The Blanding Bugle

Volume 17 Issue 5

May 2008

Soccer Anyone?

Once again spring has sprung and the Blandings are at the pitch kicking the ball around.  This year Doreen has the opportunity to coach five of her children.  Jason and Mike are on the same team, Matt and Chris are on the same team and of course Jessie is on her own team. Kray decided not to play this year so he could ref and earn money.  He is also helping Doreen as an assistant coach.

Jessie is a scoring machine.  She is no longer worried about how to do a proper high five, or how the other girls have their hair and is determined to get the ball over the goal line hopefully between the posts.  In her first game she scored five goals.  Doreen made it a rule that she had to pass before she could score. Jessie replied, "But mom, no one is down there to pass to."  She was right, but nonetheless when the score is 7 to 2 and she has five of those goal, she needs to pass.

Jason is in the box again and doing a fantastic job. Doreen wishes she could put him in the field but no one else wants to play in the box and Jason is an outstanding goalie. When she does put him in the field he scores a hat trick! He isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to stop the ball.  On the days Jason isn't playing he is a ref for the younger teams. He is enjoying putting a little extra spending cash in his pocket.

Mike is turning into a great midfielder.  He is learning that the big boys play hard and fast.  It is hard to keep up, but he is doing a great job. He has even scored a wild goal.  The ball was crossed and came to a dead stop in the middle of the box, just to the left of the PK mark.  The race was on between their goalie and Mike. Mike slid and beat the goalie to the ball. He managed to get it to slowly roll between his leads and  over the goal line. GOAL! What a score.

Matt has learned that his left foot is his friend and he loves to score a goal or two with it.  He likes to play goalie too.

Chris is a natural at forward and is a great team leader. He and Matt make for a great team in the field.  Between the two of them the team is certain to have at least two goals!

Kray is a full time referee and is doing an excellent job.  He can handle the worse coaches-coaches who think they can just walk on the field and take the ball from players! 

Kray's first formal dance!

Kray and Aubrey

April 19, 2008

Seven Stake Formal Laurel and Priest Dance
Bothell, WA

And College

Then the following week, went to our local community college, passed the entrance exam and was admitted into college. 

Doreen in black, Jessie in Blue

Jessie

Chris took this picture of Doreen coaching.
"Smile, mom!"

Jason looking sharp in his uniform!

Matt putting the moves on!

Chris and Matt taking a break during half time.

Scout Update:

When you have a house full of boys, scouts is ever present.  In the past few months these are the things we have accomplished.

Kray--Still an Eagle Scout and a great help with his younger siblings and their cub work.

Jason--Advancement to Life scout. Picked an Eagle Scout project (YEAH!) and just a few more merit badges away from the big award.

Mike--Advanced to Star a while ago, but finally awarded. Working on merit badges and "time served".

Matt--Finally a WEBELOS (has been for a while but mom couldn't make a pack meeting) and will be getting his Arrow of Light in June as he bridges to Boy Scouts.

Chris-- Earned his Bear award in three months and is now working on arrow points.

Jessie--Big supporter and would get the same awards if only.  (Doreen knows acutely how Jessie feels, but tells her the same thing Nellie told Doreen, "Your day will come when you will get the awards for all that hard work. You just have to patiently wait." It is true, Jessie. I'm finally getting the awards.)

Chris the new Bear
Matt the new WEBELOS
with mom -who hurried from soccer to get pinned!