Finishing Up

If you can believe it, Maycember had more in store for us this week. I guess that's what happens when you have 4 kids and 3 different schools that your kids are involved in. Before we get to the school activities, let me tell you about our soccer weekend. Every year here in Canton, Michigan, they hold a Canton Cup. It's a soccer tournament. Apparently, it's a pretty big deal. We had told Austin's coach that he wouldn't be able to participate, having heard that a lot of it was on Sunday. I thought I had told Erik's coach that, but he included Erik in the group fee anyhow, so we paid and told him he couldn't play in the Sunday games. As it turns out, most of the teams start on Friday and play Saturday as well. Some have games on Sunday, but not all, however you don't learn the days your team's games are until after you sign up and pay the fee. Erik's team played the earliest game Friday after school and the earliest game Saturday morning. There was a Sunday game scheduled as well, but we figured that two out of three isn't bad. 

I rushed Austin and Erik to the field right after school on Friday. His coach said it would be busy, so to get there 30 minutes early. Well, I had no idea how busy he meant! It was set up like a carnival, except the tents were registration tents for the many teams who played (teams come from all over the Midwest, including Canada). There were tons of food vendors, bouncy houses, and motor homes for all the teams and families who traveled to participate. They even had shuttle buses from various areas for those who had to park far away. Once I saw all this, I was glad Erik had the earliest game both days, even if I had to wake him up at 6:30 on Saturday morning! Austin was cool about not being in the tournament. His team played a little later on Friday and then had a Saturday and Sunday game as well, so he could have participated, but I would have been worn out by all the crowds and doubling the games in our family. Now we can be ready by next year, if they want to do it. (Bonus: we had time to see Endgame on Saturday!!)

The best thing about it was that Erik's team won the Canton Cup for his division! They beat the teams we played Friday and Saturday, easily. His team is comprised of boys who all have different talents that work well together as a team. We were nervous about the game Sunday morning because they were going to play the one team who beat us (Dad and Mary Lou, that was the game you were at) and those boys were big! Well, Erik's teammates slaughtered them at the Sunday game, which meant they got to play one more game on Sunday, leading to another victory and the Canton Cup! So, Erik ended up playing half his games, but he played some great defense that helped them out those first two games.

A great coaching session!

The winning team, before they knew it!

The day before the Canton Cup was Austin's 4th grade music concert. He didn't really want to go, but I'm so glad he did! His siblings went to his concert, which was nice. 

Austin and his nice smile! Unfortunately, Karissa recorded his concert, but I can't get them off her phone... What a nice sister, though!

This week, was Victoria's final choir concert on Tuesday and Karissa's on Thursday. Whew! Victoria's was music from different decades (40s-70s). She won't be in choir next year at the high school, but I'm so glad she participated in it in Middle School and stretched herself to try out for the Select Ensemble. She grew so much in her singing!

(A song from Select Ensemble)

(8th grade choir)

Karissa's was music from Broadway. She has really enjoyed choir this year and plans to continue next year as well. She has started to blossom as a singer as well. 

(A song from 6th grade choir. Karissa has an injured foot, so she sat for the concert...)

Oh, and I almost forgot, we squeezed in a race Memorial Day, since Karissa, Austin, and I didn't get to run in our club race (STRIDE and Heart and Sole). It was also because one of my running friends is moving and we wanted to do a 10k together before then. Victoria, Karissa, and Austin did the 5k,  Erik and Jason did the mile, and friends and I did the 10k. Rosie came in first for our age group and I came in 2nd. Kristin came in 2nd for her age group, so we were a success! I have to say that I loved the race. It was small and on Memorial Day, which is not really a busy day for us, thank goodness! What a way to start the summer!

All winners!!

We all finished about 30 seconds from each other!