Noah played last night in the State Quarterfinals for Catonsville. They played Arundel and won 17-5. Noah had two goals and an assist in the game. The crowd was huge at Catonsville, and lots of cheering for Noah as he netted his goals. Only a freshman and he is on extra man offense and played a good deal of the game. He also drew two penalties which resulted in EMOs, which they scored on. He also took some nasty hits through the course of the game. Tough being the little guy out there, but he is tough as nails.

I have been keeping track of Noah’s statistics throughout the season. This brings his point total this season to 32 goals and 4 assists.

Noah is playing lacrosse for Catonsville High School. During his freshman year, he is playing for both JV and Varsity. JV does not have enough players to field a team, so he and a teammate are asked to play on both teams.

In his first Varsity scrimmage, he scored a goal. In his first JV game, he had a hat trick. And on Tuesday, he played his first Varsity game vs Perry Hall. He scored three goals. I was not able to attend. I was in Louisville with Liz meeting with doctors about her knee. But we were able to watch the game on Hudl afterwards and watch his goals.

The game was covered by the Baltimore Sun

And a few of his goals were added to a highlight reel for the team

Nothing normal ’bout 2020. From COVID to miscarriages, to sending Liz off to college, and our family vacation to Florida. But Christmas felt kinda normal. We got 6 kids to sit on the stairs before opening their presents.

We got a little family fun from Santa. A foosball table. After all our foosball tournaments in Florida, we thought we’d bring a little fun into the house.

This past week, we were in Canada.  Liz was there as a chaperone and as a coach.  We played the top team in Canada, the Lady Blue Knights.  Our 2024s played their U15 Elite team, and held their own.

Afterwards, one of the coaches approached me and Liz.  He said he saw her throwing around and wanted her to demonstrate stickwork for his team.  Turns out he had watched her on Youtube before, as had some of his players.

Luke and I went to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore with his class. He wore my sunglasses and pretended he was an agent. In the end, I think he got too close to the mummies. Possessed much, Luke?!

After a successful beach retreat with my lacrosse teams, my truck bed was filled with sand and so was the lacrosse equipment. After unpacking all the food and clothes, Jack and I went over to the car wash to finish the job.

We had fun together. I popped quarters in while he vacuumed the truck on the inside and then sprayed down the outside. Fun times.

Liz worked really hard for three days to prepare for the Bake Sale at SPSG on Pi Day. Maggie diligently helped her. They made mini cheesecakes and little pies. When Liz found out that the Math club was not sponsoring a table at the Bake Sale, she let us eat the pies and took the cheesecakes in to sell at the bake sale.

All of it was delicious. These girls are talented.

I have to share though. At around midnight, there was a mishap. Liz has finished the cheesecakes and went to put them in the fridge to cool over night. And she lost her balance. The entire tray got ruined. After three days of work! I was so impressed how Liz stayed composed. She cleaned off the icing and served the with whipped cream instead.

She did not win the bake sale this year, but she overcame certain disaster. And she made some delicious treats for her school and for us.

As a dad it was so fun to watch her and Maggie take this on together.

Luke played lacrosse for the first time on Saturday morning. It was pretty cold, in the 40s, at Catonsville High School. He had a great time though.

At age 8, we are starting him much later than his older siblings. Most of them started at 4 or 5. The rat race in youth sports in Baltimore is crazy though. And we decided to wait a little bit on Luke and Jack.

Last night, I took both of them to Play It Again Sports to buy equipment. Arm pads, gloves, shoulder pads and cleats, well over $300 purchase. It was so cool though watching them try on their equipment and run around the store in their cleats.

They both are asking if I can coach them. Hopefully someday soon I will. I have been fortunate to Coach all of the others.

I have grown accustomed to sleeping on the couch since my dad got out of rehab. Marcia or me or both sleep on the couches on the first floor so we are able to get up in the middle of the night when my dad wakes and needs to go to the bathroom. Last night, Luke, Maggie and Jack all fell asleep on the couches with me.

Today, Liz leaves for Florida for lacrosse for spring break with her lacrosse team.