What we have been up to in 2015 so far........

 

We had a quiet Christmas here in NH.  Always sad to not be with family but we made it an enjoyable day anyway.  Todd made a turkey that couldn't be beat and I made all the fixings.  We stayed in our Pj's all day and stayed warm by the fire.

 

New Year's Eve Emily had plans with her friends and a big sleepover.  Callie had four of her friends at our house for a big sleepover.  So Todd and I hosted 5 teenagers at our house.  Fun times!!!!

 

 

Here is Callie with her friends on New Year's Eve.

 

Both Emily and Callie made the ski team at the high school this year.  As you know, Emily has been on the team since she was a freshman.  Callie joined her this year.  It was fun to see snapchat and instagram pictures of their time together on the mountain and hear of their adventures.  Todd and I did not do ski club this year so we were able to watch a couple of the races.  The last race before the state meet I got to sit in the booth and announce the racers.  Both girls finished every race and improved their times.  They both qualified for the state meet as well.  We are so proud of them!!!!  The following pictures are from two different races.  You can tell by their numbers.

 

 

Our girls!!!

 

 

Callie on the race course

 

 

Callie coming to the end of the course

 

Callie finishing the course

 



 

Emily on the course

 





 

Emily on the course

 

Emily coming to the end of the course

 



 

Emily and her good friend, Mikayla

 

MHS 2015 Ski Team

 

 

As you know, we have had a lot of snow.  We have had two blizzards that brought us about a foot of snow each and some smaller ones.  I have lost count how many we have had.  We have missed four days of school and have had three delayed starts.  Driving around town is like driving through snow tunnels.  You can't see cars coming out of streets and it has been cold, cold and cold.  Spring will be so much sweeter this year I think. 

The girls went out one of the snow days and played in the deep, deep snow.

 



 

Callie having fun with Emily

 

Emily right before she jumped on top of her sister.

 



 

Meanwhile, Todd has been busy clearing the driveway and the roof from all the snow. 

 

 

Valentine's Day we drove to Keene State to watch Callie perform at the solo and ensemble festival.  She did a trumpet ensemble with about 10-12 other trumpet players.  They sounded great!!  Then she did a trumpet trio with her friends Alicia and Kait.  Again they sounded great and the judge told Callie she nailed her part!! Todd and I headed back home after they performed as another storm was coming.  Callie followed in the bus with the band.

 

Callie with some of her friends.

Julia, Kait, Callie and Alicia at Keen State.

 

Silly Girls!

 

Meanwhile, Emily and her boyfriend, Jeff, had plans to go to the Manchester Monarch's hockey game and out to dinner with another couple.  Before they left they exchanged presents to each other.

 

 

Jeff and Emily before leaving for their Valentine Date.

 

 

This is what Jeff gave Emily for Valentine's Day. 

It is indeed a beautiful ring!!!

 

This past weekend Emily had a tournament at the seacoast in Hampton, NH, for her GSE field hockey team.  This was the first tournament for the team.  Because of all the snow the team hadn't practiced in over a month.  The first two games were tough but the last two were awesome.  The girls were warmed up and played well.  Emily was on fire and almost made a couple goals.  So much fun to watch!!!  We get to watch them again on March 8 for another tournament in Danvers, MA.

 

 



 

Emily with two of her teammates.  These girls are also on her high school team.  There are about 6 girls on the team from Merrimack.

 



 

After the tournament, Callie suggested we drive along the NH coast and see all the snow on the beach.  Driving along the coast we could not see the beach at all because the snow banks were so high.  So we found a place to pull over and climbed a huge snow bank that got us on the beach.  It was a bright and warmer day, mid thirties, but no sun.  It was nice to be on the coast.  A beach anytime of year north or south is good for the soul!!

 

Our girls!!

There were lots of surfers out.  We watched them catch some waves.

 

Looking to the North

 

 

 

Looking to the South

 

 

What else?  Callie is finishing up a Lacrosse training that ends tomorrow night.  She and a friend of hers had never played LAX but want to try out for the team next month.  Callie has enjoyed it.

 

Both the girls are participating in a captains practice every Wed. night with the high school team.  Fingers crossed that Callie makes the team.  Try outs begin March 23rd.  Who knows though when they will be able to use the fields here with all the snow that has to melt.  Here is hoping for a dry Spring!!

 

This week is our Winter Break.  No big plans but tomorrow we head down to MA to go to a big Prom dress shop.  Yep, it is that time again for prom dress shopping.  This year is Emily's Prom year as it is a junior prom.  Jeff is a senior so Emily has been trying to think of a creative way to ask him to go to prom with her.

 

Wednesday I plan to take Callie and her friends to Pats Peak for a day of skiing.  We will end the week with a trip down to Essex for my cousin, Jessica's, baby shower! 

 

I will leave you with a link to Callie's trio that they performed at the high school before going to solo and ensemble.  Callie is the one on the far left.  She plays the low part.  After awhile you will be able to hear her part from the others.  They all did a great job!!

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nokh5ythqgqroys/Copy%20of%2020150211_195242.mp4?dl=0

 

So that is all for now!   

 

 

 

MHS 2014 Soccer Highlights

 

As I promised here are Soccer highlights for Callie's Fall Season!  She started her season in July just like Emily with conditioning with the team and Varsity coach several days a week.  She made the JV team as one of 25 girls.  Yes 25 is a lot of girls on a soccer team.  Obviously this number affected playing time for the girls. Callie played quite a bit but probably not as much as she was used to.  I can't complain though, as a freshman she got a lot of playing time.  The team was made up of freshman and sophomores.  She started out the season very strong in tryouts.  As the games started she didn't seem as strong of a player as she did in tryouts.  She started out playing a lot and starting both halves to not starting and a game or two not playing at all in the second half.  After some tears and a heart to heart talk with her she came back stronger than ever.  She was starting again and playing a lot.  She finished the season with 5 goals.  She was the highest scoring player on JV.  The season ended with a Soccer banquet in the middle of December.  It was another great evening with great food, great girls and great parents.  The highlight for us was Callie winning the Best Offensive Player award!

Here are some pictures to highlight the season for her!   

 

 

 Callie with some of her closest friends at a car wash fundraiser.  It was a very hot day and they made quite a bit of money for the Booster Club

Raina, Callie, Kait, Alicia and Emma

Callie in motion!

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Callie fighting for the ball!

Not sure what was going on here but often I would look over to see Callie standing in front of the team and the team smiling and laughing.  She has her father's sense of humor.

 

 

Callie and Kait hugging after a game.

Callie comforting her friend, Raina, after Raina was given a time out by the Ref.

Callie going for the ball.  I love this picture.  It was taken by another mom.

Funny story about that purple and blue wall in the background.  The team had a lot of waiting time before and after this game.  Callie threw her friend's cleat in the air and it went in between the wall.  They couldn't get it out.  So Todd, Callie and I went back that weekend and creatively figured out how to get it out.  Thank goodness or we would have had to buy this friend a new pair of cleats. 

Callie and Emma

Rhianna, Meghan, Kait, Alicia, Raina, Sara, Callie and Emma

 

Sara, Callie and Alicia going back in the game.

Team huddle before a game

Kick on goal but didn't make it in

Friends!

Jenna and Callie

  Callie with the kick!!

Goal!!! 

My first time actually getting a picture of one of her goals.

I love watching the girls high five and hug each other when one of them gets a goal.

  This was after one of Callie's goals

High five after Jenna's goal.

MHS JV Soccer Team 2014

Callie getting her award.

Callie, Alicia and Raina all got awards

They sure do clean up nice!

Callie with Coach Steve and her award

Callie and Kait.  They have known each other since first grade.

Raina and Callie.  They went to elementary school together but became friends in the last couple years.

Sara and Callie.  They have been friends since preschool!

 

We are very proud of Callie's Soccer season!  She worked very hard!

 

Callie is just finishing up an indoor soccer league that has been going on since November.  This next Friday is the playoffs.  Callie will then start an indoor Lacrosse training.  She wants to try out for the high school LAX team with Emily.  Callie and Emily are both on the ski team now.  Meanwhile, Emily made is on an indoor Winter team for field hockey.  She is playing for Granite State Elite.  She has a couple practices a month and will have tournaments throughout the Winter.  More intense training to prepare her for her senior year.