Portland, Salem and ODP for Spring Break

It's supposed to be a break from the norm, but this Spring Break I somehow still managed three trips to Portland, a couple trips to Salem and lots of soccer! Cade and I headed north to Portland for a 7v7 tournament tryout; the next day, I came back north with Elle, Nev and Will for a day with Amber and Duane and families; and a couple days later we headed to Portland with Chad and the kids (except Cade) for a day and night which included shopping, swimming, meals out and a stay at the Grand Hotel (followed by Elle's ODP training in Salem). I will probably look back at these days and be exhausted reading about them but, in the moment, it all is logical and mostly lots of fun!

Cade was among a select group of nearly 40 boys born in 1999 and 1998 asked to tryout for a team that will represent the Portland Timbers and adidas in a 7v7 tournament in Germany in May. The trip is fully funded by the Timbers and adidas, and Cade really hoped he'd make the team. He thought he had a good chance when he sized up the competition upon his arrival at the adidas campus in Portland; it's interesting how he knew almost all the players who were from all over the state. Cade said he still felt a little rusty from the two weeks he had just taken off due to a sprained ankle and, unfortunately, he did not make the ten-member squad but was selected as an alternate for the May tournament which was still pretty impressive to me. Plus, the coach, who is the lead scout for the Timbers Development Academy teams said he thought Cade did great and he said he really hoped Cade will tryout for the Academy team this summer. Here are a couple pics from the tryout.

Amber and I had hoped to spend one day of our Spring Breaks together, and it was awesome that it actually worked out! On Tuesday, I drove up to Portland with Gabrielle, Willem and Genevieve.  We didn't have plans except I really hoped to see my new little nephew, Maximus Jack (born February 7th), and just relax with my sis (as much as you can relax with six kids!) After a few hours of the kids playing Frozen, Monopoly and other things at our house, we headed to the Children's Museum.  It was busy, but the kids darted around to see all of the exhibits, until finally Will & J teamed up to go around, while Elle & Nia teamed up, and then Nev had a blast spending most of her time in the vet clinic.  Amber and I staked a corner area while Viv played at our feet.  Pretty perfect!  Viv was fascinated with the toys and kids in the workshop, before turning about an hour of attention to my purse :)  Afterwards we had dinner with Duane and Mary at their house, where I got to snuggle with sweet Max while we sat and chatted about a good price for jeans &; Max's many poops &; Duane's mega-runs &; the new Crossfit professional league &; Mary's newest inventive ideas &; Tucker's newest string of words, all while listening to Tucker's favorite "Happy" by Pharrell song on repeat :)  What a great day...

(I snuck this picture in here, Duane sent it to me via text a few days later :)

The first weekend of Spring Break, Gabrielle competed in the ODP tryout tournament. She was really hoping she'd make the state team again and, after lots of hard work over two  days, she got the news that she made it! We are super proud of her hard work! It did mean, however, that the second weekend of Spring Break was spent in Salem at more trainings, but it's all worth it to see her hard work pay off! Some pictures of both weekends of odp...

At the tryout tournament listening to coach Mac Wilson

I am still getting used to Elle being one of the tallest girls. She's now about 5' 71/2"

Elle with Hailey Cole, the other girl from her ETFC Sol team who made the state team