Seahawks Soccer update

 Michael's team had three games this week.

The regular Tuesday / Friday and a make-up game on Thursday.

Since Zion's swimming is on Tuesday / Thursday,  I didn't see either of those games.

Sadly, they lost both of them.

I went to the Friday game against St. Vincent Braves.

Again, the sky opened up five minutes before the start and soaked us all.

Thankfully, the field didn't get as muddy as the last "rainy" game.

At one point, I heard the coach scream, "Take it, Michael, take it!"  (*usually, he just goes with a big boot, up and over the crowd)

So the three series shots are of Michael coming up the sideline.  He was running too fast for me to adjust the zoom to get anymore shots, but I was happy for him that he got to do a little more dribbling today than usual.

The boys fought SUPER hard today coming from a 2-0 score at half-time to win 3-2 when the ending whistle was blown.  It was great for the boys to get another win under their belt.  They needed the moral boost.  :)

They are now 2-4-1

Just a couple more weeks of soccer season, and then we are on to cross-country.

Great game Seahawks!

Boonie Stompin'

According to Urban Dictionary;


Boonies;  the sticks, in the middle of nowhere; usually associated with living out in the country.


Boondocks; a remote or inaccessible area. 


According to Wikipedia:


The term boondocks refers to a remote, usually brushy rural area;
[1] or to a remote city or town that is considered unsophisticated.


[2] The expression was introduced to English by American military personnel serving in the Philippines during the early years of the 20th century.[3][4] It derives from the Tagalog word "bundok", meaning "mountain".[5] According to military historian Paul Kramer, the term had attached to it "connotations of bewilderment and confusion", due to the guerrilla nature of the warfare in which the soldiers were engaged.


ahhh.............now we are getting somewhere.


Oh the joys of google!


So........very common thing to do in Guam is to go on a Boonie Stomp.


As you might guess:  this involves some bug spray, hiking boots, water and a sense of adventure.


Rich with WWII history, the island of Guam has many things to see, but since it rains daily, the path is always overgrown with all things green.  And sometimes, critters.  Don't let your imagination run away with you.........all the MIA soldiers were found.  (Although, seriously, one did hide in the jungle for 28 years, his name was Shoichi Yokoi if you want to read about him ) 


Lucky for me though........many have boonie stomped before me. 
So, the most common places to visit have paths and sometimes maps. 

For my first official boonie stomp however.........I followed a guide.

I went with 15 other ladies and two guides.

The day was a little more than I prepared for..........

The "rest of the story" and photos to follow.

STAY TUNED!!!!
 

for the love of the Padres

Our love of the Padres started with free tickets.

The Padres give hundreds of tickets away every year to the military in San Diego.

In fact, the Padres call themselves the "Team of the Military"

Not only with free tickets, but with salutes to the military at each homestand, including playing all Sunday home games in camouflage uniforms.

So our first Padres game was a free one.

When we started going in spring 2005, the boys were too young to care about the game, and we never made it to the 9th inning.   At the time, their favorite thing was riding the trolley downtown. 

Zion, Nathan and Isaac (on the trolley)

Then, in 2009- Isaac and Zion both signed up to play baseball for the first time.  (Zion had played T-ball for two years)  Mike volunteered to coach his team and he chose the Padres for our uniforms.  It was amazing as something "clicked" with the boys.  They started to care about the games, now that the rules and such made more sense. 

Padres Little League



Michael at "Park in the Park" for kids

They started picking favorite players, and we made friends with other Little League families that went to the games. 

In addition to free tickets,

in an amazing city

with perfect weather

at a beautiful ballpark..........

now they had friends at the games to play with.

Our kids became "regulars" at the park and the Pad Squad knew us all.  

In fact, some of the players started to recognize us.  

They were great about photos and autographs. 

Petco Park became our regular San Diego entertainment.  

And our love and respect for the Padres organization grew.

So regardless of the scoreboard,  the Padres will always be our team.



Zion's autographs



Zion at the "beach" at Petco park (trying to get on the big screen)

Zion and Adrian Gonzalez (who is also the baby in a family of 3 boys)

"The Gang" with Chase Headley

David Eckstein - amazing guy, really

The boys in the dugout on a field trip



Zion on the FriarVision screen as the LITTLE STAR on his birthday



Mike's promotion

some of "the gang" on our last game (July 3rd 2010)



My birthday and "the girlz" 







Thank you Padres for the memories!!

 

........reminds me of home (*part two)

As I said with regards to the church BBQ -

some things about Guam remind me of growing up in the south.

(*I know, sounds crazy, but bear with me here)

Directions:


I have memories of my grandpa saying things like this,
"You know, you turn by the old Smith place"
(mind you, I was twelve when he said this, and Mr. Smith had passed away 20 years ago)
But still......in a small farm town, one was expected to know the "old Smith place"


I never thought much about this form of direction giving until I moved to our first duty station,
which was Orlando Florida.


I gave directions like, "turn at the Taco Bell"


In Orlando Florida, there were 72 Taco Bells, and no GPS system in every car.


I had to learn street names, (and numbers)  because in Orlando Florida, you have both.


(*for example, I remember that State Road 436 was also called, Semoran Blvd.)


So you had to know both, 'cause you never know which one someone would say when giving directions.


What's my point?

Honestly, I have one.


Here in Guam - we are back to giving directions with landmarks.


Cracks me up! 


There is one major road.  Marine Corps Drive.
(or Hwy 1, although, I would use the word highway loosely in this context)


On the south end is the Navy base.
On the north end is the Air Force base.


So every conversation starts with......... "Where are you?"


"Navy base, okay...... you know Marine Corps Drive?"  


And then the landmarks.

1.)  "Do you know the Latte Stone"

or   "Do you know the Governor's Complex?"

2.)  "Chamorro Village?"

3.)  ITC building??

4.)  "K-mart?"  (*there is only one, and it's HUGE)

all of these landmarks are on Marine Corp Drive

and after you answer yes to question 1,

you may be asked to turn there........

or told to keep going to landmark #2

and so on and so on.......

So,  if you are coming to Guam,

memorize these photos

and if you are going to Cullman Alabama

Just let me know.........I'll tell ya where the old Smith place is!!

reminds me of home.........

some things about Guam remind me of home. 

Although, my definition of home changes from time to time,

I usually mean my growing up years in Alabama.

It seems like the place that made me who I am.

Although, honestly, that 19 year old girl is certainly long gone.........

and I hope I have picked up a little more knowledge since then!!

(*something to explain the extra pounds and the wrinkles)



Today, we had an ALL CHURCH BBQ, and it reminded me of home.

I haven't been to a church picnic since 1993, Airview Baptist Church, Opelika AL
(shout-out!) 

Poncho (music director, crazy fun!)

Today was good.

 Good people



Pastor Greg

  Good food

Sam, organizing our group for a game

Good times!

Seahawks Soccer - two game update



(Michael's # 27)



The Seahawks had two soccer games this week.

Tuesday's game against St. Paul ended in a 3-3 tie.

I only saw the first half of this game, and then Mike and I tagged teamed.

He came for the second half of the game straight from work and I took Zion to swimming.

Friday they played St. Anthony.

(I guess by the end of the season,
we might play all the Saints.......
the people of Guam are mostly Catholic -
we already played St. John and St. Francis)

Friday's game was much more intense.  The mood was mostly set by the coach of the other team, who was  really negative toward his players.  I don't like coaches like that.  If you can't coach your boys with respect and positive encouragement, then you aren't a good coach in my book.  (*I could really rant about this for a while, but I'll spare you).

our amazing goalie

Michael on a long leg, long arm throw-in

these guys are twins, and they both have amazing footwork with a soccer ball

So,  the game went back and forth. 

We scored.

They scored.

They scored.

We scored.

2-2 down to the last three minutes.

Then a (lame) penalty call on us that resulted in a free kick for them, and a score.

BUMMER!!!

Swimmers........





The Gillam girls are amazing swimmers. 

Like, swim team swimmers........

Like, they have practice every day swimmers..........

and swim for 2+ hours swimmers.......

The Thorntons are NOT those kind of swimmers!

But Zion loves spending time with his best friends on the island,

so he choose to join the Tsunami swim club

instead of soccer as his after school activity.

The Tsunami swim club is "THE" swim club on the island.

Most of the swimmers and all the coaches are Japanese, and they take it all very seriously.

Tsunami Swim Club is not something you join "for fun".

 Zion has been swimming there for about a month on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.  We have had many chats about not goofing off and doing your best and being respectful. 

On Tuesday, the head coach went over and pulled Zion up from the "beginner" pool and brought him over to the "big pool".  Sam and I were sitting on the deck across the way and she noticed before I did. 



Coach Toshi



She grabbed my arm and said, "Toshi's got Zion, Toshi's got Zion!"

We watched and waited.......

Zion got in the pool and followed the directions given him.

After about 15 minutes, I see Zion talking to Coach Lewis and pointing at me.  I decided it was time to walk over.  Zion has been moved up to the BIG POOL on a trial basis to check his endurance. 



Zion and Coach Lewis











Coach Toshi said that he could tell that Zion has been working hard, and his kick is good.

From a man who doesn't have much to say,
you cling on every positive word. 

Zion was SO excited and I was SO proud of him.
Ellie and Madison (*and Miss Sam!) were happy for him too!



Zion in his official Tsunami swimsuit