May Miscellany

Memorial Day at Wild Dunes

We slipped down to Wild Dunes to share Memorial Day with Pappaw, doing all the things we love to do at the beach.

Including indoor soccer!!

Paul even tried his hand at kite boarding. After a three-hour lesson, his instructor told him....what you lack in ability, you just might make up for with shear effort. We think it was an accomplishment.

But he's going to need some more lessons to figure out this sport!

Spirit Play the Seaside Classic Tournament in Wilmington

The Spirit packed into cars and headed to Wilmington for a weekend full of soccer, taking on teams from Raleigh and all around the state. It was our first travel tournament.

The Seaside Classic filled up every hotel room in Wilmington. We managed to stay together as a team in a Hampton Inn. And the girls enjoyed some pool time together before the tourney started (though Coach Kate put a strict 30 minute limit on swimming on the same day as matches....chlorine tires you out!)

It was scorching heat! The dads set up camp under the shade of a Live Oak behind the elementary school where we played all our matches. It gave the girls a place to relax and cool off between games.

Lills Parke provided the intra-match entertainment, helping keep things light and fun!

The Spirit tour through the first several games, showing off the skills they've developed and beating opponents by double-digits in almost every case.

Clara shows off one of her monster kicks. In this indirect kick, she had a high spot in mind...get it just above the reach of the defenders. But it clanged off the cross bar, nearly knocking the whole goal down!

Day two, there was a mist covering the field and some muddy conditions making for some sloppy uniforms!

With any tourney, there are going to be injuries. Here, Coach Kate brings Kelsee off the field.

Back at the hotel, we sent wishes to the NC Courage on their own match that night. Giving them video well-wishes to share on their twitter account.

We were worn out going into the last match on the first day. The parents resorted to bribery. We didn't care if you won or loss the match, but if you played hard to the end....Mr. Casey volunteered to do a belly flop in the pool once we got back to the hotel. 

It gave the girls the second wind they needed. Mr. Casey did his job as the girls chanted "belly flop, belly flop, belly flop!"

We went into the championship game on Sunday morning, facing down our Raleigh friends from the Y. Both teams were undefeated. The girls played hard, and the game ended in a tie. Unfortunately, the tie breaker went to the opponent who had more points on goal differentials.

These girls played tough, and they were good sports at the end, too. Clara was quick to walk over and congratulate her opponent and tell them good game. It was disappointing to only get 2nd place medals, but this Spirit team is getting better and better with each passing match. We couldn't be more proud of them!

Mothers Day 2019

Another successful Mothers Day, with Clara and Hattie treating Mama to gifts and cards in bed this morning.