So Tuesday night was Jake's last scheduled regular season game of his senior year. If his team lost...we wouldn't get to go to State, but if they won, we would. So it was a pressured fueled game that was played hard and ended up being 0-0 after the redular 80 minute game. Then came (2) 10 minute over times which it remained 0-0. So we went to Penalty Kicks. Below you will see how the game played out thru the pictures.

Warming up before game began.
they played hard and fought for every ball (most of the time).

This was an opportunity for the other team to score but we kept the ball away from the goal.

So one of our players made a stupid/silly foul and they got a free kick.

They set up to block the ball. Jake is #6 (second from right).

Jake jumped and the ball went off his right leg and they cleared it away.

Down to the last minnutes of the regular game...but we just couldn't score. Jake has so many nice passes to his forward players...it was frustrating that none of them could make something out of them. (Very frustrating for Jake)

So we went to PK (Penalty Kicks). The other team opted to go first (weird usually they choose to go last), but they missed their first two attempts, both by boys Jake has played on Club teams with and against for years. We made our first two. They made their third. Jake was our third kicker.

Setting up for his shot & mentally preparing. He looked the opposite way that he was going to kick to fake the keeper out.....

But the keeper read it right at the last minute & barely got the tips of his fingers on the ball and was able to just clear the bar. You could tell right away that Jake was so upset, he put his heads in his hands and walked back where the team consoled him. This was the first PK he EVER missed! SO SAD!!!!

This is the team running to their keeper and 4th kicker after we made it and won the game.

Celebrating!

STATE here we come. We celebrated at Chili's...Jake's choice. He still was frustrated all thru dinner & really couldn't enjoy the win completely. So the next picture and post should be of Jake with a MOHAWK! After practice today all the team members are getting mohawks to prepare for state. Ohhhh...I don't know why I said yes that he could....I'm regreting it know. Scott says it once in a lifetime and what a memory & story he'll have to share with his kids one day. I just think of SUNDAYS and blessing the sacrament...I wonder if they'll let him?

In August Scott was in charge of the baptism of Dillion Nelson (3rd from left). He has enjoyed his new calling as Ward Mission Leader and this past Sunday 2 new ward missionaries were called - so he's happy to have 3 ward missionaries total now. The elders are wonderful and work hard...although Elder Williams (far left) is now at home and should be working on finding a wife (just kidding!), Elder Stoddard is still here along with a brand new missionary from Provo, Utah named Elder Russen. Elder Russen is straight from the MTC and it's fun for us to see what it like for these fresh faced 19 year olds. It is good preparation for when Jake leaves on his mission. Toni, Dillions step mom, is now taking the missionary discussions which is very exciting.

Hope all is well with you & yours!

Digital Scrapbooking...

Just catching up the past few months on some of my digital scrapbooking and thought I'd share some of the pages with you.

Chloe's Baptism Day...

Chloe Avery McCluskey's Baptism

Chloe's big day was on Saturday, September 4th over Labor Day Weekend. It was a beautiful baptism and Chloe looked beautiful...I only wished I'd gotten a picture of her in her pretty dress!

I felt very priveledged that Chloe asked me to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost on her special day, and that we could be there to share in her excitement and joy.

My BEAUTIFUL sisters & daughter!

(L-R) Katie, Kristen, & Jessica

After the baptism we went back to Kyle & Lori's and had a wonderful lunch.
(Sorry some of the pictures are blurry!)

I was excited to see Aunt Mary, Sarah and her husband, and Chelsea and her new little baby boy Brody.

Kevin was here from Rexberg, Idaho for Debbie's family reunion. So he came to the baptism and lunch with his son Carter (CJ) and it was fun to catch up with them. Towards the end of lunch Deb and their oldest son, Porter, came over after floating down the river for one of her family reunion activities.

CJ is so cute! Look at those big eyes.

Lori's mom, sister, and brother in law were able to come over from California.

Scott found Kyle's chair and made sure to follow the BYU score while we were there! BOOO - BYU lost.

I had so much fun getting to know Trey. Trey is #20 of 21 grandchildren for Papa & Grandee McCluskey. I was not able to make it over to Californai for his birth or blessing...so this was our first encounter. He is such a sweet baby and so fun to be around. I even got Katie to run an errand and leave him with me for almost an hour (a first for her) & I LOVED every minute of it! Katie accidently left her phone behind on the couch so she couldn't check in on us, so I documented almost every minute on her camera with pictures!

I feel priviledged to have been able to spend time with both him and little Spohia (#21) this summer and get to know them both...what sweet sweet spirits straight from heaven. Trey's just got be a future olympian! Look at him...this kid can eat and at four months, he looks like he is almost 6 months old - way to go Katie & Trevor!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend with family and friends gathered for a very special occasion. What FUN!

A NEW SEASON...

It's that time of year again, soccer fields, sports chairs, new cleats, heat, electrical tape bought in bulk, heat, lots of water, sunscreen...did I say heat, oh yeah...and more heat!

This weekend marked our 13th year of soccer with Jake...yep - he's been playing since he was 4.

We are excited that at this age he is still in LOVE with the sport and that Scott & I can still enjoy watching him play. He was having serious thoughts of only playing during the school season as we've had many clubs here in Tucson switch coaches, make changes to their programs, or not have as high a caliber of coaching and instruction as he has had in the past.

When the varsity coach for MVHS asked him to play on a club team he was putting together, Jake was elated! He loves coach Lynch and respects his coaching methods and his talent. He know plays for South West Soccer Academy and the only thing we don't like are the orange uniforms which many of the parents think make the kids look like Arizona prisoners!

We have enjoyed many years with some of the same families and it's fun getting back together each season and watching these boys grow, learn, and play as a team. It's especially fun when we travel together.

I can hardly wait for the school season to begin - although I'm sad it will be Jake's last. Hopefully he'll go on to play in college, or city league games after he graduates. We'll see=)

WARNING!

Proud mom alert - The bottom picture is of Jake preparing to make a corner kick which his team mate and friend Tyler Schmelter scored with a header on. I could hardly contain my glee - I cheered very loudly!!!!

Hands...

What are you doing with your hands to serve the Lord?

Eagle Scout Merit Badge Slide Show...

As part of my Eagle Scout Project I made a slide show for the Citenship in the Community merit badge about Tucson - Jake