Six With Sticks

by Six Kennedy kids and their parents


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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.


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Six get Seven!

Happy Birthday, Lila Kate Kennedy

On July 10, 8:40PM, Lila Kate was born at Johns Hopkins Howard County General Hospital. She came 5 weeks early. It was a rough delivery for Mom. Her doctor coerced her to get admitted to the hospital and she induced labor. Anesthesiologists had to place multiple epidurals. It was rough. Liz and Eden stayed at the hospital with Mom most of the day, but went home for dinner. And then it was time.

One push, and Lila popped out. She was early and blue. And took a few minutes to warm up. But when she did, she was the most perfect baby.

Welcome to the world, Lila

Lila got to visit with Mom for a little bit. And Eden rushed back to the hospital. Due to an arrogant security guard, she missed the delivery, and didn’t get to meet Lila. Lila went down the hall to the NICU for the night. Dad went with her and got to have his first date with his newest baby girl.

Our first date


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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.

Noah gets an assist in the State Championship

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.


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Noah – State Quarterfinals 2021

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.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16003933/60c87b3f176c1903c467694b

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.


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Noah’s first varsity lax game

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

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/sports/cng-ca-cat-ph-blax-0511-20210512-eazbh63ahjhyhoqkyt46w6msqi-story.html

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

https://www.hudl.com/video/2/315758/609b6000dfd98b011043a926


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ACC Tournament 2021

On April 28, we traveled to Chapel Hill, NC to watch Liz in her first ACC Tournament. Jack, Maggie and Dad made the trek. There and back again in one day. Left REALLY early in the morning, maybe 3:00 or 4:00. Made it into Bellwood, VA, just south of Richmond, where we stopped at Waffle House!

Early morning leg of the trip. Sleepy heads in the back of the truck
Hey enough pictures dad, it’s a parking lot
Thumbs up for checking out a new spot – Waffle House
Wakey wakey, time for breaky

We made it into Chapel Hill. We “explored” to find a parking spot and get to the fields. Bought some cool ACC hats. And settled in to cheer for the Cards. Watch Liz in warmups. And then watched her play against UNC. UNC was ranked the number 1 team in the country, and Liz looked good on the field against them. Her brother and sister were so into the game and definitely excited and cheering for her when Liz took the field.

Liz’s team lost to the #1 team in the country. But that mattered not to us. Our highlight came after. We hustled to the bus to catch some time with Liz. And then found out we could meet up at the team hotel. What a treat! We had taken our sticks, so we got them out of the truck and played some catch with Liz at the hotel. This was after a full season of lacrosse for Jack since Liz had seen him last, so she was very impressed with how well he could throw and catch.

We topped it all off with a stop at the Yogurt Pump, YOPO, before piling back in the truck and driving nearly 6 hours home. 12 hours behind the wheel to see my girl, and for her to get to see Maggie and Jack. Worth every second.


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2020 Christmas

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.

It gets intense around here


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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.


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Exhibition Game at US Lacrosse

I was able to arrange, and Maggie and Liz to take part in, an exhibition game at US Lacrosse, Tierney Field. The exhibition game was against the Los Angeles Wave. It was set up for success, because my counterpart from the Wave, Stephen Fossatti, is such a sportsman, and set up a great event.

We decided to have a tailgate together with the families from the Wave and from the Redshirts. While the parents tailgated, the players got to use the US team’s locker room to dress for the event. When they walked onto the field, each team saw their names and logos up on the US Lacrosse scoreboard. And they greeted each other on the field as friendly competitors.

It was a competitive match. The Redshirts were ahead 6-4 at the half, and the Wave pulled ahead to a 13-8 victory. After the game, the Redshirts shared some gifts with the Wave. Marcia had made each of them custom Terp scrunchies as keepsakes. And Liz put on a stickwork demo and taught the California girls how to throw fakes. While she was doing this, Maggie toured the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame Museum with her teammates.

These events are special, and are totally worth the effort.