Mom and Daughter Weekend of Basketball in Shawnee Mission

Elyse and I had a great "mother daughter" weekend.  We headed to Des Moines Friday night as Elyse had a choir competition and I had to work our PTO Family Fun Night.  We decided to go half way to Kansas City and stay in Des Moines, as we would get there later in the evening, and then head to KC/Shawnee Mission Saturday morning as the Lightning did not play until late afternoon.  We were both exhausted when we arrived in Des Moines and had a good night's sleep before heading to Kansas City.

Elyse's Lightning team is made of freshman and sophomores as many tournaments are by grade level.  Well, not this one.  They moved Elyse's team up to play in the 11th and 12th grade division!  At first, the girls were freaking out.  Then they saw what they "thought" was one of their opponents and realized they could win some games.....later they found out those teams were Jr High teams!!!!  Then the "older teams" showed up and the real games began!



Elyse scoring (hidden in middle)

 The Lightning Red gave it a good go the whole weekend, even after starting out slow and having many turnovers.  They could have won the first game but just did not come out strong enough.  The second game that evening was against a new team we have not met before, and they were giants!  All the girls played well but couldn't pull off the win due to the other teams pressing us and us turning over the ball.

This was the first tournament all of the girls on Elyse's team were there for a tournament so it was nice that was nice to see.  The frustrating part was they hadn't played all together and obviously, the other teams there had. 

We ended up going out for dinner as a team, parents and all, as well as Elyse's coach, Coach Doud.  It was fun and the girls had a wonderful time, even though they were exhausted!  All you could hear was giggling and laughing until the food came.....then you needed to stand back as they were HUNGRY!  We got in the car to head to the hotel and Elyse turns to me and says, "These girls are like family to me Mom!"  It was so sweet.  They are a great bunch of girls who are there to have fun, play basketball, and not worry about the petty stuff teenagers sometimes do. 



Elyse makes the shot - number 40

 Sunday we returned only to find out we were to play the Lightning's top team of juniors, Lightning Black.  Elyse did not sit out much the day before in the first two games, and being the team is a lot about equal play time, she sat out the first part of the game.  When it was time for her to go in, she was ready! She faced the biggest girl on all of the Lightning black team and did fabulous with her!  It was fun to watch them play each other, but again, we did not come out on the winning end. 



Elyse ready to go in...on floor with head on elbow.

 Elyse was so sweet the whole weekend, giving me my mother's day gift late Saturday night at the hotel, lots of hugs, and we had a lot of giggles the whole weekend.  The drive down and back was quick as well and easy (that is a sign we are in the car too much)!  When we were leaving the hotel we had been at two of the last three weekends, I said, "Goodbye Shawnee Mission", and Elyse quickly added, "until next year"!  I know she is loving the Lightning!  I am so glad as we are too!



Lightning vs. Lightning.  Elyse number 40

 She has practice this weekend on Sunday and then we have a weekend off.  When June hits, it is 3 day tournaments every weekend and Wednesday night practices!  Elyse finishes Lightning play in July, goes to volleyball camp, and we go directly to South Carolina for a week and North Carolina for a week.  Then it will be August and we start all over.  What a summer!!!!  Gotta love it!!!

Go Lightning!




Coach Doud giving the "after game" talk.  Elyse in back left corner.




Elyse and her new friend, Madison



Alex's First Baseball Tournament of Season - Clear Lake

 The time has come for Wayne and I to switch up with the kids and split when they both have functions.  I ended up going to Kansas City with Elyse for another Lightning tournament, and Wayne ended up going to Clear Lake with Alex's baseball team.  Too bad we couldn't clone ourselves and be both places.

It was a fun "dad-son" weekend for them!  They had to head out pretty early Saturday morning and get to Clear Lake for their first game.  I guess the first one was a "nail-biter" as it was close all the way.  Alex had the first big hit of the game, according to a friend of mine who was there and text me the whole time with updates.  He had a big hit that was a "one-hopper to the fence".  Ended up being a double. Alex also pitched this game and did a wonderful job!  Sadly, his team left him standing on the base and the rest got out.  They lost the first game 1-0. 

Second game was a battle of the bats.  I think they lost 13 to 11 and it came down to the bottom of the last inning. 

Last game, the Cadets ended up winning.  Alex had another big hit that went all the way to the fence and "some little punk snowconed it had the catch of his life" (again, according to a friend of mine).  I guess it was a sweet hit.  Next time.  Besides his normal first base, Alex pitched again and did well.  According to Wayne, he only had one walk combined for all the games he pitched. 

He had a wonderful day with his father, and they were exhausted when they got home that evening.  Way to go Alex on your first big tournament!  You will get them next time......and I WILL BE THERE!

Elyse Wins 1st Place High Jump Crestwood Co-Ed Varsity Meet - Kerians Win Big!



attempting 4'10"

 I had a hard time deciding what to title this post.  It was a big night all around for the Kerian family.  Not only did Elyse win 1st place on the high jump for the varsity girls on home turf, Brandon and Miranda Kerian continue to win their races as well and dominate!  So it was a proud night to be a Kerian, and even better that it was a co-ed meet in Cresco so lots of family came to watch!  Thanks to g'ma Judy, Randy, Lori, Justin, and Cody for braving the cold weather and cheering on their grandchildren/cousins.  I know they all loved it!



running 4x200

 Elyse ended up making 4'8" to win the girls' high jump!  She was so excited that she went jumping off the mat running to her coach to high five him.  It was priceless!  She attempted 4'10" and almost made it on the first jump, but not so much on the next attempts.  We were very proud of her!  Yeah Elyse!

I had my first experience helping at a track meet as a timer/picker.  Everyone said it was not that hard, but as a "picker" you need to watch who crosses the line and in what order to line them up and compare with the timers.  Not so hard when the race is not close.......very hard when your nephew is running a 100 or 200 and it is tight.  At one time, Kirstin (yes I recruiter her to help be a "picker") and I could not say who crossed first!  Thank god the official and the timers had it as we would have been fired immediately!!!!  Stress-ful!!!!!

Brandon and Miranda did fabulous on their fast runs and Brandon broke the school record last week for the 200 or 100 (sorry Brandon, i can't remember which one). 

Great job Kerian family!  Yahoo!!!!