President's Cup

For the second year we headed down to Mesquite for the President's Cup soccer tournament.  We stayed in our place in St. George and had such a great time!  Yeah for 65 degree weather!  Over the last year Taylor's "soccer friends" have become some of our dearest friends.  We have spent countless hours with these girls and their families and I love everyone of them.  In the past year we have seen each other through happiness and trials.  We have celebrated birth and grieved regarding loss, supported each other through serious illness and great success.  Some of  these "Tsunami Mommies" are my very best friends. We are truly grateful for our association with these wonderful people!  

 Taylor has become a very good soccer player.  She has worked SO hard and it is so fun to see her improvement!  

Here are just a few of our favorite people!  We had so much fun.  

 This is Taylor and one of her BFF's Maya.  They play on separate teams but still love each other.  We played Maya's team.  They beat us 2-0.  We actually felt good about that because they are what is referred to as a "Premier" team.  

 Harry, Telly, KC, Tay and Wilk at a Mesquite buffet after a game.  

 Tay and her team after the last game.  We were sad it was over!  The girls played great and we had a great time!  Thank you to Taylor's coaches, Ray Larsen, Missy Best and Chris Hollingsworth.  They put in SO much time and effort and are all people who I love!

Tay and her team wearing their "Team Kenton" sleeves!  I LOVE these girls!

One of my favorite things about Tsunami soccer is this girl!  Lucy!  Over the past year Taylor and Lucy have become great friends and Lucy's family is so good to Taylor.  Jeff and I consider the Christensen's great friends!  I love this picture!  Don't you wonder what they are saying???

 After the last game we met at the pool at the Casa Blanca.  It was freezing.  Taylor, Voni (hiding) and Brooklyn braved the water for a minute!  

 We got into quite the Volleyball match.  Girls against boys.. basically, Dads against everyone else!  We played nearly two hours and had a blast.  

 My brother Lance and Tonia and her extended family stayed with us in St. George.  Andrew (below right) had a Rugby camp so they were all on town.  It was really fun handing out with the Day crew!  At some point Taylor and her friends put make up on Andrew and Ryker.  Check out Ryker above... OH DEAR!!

 Below is Tay and Voni and Wilk's leg!  Also sweet MaeLee (that is NOT how you spell it but I can't remember the correct way!).  That little girl was DARLING!  She loved these girls as she lives with two older brothers!!

All in All we had a great time.  Lance rode home with us.  We had to drop Jeff off in Salt Lake because he had meetings there.  Somewhere between Salt Lake and home Lance and I got into a sing off with Taylor and Voni.  Oh dear!   We were all singing at the top of our lungs.  SO FUN!!  Taylor did video this with her iPod.  I secretly hope the loses that iPod!!

We don't "do" sports at our house to get a college scholarship or because we "have to be the best."  Of course everyone loves winning, but at our house sports are more valued for the life lessons learned than for the skill set learned.  We try to find balance and remember that competitive sports are only one part of our lives.  Competitive sports are FUN and we love them!  But what I love about soccer more is the time I spend with Taylor.  HOURS spent in the car, I mean HOURS!  I have also got to know her  friends on a new level which I cherish!  What I love about soccer is Taylor learning how to win and lose with class. I love Taylor learning to work together and trust her team mates.  I love that these people are far more than our "team mates" they are our friends!!  Thank you Tsunami Soccer!  We are proud and blessed to be a part of this club.