Country of Origin, Third Edition

Laura’s fifth grade class was lucky to experience the return of the CKS classic Country of Origin performance, after a two-year hiatus thanks to COVID. They rehearsed for weeks, and she was lucky enough to have both Clare and Grandma & Grandpa in attendance. A true entourage!

I love that she chose to focus on Germany which neither Clare nor Danny did when it was their turn. I suspect Clare’s impending study abroad tour there, as well also our planned trip, influenced her decision - along with her fondness for pretzels!

She was rightly pleased that her design was chosen for the dedication page of the keepsake book - she did a great job!

A Redemptive Travel Tournament

Laura’s year of club soccer has been exponentially better than a year ago, when anxiety made the sport pretty miserable for her. Thanks to an incredibly patient and fun new coach, her confidence has soared - as has her skill. He put her in a new position, Center Back, and she has come to really own this role.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t quite sure how she would take to our trip to Nashville for a tournament, given that last spring’s trip to Birmingham remains a very negative memory for her. 

Thankfully, Laura set off for our weekend simply eager for the time with her teammates and yes, ready to play some soccer. I agreed to check her out of school early on Friday so that we could hit the road and arrive at a decent time, which allowed us to have a lovely dinner, just the two of us. I got the lowdown on the 5th grade “tea,” and counted my blessings.

The next day was unseasonably cool, which just added to her enjoyment of the soccer - no blazing hot sun! The team played two games that day, and tied both, which wasn’t enough to get them in the finals. But we had a blast that night, both the girls with each other, and we parents. 

The weekend finished with a consolation game in the late morning, featuring two PKs scored by Laura to win the game, and then we hit the road in order to get home in time for Mother’s Day dinner with the rest of the family. I’m not sure Birmingham can ever redeem itself in Laura’s mind, but she’s a fan of Nashville for sure!

Danny’s First Varsity Soccer Season

To say Danny was elated to be selected for the Marist Varsity Boys team is absolutely an understatement. We were really excited for him, and knew he’d learn a lot and enjoy the camaraderie - but didn’t expect him to play much. 

Turns out, he did learn a lot, made some great friends, AND got to play a decent amount! I think it’s safe to say he earned the respect of the players and the coaches alike.

He was also given some leadership opportunities, acting as both the Team Chaplain and one of the six speakers on Senior Night, offering accolades on his teammate Gabe. Danny is a very composed, well-spoken young man, and it was a treat to see that dovetail so well with his athletic side.

I think we all look forward to the next three years of Marist Soccer - but no doubt Danny the most!

Sixteen Sweet Years of Danny Boy

I don’t hear the phrase “sweet sixteen” used in reference to a boy’s birthday, although I do firmly believe it applies to Danny! Despite the kitchen renovation, we managed to fete our boy in style. Saturday night a select crew spent the night (alas, no photos) and Tim smoked up a slew of ribs. 

Sunday we four went to dinner at The Capital Grille after mass - delicious all around! We greatly enjoyed the elevator, too :-)

Danny continues to defy our expectations, and his winsome ways make for an ever-growing fan club. It’s a joy to watch him grow into a smart, confident, talented young man, especially since I’m pretty sure he will always be sweet. And he will *always* be our Danny Boy.