Dillon's Championship Soccer Event

 Dillon't team came in first in their league.  The were offered the opportunity to be recognized at a major league indoor soccer league game.  So we bought tickets (Kayda and I) and went to watch the game.  Indoor soccer is VERY different than outdoor.  It feels a lot more like a subdued hockey game.  Carson and Daddy enjoyed watching it.  Dillon not so much.  They were supposed to be announced during half time.  Sounds really cool right?  Unfortunately the facility didn't do it well.  Their team was announced as the winners as the second team was walking on the field, which happened to be a girls team.  By the time his team walked out the announcer was done even reading the teams.  They were out there for a couple minutes as the last few teams walked out.  Then they left.  Neat to see them out on the field, disappointing that they weren't announced when they could actually be seen.  

Dillon's 14th birthday!

Dillon turns 14!  He is such a kind, athletic, smart, and bashful boy.  The day before his birthday school was cancelled so he got to have his friends, Leelan and CJ, come over earlier.  They spent the night, played games, shot airsoft guns, among other things.   He is always a pretty calm kid so it was neat to see him acting pretty excited about it. 

After they headed home (on his birthday) Grandma and Papa H came down.  He opened his gifts, we had beans and weenies for dinner, played some games and ate brownies and ice cream.  This is for sure my kid, he wants beans and weenies for dinner (traditionally my birthday meal) and pumpkin pie for dessert (my birthday dessert).  Though he was disappointed when costco didn't have their pumpkin pie so he begrudgingly decided on the brownies.  

Kayda had to read Grandma's card to him because he can't read cursive well.  

Buddy hung out with us on the table while we played games. 

We had trick candles, he had to keep blowing it out, he put an end to that by licking his fingers and pinching the wick....spoil sport.  

Dillon's middle school soccer season

This year was the first year our middle school offered boys' soccer!  Dillon was really excited to play.  He very easily made varsity and we heard a lot of positive things about him when we picked him up from practices.  He was definitely a favorite. There were a lot of kids that had never played soccer or had minimal exposure, especially because it was a brand new program.  He really liked his coach (my coworker).  He did get frustrated with his inability to play the entire field.  His coach kind of restricted him.  Dillon still had his usual patience and played his hardest.  He had to miss three games because he wasn't feeling well.  Unfortunately, two of those were the last two games of the season.  We have very athletically gifted children and Dillon was definitely the best on the team.  His good friend CJ came up second.  They did a good job given such an unskilled team.  Given the time of year the weather was nasty almost every game.  

At the end of year banquet, coach had some really great things to say about Dillon. 

The coach called him the energizer bunny.  Paraphrasing here, I couldn't keep up with the speed he was talking at. 

Dillon never wanted to come off the field, even when he was hurt or sick, he wanted to keep going.   One game I had to tell him "sit down, you're sick".  I asked a lot of Dillon.  I promised him no subs.  Work as hard as you can, do what you can, stay positive.  It's hard to push yourself hard and stay positive when you're losing lots of games.  Still, he gave 120-130% all the time.  Losing that much, it's hard to stay positive and keep working hard but he did it anyway.  Great captain of the team.  

Later he was given the only "Falcon Award"

He said that Dillon exemplified hard work, dedication and character.  It didn't matter what happened he was always level headed.  I don't think anyone could ever have anything bad to say about him as a teammate. 

Dillon's 2021 soccer season

Dillon's team took FIRST place!  They worked hard with 8 returning players (of 18 one-half  were a year younger but the teams were combined.  4 of them had never played soccer before).  Many of these boys have been playing together for 4 years.  It' been really fun watching them develop.  Watching them on the full size fields was my favorite.  Soccer can look like a dance.  It has a certain gracefulness to it.  That really showed with this team on big fields.  Dillon was captain again with CJ and Zach.  Dillon is EASILY the fastest on the team.  The second Dillon started getting his offensive game going the team stepped up their game.  Of the teams that reported specific athletes' goals, Dillon was the leading scorer in the league.  Considering the goal differential, our team had considerably more goals.  It's probably safe to say he was the leading scorer period. He had at three straight games of "hat tricks" (three goals in a game).  He ended the season with 15 goals. 

Another parent told me that he was super impressed with Dillon.  He talked about how Dillon is so polite, considerate and gracious.  He makes an effort to make sure everyone is calm and enjoying the game.  At one point a kid on the opposing team had a throw in on a particularly wet day.  The ball went nowhere, it slipped right out of his hands.  Dillon was quick to tell him that the ball was really slick and it was happening to everyone.  He also had the strength of character to tell a parent to "calm down".  

If you look close at the back of the net, you can see Dillon just scored a goal.  The game was tied with about 1 minute left.  The coaches told Zach to send a high corner to the middle.  It was a perfect corner and Dillon read it perfectly and headed it in for the game winning goal.  Even the other coach was applauding the goal because of how perfect it was.  

It has been an absolute pleasure watching the way these boys have bonded.  They spent a lot of extra time together this season and it shows on the field.  They actually had a lot of "bro hugs" and pats on the back whenever the other did awesome.  Even when they didn't. 

First day of school!

 We finally get to be back in the classroom full time!  Kayda's in grade 9, Dillon's grade 8 and Carson is in 5th grade. 

Kayda's first day:

There was nothing exciting about starting at the high school... Except volleyball.  She has friends in a couple of classes and is with her best friend for lunch.  She's going to get a lot of steps walking clear across campus a couple of times a day.

Dillon's first day:

His first day was okay. He wasn't impressed with a couple of his teachers. He's excited about having two PE classes, one with his best friend.  They've split lunch in half so you have 15 minutes to eat and then trade to "recess" since they have to limit the number of kids in the cafeteria.  

Carson's first day:

He likes his teacher and has one good friend in his class.  Unfortunately at recess they aren't allowed to play with other classes.  

We're actually all excited about his placement.  He has the teacher Dillon had for 4th grade and she is co-teaching with Kayda and Dillon's 5th grade teacher.

Boys Trip To Packwood

Uncle Pat rented a lot in Packwood and invited everyone to come.  Since Mom and Kayda were backpacking, the boys headed up.  Uncle Pat's Family, Grandma and Papa Hanis, Uncle Greg and Aunt Liz, and Uncle Scott's Family were all there part of the weekend.  They squeezed 3 trailers, all the vehicles, and 3 tents into the lot.  

Daddy had fun reminiscing about the old days he spent in Packwood.  His grandparents (Baba and Grandpa Hanis) owned a lot and cabin in Packwood (High Valley) for over 30 years.  Daddy spent a lot of time there growing up with his parents, brothers, grandparents, uncles/aunts, and cousins.  

He went around showing the boys where the cabin was, the creek they would play in behind it, they walked along the dike that divided the lot from the Cowlitz River, swimming in the community pool, eating pizza at the Packwood Pizza Parlor, and golfing at the nine hole course in the High Valley community (they were able to play two 9 hole rounds).  The boys also had a blast playing with their cousins, as always.  It was a quick trip but fun.

Getting ice cream in town.

The cabin in the back (which was an old water pump shed that was hauled up, and the mobile home to the right (you can see the window and deck.

When Daddy was a kid, where everyone is sitting used to be the main channel of the Cowlitz River.  You could not swim in it as the rapids were to fast.  Now, it was perfect for sitting and playing in.

Butter Peak

Dillon's lacrosse 2021

First full year for Dillon!  Dillon (#14) was on a 7th-8th grade team this year.   Of course, locked into more masks.  At least he was getting to do something he enjoys finally.  He was a starting defender and wasn't often off the field.  He was so excited to have a "d-pole".  The poles are significantly longer than a standard stick.  He was so excited that he used his own money to buy a full size one (he had been borrowing a shorter version).   Since he still wasn't very experienced and he was with older boys he chose to focus on defense. He was a solid player for sure.  He had a few break aways. He'd run it down the entire field usually completely unchallenged (that kid is FAST and kids couldn't stay up with him).  I believe he managed three goals from the defender position, and one in the attack position which he played very briefly.  

Their team was without a goalie for the end of season tournament.  Dillon stepped up and gave it a go.  He had all of two practices to try it before the tournament.  He actually ended up doing really well.  We heard over and over again that he was a great goalie.  The kids and the parents both said they preferred him as the goalie over they normal goalie.  Dillon was much more proactive and would actually get out of the crease to make a play.  Unfortunately, his team was shorthanded and ended up losing by one in the championship game of their bracket.  

Both of his coaches talked about how athletic he is and how he naturally picked up the game quickly.  He had a great season and I'm really excited to see what he does next year!

*The super amazing photos were taken by another parent.  I hate that he was in a mask so we can't see him though.