Buzzer Beater

We were without a bunch of our starters again tonight but fought to the very end and came out with a 48-47 victory. We were down by 5 with 24 seconds left and Sinceere hit a three pointer. We fouled off the inbound pass, the other team missed the front of a one and one, we rebounded, got it down court and Jacob hit a three pointer from the corner for the win. Sam played well while being abused down low and Dylan was all over the court on offense and defense. Sam had 14 and Dylan had 6. Good close to the summer league for the boys. This was the first playoff game. The team moves on to play Thursday but the boys will be on the way to Alaska. The little Patriots will only have 5 or 6 for that game.

Good Defense

We were without 4 of our best players tonight but the team hung together and managed a reasonable defeat. Sam and Dylan both played well, playing some unusual roles that the missing kids would have played. Sam almost acted like a guard a couple times.

Kick

Dylan gets a little kick in the warm up tonight. We won 44-35 in a decent game for the boys. They were a little listless but that's due to too much Xbox this week. We have a tougher game on Friday.

Heading Out

My boat mate on our tour of the ghost fleet in Mallow's Bay on the Potomac river.

Ghost Fleet

We spent the day paddling around over two hundred abandoned ships sunk in the early 1900's. These were mostly ships built during WWI, scuttled and burned to the waterline after the war. We saw a half dozen bald eagles and lots of other birds hunting in these waters. It's a cool little historical tour in kayaks only 35 miles from home in southern Maryland.

All Cylinders

This team finally hit their stride tonight. The were playing with a purpose and against a very good team that had beaten them half a dozen times over the past three years. Lee district is our closest rival with a bunch of kids that will eventually play together at either Edison or Hayfield high schools and then against each other in different configurations. Sam and Dylan were both playing hard and didn't quit until the final minute. Sam had 12 points and owned the inside. Dylan had 4 points and worked the top of the key on defense like a man possessed. Sam had a dozen rebounds and Dylan a half dozen. The whole team was playing well with urgency I hadn't seen in a while. Not only they beat them, they did it convincingly. 54-32.

Complete Game

The team was hitting on all cylinders tonight. They looked like a team that knew what each other were doing. I hope that continues because we have a tougher team tomorrow night and will be missing a couple key players. Sam had 13 and Dylan 4 in Good games on both ends of the court for both of them.

6-2

That jackass coach of Burke got another win but he did get another technical foul. He's gotten T'ed up every other time we've played them. The series is now 6-2 in favor of the Patriots. . We could not find the basket in the first half and while we outplayed them in he second, we came up 3 points short 43-40. Sam had 12 points and as many rebounds. Dylan didn't have any points but shut down a three pointer shooter on defense. It sucks but even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

Hamburgler

The team righted itself tonight by beating the Nova Cavaliers 49-32. It was a five point game with 4 minutes to play but the Patriots went on a run and won by 17. Dylan was a stealing machine, stripping 5 balls while getting 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He drove to the basket a few times but came up empty in the points category. Sam played better than last night and had a guy his size to deal with. (shown in picture). The kid was good but Sam out rebounded him by a bunch and while Sam only had 11 points, he was a step ahead of his competition with a bunch of shots not falling for him. Big game against Burke tomorrow. We play them a lot and are 6-1 over the past couple years but the games are always contentious, mostly because the coach is kind of an ass.

Hot and Cold

Well, game two of the week was an overtime loss to a lower division team that got a number of lucky breaks. That and Sam was having trouble around the basket and only scored 6 points. He missed a couple early layups and let it get in his head. Lesson for tonight was learning to put that behind him early. Dylan finally started to work his offensive game and had a nice driving layup and a three pointer from the corner for 5 points. Our whole team was a little off tonight after being very on the night before. Let's hope we pull it back together tomorrow night, I think our opponent is a much better team.

26

Sam and Dylan hit the court again for the first time in over 3 months and beat FYPL 61-50. Dylan was his usual high energy self on defense and came away with 5 assists but didn't find the basket. I don't think he even shot the ball he was so focused on passing. Sam was hitting everything and getting some great passes from Dylan and others down low. He had 26 points and a dozen rebounds. Good start to a four game week. We go at it again tomorrow night at 8:45pm.

Happy 4th

It's been raining all day but we may have needed a lazy day in the house.

Snelling

Fort Snelling

We took in some Minnesota history today by visiting Fort Snelling and seeing some demonstrations on 19th century cooking, medicine and musket and canon firing.

Foot Golf

It is definitely more active than regular golf and a lot quicker but I'm not sure it will catch on. We had a good time playing nine holes of it yesterday but my soccer ball kicking skills are a little weak. Sam had the low round, followed by Finn, Dylan then me.

Make Way

We are back from the north woods. Had a fantastic four nights with great weather and cool, fresh air. We ended up throwing back all the fish we caught and only a couple of them were maimed. The water was refreshing, the golf course was green and our family dinners were fun. We have reserved the same place next year.

Kayak Queen

Played some golf today with Finn and Marsh then hung out on the beach. Rachel is showing some jazz hands in her Kayak.

Big Brother

Jeff and I gave up on fishing man years ago after one two many launch outings on Lake Winnibigoshish. These were big boats with a dozen or so people on them that went out on white capped water in early May. The past one include my grandfather losing his lunch into the wind.

Nicole and Karen can have all the fish in the lake. Jeff and I will just mug it up for selfies.

Sam and Fish

Sam checking on the health of the only fish we kept. We actually let him go a little later. Karen pulled in that bass.

Bobbers

The lake was cold but the sun was hot. We got a few fish and lots of splashes from jumping off the boat.

Northerners

Nice day on the lake and a great dinner at Sherwood Forest.

Fish Queen

We got a bunch of little ones and threw them all back.

Cousins

First night dinner at the usual spot.

Sylvan is Angry

Lots of wind up north today. I'm hoping things calm down before tomorrow morning when we get on the pontoon for some fish killing.

Upgrade

We have graduated from worrying about leaving the kids alone in the back of the plane and taking upgrades when they come our way. The boys were a little insulted at first but got over it quickly. The whole plane got to Minneapolis at the same time.

Strawberry Moon

Full moon on the summer solstice. Probably won't see this again.

Magnets

Nicole's car is sporting new running magnets. The Mark Twain Middle School paw has been there a while. The 26.2 replaced the 13.1 she's had for a while. I'm thinking of getting a magnet with a picture of a knee.

New Jersey

It's Euro Football time and Dylan has a new and rather good looking England jersey. He got it on Friday afternoon and has been wearing it ever since.

3rd Marathon Complete

Marathon

Nicole left for Minnesota yesterday for Grandmas Marathon in Duluth. The boys and I are figuring out how to manage without her and hoping she had a great run tomorrow morning.

Golf Again

I got out on the the golf course for the first time in over three years yesterday.  Played a charity tournament I'd played before which includes goofy pictures of my foursome with the guy who runs the event (guy behind me with his hand in the air, he went to Villanova)  It felt good to be out there again and my knee didn't give me any problems.  My elbow hurts for some reason and I was very stiff after 18 holes but it was a beautiful day for golf and the start to me getting out there a little more.  

Big D

Both boys played excellent defense today, holding their two opponents to 14 points while scoring almost 80. Dylan had four touchdowns and an interception while Sam threw a TD pass and caught a two point conversion. It was a hot one out there and you could see the energy drain from them as the two games progressed. 95 and humid today and looking like more of the same tomorrow. I'm thinking pool day.

Tasty Cells

Dylan's science extra credit project. He learned about blood cells and cooking.

Twain Pops Concert

Usually an outdoor affair, the Pops Concert moved into the gym due to high winds. I guess flying music sheets was unacceptable. Both boys played well.

More Basketball Training

They like this place and have been improving in a bunch of areas.

Flag Football is Back

After a three weeks of rainouts and a holiday weekend, we got two flag football games yesterday. The boys team crushed our first opponent 40-2 or something like that. Sam and Dylan both had TD's and Sam had an interception. I had to step n as coach in the second game against a team we lost to a month ago 37-21. This was an intense battle that was tied at half time 6-6. We ended up going ahead 13-6 then going behind 19-13 with about a minute and a half to go.

With some excellent passing by Lucas, great receptions by Sam and exceptional time management and play calling by me, we won the game 20-19. Sam caught a nice TD throw from Lucas and then Lucas hooked up with the other Sam on the team for the extra point with no time left on the clock. It was an exciting game. I'll probably have some pictures of it this week sometime.

Sent from my iPad

Follow Your Shot

Trojan Horse

Nat Geo has a new exhibit that has something to do with this big wooden horse. Might be something to do on a rainy day this summer.

Napa Birthday

7th Grader

7th Grader

Band Trip

Both boys went south to the Williamsburg area to compete in orchestra and band concerts. Nicole chaperoned the band trip but the whole crew met up at Busch Gardens for hours of roller coasters afterwards. The three of them left school at 6am and got back home around midnight. That's a long day.

Good Workout

The boys are doing extra basketball training at Evolution Basketball this spring. It's much better exercise than baseball practice.

Great Weekend

Got home late last night but still thinking of his crew and a fantastic 50th birthday trip to Napa Valley.

Cave Dwellers

Fallia Vineyard has a nice cave for tasting and this being our last stop yesterday we were all n good form.

Mad Fritz

Beer tasting in Napa Valley. A great way to start the day.

Ladies Who Wine

Frogs Leap Vineyard

Birthday Girl

The two stops yesterday were great. Cliff Lede was a great find and we ended up spending two and a half hours there drinking numerous wine and viewing great art by Grace Slick. Larkmead was good as usual but it was tough to top Cliff Lede. Nice sunny day but today looks a little wet.

Birthday Trip

After the Storm

It was pretty nice in old town on Saturday after the rains went away. More rain tomorrow. 18 days of rain in the last 21.

Birthday Girl

Had a nice dinner in old town tonight. Nicole doesn't look a day over 40. The boys look 18.

Personal Best

Forgot to mention that the birthday girl set ran a PB in the Frederick half marathon on Sunday. Ring that bell.