State CHAMPIONSHIPS, Look out...the STINGRAYS are in route!

WHAT A WEEKEND!!!!

Let me start by saying, I am EXHAUSTED!!! And I didn't kick a single ball.

DAY 1:

Oh my goodness, where do I begin? The Stingrays ROCK!!! Despite the 8am game time, the frigid temperatures, the fine misty rain and the thick fog, the Stingrays showed up with their game faces on. Unfortunately even though the boys played their hearts out, they didn't win the first game...but they didn't lose either. They tied with their first opponents, 5 - 5. The second game kicked off at noon...and shall we say, it was a shut out! The Stingrays won 6 - 0.

After a long, cold morning of hard playing, we took the boys back to the hotel for some much needed R&R. Then for dinner, we decided to have a little Mexican food to celebrate Cinco De Mayo. Once everyone was good and full, the 3 coaches and a few other parents took the boys to see Spider Man 3. Fortunately, the movie theatre was directly across the street from the hotel. And instead of risking an evening of minor nightmares, I didn't let Jayla see this movie. So she and I walked around the nearby Hobby Lobby then back to the hotel for some "girl time". We watched a movie on TV, read a book, played "office" with mommy's laptop and cell phone, then it was time for a bath.

Around 8pm, everyone was back at the hotel and ready to chill out for the night. But then "coach daddy" remembered that he'd promised Jayla that he'd take her swimming in the indoor pool. So in an effort not to disappoint, they suited up and we headed downstairs. Marque, Markell & Jayla had the pool all to themselves, and I had a great time taking pictures of Jayla jumping in to daddy. THEN...it happened. Somehow, the other 15 boys that were with us, got wind that Coach Marque was at the pool...lol, so they obliged us with their splashing presence. They all had a ball being thrown in the pool by Coach Marque.

DAY 2:

On Sunday, we all got to sleep in a little later, as the first game wasn't until 9:30am. Everyone got up, got breakfast, checked out of the hotel then headed on over to the fields. After circling the parking lot like 747's waiting to land, we finally found a parking spot. Like the day before, it was a little foggy outside, but not NEAR as cold. We found out spots on the sidelines and the games began. Also like the day before, the boys presented their opponents with a shut out. We won the first game 8 - 0! SWEET!!!

Ok, now...not as sweet, the team we were neck and neck in first place with, was also winning their game on the field right next to us. We needed for them to either be scored on by their opponents or lose so that we would be in first place and take this tournament. But Nooooo, that's too easy! Just like us, they won, with no goals scored against them. So what do we do NOW??? It's NOW left up to PK's (Penalty Kicks). These are rough! It's one on one, goalie against kicker. Who ever gets 5 goals first plays the #1 team in the next bracket. NOTE: the #1 team in the next bracket is, like us, a Cobb FC team. The ONLY team we lost to in the regular season. No pressure, right? WRONG. Anyway...long story short, we won the PK competition and had to play the Mustangs, the team we consider our "sister" team. We're friends with that team/parents, on and off the field. So it was gonna be bittersweet.

That game started at 1pm and it was a LONG wait. Finally, the game got underway and we scored 2 goals within the first 5 minutes. Woo Hoo!!! Then, it happened...the "sting" left the Stingrays and we got stung by the Mustangs...losing to them 6 - 2. What a DOWNER!!! Our boys were so pumped from the PK's that they were just mentally drained.

Well, the good news is, we came in 2nd place out of the 8 U12 teams that played. Not to shabby, huh? Also, the boys STILL get to go to the State championship in 2 weeks, in Columbus, Ga. Can't wait for that! They still have a chance!

What an emotional high this tournament was. Our boys did AWESOME and we are all so very proud of them. And now, some photos from our weekend. Enjoy!

Ode to Cheryl! LOL

My way of relaxing while Jayla takes a bath...checking out the 2Peas site and reading blogs. (Jayla took this picture of me when she got out of the tub)

Markell "attempting" to sneak up on daddy.

The whole crew!

Daddy showing Markell that it's not a good idea to sneak up on him :-). (notice some of the boys in the background waiting their turn to jump in with Coach Marque)

Instead of biting my nails during those intense games, I just peeled off my nail polish. UGH...that looks HORRIBLE!!

And finally, our exhausted Stingray! This was on the ride home yesterday. See that medal!!!

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Sorry for the long post. But I had alot of exciting news to share. Again, hope you all had a great weekend. Toodles!!!