What happens when the old man passes out on the couch at like 6:30? And somebody gets a hold of his phone?
Let’s make hearts
Maggie, look, a heart
Umm
La, who threw that? Noah did?!
What happens after dark
Category Archives: Noah
Memorial Day Weekend – CT
I spent Memorial Day Weekend with Noah in CT. He had a lacrosse tournament there. Our planning was last minute, and turned out to be a great weekend. The sun smiled on me.
My truck did not have A/C and needed some other service. So I rented a cheap vehicle from Budget. When I went to pick it up in the morning, they asked if I wanted a Mustang. No extra charge. Nice. Never drove one of these before.
I messaged with Bob last minute and he and KC invited us to stay with them for the weekend in CT. They have had their house for nearly 5 years, but I had never visited.
Noah and I stayed with Bob and KC and Brody and had a great weekend. It was a whirlwind, but it was absolutely lovely. I am happy for Bobby. He bought a property with a lot of land. Tranquil. Running water right outside their kitchen. A river across the street. A huge pond a few hundred yards through the woods from their house. He loves the history of his house. And he has filled it with all of his collected antiques.
It was so cool for me and Noah to have extended time getting to know Brody. And even getting him to laugh at times.
We were about an hour from Noah’s tournament, and spent most of Sunday and Monday morning at the field. Noah got to play behind the cage for the first time in so long. And I thought he did great. I took some video to show Marcia and clipped a bunch into a highlight reel.
On Monday, Memorial Day, Noah and I were slated to go home after his tournament. But a friend gifted me and Noah seats in Corrigan Sports’ suite. And an old friend from Cornell and I connected on Facebook. So, I decided to go to the NCAA championship game. My two old teams were playing against each other – Cornell Big Red vs Maryland Terps.
We tailgated with Cornell. I got to catch up with 3 guys from my old team who are all doing very well for themselves. In the suite, we got to hang out with Tillman and Gait. It was nice to talk with Gary and introduce Noah to him.
The game was great. Terps came away with a 9-7 victory.
I came away with a weekend of memories spent with Noah.
Time is precious. It is the most precious commodity on Earth. And I got so many hours with my son. And loved every minute of it.
Noah’s lax fans
Noah had a lax game last night. His grandparents came out to watch him play. Before his stroke, Noah’s grandfather, Pop Pop, coached him in lacrosse for several years. And since his stroke three years ago, it has been rare that he has been out to watch any of the kids play sports, where he was super engaged with them all before. Last night, he was very excited to watch Noah play, and was thrilled afterwards at how well the team did and how well Noah did. Noah scored two goals.
As always, baby sis was out smiling and watching her big bro play lacrosse. It was cold, but Lila bundled up and watched the whole game with mom.
Lila and her big brothers
School daze – back to school ?!
After what seemed like a year and a half of home schooling, everybody went back to in person school. Maggie and Eden off to Gerstell. New beginnings for these two.
Seven
They grows up and they grows up and they grows up.
Look what we’ve made. Lila’s first few weeks of life zipped by. Dad was dealing with lacrosse nonsense, per usual. Liz was recovering from ACL surgery and going back and forth to the rehab several days a week. Jack trying out for lax teams. Noah and Maggie finishing up a summer schedule for lax. Eden and Maggie preparing for a new school. The boys all getting ready to go back to school for the first real time in a while. Liz was finishing up summer school; she managed to take three classes with exams (which she had to take in Essex) and have surgery in the middle of it. Luke got a bike for his birthday and everybody was wheels up in August. Maggie went camping with Becca in Chincoteague. We all took a quick trip down to spend a night or two with Aunt Joan and Uncle Greg. Eden started a job at Play It Again Sports. All the while, Lila was eating, sleeping, crying and pooping. And being loved.
And in a blink, it was time for the seven to part, at least for Liz to hit the road to go back to Louisville.
Taking stock. Seven is a lot. There is a lot of love in this picture right here. A lot of kids who are smart, respectful, funny, conscientious, and, in my opinion, pretty amazing. And I want them all to be happy. So, we do our best as parents to provide for them. Help them become good citizens. Help them through their struggles. Help them dream. Help them grow. Help them to learn the value of hard work. And help them find joyous moments in life.
2020 was tough. In so many ways it was tough. It was tough on Liz. It was tough on Eden. Noah did well, but 2021 threw up new challenges. Maggie seems to bee bop through anything that comes her way. 2020 was tough on Luke. Jack is a cool customer and is ready to be back to school soon. It certainly had some hardships for Marcia and me. And Lila is coming onto the scene with no expectations.
At the end of 2021, I hope to have two (licensed) drivers in the house, and one working on it. And Eden figuring out where she wants to go to college. And for the seven to be together again for a few weeks around Christmas.
Noah – State Championship
On June 19, Catonsville High School played in the MPSSAA 4S State Championship vs Severna Park. The game was an evening game in the rain at Loyola University. The crowd was great. Tons of folks from Catonsville came out to support the team. All of the Kennedys did, even Liz, first time out only a few days after her ACL surgery. Pop Pop and Grammy came also to watch Noah.
The team got off to a rough start. Their top players were causing turnovers, and Severna Park was well poised for the moment. They got off to a huge lead and never looked back.
Noah was on extra man offense and also saw time in the 3rd quarter when they moved one of their attackers up to midfield. Actually, with this move was the first breath of life in their offense and they scored their first goal.
Later, on EMO, Noah got an assist for the team’s second goal.
They lost 11-2.
The atmosphere was really amazing. At this point, I have been to college and professional sporting events, and I have seen Liz play in an ACC lacrosse tournament. But this was the most thrilling game for me to watch.
I wish the outcome were different and they had played better. But, I am so happy that Noah did this. Not only that, as a freshman, he was really good.
This marked the end of his first varsity season. He netted 33 goals and 8 assists as a freshman.
Autumn Classic
I missed another of Noah’s tournaments. As I was coaching one of my girls’ teams in a recruiting tournament. Marcia took him, and I think he did well. Had a number of goals and assists, and Marcia got some of it on film. I am so glad to get to see some of him playing. He is so exciting to watch.
One of the dads also took some more pictures. It sucks not to get to see him play. But I love that he is playing with his friends, and that his mom gets to watch and cheer him on.
Rumble in Richmond
Noah played in a lax tournament this weekend in Richmond. Marcia, Luke and Jack went with him for the weekend. Just mom and the boys. It was the first time Marcia got to see him play with this new team.
He had a rough day Saturday because he had to miss his last soccer game to go to the lacrosse tournament. And Marcia told me that a few of Noah’s soccer teammates were giving him grief for missing, as they lost the game 2-0, and if they had won, they would have won 1st place in the league. The coach had texted Marcia and me as well giving us some grief.
He played lacrosse well. I called him Saturday night, and he had two goals, and one of them was a behind the back. Sunday was an even better day of lax. He scored seven goals on Sunday. Including the game winner in the semi-final game to put them in the championship game.
I love watching my boy play, and was sorry to miss the tournament. But I am so glad that Marcia was there, and that he is enjoying being with the boys on his new team. One of the dads took lots of pictures. What a gift!
My little Rough Rider, #5
This weekend, the Roughriders team was playing in a tournament in Howard County. It was driving rain. It was the first time I have gotten to watch Noah with his new team. He started and was playing well. He scored the first goal of the game.
I stood by myself along the fence. And was within earshot of a few parents from the other team. They were talking about how good this Roughrider team is. And then they started talking about Noah. They were like he is the smallest guy out there and he is awesome. Look at his moves, he is dangerous. And then they started to yell to the defense to cover Noah, that he was the go to guy.
It was nice and refreshing to hear.
I know my son is good. But have been in so many jealous parent situations in team sports with Liz and Eden and Noah, that parent sidelines have been nasty and unfriendly for several years towards my kids. The nastiness usually comes from parents of their teammates. I have sat quietly for years, watching Noah do his thing, and filtering out the chatter. It was just refreshing to be anonymous this weekend listening to people compliment Noah.
Made my day. Thanks #5 for all of your effort and for being so special. It is a joy to watch you play.
Six With Sticks 