, Emerica, ES and Nixon, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Burk family.

A Memorial Fund has been set up for the Burk Family; all contributions would be greatly appreciated. Please send your support to:
PCHYBL/BURK
P.O. BOX 5811
H.B., CA 92615.

PC Hoops is currently accepting players for the 2008-2009 season. If you're interested in playing for a league that gives back to it's community, please visit our website at http://pchoops.net .


(Mike is wearing the red hat and his son, Michael is #24)

Weird Halloween

Last night, the kids got ready and had us drop them off with their friends. We received a phone call around 11:00 p.m. to pick them up...this is the first year that we didn't go out with them. My baby's are officially all grown up. I feel so old, this is the first year that we didn't go with the "little guys." That's what we still call them even though my little guy is taller than me and Adam is getting there.

Me and Anthony went and had some sushi, rented a movie (Leatherheads) got some ice cream and went home. So it was definitely a weird one. Makes me sad to think that my days of getting them ready, walking around from house to house and sneaking candy out of their bags when they weren't looking is over. Now I guess I'll have to resort to sneaking the candy out of their rooms.

Unfortunately they get a lot smarter when they're older and they hide the stash. My husband is actually worse than me when it comes to chocolate. He would leave the kids in tears when they would reach for the one BIG candy bar that they were lucky enough to get...only to find the empty wrapper in its place.

Now begins a new chapter...we are old!

Stepping It Up...Can I Do It?

I came up with an idea to help raise some money for our friend who's husband passed away in his sleep. Basketball season is approaching and Mike Burk was a coach for Pacific Coast Hoops League. I thought maybe we could do a pot luck style luncheon/Opening Day. Everyone bring something and then charge $5.00 a plate, with all the proceeds benefitting the Burk family. I mentioned it to my husband and asked him to tell Kandie (the person in charge of the league) and see what she thought.

Well, I guess she liked the idea and wanted to have a meeting about it. When we showed up, she said, "Thank you so much...I don't know how you want to work it but I have the high school cafeteria available in two weeks." She handed me the list of the entire league and asked if I could let everyone know. So, I guess my idea was a hit!LOL!

I'm really trying to step it up and do things to help other people...but I'm used to being the idea girl/helper...not the person in charge. So here I go getting stretched again. It's funny how whenever you pray for God to use you...he REALLY answers your prayers! So I have a week and a half to make flyers, contact an entire league, interview Mike's wife Karen (get more specific info, stories and pictures of Mike) for the newspaper article I need to write and submit to be published in time to let the public know about the event.

I'm in charge....hahaha...this should be interesting!! Wish me luck!!

Edison vs. Los Alamitos

Last night was Edison's BIG game...we were ranked #1 in the county, which isn't necessarily a good thing. All the previous #1 teams lost their games immediately after receiving the honor. This game was talked about A LOT...the winner will most likely be the Sunset League Champion. Granted there is still a lot of games left and anything can happen, but Los Alamitos was supposed to be our strongest competitor.

Jullien Herrera #9 (Edison-Green/Gold) has been moved from Safety to Linebacker...which he loves! He played an AMAZING game and had a sack and an interception
(SEE VIDEO HERE) make sure you continue to watch it past the interviews...they will show more highlights. Click Here to see the article in today's sports page of the Orange County Register newspaper.

Unfortunately we had too many turnovers and questionable penalties (you will see one of them in the video). Also our main receiver was out, which definitely hurt us. Our defense played great, but was on the field most of the night due to the constant turnovers and Los Alamitos was given good field position. All excuses aside, we didn't play a clean game and suffered the consequences. Clark Evans (Los Alamitos - Colorado bound quarterback) was a great player. The guy was HUGE and STRONG, he threw accurate and ran people over. He came up and complimented Jullien after the game and told him that he was an AWESOME player.

With that being said...the score was 23-19...imagine how bad we could've beat them if we played without all the turnovers and penalties...it was an uncharacteristic game for us. Los Alamitos played a clean game and were victorious. The only thing we can hope for is that Fountain Valley, Newport Harbor or Esperanza can beat them and help us at least win Co-Champions of Sunset League...but this is football...ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!

The Freshmen and The Seniors

I want you all to put yourself right back in high school as I share my funny story with you. Try to remember your very first Homecoming dance...the excitement of getting ready, finding the perfect outfit, first date, Limo ride...and the whole anticipation of the night ahead.

(Jullien & Chelsea)



(The Football Players- Preston won Homecoming King)

Saturday was the Homecoming dance and like I mentioned in my previous post my son, Jullien (a Senior) and my step-son, Adam (a Freshman) both went. Of course Jullien went with all the Seniors. They met at our friends house, ate, hung out, took pictures and waited for their luxury bus to arrive, yes I said bus...but it was supposed to be really cool. So we hung out and waited for it to arrive. As it pulled up, it was the most AMAZING BUS I had ever seen. All the kids had to line up and fill out an information sheet while some of us pushy parents jumped on to take pictures and check it out. What do ya think? I wasn't kidding!

(Senior's waiting to get on the Bus)



(Check out the little fireplace!)

(My Hubby and Erin-Checking Out the Bus)
After they all loaded on, we headed over to the Freshman house. As we pulled up a Hummer Limo was just pulling out, there were also a bunch of Sophmore kids at the house who were going with the older brother. All the little freshman were outside checking out the limo and got even more excited for their bus to arrive...they were going on a luxury bus. We all went inside, the bus was going to be 20 minutes late. While we were sitting there I had my camera and started telling them to come and check out the pictures of the senior's bus. They were freaking out..."WOW...that's cool!" Their eyes got huge, they started to jump around, the anticipation of all the fun they were going to have on their bus was getting the best of their mature fake exterior. Finally the call came, the bus driver was just coming into the gate (the family lives in an exclusive gated community). They all bolted out the door, it was pitch black outside and all they could see were the large headlights coming towards them. They started jumping, hugging, high fiving and yelling, "Yeah, Yeah, look at it, here it comes!"

(Adam Ready for Homecoming)
It slowly made a u turn and pulled up in front of the jumping, slapping, screaming, excited, freshmen. The lights inside the bus started flashing off and on. There was complete silence as they stared in awe at their amazing, luxury bus. There it finally was...the ride that would take them to their very first Homecoming dance, a ride that would make a statement..."Yes we are really movie stars here to crash your dance!" Oh this was a special day!

(Adam, Cade and Friends)

(The Freshmen)
There it was, the kids were frozen, unable to move towards the open door. This was the moment they had been waiting for. The Luxury bus was a small transit bus painted white that said "VIP TOURS" on the side! One of the boys looks at his mom and yells out, "WHAT IS THIS THING! We aren't going to the dance in THIS!" Everyone started to yell, "This is SOOOO LAME!" The boys mom said, "Oh, go ahead and get on, it'll be okay...this isn't what I thought I'd ordered but it'll be fine, hurry and get on you guys are already late." With heads hung low, shoulders slumped, muttering mean comments under their breathe...one by one they piled into their double wide "luxury" seats. Adam taking a seat and slumping his head against the window. I jumped on to get a picture of the scene inside...which was very different than a few minutes prior. At least one girl forced a smile for the picture.

(Kids in Shock)

(A Girl Forcing a Smile...Notice the Boy in the Backs Face!LOL!)
As the freshman were all seat belted safely in their seats...a dad yells out, "This is what you get to ride in when your a freshman. Just wait till next year, it gets better!!" With that final parting comment the doors closed and the bus driver flashed the inside lights off and on...giving it quite the party bus effect!LOL! We were all laughing as they drove away.

Adam told me that at the end of the night, as everyone piled outside waiting for their Limo's and Luxury busses to pull up...his group hid towards the back of the crowd, praying that their's would be the last one to pull in front. But, when you're a freshman, things never go the way you hope...it pulled right up...flashing lights and all. They sprinted to get inside and hid under the seats, hoping to avoid being seen. Driving off into the moonlight, safely hidden in the darkness, they popped their heads up one by one, looked around, climbed into their seats and said, "Man, that was embarrassing...do you think anybody saw us? I can't wait till we're Senior's, this bus stinks!!"

Date Night and The Duchess

I have the funniest story to tell you guys, but I’ll wait until tonight so I can add the pictures to give you the whole effect! It was Homecoming this weekend and both my senior son and my freshman step-son went. Here’s a little clue...The Freshman and The Seniors. That’s all you get for now...check back tonight if you want a laugh.

My husband had promised me a date night...which was going to happen immediately after taking pictures of the kids. We were going to go out for Sushi and a movie (a VERY special treat for us) we NEVER go out. It was so late by the time we finished, the parents at one of the houses invited us to stay and have dinner with them after the last group of kids left. So we stayed and visited, we had a good time...they’re a funny couple. Then it was off to the movies, which it was my turn to pick (he chose last time) I was debating between the new football movie or The Duchess (I LOVE period piece movies)...so I decided to be selfish and take him to see a romance. He has liked a couple of them in the past...as long as there’s violence and humor.

Well that wasn’t the case and I noticed he had to “go to the bathroom” an awful lot during the movie. When he came back I whispered, “Do you want me to tell you what happened?” “NO...I’m sure it wasn’t anything important!” I could tell he was VERY pleased with my choice, hahaha! For those of you who haven’t seen it, I will only say, it wasn’t what I expected...Keira Knightley was beautiful as usual, the costumes were amazing, the acting was great...just unexpected ending. You’ll have to see it yourself and tell me what you think. A word of advice...don’t take your husband (no matter how sensitive he is) definite chick flick!

Don’t forget to check back tonight!