Double (Sports) Time!

 Soccer takes up most of our Saturdays! 

Niall is playing in his first year, with the team "The Blue Heaters" (don't ask me how they picked their name). Their team is split into two groups, and they play with mini-goals (and no goalie). Niall is killing it on defense and has scored a few goals, as well, even though it's hard with the kids all bunched up all the time! 

bud Ivan

Formal photo

Warm ups

Action time!

Iver's team "The Grim Reapers" (name just eked out the other choice of "Black Panthers") is 4-0, with an impressive shut-out last game of a good team with many of his Fuente friends.

And then on Tuesdays and Thursdays are Cross Country meets.  Niall sat out week 1 but did amazing in his races in week 2!

At Winship on Tuesday on a blustery day with some preceding rain, he ran 0.7 miles in 4:47 for third place overall in the K-2 division!! 

Ivan also runs XC (his mom and my friend who is a great runner, Jenna, is the coach).

Flying along the path!

I just love this picture, with big brother cheering in the home stretch!

Iver was ready for his challenge.

He was eked out by two very fast runners, but was not too disappointed with third place in a great effort.

with Olivia

Love this side-by-side that Pat and Beth sent (2025 on left, 2024 on right).

Hiller Park is a favorite race, on "home turf" in McKinleyville.

Niall flew around the race turn, to where I didn't make it to the finish line to see him!

5th place for K-2!

Iver's race (3-5th) had a rough start-- a false start that the race official initially called back, but because some kids had already taken off, he waved it off and just said, "never mind, keep going..." which meant the rule-following kids were back at the start line with a disadvantage! 

Iver was not in the top five during the first part of the race...

... but he turned it on at the end, coming in in second place and beating the kid from Eureka that has topped him in all their head-to-heads.  

“Cross-country is not about beating others; it’s about conquering your own limits.” 

–Alberto Salazar

Celebrating!

We had quite the packed last weekend-- it included a cross-country beach run, soccer games x 2, a birthday party for Niall, a date night (dinner at Curry Leaf and Irish step-dance show at Arkley) for Kelvin and me,  then (on Sunday) Sunday school/church, Medical society barbeque, family indoor pickleball, and family dinner at Sushi Spot to celebrate Kelvin.

It was exhausting! I didn't take many pictures, but here's some from Kelvin's big day on Monday!  Iver made a lovely card, and we gifted Kelvin a massage and spicy Korean jerky.