Great Quote - Try Something New

If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now.

The yoda guy (Master Chi-Fu) in Kung Fu Panda 3.

Trailer on YouTube here.

HS Boys Water Polo 2015 - Pre-Season Rankings

Getting started with the 2015 season.  Connor on JV with all the same crew, Feaster keeping them together for the future.  Lost to Tustin HS in their first match of the season last night.  7-6


http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/01/prep-boys-water-polo-rankings/

1 / Cathedral Catholic

2 / Bishop’s

3 / Grossmont

4 / Coronado

5 / Carlsbad

6 / La Jolla

7 / Vista

8 / Westview

9 / University City

10 / Torrey Pines

Local players to watch
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/01/prep-boys-water-polo-players-watch/

HS Girls Volleyball 2015 - Pre-Season Rankings

Getting started with 2015 season. Avery on varsity.  Starting MB for now.  Won their first match WED, against Buena Vista, 3-0.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/02/prep-girls-volleyball-team-rankings/

Rk. School (’14 record)

1 / Torrey Pines (28-7)

2 / Francis Parker (29-8)

3 / Bishop’s (32-7)

4 / Canyon Crest (29-8)

5 / La Costa Canyon (22-8)

6 / Scripps Ranch (25-10)

7 / Del Norte (29-8)

8 / Ramona (31-7)

9 / Cathedral Catholic (18-15)

10 / La Jolla (25-12)

Others to watch: La Jolla Country Day (16-17), Westview (19-11), West Hills (21-9), Point Loma (24-9), Santa Fe Christian (13-15), Pacific Ridge (27-9), Olympian (24-10), San Dieguito (22-13), Otay Ranch (25-10), Granite Hills (18-8), Calvin Christian (20-15), Montgomery (22-8), Imperial (22-7), Calexico (18-15).

Local players to watch
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/02/prep-girls-volleyball-players-to-watch-list/

Funny Day for the Kids

Chic-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day today.  Dan went with IK buddies, rocking the costume kit from their web site... free meal.

Jamie and the kids did the same, later in the day.  Same kit, free meals for all 4.

Got home, and Jamie DROVE THE PRIUS ONTO THE FRONT YARD GRASS.  Car wash.  Avery, Ben thought it was absolutely hilarious.

Totally ghetto, ... but kind of makes sense in the gnarly drought we're in here in California.

Boys Water Polo Update - 2 weeks to JOs

Kind of a weird summer of polo.  James (coach of Carlsbad Water Polo club program) setup a trip to Croatia for whoever could go ($2000 + flights).  Get on a "cruise ship" and go up and down the Croatian coast, stopping each day to play water polo against the locals.  So a handful of each age (18, 16) jumped in (Nathan, Jake, Bennett from Connor's possie) leaving a slim crew behind to practice for JOs.

Ben playing in his first big-boy season (prior to this it was splash ball).  12U White 1.  They are playing pretty well, won the last 2 tournaments (against marginal competition).  He's not playing a ton, so when White 2 is also playing at the same pool, he plays in those too.
This past weekend, he played 6 GAMES in the single day!!  Super stud, and EXHAUSTED, still paying the price, being kind of a jerk to Mom during the day.

Both boys have been doing beach workouts - 3x a week, then night practice.  C games during the week, up in OC and down in Coronado, all in an effort to get game experience before JOs.  Fun Run was last week - boys do various exercises and competitions (including carrying 40 lb sand bag) running in the soft sand from Carlsbad beach tower 32 to Army/Navy and back in the soft sand.

JOs in 2 weeks, in the OC.
Team hotel up there, should be fun.

Quotable Quotes

Connor was challenging Daddy in ping pong, saying that since he recently took him down, it'll happen again.
Ben: Ooh, shots fired!

On Connor's new phone, he was going to setup 4 fingerprints (scanner) and Mom 1 finger.
Ben:  what's Dad, a pork chop?  (Chopped liver)

When writing these down, Ben realizes that they're pretty much all from him.
Ben: you need to find a new quote source

Connor says he's the tallest kid in the family.
Ben:  I'm the third tallest, PARTICIPATION TROPHY! 

Ben: I run a strict boat
(tight ship)

Ben: Gun seat!!
(shot gun) when calling front seat in the car

Night before Ben's 13th birthday, putting him to bed.
Ben:  last night as a pre-teen
Ben:  starting tomorrow, I can watch PG-13 movies (as if he hasn't already been)

Julian called Ben on Facetime.  Ben was giving Julian a tour of his room.
Julian: What is that?
Ben: Turkey baster. 
Julian:  Why do you have that?
Ben:  we got a jacuzzi for Christmas!

Carlsbad HS JV Volleyball

Connor was moved up to JV after the first week of volleyball on Freshman / Novice team.
Not expecting to play much, still pretty raw skills, but getting tons of experience in everyday practice. Generally working on setting, running both 5-1 and 6-2 systems for the 2nd team in practice.

Match results

• Mission Hills.  Lost 1-2.  This is before Connor joined the team, not that that is the reason, just a comment on timing.  :)
• LCC.  Won 2-0.  Connor did not play, but team looked pretty good. 
• Torrey Pines. Won 2-0.  Again did not play, but team looked good.  Nice ball control and hitting.

Sports Update

Avery

Genuine volleyball club team. Coach Becca.
Michaela (OH), Whitley (S), Mia (S), Madie (S), Gaby (OH), Sami (MB), Kelly (MB), Ashley (L, not her friend from high school), Kathleen (L), Helena (OH)
3rd of 3 qualifier tournaments this past weekend, gold division, seeded 4th in the 4 team pool.  3 way tie for 2nd with them all at 1-2.  They got 2nd by game record tie-breaker.  They'll play in division 2 (all the other 2nd place teams) in the GOLD division for the rest of the season tournaments.
Tried out for setter, and coach liked her enough to find me on day 1 of the tryout and say she wants her, probably run a 6-2.  Then they have 3 other setters (including Madie from HS team), and no good middles, so Avery is playing MB (and training at practice as a setter).

Dabbling in beach volleyball on the off days from indoor practice.
Playing at Red's beach in downtown Carlsbad with the crew from Carlsbad HS team, Bob Sommers, etc.

Connor

Trying out for Carlsbad HS Boys' Volleyball team.
Tryouts started yesterday (Monday), and first round of cuts are tomorrow morning (list posted at school) before school.  27 boys there today for freshman/novice team.
Sounds like it's going pretty well.

Example athletics schedule today:

• Weights before aquatics
• Aquatics PE (period 2)
• PE (period 6), volleyball chapter in the class
• Volleyball tryouts 3-5pm.

Ben

Focused on Water Polo these days.  Finished up the first season of tournaments, playing 12U white (2nd squad).  Frustrated with the number of boys (6?) that doggie paddle their way through the games.  Not surprising, since they do the same at practices.

Scored a few goals during the season:  1st one of career from near half pool, turn and score at hole set, and another lob shot over the goalie.

Talk to the Hand

Ben switched it up the other day:

Talk to the booty cuz the hand's off duty.

Ben Polo - first goal of career

Ben was playing water polo splash ball for the last couple seasons. It's just for 10 and under's to get familiar with polo, the ball, swimming, etc.

Now (age 10) he's joined the Carlsbad polo club team and playing on 12U white 2.  Played in firest couple tournaments in January, and started getting bummed that he hasn't scored a goal yet.

Dan took him to tournament in OC at Costa Mesa.  Grandma/pa Hanan were there to watch as well.
B SCORED!  FIRST GOAL OF CAREER!

Other team scored, so we were starting the ball at half pool. Pass back to teammate, and over to Ben at the side of the pool, "3 strokes in from half" as he recalls.  Draws a foul, and (with his free pass) lobs a shot up from near mid-pool and over the goalie to the opposite left/back corner.  YA BABY!

Next tournament (the next weekend), he scored from 2m hole set.