All State

Saturday was the annual Connecticut Future Musicians All State Band Concert.  This year, for the first time, they had an All State Chorus, which Emily was nominated for by her school chorus teacher (no auditions this year, thank goodness!).  She decided to participate only in the chorus, because there was so many rehearsals if she did both band and chorus.  The chorus sounded really good, especially for having only two rehearsals, and she got to work with a director who will likely be her high school director (he guest directed for the first year).  It was a great show, as always.

900 miles

Back Outside

The spring soccer season is just about upon us and Emily's coach has worked hard to get the girls time outside on the big field before their first game.  The girls actually played a Sunday night game in late February (I'm completely inept at night time photography with the big camera, so the only photos are from my cell phone).  A game scheduled for early March was snowed out, but Emily and her friends didn't let that deter them - they put in a solid 45 minutes on the track instead and then did it again the following Saturday, after a soccer game.  Weekend track workouts will likely be the norm until the season is well underway and the girls are back in top form with their conditioning.  I'm always amazed by the work that 12 year old girls are willing to put in to position themselves to be the best possible player and teammate on the field.

Outside friendly match on a cold February night. 

A well played game and a nice win to start things off.

In inter-squad scrimmage to get used to being outside again.

A little bleacher running never hurt anyone.

Fast 50s.

Relays

Running stairs

2x400x2 meter relays.

February Odds and Ends

Photos that didn't make February posts - apparently, mostly all of Emily and the animals...

This girl is super happy that the Patriots won the Super Bowl again!

Shopping with Auntie Kathy.

It nice to have friends that support you at your basketball games!

Kool Kats

Soccer Prom

For years, MYS held an annual dinner dance as a fundraiser for the club.  People got so into this even that over time, it became known as the "soccer prom".  When Emily played for Magic, we just didn't know enough people and never made the effort to attend.  Due to significant changes over the last few years, the club has not held the dance, but they brought it back this year in order to fundraise for the new turf field they are installing.  Lee and I joined 8 other couples from Emily's team at the event last week and had a great time - well, I had a great time and Lee suffered through it because he loves me.  We didn't win anything - not a darn thing, despite all of the raffles we entered - but it was a fun night out and a great event for the club.

Some Sporting 06 moms. 

My people.  Not sure what I'd do without these two ladies on the sidelines, week in and week out.

A Starr is Born

For the last couple of years, Emily has really wanted a hedgehog.  And we have consistently said "absolutely not" to her.  A girl that she goes to school with as a hedgehog and one night, the mother told me that they were looking for a family to take her because her daughter wasn't taking care of it anymore.  Lee and I discussed; then we discussed with Elizabeth and then, once we had firmed up a date to pick up the hedgehog, we told Emily. And then, the other girl decided that she really wanted to keep her hedgehog after all. Cue the tears from Emily. For days.  Elizabeth did a little bit of research (of course) and found a place in Connecticut that has hedgehogs - although she is a breeder, she also has retired breeders for adoption.  So we picked out a retired breeder, as well as all the stuff we needed, and two weeks ago, brought home Starr (named for the main character in The Hate U Give).  She is definitely interesting and over the last two weeks, has gotten more and more comfortable with Emily and with the rest of us.  We have become, as my friend Kate would say, a petting zoo.....

So happy!

Willis is very interested in Starr.