Football and Gymanstics

The football season has been really fun, but quick,  we only have one week to go. The Saturday morning games have gotten really chilly and the evening practices have been getting almost too dark to see!

Jake is finishing up his junior year of tackle. In optimist once you start tackle you stay with the same team and coaches for 4 years. That's been really cool. We've gotten to know a lot of the families on the team and have carpooled with many of them for years. Brian has been assistant coach all three years. It makes for a crazy August and September since practice runs 4 days a week and there's a game on Saturday. Jake has always had really good instincts for the game and plays quarterback really well, but since he is so small, the coach is hesitant to play him. Up until this year he was always getting hurt. This year he has been playing hard and has not been injured (knock on wood) at all. He probably won't play in the senior year of optimist since he is small enough to play on the lightweight team for his middle school. Brian and I go back and forth though about whether or not to let him. All the current news about how dangerous football is makes us worry and we are unsure what the best thing to do is. 

Tanner's last game was Saturday. He gets his tonsils out tomorrow and will be out of all athletics for two weeks. He had to sacrifice either his last football game or his first baskeball game and he decided on football. He has really enjoyed the year on the field but says that he doesn't want to play tackle next year. I'm relieved. So is Brian. Tanner is a small guy- barely 50 pounds- and all skinny arms and legs. We weren't sure we were even going to let him play tackle next year but him making that decision himself is kind of nice.  He played mostly center this year and also some corner back. It was a fun season and his team was undefeated.

Faith started gymnastics last week. She LOVES it. She took a few classes when she was younger but was never really into it. This time she is really excelling at it. She loves the beam and bars especially. We found a different gym that we like much better and so far it seems to be doing wonders for her confidence. She still sings and dances around the house and reads like a maniac.

Starting next week we will have Tanner doing Yball, Jake doing AAU Basketball, and Faith in gymnastics so the driving arrangements will likely be a little crazy but between the two of us and a carpool for Jake we should manage.