Saturday/Sunday NFJG Tournament at King and Bear

This is the second tournament of the NFJG Fall season. Only three kids are entered in the Foundation Elite group, Ryan, McKelvey and AA. This is the new group that plays 18 holes from red or green tees and now, it has been decided that they may have a caddie if they wish.
I did not go to Saturday's match, I stayed home and organized myself, getting ready to go back to work full time on Monday. The report was that the fairways were tall and shaggy with over wintered rye grass, and very wet. By Sunday, with the BRISK, GUSTY WIND (I mean WINDY), the course dried out some. Even the tee boxes were shaggy! These photos are all from Sunday, Day Two:

Major trophies from WEB.com sponsorship:

Hole 18:

AA with Director Jack and Official Kevin G. (calligraphy extraordinaire!!):

Sitting in the entry of the clubhouse:

We enjoyed a glass of wine at the end as AA chomped on a burger. Great day! From Jack's Newsletter:
In the Foundation Elite Division, 11 year old Alyzabeth Morgan was in the lead shooting 93 for 18 holes after day one. She followed that score up with an 89 including a birdie on the par 4- 15th. This is her second win in as many events!

A New Week - Pumpkin Patch Time

Monday and Tuesday followed our regular routine, Robotics, homework and River House on Monday plus Ford made sloppy joes for dinner, a favorite. Tuesday, I made a new chicken, mushroom, spinach pasta dish for dinner which was pretty good, AA did a practice round of golf and homework.
Wednesday was church dinner and class afterwards, walking home in the dark and much cooler (finally). Wednesday, we went to the OPUMC pumpkin patch and took a few photos:

Selecting pumpkins - Ford had the camera, so I am in some pictures (not so lovely!!)

We liked the mini-white-pumpkins:

Final selection - two mid-sized pumpkins plus the little white one.

Thursday is Robotics and River House, lovely weather.  The RH deck is about 80 % completed, it is about a foot higher than the old deck.

Jane came to our home after Robotics, they did their math homework and then did their reading assignment at the River House:

We had leftover sloppy joes for dinner - yummy again. AA had two school tests this week: Math and Science, A's on both!
Friday was super busy trying to squeeze in some fun as AA has a two-day 18-hole (36 total) golf tournament this weekend at the King and Bear. Carolyn dropped her car off at Suburban for some repairs, then she took us to breakfast and BJ's for some BIG shopping. Fun being with her all day. Ford made a crock-pot full of chili for the weekend.
Friday after school, AA golfed nine holes with Ms. Penny at Eagle Harbor, then ate a quick dinner of Publix sushi. Next she went to her East/Elite EH PGA Jr. Team practice, and home by 6:15 to go to the St. Catherine Catholic Church Festival for a couple of hours with the Connor Williams' family. So grateful for them picking up AA and bringing her home. We have had a frustrating week getting the condo ready to rent; a new renter is moving in this weekend. The realtor agency that finds the renter for us has had some sickness and vacations that left the office short so none of us were happy with the communications and what didn't get done. All will work out hopefully!
Courtney, AA and Connor enjoying the rides - not crowded! 

The Williams' family fed them all too!

Saturday and Sunday are golf tournament and I will spend Saturday getting my closet in order, planning clothes for the next few weeks as I begin full time work again on Monday.

Sunday 10/22/17 NFJG Tournament - Amelia National 18 Holes!!

North Florida Junior Golf season began today with AA moving into the Foundation Elite group - 18 Holes from the red tees. No more nine (9) hole tournaments. She won the inaugural tournament with an 89 score. She was on target for the lower-80's but the last three holes blew her up! {she was either tired or the wind gusts and rainstorm did her in}. So proud that she is ready to take on more challenges and work through each one, gaining in experience, maturity and composure. Golfing is a lonely sport, playing to best your own score, no team to help you out. 18 holes is a long stretch for the under 12 age group. Happy to see many Eagle Harbor boys joining in, they are playing their hearts out AND first time without a caddie too! Shout out to EH Emmet K. who works very hard at his game and played up from his age group and also scored in the 80's. Proud of our EH golfers! 
We were greeted at the registration table with the Player of the Year posters, love seeing that happy AA photo!

Driving range, practice before the tournament. It was HOT for the first nine holes. There was a breeze at times, it is Fall here! But still so very hot, tried to keep the kids shaded.

Tee box, Hole 10, first hole with Mark Heeter, Rules Official. Playing with Madelyn Campbell (younger sister also played Sadaly, Foundation Rising). All players began on hole 10, played the back nine first, then made the turn and played holes 1 through 9.

The wind began about 6 holes until the end (holes 4/5), huge gusts leading into a rain storm that pelted us, let up, then rained again with gusts (thankfully Kirsten Campbell let us ride in her cart when it got really bad!). AA tried to keep her grip and glove dry but everything got soaked including her! The last three holes, she scored a 7 on each, mainly because she missed the fairways and had trouble getting to the green. We did not think that she could possibly win this tournament. We were elated when we found out that she had the low score! It was a challenge not having a caddie when we went to the tournament thinking it was still a Foundation group which allows caddies. Jack said they would reconsider, so we shall see. It was good as AA made her own club choices, no advice from spectators. She did choose some risky shots when she was in the rough which aggravated the issue. Golfing is a complex sport, and even though AA didn't have her best score, she played many holes well. Last hole - after 18 holes, they were wet and tired!

Scores - so happy for Emmet, first time playing up in this group:

Champion Alyzabeth!

Medal bestowed by Kevin Glynn:

The 1 - 2 - 3 Places:

CHAMPION!

Score Board:

We are so thankful that Ms. Penny took AA to this course for a practice round, thankful for the time she puts in with our AA! 
Two-Day NFJG Tournament is next weekend. This will be another great experience!
From Jack's Newsletter: The newly formed Foundation Elite Division would find Alyzabeth Morgan toting her own bag to victory as the young 11 year old posted up a spectacular round of 89 to lead the field of Eagle Harbor players to victory by five shots. Morgan would post up seven pars and a birdie at the par-4 16th hole. Chase Ricks (94) and Ryan Houck (99), both from Eagle Harbor would take home the Silver and Bronze respectively.
Newcomer Grace Richards (99) would also tie for the Bronze Medal. Welcome Madelyn Campbell!

Week of October 16th - Saturday the 21st

Monday was another hot day, we are expecting cooler weather for a couple of days beginning tomorrow! We picked up AA from her Robotics Team, went home and she did her homework, usually math and reading every night. Listening to music on the way home:

Cool AA!

We walked to the River House and sat on the porch with Hugh, Maureen and friend Kathy. They were a bit tired as Arnie R. has been staying with them. He is staying (in hotel) with a daughter for a week while she visits from England. Ford made his brown beans for our homemade dinner. Tuesday, Ford and AA played golf and I made a new chicken soup (with boneless thighs). Too much trouble cleaning the thighs and too much thyme in the recipe. Not so great, but we ate it! AA had extra work as she is missing a class tomorrow to play with Ms. Penny at Amelia National.
Wednesday, was her 18 hole round with Ms. Penny, a practice round for her Sunday NFJG Tournament, opening the season, and first 18 hole with the Foundation Elite. Wednesday, I mainly caught up on my WPOA secretarial duties and walked the dog. For a supposedly cool day, it was very warm! In the evening, I went to the church class without my sweet family. 
Thursday: River House, enjoyed hanging with Scott Anderson. Very breezy, loving a bit cooler weather - the high was still 81 degrees! I tried to get AA to jump in the pool before our baths but she didn't go for it!
AA is growing up too fast!! How did this happen - a size 5 (will start wearing in a couple of months)! Slow down!! #dawgs #juniorgolf

Friday morning we attended the OPE School Academic Award Ceremony. Photo of AA sitting at her table with Mrs. Rauth (homeroom teacher Mrs. White):

All A's Honor Roll:

Perfect Attendance first quarter 5th grade:

Free burger dinner for honor roll:

With her perfect attendance and all A honor roll. The three 5th graders who were awarded the Principal's Award last Friday were recognized at this ceremony too.

And we took a photo of her 2017 hand print in the cafeteria/gym (her third one!): 

From 5th grade - October 13, 2017

From Kindergarten 2012:

From 3rd Grade 2015:

After school was a golf practice round at EH then PGA Junior Team practice. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner!!
Saturday: We ran errands, treated AA to her favorite Mexican lunch - Tijuana Flats, then played nine holes at EH. A quiet evening of reading on the screen porch. Finally the air conditioner is only running half the time!
And to be positive in this horrible climate of USA politics, here's what each of us must do, take action: “There must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.” The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
"Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody."

Weekend Activities 10/14/17

Saturday the 14th, was to be a busy day. Leaa was hosting her afternoon pumpkin painting party, AA had an afternoon PGA Junior Match and we bought tickets as a BIG gift for AA to go to the Harry Potter/Jacksonville Symphony evening concert. So AA played in her golf match and we made it to the concert; unfortunately, missed Leaa's event. Jane W. was to go with AA, but she ended up sick on Saturday morning, so Noah came with us.
It is also Melissa's birthday, so a few extra photos.

AA and Ginger wishing Auntie-M a happy birthday:

Melissa in Maine with granddaughter Chloe:

Melissa waded in the lake to remove the last boat anchor, looks beautiful!

The Eagle Harbor PGA Elite team match against Palencia was a big WIN! AA and Ford left right after she played her 6 holes, winning both flags (one per three holes). Thanks to Tyler's Mom Kerri for sending me the two pictures.

The EH Team photo (without the only girl):

AA's birthday gift was tickets to the Harry Potter 1st movie in Concert with the Jacksonville Symphony:

So glad that Noah W. was available at the last minute (and his parents brought him to us and picked him up at 11:35 PM!!). We took food to tailgate as AA and Ford had not eaten since they just came from the EH golf course/PGA match. It began to rain enough that we went to our seats earlier than planned.

We wore our rain coats in as were were not sure how much weather came in under the cover/roof of the amphitheater. Seats were pretty good; tall people sitting in front were no problem for us due to the slope, but the kids had to watch between the people in front of them. For a concert, the front row in a balcony section would be good too. Since we were watching a movie on the screen above the stage, closer was better.

The stage movie screen was BRIGHT, couldn't get a good photo of the graphics. The symphony was amazing, the music was just as dramatic as in the movie; however, it was a bit long for the youngsters and their attention did drag a little after intermission then picked up nearing the end. Long evening for us!

Here's the actual screen we saw, you can barely see the stage; had to darken photo to show what we saw while waiting for the concert to begin. There was a short movie shown at 7:30 p.m. about the music composer, told how the movie sound track was created. {The music of the Harry Potter film series was recorded and released in conjunction with the post-production and releases of each of the eight corresponding films. The scores were composed by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat.}

Since staying up to midnight is a rarity, we watched the end of a Harry Potter movie on TV at home - it was a Harry Potter Movie weekend on TV! Off to bed at 12:30 a.m.! {then, AA had a bad nose bleed; these occur occasionally and she is very good about dealing with what life has handed her}. AA relaxing at home after midnight:

Sunday (15th) morning, we were all a little droopy. AA sang at the 9:25 service for Celebration service (456 JAM choir - her 2nd time); photo from my iPhone:

We ate lunch at the church and actually sat with a lady who had been to the harry Potter concert the night before; she was a big fan of the symphony, not so much of the harry Potter movie series.

Then PGA Golf Team practice while Ford and I chatted with Joe M. We got AA to her Sunday church 456 Club and JAM practice on time. That wrapped up our weekend!