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!"