Weekend T.T.

"Did you get the cheese?" I here Benny say from the back seat talking to brother bear, eating a snack. I have no idea what he's talking about until he sees me eye him and he answers my unspoken question... "On the Ritz". We were on our way to Tucson. I haven't been there since a college party other than to see my brother recently and briefly. My Sergeant had a soccer tournament... Benny got to play too! He filled in for another player. We were excited!!

I was going to get the boys out of school early to go... then I asked myself why for a minute and glad I didn't make the early start. Other than the tournament, Eegee's slushies and Culvers custard oreo cookie there wasn't much out that way. The mountains were surely a sight though. I brought the boys' suits thinking we had an indoor pool at the hotel. We didn't, but that didn't stop them. I really couldn't after they saw what I packed and said. The pool was heated so they ran from that and the hot-tub playing between games while mom read her book.

The boys played hard... and tough. I'm so proud of you pickles. I truly enjoy watching them play, think, sweat through building their confidence. They won all of their games but one... you guys rock!


Saturday night and Sunday afternoon we had some issues. The boys love their sports and they have an intensity for it beyond my comprehension. It's good and I love the enthusiasm it possesses, but it can go bad. When it goes bad it tends to ruin attitudes, days, and whatever is in the way. It's a man-drama that starts at a young age and doesn't change, I guess.

Saturday night we had a tournament celebration with all of the teams involved at the main park. There were short obstacles in what was called 'soccer olympics' scheduled for the kids to compete in... for fun. For fun is the word I like to stress here, because that's what I saw it as. Stink did absolutely not. He went in with his full focused game face and attitude. With mom's silly festival mode, we were in different realms. The park was big, my kids were tired, and there were lots and lots of teams. Ours was scattered and we didn't know where we were supposed to be. After finding the right "goal 3" we were supposed to be at, the team got there late and Stink was pissed. One of the dads took him to another obsticle and my non-cryer returned to me crying. All he said to me as he buried his head in me is, "Mom, we have to go." He meant business, so we went. Brother didn't get to play in his obstacle... he was over it and knew how brother felt. Stink even denied a custard oreo on the way back to the hotel.

Sunday I learned to DVR from my phone. So I recorded the Texans game that was playing while we were on the soccer field. I secretly knew who won from a friend so I tried to butter him up on the way home and lift his spirits before the heartbreak. We arrived home to the Packers playing. Stink was getting prepped and gear out to watch his recorded game... then it happened as I was making a dip for the chips. I knew he spotted the score unexpectedly during a commercial when he looked at me with red ringed and water filled eyes as he said "Mom (long pause, long look)... they lost." I just held him as he did the head burial routine on me again. He was just crushed, defeated. So we snuggled and I game hopped from room to room between game and son. One of the only times you will catch me watching football. Then I had to deal with round two from Benny and the Packers lose. I don't understand it, but I sure understand being there for them.


I'm so sorry for your disappointments, but you guys did a fabulous job, as always. This was an important tournament and one I savored... because the boys have decided to move on to TACKLE FOOTBALL next!