Highland Football year 5. I am bound and determined to keep a positive spin on this season. Last year ended with drama. This year began with drama. We'll put all of that aside and focus on these teams. Jay's team (JV), has over 30 players and 13 parents offered to help/coach. Max's team (Varsity), has 18 players and the coach resorted to begging for parent volunteers. Eric offered his services as an assistant coach for Max's team. So, basically, my whole family is involved in Colt football in one way or another. (We'll get to Al, later).

Max is not a huge fan of the QB position. He'd rather be a receiver or running back. However, last year he was put in this position and it's a lot like a bad rash....once it's there, it's hard to get rid of. Oh wait, that wasn't the positive spin I was just talking about, was it? Ok, I'll try again....being quarterback is like those pretty, yellow flowers in your yard, no matter how hard you try to get rid of them, they just keep multiplying and returning. I know that wasn't much better, but I did say "pretty, yellow, flowers", so it counts. He doesn't like being quarterback, but he's good at it, so he'll get this position until he really effs it up, or, someone comes along who's better.

Eric is having a great time coaching. He takes it seriously, but realized these boys are out to learn the game and have fun, too. Two of our key players are on the injury list due to sprained ankles and broken arms. With all that, these boys came out last Sunday and played an awesome game. The other team has gone 4 seasons having had no one score on them. No kidding. They had 40 guys, we had 18. The final score was only 12-0. Not bad. There was no shame in the way they played and given that one of their players weighed in at 245, we were ecstatic we didn't have anyone else to add to the injured list!!

Here's Al cheering for her brother. She enjoys cheering for games, but is not such a fan of going to practice. Lucky for her, they will go down to only one practice a week. This will allow some more time to start volleyball at the end of the month. Al can also entertain Viv with cheer after cheer when the maniac is getting restless in the truck!

Jaybird. This kid has heart. He has been playing football for 4 years, now. Every year, he says he won't go out next time. Each year, he changes his mind. He is fast and knows the game. He doesn't have that "killer" instinct to want to rip the opponent's head off, so he's not as aggressive as some of his teammates. However, I wouldn't want it any other way. He's a sweetie, and I'm happy to keep it that way. I tell him to imagine the other team as Max at his most annoying or Ally at her whiniest. It helps.