First Game

The girls had their first game last night against Pierce.  The freshman and JV squads both won in straight sets.  The varsity fell 1-3.  They may have lost, but they fought so hard and never gave up.

 Prayer is an important part of everything at Norfolk Catholic.

Uncle Randy showed up to cheer on Cara.  He had a free night so came to watch.  Randy is helping broadcast Creighton volleyball on the radio this year which is a new gig for him.  Thanks for coming!

Take care,
Michelle

Making the Sports Edition

The Norfolk Daily News publishes a special sports edition to the regular paper at the start of every sports season.  Look who made the sports edition for being one of two seniors on the Norfolk Catholic volleyball team.  Actually, Cara couldn't believe that this was the photo that the newspaper chose to run.  I thought it was a good photo of Cara and Emma.

Take care,
Michelle

Favorite Meat Loaf

     "Mom, what's for supper?"  I hear this phrase so often.  Well, tonight is a family favorite - meat loaf.  Yes, our family likes meat loaf and usually there is nothing leftover.  Following is the recipe that I use:

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)
1 1/2 teas salt
1/4 teas pepper
1 teas dry mustard
2 eggs beaten
1 teas Worcestershire sauce
4 slices soft bread (cubed)
2/3 cup warm milk
1/2 cup boiling water

Combine meat with onion, seasonings, mustard, eggs and Worcestershire sauce.  Mix well.  Soak break cubes in warm milk, stir to blend well.  Add to meat mixture and mix well.  Form into loaf.  Place into greased shallow baking pan, 7x11.  Pour boiling water around loaf.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Sorry no photo because it is in the oven baking.  But, it sure does smell good.

Take care,
Michelle

Moms Making Posters

Tonight the Senior and Junior Volleyball Moms met to make posters for the locker room.

 This sign hangs inside the locker room door for the girls to see every time they leave.  "If volleyball was easy they'd call it football".

This sign hangs outside the locker room, "Under Construction Building Champions".  The silver background paper makes it hard to see, but there is a hardhat with each player's name on it and hardhats for the coaches and trainer also.

First game of the season is Thursday night.  Hope we come home with a "W"!

Take care,
Michelle

Motivational Messages

     There are extra responsibilities for the moms of senior volleyball players.  This year since there are only two seniors the junior moms have offered to help us out.  We plan meals (home, travel and tournament), end-of-year coaches gifts, posters, banners, treats, t-shirts, etc.  Coach Barry is really big on keeping the girls positive and motivated.  Therefore, Cara asked if once a week the girls could have some kind of motivational message to keep them going.  So, every Monday the girls have a new sign for their school lockers.

 Week #1 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13.  Since we are a faith based school, why not start with a Bible verse.

 Week #2 - Key words

This one will go up sometime over this weekend - Week #3 - "Your team becomes your family, the ball becomes your best friend, the court becomes your home and the game becomes your life."

Guess which Mom is in charge of these?  You guessed it, Cara's Mom, ME.  Pinterest is my go-to in this endeavor.  Also this week on Monday night for the Jamboree game, each girl was given a Fruit Roll-Up with a tag that said "Roll over the competition!"  Cara and I put those together on Sunday for her to pass out.

Take care,
Michelle

Hall of Fame Volleyball Jamboree

    In gyms all over the state, volleyball teams were given the opportunity to participate in the Hall of Fame Volleyball Jamboree.  All the gate admission was given to the Hall of Fame.  These games were exhibition games since the volleyball season hasn't started yet.  These games did not count against their records.

     Monday night the Norfolk Catholic girls travelled to Clarkson to play in a triangular against Clarkson/Leigh and Columbus Lakeview.

      Cara's cheering section for the night was Dad, Erica and Ashlin.  I had to stay behind since there was a senior student and parent meeting.  Keith was texting me updates throughout the night.  

      The first match of the evening was Norfolk Catholic vs. Clarkson/Leigh.  After falling behind early, the Lady Knights crawled back into the game and tied it at 26-26 and eventually lost set #1 27-29.  Set#2 was close also, but fell again 23-25.  

 The girls had to play back-to-back games.  So, next up was Columbus Lakeview.  The girls had a bad game filled with frustration.  Too many serves went way long.  But, that is what exhibition games are for, to play the competition and find out what areas need to be worked on.

 The first regular season game is next Thursday against rival Pierce.  I can't wait to see how this team will come together as the season progresses. 

Take care,
Michelle

Golden Birthday

     Cara celebrated her "Golden Birthday" on Saturday!  She turned 18 years old on the 18th of August.  I'm not sure where all the years went, but Cara is now legally an adult. 

 With the weather forecast calling for bright and sunny skies with hardly no wind, we headed to the river for an afternoon of boating.  We met Neuhalfen's up at the river and cruised around, swam, and tubed.

Turning 18 means that she can legally drive the boat!  Plus, she had to go to the courthouse and get her permanent driver's license and got rid of her provisional driving permit.

 

 After boating for a few hours, we left the river and went into Yankton to eat.  Charlie's Pizza was the choice.  The pizza was awesome!  We would highly recommend the place.

 So hard to believe that it has been 18 years since I went through that long induction to finally meet our Cara Rose.  Cara gets the prize for the longest labor  - forever (early morning until late at night). She also wins smallest Leader baby at 7lbs. 5 oz. 

Happy, Happy 18th Birthday Cara Rose!!!

Take care,

Michelle

Volleyball Scrimmage

After practicing for two weeks, the volleyball scrimmage was Friday night.

 Cara was a line judge for the first game between the junior varsity and the freshman.

Then for the next two games the varsity was divided into two teams and scrimmaged each other.  Both games were very competitive and close.

 Cara did have a good night serving.  At one point, she served three ace serves in a row.

 Cara played outside hitter and only played the front row, but she did always serve.

Then after the volleyball scrimmage was the boys' football scrimmage, the hotdog feed served by the freshmen parents and the sportsmanship meeting.  

Fruzsi (foreign exchange student), Emma and Cara

Coach Bellar goes over sportsmanship with the parents and the players.  Every coach and player is introduced for a fall sport, weightlifting awards are handed out, the band plays and the cheerleaders do a few cheers for the crowd.  

Take care,

Michelle

First Week of the Last Volleyball Season

     Last week Cara started the "First Week of the Last Volleyball Season".  After taking last year off from volleyball,  Cara decided to go back out for her senior year.  Norfolk Catholic has a whole new coaching staff with Coach Barry, Coach Wickham and Coach Brockhaus.  Coach Barry is an alumni of Norfolk Catholic.  The team has been having fun, working hard, and have a great attitude!

     Seniors, Cara and Emma at the "First Practice of the Last Season".

   For the first week of practice, every day had a theme.  Monday was "Mismatch Monday". 

 

 "Twinning Tuesday"

"Pink Wednesday"

"Tank Top Tough Thursday"

     After practice on Fun Friday, the girls had a team bonding party at Lauren's house.  Lauren's family has a pool and hosted.  The girls enjoyed walking tacos, dessert, and a campfire with smores provided by the Junior and Senior Moms.  It sounded like a good time was had by all!

     There are 26 girls out for volleyball this fall.  The girls will play a tough schedule, but will be battle tested by C-2 Sub-Districts.  

     As a Senior Mom, there is a lot to do.  With only a few senior girls, the Junior Moms have offered to help which is great.  We have home team meals, travel meals and tournament meals to plan; coaches gifts to buy, t-shirts to design, posters to make, locker signs to make, treat bags to plan and make, etc.  It will be a busy season!  

Take care,

Michelle

First Day of the Last Year

     Today was Cara's "First Day of the Last Year".  I am still trying to figure out how the all those years flew by.  She started going to Norfolk Catholic when she turned 4 years old with two years of preschool.  Today she started her 15th year at Norfolk Catholic.  That means that I have washed a lot of school uniforms!  I remember saying when the kids were all little, "If only I can get them all to Kindergarten" and today I sent the first one off for her "first day of the last year".  This morning after dropping Justin off at the grade school I drove by the senior parking lot and that's when it really hit me that Cara is a senior and this is the last year for her.  I had to blink a few times on my way to work.  Cara will have many "lasts" to experience and celebrate this school year.

      The kids know the drill on the first day - Be ready to go early because the mandatory "1st Day of School" photo is at 7:30 am.  This year the photo has: Cara - Senior, Erica - Sophomore, Ashlin - 8th Grade and Justin - 5th Grade.  

     On Monday night, Keith and I took Justin to "Meet the Teacher Night".  Justin's 5th Grade teacher is Mrs. Heather Olmer.  This is Mrs. Olmer's first year teaching at Norfolk Catholic, but she is not new to the school.  Her oldest son, Gavin, was in Cara's class for a few years before transferring schools last year.  Mrs. Olmer is very excited for the school year.  Justin came home today and said that Mrs. Olmer seemed pretty cool and he thought it would be a good year.

     I decided over the summer to bring the blog back for Cara's Senior Year.  I have some ideas on what it may contain - last day countdown, flashbacks, memories, activities, photos, recipes, guest blogger, etc.  Then after graduation, I will print it and she will have it to look back on.

     This school year is going to fly by.  Keith and I are the parents of a senior and that means extra duties and activities at Norfolk Catholic.  It will be busy, but it will also be tons of fun!

Take care,
Michelle