Take Your Kids to Work Day

Chad took Willem and Gabrielle to his work for the afternoon on 'Take Your Child to Work Day'. Both kids were very excited to spend the afternoon with Dad! I'm not sure though what they liked best: all the yummy food they got, having the afternoon off from school, hanging out with dad or seeing all the cool equipment?! All in all it was a great day for Elle, Willem AND Daddy!

At the landfill

Daddy's office

  Willem couldn't be happier!

Elle on the compactor

Sweet Elle, enjoying time with her daddy!

Congratulations EMFC Athletica!

With their 4-0 win last weekend, Gabrielle's U11 EMFC Athletica team won the Oregon Premier League U11 Premier Division with a 6-0-2 record. Athletica is the first EMFC team to win a Premier Division title which made it all the more exciting for the girls. Elle got to play in the first two and the last two games of the season (back from her broken wrist!) and did a great job, especially in the final game. She played as a forward and an outside defender and seems to prefer defense. It's been a lot of fun watching this group of girls improve over the past two years they have played together. It is really a neat group of girls and Elle really adores her teammates. The girls were all sad to say good bye to their coach, Dean, but are excited that Jurgen is taking over as their coach for the coming year. First though, all the girls have to endure tryouts which take place next weekend and with numerous new girls trying out, all the girls are a bit nervous!

Gabrielle

Working hard!

Cousin and teammate, Athena

Jordan

Jordan

Evyn and Jaida

Jaida

Ashley

Sarah, Elle and Ashley celebrating a goal!

Sarah

A Quick Visit From Amber

It was fantastic having Amber and her kiddos here last weekend for a quick 24 hour visit. Genevieve gets so excited to see her Portland cousins and it was fun seeing the three cousins really play together and enjoy one another. It's great to think they will grow up together and I am so glad Nev has cousins around her age! Amber and I were joking that we don't have many pictures of ourselves when we get together for lots of reasons but mostly because the kids are cuter and we are too busy visiting and taking care of kids that we don't quite make the time to look picture ready!

This one is a classic. All squeezed in the back seat for a trip to Target!

 And another classic, spaghetti dinner with seven cousins!

On To The State Championship!

Cade's Boca Jrs. U13 team played an amazing weekend of soccer this past weekend, winning their quarterfinal match 5-0 vs. NEU on Saturday and then defeating the reigning state champions WUSC 4-0 on Sunday! The boys played so hard and so tough, it was a blast to watch them play so well. And, it was an added bonus that Cade scored a couple goals vs. NEU (we actually called it 1.5 goals because he finished a shot of Akira's that was already going in!) and one goal vs. WUSC and he played the entire semi-final match. Cade said it was his best sports weekend ever! His team plays in the state championship game Saturday, May 7th in Portland. Boca Jrs. are the first team from EMFC (Eugene Metro Soccer Club - established in 2006) to make it to a state championship game.

First, here are pictures from the last group play game vs. ESUFC (Eastside United Football Club from East Portland) from the previous weekend. EMFC won 3-2 and will face them again in the final...

 

Our tough center midfielder, Dana

Here are some pictures of the quarterfinal game vs. NEU (Northeast United of NE Portland)...

Juan, taking a pk...and putting it in the net!

Goooal!

Edgar, who stayed the weekend with us

Malachi, our keeper, right before getting a red card for a hand ball outside the box! Our center midfielder and former keeper, Jose, filled in for the last 10 minutes of the quarterfinal game and the boys were able to keep the score 5-0.

Jose in goal

 Taking a jog together after the quarterfinal

And, pictures of the semi-final vs. WUSC (Willamette United Soccer Club of the West Linn area of Portland)...

Jay with Akira, Juan and Cade looking on

Cade has been getting better at his 'headers'

And his passing has improved immensely this season

So many of the boys Cade plays against (and with) have gone through their big growth spurts and look huge compared to Cade!

Cade's good buddy, Edgar

 

 

 Almost another goal here; Cade got it by the keeper (see next picture) but the defender quickly stepped in

 

 

Another one in the net!

Now on to the Championship!

Nev Loves Opa!

Genevieve loves her Opa and every night before bed when we say our prayers she always makes sure we say thank you, God, for Opa! Last week, Nev got to spend the morning with Opa and Kathleen and she had a blast! Opa and Kathleen made a tent/fort for Nev which she loved (I remember loving those as a kid!) and then Opa even got into the tent with her which I am sure she loved even more! Thanks for taking pictures, Kathleen!

More Pictures From Easter

We had a great Easter this year. It started with a pre-celebration at the Hakala home for Brandy, Kyndsi and Kennedy becoming Catholic. We then went to Easter Vigil mass where we got to stand with Kyndsi as her Godparents as she received her first communion and was welcomed as a Catholic.

Easter morning we were joined by Amber, Tony, Jacoby and Nia. It was fun and relaxing to sleep in and open Easter baskets.

We then headed to Dad and Kathleen's where I helped prepare a yummy brunch followed by an Easter egg hunt (indoors) and then a little birthday party for Nia (1) and Jacoby (3). Genevieve was very cute looking for eggs. She loved the candy she got in them and was pretty enthusiastic looking for eggs. We also got to meet Duane and Mary's adorable new silver lab puppy, Pepper, who the kids thoroughly enjoyed!

We then went to Chad's parents where we relaxed, visited, ate more and celebrated Grandpa Gene's 76th birthday! What a great day!