Scooby gets Jimmered

Beckham:  "Dad, I like Jimmer more than I like Scooby-Doo."  

BYU

Who else is excited to watch the tournament? Go Cougs!

Ty, Jimmerfied.

Check out this video.

season of sports

In our family, the end of summer marks the beginning of fall sports season. It begins with football: Matthias coached Ty's Little Guy flag football team and is still playing in adult league flag football. Sh-town High School Bronc football (the highest level of football in town, eh eh) is a treat to attend, and we are in the thick of BYU football (although I hesitate to even mention that.) The sporting season is extended with fall soccer. Bex participated in Itty Bitty soccer, and Matthias is coaching Ty's soccer team.

Although I am not currently involved in a team sport, I am trying to embrace the player I have become on my own family team. My current positions: taxi cab driver, cheerleader, water girl, and official uniform finder (how do they get lost so easily?)

It has been interesting for me to observe my boys' personalities in their sports. Ty hasn't been very motivated to try hard in sports so far. He is a little bit timid playing and is non-aggressive. Part is due to his size, he's a small kid and he gets intimidated by the bigger players. We have had lots of talks about not shying away from contact, and he is picking up on it, but again, it's just his personality. Ty likes being on a team but we can't tell if he loves sports. Beckham absolutely loves soccer and football. He always wants to throw or kick the ball with anyone who will play with him. He engages in the game and gets excited about playing. He is aggressive and territorial. He is coordinated and athletic. That is Beckham. 

The difference is interesting and begs the question, is one personality trait better than the other? Because sports have been a big part of our lives, we want for Ty to be a little more into playing. On the other hand, we also wish that Beckham would be a nicer, obedient, and more responsible kid sometimes. And so to answer my own question, no, I don't think that one is better than the other. As long as my kids are happy with themselves, I am pleased.

Ty in the blue hoodie, standing behind our biggest player, ready to hi-5 the opposing team.

Matthias pumping Ty up on the defensive line.

Ty ready to receive!

Ty on the defensive line - he's so little!

And here's our little Beckham, carrying the ball.

9 years and counting

This month we celebrated our 9th anniversary. Our awesome friends, the Katschkes, took the boys for a sleepover and we had an extended date. I was in charge of the night activity and Matt took over the morning activity. We went out to dinner and a movie followed by ice cream. In the morning we golfed 9 holes. I love golfing. This was my first time playing a real game, and I did all right. It was so fun to be out in the cool morning air with Matthias, no kids to worry about. Matthias gave me some good tips that I struggled using, but I actually had one good teeoff.

Several years ago, the Swenson side of the family had a golf tournament, called the Swenson Family Classic, and we would really like to revive it and host next year. We propose a golf tourney here in early June 2011. We know it would be a long drive for everyone, but it is so beautiful here, and we have the floor space for those who want to sleepover at our house. What do you think fam? Any competitors? Hopefully by next year I'll have improved my game, and I actually might be a killer team mate. We are taking a golf clinic in August, watch out!

feeling fantastically blue

We love college football at our house. Even more so, we love those COUGARS - especially when they pull out a win like they did last night. Woo hoo!

I grew up a red Utah fan. Still am when it comes to gymnastics, however, when I married Matthias, much to the chagrin of my family and father, I converted to BYU blue. For the first couple of years, it was rather uncomfortable attending the Swenson family Sunday dinner after the Holy War, whether BYU won or not... as we had to labor through awkward silences and forced conversations. I remember a few years when my brothers sent me spiteful texts after the U won, then me asking Matthias for help on some equally spiteful responses.

Since, we have all come a long way in our rivalry. We've been able to congratulate each other and have good-sported discussions about the game. I was even surprised last night when my dad told me he was watching the BYU game and routing for the Cougs. He might hassle me for posting it on the blog, as he is a staunch Ute fan, but he called Matthias a few times during the game, pumped up about the possible win.

Here is a photo of us, three years ago, ready to watch the BYU game. And the second is of my family in Utah at the Ute game 3 days ago.(Bro Chris, Aunt Karen, Bro Eric & wife Nicole, and Dad.)

Anyways, we enjoy college football season and look forward to more wins from our Cougars! And just for you Dad, I'll have a prayer in my heart for the Utes, just not for the rival game :)

all things must come to an end

One of the great things about going to school (at least for Matthias) is. . . intramural sports! Not only has Matthias played intramural football, basketball, and soccer every year, but the law school hosts many other sporting events that he's played in such as Soctoberfest, a Basketball tourney against the law professors, and a Softball tourney fundraiser. Wednesday night Matthias came home from his last ever intramural soccer game, and I think I sensed just a little bit of sadness, sniffle sniffle. It's been fun taking the boys to his games and watching him play, most times we were the only fans there - intramurals don't really draw out big crowds. The boys screamed his name throughout the games, and usually didn't stop until they got a little wave. The only time I've ever seen Matthias yell is at a soccer game, and it was at a short Mexican on the opposing team that was trying to fight because Matthias beat him to the ball e.v.e.r.y. time.

And so, to give you a little smile, Matthias, here are a few pics I have of your college career in intramural sports! It's a shame I didn't take more.

Aldo and Matthias were quite the pair in soccer. They set each other up for goals all the time.

Matthias probably should have gone to the doctor for this beauty. He scraped up his leg the first time sliding home during the softball tourney, and then later in the game he slid on it again, scraping the skin right off. It oozed and scabbed for weeks. I swear it was green and had a funky odor at one point.

At one of his basketball games, Matthias got hit hard on the side of the face. His vision was fuzzy for a week or two, so he had to go to the doctor to get his eyes checked. His eyes were dialated and consequently had to wear these sweet glasses on his bike ride back to the law school. We had a good laugh at the nerdyness of it all.

This was a definate highlight - for the basketball tourney the law students and professors got to play at Assembly Hall - IU's Basketball stadium - the Indiana Hoosiers are 5 time national champions!

And last here is Matthias playing in the softball tourney.

winter sports

Wow, I can't believe I just found these. No explanation needed really, just some shots of the winter sports the boys participated in. I just realized they are both somewhat "girly" sports. Hopefully Ty won't fall in love with ice skating, I'm kinda glad he wasn't very good at it. And likewise, hopefully Beckham won't be a high school cheerleader all because he took a gymnastics class. Can you imagine? Beckham the high school cheerleader? I would die.  

speedway

Oh, the excitement!

The unmufflered revving engines... too loud!

Nerdy, but effective.

Dixon wanted the orange car to win, Ty was routing for the blue. The orange started winning, so Ty switched his vote to the orange car. Unlike his dad, Ty is a fair-weathered fan.

No, this is not the Indy 500, but lucky for us there is a speedway in town, and Matthias took Ty with his little friend Dixon to check out the races. They sat about 7 rows up and were close enough (or not far enough away, depending on how you look at it) that clay thrown from the speeding cars landed all around them as the cars turned the corner. They had to put their drinks behind them to keep the dirt and clay out of them. Every time a piece of clay hit Ty he would give the cars a menacing look. Rather funny.

Apparantly the funniest part of the evening, for the dads, was when they took the two little boys to the bathroom. I was told that the men's bathroom had long cement trough-like stalls that ran the length of the wall. Sort of like a trough that feeds cows or something. Towards the front, right in front of where one would stand, there was a cement ledge over which one would "take care of things." This cement ledge was about 18 inches thick and about 2 feet tall, at just the right level for a 4-year-old to lean on. Well, at the same time that the two dads realized  what just might happen and, now picture this is slow motion, the two dads dashing to stop the boys while yelling"noooooo," Dixon slaps his two arms down on the wet cement ledge (which is wet from . . . wet stuff). Matthias got to Ty just before his two little arms were comfortably placed next to Dixons on the wet toddler arm rests. NICE! Needless to say, two things in that bathroom received significant, and perhaps unusual usage, the "armrests" and the soap.

Their time at the tracks was cut short as they saw a thunderstorm rushing in overhead accompanied by tornado sirens, so they bolted to the car and got there in perfect time to miss the downpour. We'll have to make a return trip sometime to watch some more races. Next time we'll take Beckham (see below) and when we go to the bathroom we might have the boys put on those long rubber gloves.

PS. Beckham was so upset he couldn't go with the boys, so I put the movie "Cars" on for him. He didn't think he was short changed one bit! He must have thought he was at the races too! I could hear him every so often yelling "Kachow!" and "Kachigga!" He loves McQueen!