Roster

The Drake football roster is up. Smiling is in this year for football players.

First Practice

You can Dylan's face in the back row slightly right of center. 6am start time for practice all week. Go Mothers!

Empty Nest

Dylan is with his four suite mates now and doing his rugby thing. There dorm is two rooms that share a bathroom. Andrew, to the left of Dylan is his roommate, the other two are rugby players as well and share the soon to be really disgusting bathroom between the rooms. It's possible that one of them will keep it clean but it probably won't be Dylan.

It was a smooth drop off and included Ben, a rugby player from Scotland who stayed with us for a couple nights before all of us drove down to Fredericksburg. It was tough leaving him there but he hugged us and hustled off to meet some friends he met this summer that had arrived Sunday as well.

First Scrimmage

It was drake defense against drake offense today. Sam got some playing time but wasn't thrilled with his performance. Hang in there tiger.

Greenwood Lounge

I spent a little time catching some live music at a really small and smelly dive bar a few blocks from our air bnb in Des Moines. The Monday night band was really good and this one was pretty good. Based on some lyrics this guy sang about something you would only know if you spent some time in Baltimore in his last song I had to talk with him. Turns out he went to school at Catholic University and lived in Baltimore for a while. He was pretty good but needs a better bass player. Also talked with the bartender who knew cousin Timmy.

Sculpture Garden

Trying to interact with the art in Des Moines.

Delivery Complete

We saw Sam for a short time this morning to wish him luck. His physical yesterday was fine except they wanted a orthopedic surgeon to look at his ankles today. One was loose and one kinda stiff. He was eventually cleared to practice this afternoon but they are watching the loose one closely. The boys haven't been apart more than 8 days in the last 18 years. They probably won't see each other again until November or December.

Early Move

Out of the Air BnB at 6:15am for a coffee stop and move in at 7am. It's Des Moines and everything is 10 minutes away so we were early. Sammy I'd officially moved in and in team meeting after meeting. It was exhausting day for everyone.

Gentleman, start your engines

Pre-race selfie. Those electric go karts were quick which explains the helmets.

Iowa

Sam looking down on his new home away from home as we landed in Des Moines yesterday.

The Day Arrived

Barely a blip on the radar 18 years ago but here we are in Chicago waiting for the final leg into Des Moines and the first kid living somewhere other than Sharon Chapel Road. It's an emotional day with a few more to come.

River and Reef

Nicole's friends and their kids met up at the old town farmers market this morning because they wanted to see Sam before he left town. Reef is pictured, River was being shy.

Cousins

The big chair at Maddens Resort.

Lake Hair

Less sunny today but better fish. Nicole and Karen caught some sizable bass.

First Fish

Not many today and nothing very big. They were all sleeping in I suppose.

Kavanaugh

Another summer trip up north to the lake. We were delayed at Dulles for 6 hours but managed to survive in a United lounge with some airport walks to stay sane. We finally did arrive in Baxter around 10pm and has some supplies in the cabin courtesy of Rachel. Tough travel day but we had a nice relaxing day of sun and beach with dinner on Gull Lake coming up in a bit.

Academy Team

Dylan is in the top row to the right. They fought hard but lost there first game to the New England Junior Jacks. Dylan played well and had fun playing in a big stadium. They play the Junior Jacks again in Boston next Sunday.

Jimmy Wild

Another benefit of the DC United game yesterday was seeing Jimmy Wild. Coach Wild has been at Edison HS for 30 plus years teaching PE, coaching and being the assistant Athletic Director. He also does a lot of work on the Edison athletic fields. He's one of my favorite teachers at school and the boys love him. Halftime at the match we recognized him from our nose bleed seats directing some halftime watering and found him after the game for a quick picture.

DC United

It was a beautiful day to watch United smack down Toronto 7-1 at Audi Field. It was our first visit to this relatively new stadium in DC. We got tickets late and were pretty high up but there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. You can also see the Capitol just over Dylan's head from this section.

Nats Game

Went to my first Nationals game in many years as guests of Lexi's parents. Fun game that ended after the dodgers hit a grand slam to take a 4 run lead in the 5th, then the sky opening up with torrential rain and a tornado spotted a couple miles away. We headed home after the heavy stuff ended.