More Soccer Fun

Brother Bear had a fun filled soccer weekend. First it was the Sounders game on Friday night. His team and a bye on Saturday so there was no soccer there. He had a busy football day on Saturday. Brother went with Papa Bear down to Oregon for football. He is the tee grabber for home games so he got to do it on the road this time. When he got home late Saturday night he told me all about the food they got on the bus. A bagel and banana when they got on the bus, a box lunch, after the game a pizza to share just with dad and a little baggie of mini candy bars.

On Sunday it was back to soccer. His team was invited to a training session at Starfire Academy which is where the Sounders practice. They spent the morning doing drills. Then a few of the Sounders players were there. The Sounders players walked around to the different groups and talked to the kids and kicked the ball around. It was nice because there were probably only about 75 kids there. Afterwards the kids were able to get autographs and take pictures. They also got a really nice gift bag from Dicks Sporting Goods who sponsored the event. The gift bag had a Sounders scarf, and Adidas draw string backpack, a huge Dicks water bottle, a key chain, and a wrist band in a Dicks drawstring bag. A big thanks to Dicks.

On Friday night Brother was introduced to the player in the picture on the bottom. Sunday he asked Brother if he'd met him somewhere before. After all of the soccer activity on Sunday, Brother had a birthday party at a laser tag place. He was definitely ready for bed Sunday evening.

Cool Night for Brother

Papa Bear called last night to say he was on his way home from work. He was early. Papa Bear has two friends who work for Chivas and they were in town playing the Sounders. He was able to get two tickets as a surprise for Brother Bear.

As Chivas was coming on to the field to warm up during pregame, Papa Bear saw his friend, Kevin. Kevin invited Brother Bear down on to the field with him for pregame. He got to help set up the cones and chase after loose soccer balls. He got to meet the the goalkeeper for Chivas, a few other Chivas players, and a Sounders player. He also talked to the Sounders coach who remembered Brother from meeting him at the UW game.

When it was time for Brother to go back up into the stands, Kevin gave him a soccer ball. Brother Bear made sure he pointed out to me that it said "official match ball" and that I knew it wasn't a replica ball, but a REAL ball.

He held on to the ball for dear life during the game.

Hall of Famer

Here is the reason we went to California last week.

(This info was copied from the Chapman website. I changed his name in the paragraphs.)

Pair of Chapman greats to be inducted into Hall of Fame
ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University and the Donald P. Kennedy Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will host its annual Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony and banquet on Saturday, October 2. Two of Chapman’s all-time greats will be enshrined: men’s soccer All-American Papa Bear’96 and men’s golf pioneer and former PGA professional Sandy Galbraith ’69. The banquet, which begins at 5 p.m., will follow a welcome reception and precede Chapman’s home football game against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at 7 p.m. at Wilson Field.

Papa Bear '96: As team captain and starting goalkeeper he led the Chapman men’s soccer team to its first and only appearance at the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1995. He was named to the Umbro Select Senior All-Star team that year after allowing just 16 goals in 1,900 minutes and earning nine shutouts. Bennett was the starting goalkeeper for three years from 1993-95 and earned All-West Region honors twice. He is still the Chapman record holder for career shutouts with 26. He stayed on staff at Chapman after his graduation, becoming an assistant athletic trainer and head women’s soccer coach (2000-03), leading the Panthers to the NCAA playoffs in four consecutive seasons.

I think there were a handful of other stats that weren't listed on the website that were announced during the football game when they presented Papa Bear.

Saturday night we went to a nice dinner at the university. Brother Bear was excited to wear his suit. Sister Bear was excited for the mini My Little Pony toy in my purse that she was going to get. I had bought her a little toy to help keep her occupied and QUIET for the ceremony. After the dinner and award ceremony we went to the football game. At halftime they had all of the Hall of Fame Members (old and new) on the field. Papa Bear took Brother down with him. A proud Mama Bear moment. Sister Bear liked showing me that her dad and brother were down on the field. After the halftime announcement we went on to the side of the new athletics facility that is the Hall of Fame wall. There the plaque with Papa Bears name on it was unveiled.

I am very proud of Papa Bear for this honor. It was a nice weekend to share with family and friends.

Quick Trip

Hard to believe it was a week ago that we were in California.

There was rain in California and everyone said we brought it with us. No, we haven't had any rain in Washington. While we were in California we got to eat at some of our favorite local spots (Watsons and the Sugar Shack).

We saw friends who we haven't seen in a long time.

Grandpa and Papa Bear took Brother Bear golfing for his first time. He had a great time! We hit the swimming pool at the hotel a handful of times. Unfortunately, we couldn't get to the pool and water playground at Granny and Grandpa's. There was thunder and lightening. So instead, the kids settled on a walk to the park with their cousins.