Monday, August 30, 2010

Back To School....






....and so EXCITED!










Brady woke up this morning and was ready to go!  It sure makes it easier as a mom to send them off to school when they are excited.   No tears from me today either!  I did get a little teary last night as I read the Kissing Hand at bedtime.  We always read that book the night before the first day of school...and I was a little worried that Brady might tell me that he has "outgrown" that story.  But, I was wrong!   He was thrilled that I remembered.   Do you think when he's in middle school he'll still let me read this book to him?!  Please don't answer this, okay!


Daddy snuck in and took a picture!





Sunday, August 29, 2010

We END The Summer With An OPEN...

A U.S. Open that is!






I'm so glad we were able to end the summer by taking Brady up to New York City to Arthur Ashe Stadium.  It was an amazing day for Brady and an even better one for us as we watched our son take in every single moment of this very exciting day. 


This beautiful walkway in the park leads
to the tennis center.





Brady's favorite tennis player!
We caught a glimpse of him practicing
on a (very) private court.  We had to climb up
the bleachers and look through bushes to see him.




Brady got to hit a few balls with one of  Andy Roddick's
actual tennis raquets and one of Rafael Nadal's
tennis raquets.  He was suprised at how much bigger
their grips are and how much heavier they are.

Roddick's raquet!




Nadal's raquet!




Brady played "beat the pro" with Jack Sock...the number
one junior tennis player in the U.S.   This kid will
be a senior in highschool this year...doesn't he look older
than that?!  Brady got to hit a few balls with him and had an
awesome cross court shot past him...and an applause from the crowd!  We were suprised how confident Brady was to play in
front of so many people.





I wonder how this would look in our livingroom?!



Serena Williams won't be playing in the U.S. Open
this year...but we did see Venus practicing on
one of the courts!









Brady thinks he serves like John McEnroe...this cracks me up...he thinks so highly of himself!  





We watched these guys...#3 and #4 in the world...warm up and
 play for about an hour and a half.




It was really neat to be so close to the action!
That's Brady down in front!















And he got one!  Jokivich came over after his
match and signed Brady's hat!  (You know
who I'll be cheering for!)



Such a beautiful day and a great ending to our summer.
Brady is already asking if we can go back again!




Some of Brady's questions:
~can he sign autographs there someday for the kids?
~will he need to sign up for the US Open or will he get an invitation?
~how will he know what court he will be playing on?
~Will the limo pick him up at his hotel and bring him to the stadium?
~maybe he will be the pro that kids try to beat someday?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

A Professional Tennis Player?




All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~Walt Disney


This video was taken about 6 months ago. I debated about 
whether or not to even put it on. Brady's game has improved
so much this summer...and he is now hitting much harder and using top spin.
I need to get a new video!



A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited ENTHUSIASM.
~Samuel Goldwyn

Anyone that knows Brady... his coaches,
friends, players, family... knows he
is enthusiastic about tennis! 



This is how it all began.  A couple of weeks before Brady's fifth birthday, Eric and I bought two tennis raquets and a couple cans of balls at Walmart.  We thought tennis might be a fun way to get some exercise and would be something different to try.  We also thought Brady would enjoy running around the court collecting the balls for us.  And he did.  Twice.  On our third outing...Brady wanted to play too.  He has loved the game ever since.  I'm not sure where this enthusiasm comes from?  You see, we thought we were going to be a basketball family!  My husband played basketball and was a highschool basketball coach.  I played basketball and was a highschool basketball official.  We love basketball.  However, in the last two years we have learned about tennis and have loved watching Brady play. 








For the past two years, Brady has talked about (almost daily) wanting to be a professional tennis player.  In the summer, he plays tennis almost everyday.  Whether he is doing a tennis camp, a clinic with other kids, having a private lesson or just hitting with mom and dad...he can never get enough.  He knows and loves the game.  He practices on the courts, the street, the driveway, inside our garage (if it's raining) and sometimes (if I'm feeling nice) our livingroom.  I often wonder at this rate...how old will he be when he gets burnt out? 













Brady's first doubles match.  He always plays with the older kids.
I'm not sure if he's a big fish in a little pond or what...but it's good for the confidence...that's for sure!




Brady took his Christmas money and bought himself a new tennis
raquet from a pro tennis store.  He calls his raquet "buddy".
























When Brady was five, he told us that when he's a professional tennis player, he will buy a house near the park where we play tennis...so he won't have to waste time driving to the courts...he will just walk.   He is too funny!











Sometimes I feel guilty because I often complain about too much tennis!  It's tennis all the time in our house.  Brady is always asking me to go play.  And sometimes I just don't want to.   Thankfully Daddy will take him to play at the drop of a hat.   Brady wants to start playing in tournaments this winter...which means our weekends will be spent traveling.  As parents, we want to provide him with the best opportunities to get him to where he wants to be.  On the other hand...I want to protect him (as best I can) from life's hard lessons.  I understand to achieve anything, it requires a great amount of belief in yourself, vision and hardwork, determination and lots of dedication.   The old saying that all things are possible for those who believe....isn't always the case.  Not everyone can be a professional athlete...no matter how hard you try!






Two things Mom and Dad do know for sure:
1. We love him to pieces!
2. He's the cutest darn tennis player we've ever seen!






Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Post It Note Tuesday






I saw this idea over at Stephanie's blog and thought I would give it a try...
especially since I haven't had much time for blogging lately!



Here's what we have going on this week!

































Sunday, August 22, 2010

It Took Me All Summer...But I Did It!






I read this book!



I know all you readers out there who read several books a week are thinking...big deal, one book?  But, I'm not a big reader and I was determined to finish my book before school started.   Especially since we were asking our soon to be 2nd grader to read 15 minutes a day this summer.  I wanted him to see me reading too.  He definately saw me reading (the same book all summer) and he asked me the other day, "are you almost done with that book yet?"
Well, I finally finished it this weekend!  Yay!  I chose this book because it was suggested by Pam over at Views From My Kitchen Sink.  It's a good book...just a little deeper than my People magazine that comes in the mail on Fridays!




If anyone out there is interested in reading Little Bee, I'd be happy to send it to you!



Friday, August 20, 2010

One Week Before School Starts





I'm feeling a little sad and panicky today.
Next week is our last full week before school starts.
I always get this way.
Like I won't see my son until next summer or something?
Our lazy days of hanging out with each other will be over.
I love summer.
The school year is so long.
Schedules, homework, bedtimes, alarm clocks, packing lunches.
Every school year my son gets older and taller.
He learns new things.
He becomes more independent.
We've had a really fun summer.
Some of our best days were the ones where we didn't even leave the house.
I'm so very thankful that I got to be home with my son everyday.
It usually takes me a couple of months when school starts to get used to him being in school all day.
I'm really going to miss him.


 
site design by designer blogs