Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Turkey Day

from a couple of Turkeys

Thanksgiving in Florida has been great! We have been looking for our Thanksgiving feast and it's either been too big. (Turkey Vulture in top of tree)

Or... too cute and small.

OR... just too crazy.

We are pretty sure this guy we met at the
Everglades and Nicholas have the same number of teeth.

Here is a picture of an alligator the boys took from the boat. Yikes!

While Nicholas is at the height of missing a record amouint of teeth, Benjamin is going to ensure that we will all be missing an eye before vacation has ended.

This next short video is of our "walk on the beach" as the sun went down.

Happy Thanksgiving

Kiora from New Zealand

Hi guys, "Kiora" means "Hello, good health and well-wishes" in New Zealand. I am not going to have the chance to learn much more of the language because I'll be back in the U.S.A.

Wow! I am going bald by the looks of this video. :)

Love you!

Mom

On to the Gold Medal Game

Hi guys! Wow! I am so excited to be able to be coaching in a World Cup Final! Not many people get the chance to do that and I want to thank you for letting me! Without your support and cheers and encouragement, I would never be able to do it! Thank you

I thoughth you might like to see some good action shots at practice of the goalkeepers I have been working with. They can do some pretty amazing things. It's difficult to do at practice, but it is even harder when it is a real game and you get a little bit nervous. The goalkeeper in this picture is from Illinois and her name is Taylor Vancil

Hmmm, I suppose you'd like to have another clue. This clue means you will both find a prize in the same place so you'll have to work on finding it together.

1. It is inside something that has numbers on it.

2. It is inside something that is bigger than a loaf of bread.
3. The numbers you can see are lit up and they can either tell the time of day or count down a specific time.
4. It is not on the 2nd floor where the kitchen is.

More pictures of the World Cup.

Okay Nicholas and Benjamin,

I will be home before you know it. Have fun at Nana & Papas!!

What do you think of this picture?

One of the keepers is getting a kick in the hynie.

Love you lots!

Mommy

A Hello Video

Hello Boys!!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY

Hey Guys! I know I sent you a few photos, but the players wanted to keep in touch too! They think telling you "Hi" and sending you message on the blog brings them good luck! You are like the mascots of the team.

Hope all is great!!!

Love, Mommy

Hello from Christchurch

Hello ? Is Nicholas there? How about Benjamin?

There are so many places to play tackle football in these gardens but I think you would have even more fun climbing trees! Some of the big cypress trees are so big that you can walk on the branches without holding on to anything. The picture of this tree has Ally our massage therapist and Amy C. They can't climb trees as well as you... and they are afraid of being up high.

Many of the flowers in this garden are the EXACT same things we have in our front yard. Now I know how they are supposed to look! Lots of Rhodys of all different colors.

I learned another New Zealand word. Do you know what they call a lie? Instead of a lie they say, "Pork Pie". She told a pork pie. Kinda funny, Huh?


I thought you might like this picture of these people playing chess on a HUGE chess board.

As the match wore on, many people crowded around to watch each move. A small cathedral is in the background right in the middle of the city which is beautiful.

It was a sunny day today, so I decided to take a few pictures. The city of Christchurch is really great! So many buildings that have been here for a hundred years or more.

There is only one thing missing about this great place!

YOU!!!!

Hello From Your Future

Hi guys,

Today is game day for us on Sunday and it is still Saturday in the United States. Every newspaper and sports show here says we are supposed to lose to S. Korea; some say we will lose 3-0 but I disagree. :) Any chance you guys know where S. Korea is on the map?

I can't believe I missed Madagascar II. Was it funny?

I don't have any stories to tell, but wanted to send this one video; a special dance by 2 of our players; JC (for "Just Chillin") and Lexi . Benny, remember when you called that dog "Sexy Lexy?" Ha! Nicholas, thanks for showing me your missing tooth! I cannot believe that tooth came out before your other top one!!!!! Wow!

I didn't turn on the camera in time, but the girls said, "This is for the boys!"

I miss you more than ever and hope you miss me a little bit too!!!!!

Into the Quarterfinals: November 8th

Hello Everyone! Just sitting in my hotel room after a day of eating, practicing and helping kids with their homework. I don't think I was much help, but at least my intentions were good.

I hope you guys are doing your homework. :)

I am sure that Barack Obama's election was exciting in the USA but it was neat to see it from the other side of the world. He is still making front page news and many foreigners are patting us on the back and giving us the thumbs up for electing President Obama. It gives me an incling that Mr. Bush was even worse than I thought.

Okay, I had a dream that our team was at Cold Stone and G.Bush got out of his car and was waiting in line with us and we were just looking at him and giggling. Maybe I am going crazy.

Nicholas, Benjamin and Jack I like your hair cuts!!!! Zach and Lesle when are you going to try the gizmo out? That, I want to see. The following are a few photos of the World Cup. Miss you! Cheer Hard for the Huskies today!

Ready for France

November 5th, 2008

New Zealand Time
C'mon Barack Obama!!! Please be our new president!

It is me, blogging you from your future!!! Nothing happens around here without me wishing you were here too. Our bus ride from Hamilton to Auckland was beautiful. Lots of green grass, rolling hills and willow trees. I also managed to do my 30 minutes of reading on the bus.


Today, we saw the stadium which is gorgeous. We practice really well, but I think when the real game begins, the team gets nervous and they don't play very well. Do you have any ideas on how to keep our team from getting nervous? If you do, let me know because I need to help the team and I think that would really help.

Our hotel is just a couple of blocks from the beach, but the team has to rest for the game so they didn't get to jump in the waves.

Funny words in New Zealand:

People here call a phone a "blower". They will say, "I'm going to get on the blower."

Instead of saying they are going shopping, or going for a walk they will say, "I'm going on a shop about" or "I am going on a walkabout."

Nicholas, I told the team how cute it was when you say "Deedle-lee" and now the whole team says it all the time.!!! If I say, are you ready for practice? They will shout. "Deedle-lee!"

Benjamin, just one word for you. "Wahoo!"

Hugs & Happy Halloween

October 31st, 2008

Happy Halloween Nicholas, Benjamin, Zach & Jack O' Lantern! :)

I posted a little site for the Huskies on this, feel free to preview for a little more info on what's been going on. I know you guys are going to have so much fun today with your friends and Trick-o'-Treating. Remember that one house you went to? When you knocked on the door it seemed like a man with the largest hand in the world reached into his bag of treats and dropped 20 pieces of candy into each of your bags. Hopefully, you'll find another house just like that one.

We had a little Halloween for the team here in New Zealand. Other teams were having meetings and here we were trick-or-treating around the hotel and we haven't even won a game yet. Oh well, we'll have to try harder versus Paraguay. Do any of you know where Paraguay is?

Amy Colquhoun(Coordinator)

Mike Alosi (Videographer)
Sean McNeil (Trainer)

Amy Griffin (GK Coach)
Ally Griffith (Massage Therapist)

This is just a small part of the Waitomo Caves that we went and saw today. The cave we went into was as big as the park by our house. Kinda spooky on Halloween.

Have a great Day! If you get a chance, drink some water, eat a piece of fruit and save me a chocolate treat. :) Miss and love you all.

Hello Dawgs

I asked the boys if it'd be okay if I said "Hello" to the Huskies via their blog, and they gave me the green light. Internet service in New Zealand is like trying to find a good restaurant in Corvallis. Let me just say I tried to tune into your OSU game and match tracker was blank; like the game never happened. I immediately freaked out when I kept checking and nothing was on and deducted that you guys had gotten in a bus accident and were unable to make it. Can't tell you how elated I was to hear you were all safe and victorious. J-Roe, thanks for keeping your streak alive against the Ducks! Anyway, I've been here a week and we lost our first game 3-2 to Japan. If you want to check out the highlights, it is on http://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/video/videolist.html It felt like we got creamed, but after watching the entire game on the video, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Worrysome, because that means France actually has a chance to beat Japan. If they do... our group may come down to Goals For:... meaning we need to try to wax Paraguay which isn't always easy.

Some funny things about our staff. I think Ozzie, our asst. coach has narcolepsy. He falls asleep in meetings as well as in the hotel lobby; sometimes for the entire night. Kaz, the head coach needs to get out more. He has asked me things like. "What is the difference between a sheep and a lamb?" and "Do ostriches fly?" I think my favorite moment so far where I really thought this trip was worth it and I was being helpful was when Kaz told me that versus Paraguay we would be able to sub in 9 fresh players and I had to remind him we are only allowed 3 subs. YIKES!!! And another thing... I feel a little strange about having a Halloween/Dance party in our meeting room when on either side of us Japan and France are having a meeting regarding... oh yeah the World Cup. They have asked us nicely a few times to keep it down. Ohhhhhhh, us silly Americans really do have to have a little candy and whoop it up a bit.

We have been able to see the stalagmite caves as well as the glow worms. When you are inside and look up at the ceiling, it looks like a galaxy of stars. Very neat.

Me and the GK's

And one last item for your review. Take it to the Coug's today. It's scary enough to have to be in Pullman on Halloween. Win the game and get out of there!!!!!!

First Days in New Zealand

Nicholas & Benjamin,

I learned how to 'blog' so that I could do a better job communicating with you little rug rats. New Zealand is a beautiful country. There are lots of hills, trees and beaches and everyone here pitches in to make sure the country stays clean. I have been on 4 walks, and have not found one piece of litter on the ground. (Not even one little candy wrapper. :)) I also have noticed how friendly all the people that live here are. Every person has a smile for you, every person goes out of their way to help you in any way. I hope I can take that part of New Zealand back to the USA

When we fist arrived, it was a gray, rainy day & I was hoping we wouldn't be wet our entire trip. The soccer gods have been with us because the black clouds seem to disperse right above our practice field during our practice. I have to admit, when I landed so far from home, I was missing you and thinking saying things like "Deedle - Dee" in my head to the windshield wipers and picturing you carving pumpkins.

When I got to my hotel, I was greeted with a nice Happy Birthday sign as well as a tiny "Happy Birthday" music box, some crazy glasses and bath salts. THANKS!!! I also had a birthday cake at dinner with a loud song sung by the team. Very embarrasing.

There is much more halabaloo about this World Cup than our tournament in Trinidad. There are signs in the streets and coverage daily in the newspaper.

The team has been practicing so hard that all the players remind me of how hard Nicholas hustles with his Mach 10 team. Hopefully all the hard work will pay off and we can get off to a good start with a win against Japan.

Oct. 27th: We had only one practice today & during that practice the team wanted to pass along a little message. Click on the video to receive your message.


The team couldn't say Hello to Benjamin, without adding a "Hello" to Nicholas. One video is definitely better than the other, but I like the first one because one person forgot the "L". You'll know what I mean when you hear it.






Hey Nicholas, I hope you can tell the team has heard lots of stories about you. :)




We are finished with our practices and have been watching all the other World Cup games on T.V. It looks like every country has done a great job of preparing their teams. Many of the games are wide open with lots of attacking chances. If the Huskies can win 2 on the road; I am hoping that the U.S.A can do the same. A few pictures of New Zealand and USA.

Amy's Team Kit Spirit Fingers USA New Zealanad

When I think of home, I think how lucky I am to have such a great family and look at the following pictures to remind me of how truly blessed I am.

Love,

Mommy