Band concert

What a sweet surprise to sit down to the band concert and see our boy on the cover.  The showcased a handful or students coupling the sports and other activities they do while also being in the band.  

Here they all are!

I had to zoom in on the French horn section.  Lucas Mainville is a sad replacement for the beautiful red head that used to sit there.

Post concert ice cream and we found out that Carvel is open later than Ben and Jerry's!

Love the neighborhood band crew!

 

Soccer Banquet Night

Soccer banquet night at the North House.  We put it together with the Coursey's, Bae, and Abbots,  A great evening to celebrate the dedication of the team.  Love that Chris started with the introduction of the freshman team.

Nick work Coach Leadbetter.  The boys are thankful you said yes to dedicating your time

So much for this night is about these seniors.  Love this catpure and thank you to the seniors for each speaking tonight.  That is the true treasure here is to hear what you value and what you will take away from your years on the field.

Love this capture of them watching on.

Pretty good looking sophomore class.

nice Leadbetter family capture.

These 2 have been playing together for years and looking forward to their years to come!

 

Rolling up to Veterans's day

Rocco asked Drew to join him and his grandmother in Florida for his 13th birthday trip.  What an honor.  

Loved getting these photos along the way.

This was a favorite too

I sure do love these 2 ladies - 

On Sunday I was looking for a walk, shane was looking for a game.  Guess who got to be his caddy?  I love it.  He is rather chatty and LOVES the game.  plays every chance he gets.

Love capturing him loving what he is doing.

Dinner with my folks that night.  My sister was in town seeing us all before my folks head down to Florida.  Beautiful Sunday night dinner photo.

Veterans day was celebrated at the HS Monday morning.  Chris had to head to work, Brian and I represented for the team.

Drew was our escort for the Middle School program.  The breakfast was AMAZING!

Brian and I were on the High School Panel along with Dave Rodrigues.  love that we captured our families together after the panel discussion.  Love that Brian could be part of it.  With all the military communities they have been part of, its unique to be one of few in our community.

 

Nick Turns 18

Nick turns 18 ON Election day!!  AND because its ELECTION day, its a day off for them.  SO, why spend it at home right?  Last minute he realized he could be part of early voting and choose how to spend his birthday.

He BARELY got in before they closed Sunday night.

He voted - I remember the same photo taken just 18 years ago when we were holding a BABY nick.  Forever amazed at the man you grew into.

So where does Nick go for his birthday??  Michael and Nick drive down to Beth Paige black  - they sleep in the parking lot and are ready for tee time.

What an adventure for them!!  Hearing the stories was priceless. and EXACTLY what he should be doing for his birthday.

Keep living your best life Nick!

 

Ashley weekend

With Farrah here it gave an extra reason to get buddies out here.  Love that Ashley Hosey was able to work out a flight and schedule time out here.  She flew in landing REALLY late Friday night.  Farrah grabbed her and delivered her to our house as we were already in bed.  I got a quick cup of coffee with Ashley Saturday morning before Farrah came by to grab her to head to New Haven and part of the VIP football activity

I went to Drew's Torrington team soccer game and went for a walk in the most beautiful park.  Nora love this stream so much I thought she was going to swim away!  She didn't want to get out.

That is one happy Nora

Sunday morning was a bit slower and we got to enjoy couch church and a beautiful long walk.

we managed to get Drew's boat back in the water and show Ashley the lake house.

Not a bad day for a ride.

Sunday afternoon Moonshine tasting and glad we got this great photo of the 3 of us.

This was the first chilly day and our house may have gotten a bit too cold, we are thinking it may have affected Drew's fish.  Sadly he passed away and Ashley went out to bury the fish with Drew.

Love that she was part of our Sunday night dinner 

that was actually Nick's birthday celebration dinner!

Thanks to Ashley for making the time and coming out.  Loved the time catching up with you.

 

Soccer season

 

This post is hardly a reflection of all the time on the soccer field.  

The season started this soccer with summer games at FSA on Thursday nights - That is where we first started to see Shane and Nick on the field together.  Nick voted a captain and leader with Logan Coursey and Ryan Bae.  

Shane playing on both JV and Varsity.  

Chris Weller first year coaching the boys with Keith August at JV 

Biggest name - CHRISTOPHER LEADBETTER as the freshman coach.  Love that he knew they were down a coach and offered his time to the sport.  Pretty sure there were afternoons that he had more fun than the kids, dusting off his cleats and getting on the field too.

The highlights from the season - 

Tied Granby at Granby  - what an athletic game.  Senior night was a loss to East Hampton, but the next night was a VERY tough game against East Granby that ended in a tie as well - but also contained Nick's (FAMOUS TO ME) flip throw in.

We loved orchestrating the post home game meals and was thankful for all the family participation.   Here are a few videos and photos that I managed to capture.

Shane and Nick on the field together.

https://youtu.be/82lw_f0oFqU

Nick's flip throw in

https://youtu.be/9iLnKpSjcgM

The famous run after the game - for some reason I really love when they do this.

https://youtu.be/OTO7-WwoBn0

Amy Brown had this photo taken and displayed in advance of senior night.  As I type this in March, I can report we STILL have this banner hanging up.  It may stay draped over Nick seat when he leaves for college.  I love everything about the determination in his face.  This demonstrates everything he played with this year.

Sadly the team suffered from lots of injuries, Jackson Bowne was out, Quin,  Ryan and Coursey had injuries during the season.  It was tough.  Their first playoff game was against WCA.  A team they had never played.  Beautiful stadium in Waterbury.  They team was doing awesome, they were up 3-0.  It was VERY heartbreaking to loose 4-3.  The score really speaks to what happened.  They changed things up, it didn't work, they lost....  it was heartbreaking.

The silver lining (for me) was the other teams goalie was probably the best sportsman I have ever seen.  Truly cheered for the game and he played his but off too.  Often leading a hand to pick up one of our team mates.  I was thankful they didn't loose to Old Saybrooke in a grudge match.

It was sad seeing these seniors walking off the field for the last time.

This was their last game, the last time together.  It all happened just too fast.  We got to hear the boys speak to the team and convey how must the team means to them and how hard it can be to say goodbye to it all.  

We served them up their final sandwiches for the final ride home.  

This was it Nick - you really were a joy to watch play, from the early days on the blue dragons where the ball was a hot potato and you barely wanted to make contact, to senior year, leading the team with your drive and determination.

Thankful Chris was able to be on the field for the final game and final season.  I know that is a treasure to the both of them.

THU 8/22	4:00 PM	Varsity	Scrimmage	Normal	Home	Manchester				Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
SAT 8/31	1:00 PM	Varsity	Scrimmage	Normal	Home	Northwest Catholic				Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
SAT 9/7	12:00 PM	Varsity	Non-League	Normal	Away	Old Saybrook	Loss	2-3		Old Saybrook High School - Old Saybrook HS Turf
THU 9/12	4:00 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	Somers	Loss	0-6		Somers High School - Somers High School Turf Field
SAT 9/14	4:00 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	Suffield	Win	2-1		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
WED 9/18	4:00 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	Rockville	Win	3-2		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
FRI 9/20	6:15 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	Granby Memorial	Tied	0-0		Granby Memorial High School - Stadium Field
TUE 9/24	4:00 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	East Windsor	Win	5-0		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
FRI 9/27	4:30 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	Coventry	Tied	1-1		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
TUE 10/1	3:45 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	Windsor Locks	Win	4-2		Windsor Locks High School - Soccer Field 1 Upper
FRI 10/4	4:30 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	Stafford	Win	7-0		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
THU 10/10	4:00 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	SMSA/Capital Prep	Win	6-1		Colt Park - Soccer Field
FRI 10/11	3:30 PM	Varsity	Non-League	Normal	Home	South Windsor	Loss	1-2		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
WED 10/16	4:15 PM	Varsity	Non-League	Normal	Away	Haddam Killingworth	Loss	0-4		Haddam Killingworth High School (HK) - HKHS Track Field
FRI 10/18	4:30 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	Ellington	Loss	2-3		Ellington High School - Soccer Field
MON 10/21	6:00 PM	Varsity	Non-League	Normal	Home	East Hampton	Loss	0-5		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
TUE 10/22	3:45 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Home	East Granby	Tied	2-2		Canton High School - Canton H.S. Turf
FRI 10/25	3:45 PM	Varsity	League	Normal	Away	Bolton	Win	4-1		Bolton High School - BHS Varsity Soccer Field
FRI 11/1	7:00 PM	Varsity	Tournament	Normal	Away	WCA	Loss	3-4

Halloween

Tis that time of year - gotta love the golfing Ken and one famous spice girl! 

Along with Ginger spice!

Just chilling outside hoping for lots kids to come by to steal out candy!!

While I didn't get a photo of our crew together - love that the ladies managed a group photo.

Yup, its a thing.

Here are the kids!  Come steal our candy!

Spice girls unite having mini franks at the Canny's