PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/15/11

While we watched TR Boys tennis into the early evening, we had a beautiful view of the sky and the sunset. To me, it looks like a tennis ball in motion (going the wrong way, but you get the effect). It didn't last for long, but the sky was so beautiful and we had a great view. This was taken right as Nick was playing his 4 doubles match which they won 6-3, 6-2. Sure hope they keep the energy they have together because they are a good team together. Thankful for being able to be there to watch him.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/10/11

#1 is on the field for the start of another fall soccer season. Back with a group of friends he has played with for many years and new players, he hit the field with Zach Triplett as captains. For the best couple of seasons, we weren't sure if this would be the last, but he keeps coming back. Somehow, I really do think this will be it, but who knows. Todd is coaching again. When Zach got to choose a number for his uniform, he said #1...when I asked him why 1? He said, why wouldn't I want to be #1. Good point.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/27/11

Way to go TRHS Boys Tennis. This weekend they came in 2nd or 3rd (depending how you look at it) in the Air Academy Invitational Tournament. Nick and Trevor won 3 out of 4 of their matches and figured out how to play together. When Coach Hanson was handing out the ribbons at the end, he specifically said that Nick was a "leader" and that word means as much to me (and hopefully, to him) as it means to be a good player (which he also said they were). I hope this season, for Nick, is fun, without drama, successful and just a good final summation of 4 years of tennis at TR. He has definitely worked hard, never given up and did his best and is an amazing player...much better than he should be for the time he has spent on the courts in lessons and off season play. I am very proud of him, but more than anything, he should be proud of himself as he is a class act on and off the court (I may have written this same thing in an earlier post, but it is true).

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/26/11

Fun photo of me and Heather...

Nick ran over for this photo right before he started his match..

Aidan and Andrew sitting on those hot bleachers. When Nick was playing, Aidan had his fingers crossed and said, "I'm crossing them for good luck...I'm going to cross them until Nick wins"

Cute Emma with her missing teeth...

Nick and his team played in the Air Academy Invitational tournament this weekend in Colorado Springs. Heather, Aidan, Emma and Andrew came to see him play in his first match and it was very special to have them come. I know it meant a lot to Nick and, me too. As a kid, it's nice to know that you've got family support in all you do. The match went into a tie breaker and the rain came so they had to finish that match the next morning, but Uncle Todd went over to the courts as soon as he could hoping to catch Nick playing. It didn't work out, but he did talk to him when Nick was at the hotel. It was nice to spend the evening at Todd and Heather's and hang out with my little brother. Their house is very comfortable to stay in and I even crashed out on their couch before Todd got back. We went out to get something to eat, took Shiner on a walk and watched tv. Just a nice relaxing, fun day all the way around. BTW...Nick and Trevor DID finish their tiebreaker on Saturday morning and WON! I think Aidan crossing his fingers the day before made the difference.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/23/11

GO GRIZZLIES! Nick's first match was yesterday against CastleView and he played 3 doubles. At the beginning of the match, it was apparent he and his partner had never played together before, but they got into a groove and got some coaching in the second set and carried it into a third set and then WON! Their match secured the win for ThunderRidge as up until then, the score was 3-3. If they won, it would give us the win and win they did. The final score was 1-6, 7-5 6-3. Way to follow through and never give up and what a great start to his senior year tennis career. It was very apparent that he was really pleased also and he and his partner, Trevor McCord, found their groove and looked good together. I have to admit that I'm a bit of a "tennis mom" and I get really nervous. At the end of the match, when the final point was scored, I actually screamed out and jumped up in the air...total reflex. I have said it several times, but watching Nick on and off the court is quite a pleasure (what a word..."pleasure" makes me sound old ;) ). He is a class act and very poised and polite and just a great person. Way to go, Nicky T...well deserved. You've worked hard these past 4 years and it is your time to shine, kid.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/11/11

FOOTBALL TIME! It may be a "quarterback controversy" for the Bronco's, but for me, it's a no brainer...time for Tebow to "bring it!" Watching the first preseason game against Dallas.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/1/11

Final summer tennis match means that the school tennis season is right around the corner. Nick played really well this summer and his TR Green team came in 3rd in the standings very closely behind a Columbine Knolls team and a Ken Caryl team (like by 5 games only). He played in all but one match so he was a major reason for having so many wins.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/25/11

SUMMERTIME TENNIS...nothin' better to play in the summertime and even better when your grandparents are there to support you. In Nick's tournament on Saturday, Grandaddy came and saw some of the best tennis Nick has ever played and then today, for his tennis team match, Gram Gram and Grandaddy came to watch and see him win in singles 6-0 6-0 and in doubles 6-0 6-3. They didn't want to miss an opportunity to see him on the courts and they certainly weren't disappointed in his incredible playing. He is really an amazing player with a great court presence. Most importantly, it is very special how the boys grandparents love and support my boys.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 6/27/11

It doesn't seem so long ago that both Nick and Chris were taking tennis lessons at Redstone Park in the spring and summer...for that matter, it doesn't seem so long ago that I was playing summer leagues every summer from the age of 8-17. I guess that when I think of summer, I naturally think of tennis. I also look very forward to Wimbledon being played every June near my birthday. I can't remember a year I haven't watched it. Chris and NIck both took some lessons when young and Chris continued through several years up until somewhat recently. I do wish he would start up again but time will tell. Nick started playing again the summer before his freshman year and has really worked himself up the ranks. He is a very good tennis player and is stronger this year than ever before...today, he won 6-0 6-1 and was frustrated because he didn't think he played well so he's got that competitive spirit. I'm thinking that Zach should play some just to see if he likes it but once again, time will tell. For now, I will have fun cheering Nick on (as quietly as I can) from the sidelines and enjoying the second week of Wimbledon.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/14/11

Rain and freezing cold...but that didn't stop Zach from playing a great final soccer game of the season. I guess the score was 0-1 but the only goal was scored by the other team in the first 30 seconds of the game and I didn't see it so, under "Tracy Rules", it didn't count...thus a TIE! :)

Zach played incredibly and was in every bit of action...so much into the action that he was called for "tackling" 3 times (although there was the kid on the other team that could've been called just as easily...in my motherly opinion). He is a great leader on the field and he has so much fun with some of the kids on the team....the ones that he has known through the years. Those "core players" really care about eachother and play well and that is the best part of it all. Gotta go through the over 100 photos I took of him along with his brothers as spectators and pick some more favorites. Even though the weather was bad, Zach wanted his brothers at his game and they both came and cheered him on....Chris from the top of a tree branch :). Very proud of The Cobras on another season and Zach has played every single season now since the spring of 2005.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 4/16/11

Joshua may have had his best soccer game ever today...he was in the game, fighting for the points and running like I have never seen him before. Zach had an amazing header and played such good soccer. These two have been on the same soccer team since they were 5 and it is something they will never forget. It's great to be able to cheer for my son and nephew at the same time.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 4/2/11

SUPER ZACH hits the field today. Even though the Cobras lost 0-3, Zach played almost the whole game and was a leader on and off the field as well as playing awesomely well. I looked out on the field and couldn't see him until I realized he was the tall one with the blonder hair. All of the sudden, he looks so much older and "big kid" like. I guess that happens when you're almost 12, but it hit me hard this afternoon. Way to go, Zach!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/14/11

It's TIME....Time for Cobra Soccer. This is the first season that Todd hasn't been head coach in quite a while and this could be Z's last season with HRSA. I'm trying not to even think about that because it makes me quite sad. Zach has been counting down to soccer season since last week. He was very psyched that he had practice this afternoon. Last season was a little rough with merging with another team and hopefully, this will be back to the way it was in all the other seasons he has played...I think it will be. He and Josh are playing together and have been since Zach was 5 so this is a huge thing. I'm looking forward to staying quiet on the sidelines (ya right... :) ) and cheering him on. He's a leader on this team and a very cool soccer player...so, in Zach's words of the past...'BRING IT'

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/5/11

AND THE AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATED, CARING AND FOCUSED MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR GOES TO....TODD NELSON! Even though his team barely lost, it was so fun to go cheer the Titans (and Todd) on. Mom, Dad, Tami, Carly and myself headed to the Springs to watch the Championship game. I found myself going in to high gear cheering for his team. The thing with this team is that they do not always come from easy lives or parents that completely support them...not necessarily because they don't want to but they just don't have the same "family life" that we have had growing up and that our kids have now. Todd took a group of kids who came together and played amazing basketball with a passion they may not always have in other parts of their lives. As the buzzer ended the game, the kids walked off the court sad and many had tears in their eyes...as did I. Todd took his team out and talked to them, and while I'm sure he dealt with many issues throughout the season, he should be so proud of these kids, and most of all, himself. I remember many many games cheering him on as he played basketball and tennis and I felt that same "big sister pride" as I watched him coach on the sidelines today. So, although they may have not won the championship, those kids had an opportunity to play basketball and play with a coach that truly cared about them and I hope they never ever forget that, wherever their lives may go. Now, that is the kind of person who does deserve COACH AND PERSON OF THE YEAR! Good job to my little brother!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 2/6/11

GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE SUPERBOWL CHAMPS 31-25! Before the game, Nick predicted the score would be 31-24 so he was oh, so close.

QUOTES OF THE NIGHT:
"I heard that heart attacks go up 25% during the Superbowl and now I believe it." (Nick)

"I didn't think I would care so much, but I do." (Zach...as the clock was ticking down in the final minutes)

Chris' favorite player from Green Bay : Greg Jennings

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/23/11

(photo:Halloween 2005)...Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Nick. He loved football and could do a play by play of a football game, which he did often with his Grandaddy over the phone. He loved a player named Brett Favre who was quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. How his interest in this team began, we're still not sure, but what we do know is that he was a true fan and was loyal to "The Pack". For Halloween, we had the great idea that he could be a "cheesehead" which would mean he could get a jersey of his favorite player to wear as a "costume." He would wear that jersey for several years until he outgrew it and couldn't wear it anymore. One year, he got to go to the Packers/Broncos game played on Monday night. We are all Broncos fans and always cheer on our home team, but this time, we were feeling like it was a win-win situation. As they went into overtime, and the Packers won, Nick called on a cell phone screaming and was so happy.

When Brett Favre retired (for the first time) and Aaron Rodgers became the quarterback, we wondered if his interest in the team would continue, and without a doubt in his mind, he cheered on the Packers. Because of his enthusiasm we all have joined in the band wagon and have been having fun cheering them on, especially this season because our Broncos were so bad.

So, today the Packers played the Bears (and our old quarterback, Jay Cutler) for the NFC Championship and I am happy to report that...THE PACKERS ARE HEADED TO THE SUPERBOWL. Now we are just waiting to see if they will play the Steelers or the Jets. I told Nick that I would buy him an NFC championship tshirt if they won, and good to my word, I went online right after the game and an official tshirt worn by the players is being sent his way. I have no doubt that he will wear it proudly and we will all be ready to cheer them on to a superbowl win in two weeks.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/16/11

Last night, we all went to the Nuggets game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. We had seats 14 rows up and Nuggets trounced the Cavs. Being down so low, we were right in the middle of the action and it was filled with energy and excitement. The players these days are Carmelo and Chauncy Billups, Chris Andersen with all the tatoos and Nene. Our coach is George Carl. He is kinda "old school" but these "new players" are at a level that probably was never imagined when I was young. It may be the last home game that Melo and Chauncy play here...basketball is a big business and players go where the money is and there is very rarely a loyalty for a player to stay with one team for their whole career...as we may be seeing first hand in a few days.

Being there last night reminded me of the days we had season tickets to the Nuggets. We had four tickets and went to half the home games. Whether it was a week night or a weekend, we were always ready to head to the game and cheer them on...Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Byron Beck, Alex English and so many others. The first coach I remember was Larry Brown and then Doug Moe came in to the mix. I always fondly remember these games, but seeing the banners shown in the picture brought back a flood of memories. Yes, we had fun going to the games. Yes, we were fortunate to be able to do this, but even moreso, we went as a family and created a memory that was way beyond basketball. Thank you Denver Nuggets...