Spring Sports Season 2018.

It didn't used to be like this... but I am embracing our new reality with kids growing up and doing extra stuff (that we don't make them do). I am happy they are busy with things that they enjoy after school and don't just sit around playing computer games.

Spring is a very busy sports season for us. This year Mark signed up for our local recreational soccer league so on top of his tennis practices three times a week he added another hour of soccer, plus Saturday matches. He had to skip a few matches because he either had tennis tournaments to play at the same time or soccer matches were scheduled on a Sunday.

North Carolina in May and June can be brutally hot:) Yeah, it looks kind of funny, but it works. At least Mark has been trained well to play hard in the heat.

Somehow we didn't get any pictures of Mark playing soccer!! But so you know, he scored in many games and in one game got his PB of a Hat Trick:)) 

I drive to the Cary Tennis Park multiple times a week and in the summer months sometimes twice in one day. Mark knows this place very well and feels so comfortable here. I think it's a wonderful facility! But I wish it were just a little closer (right now it's a 17-20 min drive). The good thing is that his practices are 1.5 hours long so I can sometimes drop him off, go home for an hour and spend some time with the rest of the family before Robert or I pick him up in the evening. He does group practices twice a week and a private or small group lesson once a week. We switch it up from time to time and know that as he gets older and wants to get better, he'll need to spend more hours on the court. Today, for example, Mark rented a ball machine (it comes free as well as the court for those who are in the Academy) and spent an hour in the morning practicing some shots. It's a great way to practice lobs as no one can be as consistent at lobs as a machine:)) My role as a "ball girl" is essential-haha.

And here is rowing! Alex decided he 100% wants to do rowing this next school year (we gave him a choice as it's not cheap and we didn't want to hear complaining). He says he really enjoys being part of the team and competing, so we are giving him a green light for another year of rowing on the Middle School Team. Katya is going to be the most experience designated coxswain on the team, so she is excited about that and hoping to make it work somehow with her theater endeavors in Raleigh. The only downside is that she doesn't really get any athletic benefit from being a coxswain, but she loves it (and it's free), so she'll keep going for now. Rowing season ended at the end of May and will restart right after Labor Day.

As of right now we are loving summer and fewer commitments. Looking forward to watching our kids practice, compete, win or lose and do it all over again. 

Lyana. 

Football Season at RAF Alconbury

Our tiny AF base had one thing figured out correctly--community spirit. Kids knew each other, parents knew each other, we all signed up for similar things, helped each other with car rides and snacks. This May both Katya and Mark wanted to play soccer. 

We already knew that Airman Stewart and Airman Kulibert would be coaching a soccer team (I was the one who convinced them to try coaching basketball in the months prior), so we were hoping Mark could be on their team. Katya wanted to be on the same team as her friends Claire and Mary Kate, so we hoped that all our schedules would work out.

The little guys practiced once a week and played once a week. You'd think the weather would be nicer and dryer and warmer by May--but NO:) There were many times when we, as parents, were simply freezing. I had to wear my warmest winter coat and put on a hat (and even make Mark wear a hat) as it was so windy and freezing one time. 

Mark became a good little player! 

In general, he is so focused and very athletic. His friend, Charlie, was on his team as well, so they practiced A LOT of soccer on our street. 

He was one of the midfielders so he could play in a variety of ways. 

At the end of the season, in June, we had an ice cream party for the kids. We are so grateful for people like these young lads who are willing to step up and volunteer their time and effort to help the kids learn the sport.

Katya's team was much more serious! Still fun but with more training. Katya discovered this year that she loved soccer and that she actually was good at it. She can run (although she says she gets tired very easily) and she can pass and kick really well.

Her games were super exciting as some of the teams in her age group were very good. 

It was especially fun to play soccer with her friends on her team as we managed to align all of our schedules. 

And again, I am grateful for parent volunteers who make it possible for kids to play and have fun. It was a great season! RAF Alconbury forever in our heart:)

Lyana. 

Busy Alex

Alex needs a quick update (other than his "Beat It" solo). He is still in Year 5 (4th grade US) at Brampton Village School, still is taking piano lessons and swimming lessons once a week. Lately, he's been very interested in running. In fact, one of his New Year's resolutions was to run 1 mile three times a week. Although it lasted only a week, he realized he could do it and not die. He has done two more 5K races on base in the last few months, improving his time to about 31-32 minutes (which is great for a beginner like he is). Because he was doing well with running, he tried out for the school relay team and got a spot. They competed in April in St. Neots at an event that invited hundreds of children from all over Cambridgeshire. It was spectacular to watch! Our girls' team A (we had two teams for girls and two teams for boys) got third place out of 135 teams. Alex didn't do that well, but he didn't quit running and did not come in last in his 3/4 mile run. 

Alex is also going to try some trumpet lessons. He is very involved in his school orchestra that meets before school on Fridays, but he feels that playing the keyboard is not as much fun in that setting as it would be if he played a cool orchestra instrument. Since he already knows how to read music well and has a good rhythm, I think he will enjoy learning to play a new instrument. We hope.

Last week, all kids in his grade had a bike ability course which basically taught them how to properly bike on the street. Because I know he had all those instructions, I feel more comfortable letting him bike to school on his own...although I am still quite worried every time. The school is less than a mile away, but still. 

I've been helping out with Alex's choir at school on Thursday mornings. I just play the melody line for practice:). I am amazed at how many children turn up each week and actually participate! Last week we were able to enjoy the choir's performance of their spring concert (they have one every quarter, so the summer one is coming up in July). They sang their favorite Disney medley which was fun to practice but even more fun to perform. Alex (and the whole choir) was on fire! Great to see kids doing something so positive and energetic. Mrs. Crozier, their choir and orchestra teacher, is fantastic! 

Finally, Alex is doing exceptionally well academically. He is on top of his class in reading and writing (well, he exceeds his set targets all the time) and I am just amazed at how much he knows. He enjoys school, although he always says he is sad because he doesn't really have good friends there, which I can understand. Next school year, I think, he is going to continue going to the British school...as he is hoping to be a House Captain for his House. We'll see. I just so wish that the school didn't keep going till 21st of JULY! 

I guess that's all folks! :)

Keep up the good work, Alex.

Good night.