The Boys of Fall

Fall is finally here......well 'fall' as we know it in AZ I should say.  I am soooo missing the beautiful colorful trees and crisp cool air during football games!  Either way- football is in FULL effect in the Furrey household and we are thrilled!

The boys are now a part of NYS tackle football and loving every minute of it.  They live for Tuesday and Thursday practices as well as Saturday afternoon games.  I must say that I am less nervous than I thought I would be but am thinking that having the camera between the field and I is probably helping! :O)

Check out the determination on Grant's face...

He is still going.....

And going...

TOUCHDOWN #22, Grant Furrey!!!

We are so proud of Grant for getting the first touchdown of the season!  I was jumping up and down like crazy and of course Grant acted as though nothing had happened! Yep - he was almost expressionless- imagine that.  He is so much like his father.

Trey has been a great quarterback for the team and really enjoys his role.  He is a natural in the game and it shows.  I must admit that the first time he got 'crushed' I was a bit worried but managed to keep my cool.  What can a mom do but get down on her knees and pray for the safety of her babies!

Trey #28 getting ready for the snap..

Dad was proud of this stiff arm - he went on to break 3 tackles

Looking for his target....

Coach/Dad looking on...

Yep.....this is where he got 'crushed'!  Ugh......

Matt and I are loving watching the boys play as you can tell that they are so much more engaged in tackle then they were in flag football!  We can see the passion in their eyes each and every play- it is so cool to see.  Matt is coaching and enjoying the fact that they are learning more and more each and every day.  He is 'making them' sit down and watch NFL games ALL the time and pointing out what they should and should not be doing.  It is too funny!  Trey will gladly do this with Matt for HOURS.  Grant?  Well, he will watch on and off for most of the day.  :O)

Rhyan - where is Rhyan?  Oh, well she can typically be found hanging out on the blanket with a friend, on a dirt mound, or singing and dancing on the sidelines.  After all, that's what sisters do right?  

I am sure there will be many more football pics/posts soon!  So far the Cats are 0-2 BUT they are getting better!  This is most of the kids' first year in tackle so we are still trying to 'figure it out'.  We are very proud of the coaches and kids for all their hard work and dedication!  

Our Second Home

The Five of Us Loving Life

So we have found a place that we love to go to as a family to unwind and enjoy the Pacific.  We have been to 'our' Carlsbad condo so many times over the past 2 years that it feels like home.  There is nothing like sitting on the beach listening to the ocean waves and watching the dolphins play as our children laugh together while playing in the sand! Ahhhhh.....did you hear that? They LAUGH TOGETHER! No fighting in this world we call 'paradise'!

What makes this destination even better is that my sister Kate lives about a mile away! So we are able to enjoy her company while living our dream.

The sound of the ocean is one of my favorites!  I could sit and listen to the waves crash all day.  Although Matt enjoys the sounds too - he tends to try to keep up with the kids while 'riding the waves'.

Matt concentrating on his 'landing'! 

Relaxing is the highlight of this trip for the adults.   No agenda, no running from activity to activity, no morning routine, just fly by the seat of your pants and love every minute of what you are doing.  Coffee in the morning with the windows open feeling the cool breeze, a run on the beach, a trip to the Pizza Port for a 'real' pizza and a locally brewed beer or just a walk around town to enjoy the shops!

Grant Digging himself a tunnel

The kids?  Constant play!  Board games, card games, digging on the beach, boogie boarding, catching 'sand crabs', building castles, and the list could go on and on!  'Our condo' is a place where everyone is happy to be at all times!
                                                                                                                                                                    

Still digging.......

Finding some 'yucky' treasures

Trey on a mission

Having a ball.....

So, this is where you will find us anytime we can get a day off of school.  We love our 'short' 5 -6 hour drive to the beach.  Even the drive is interesting.....on this trip we had all 3 kids with their ipods in singing different songs at the same time, while Matt and I were listening to the radio!   Matt and I just looked at each other and smiled - what a memory in the making!  

Rhyan lounging on the beach...