WOW!!!

Well, we made it through another crazy weekend with everything possible going on - 1st Grade SuperBowl, Wedding, LSAM State Volleyball Tournament and a Cheerleading Competition....

To start the weekend off, I had to photograph about 20 Jr. High Volleyball Team Pictures for the start of the LSAM State Volleyball Tournament and then I rushed back to Blue Springs where Kendall was playing in the BSAA 1st Grade SuperBowl. It had just started when I got there but we were already down by one touchdown and a missed extra point 6-0. It wasn't too long before the Bears came back to tie it though. The Lions had us figured out though and they were getting through the line to stop us in the backfield on numerous occasions. In the second half each team scored another touchdown but the Lions were successful on their extra point and the Bears were not; so the Lions beat us 13-12 in the SuperBowl. We had defeated the Lions twice during the regular season and it is very tough to beat a team three times in one season. We had a great year going 6-0 in the regular season and 1-1 in the playoffs for a 7-1 record overall.

Saturday morning, Fonda and Lizzy headed to Topeka, Kansas for the first Cheerleading Competition of the season and it started incredible. The "Sizzle" got 1st place in their category and Lizzy was on cloud nine to say the least. They work so hard throughout the year and it is so exciting to see the reward. I wish that I could have been there!

Fonda then rushed back from Topeka to help me photograph a friends wedding. The Bride had told me several years ago "if, and when she ever got married that I had to photograph the wedding!" She was beautiful and it was so much fun - like we knew it would be.

Well, after a late night at the wedding we got up early on Sunday and headed back to the LSAM State Volleyball Tournament to photograph the final 16 Volleyball Games to complete the tournament with all the action images and to sell the Team Photos. Finally we packed up from there to get home about 7:30 and unload the van and post about 1400 images to our website so the players could start ordering their pictures.

Wow - What a weekend....!!!

Competition Time....

It's what they've been practicing for all year...

It's Competition Time!

Lizzy's Cheerleading team will start their Competition season this weekend in Topeka, Kansas at the Twister Jam Competition on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, Fonda and I will not be able to attend this one as we have prior commitments to photograph the LSAM State Volleyball Tournament on Friday and Sunday and a friends Wedding on Saturday.

She has moved up at the gym to the next level team called the Sizzle and they have been challenged with lots of illness throughout the team as well as many injuries. We were able to see their routine at the annual GAGE Cheerleading Pep Rally a couple of weeks ago and it looks like they are on their way to another great season. Good luck to all the GAGE Cheerleading Teams that will be performing this weekend in Topeka!!!

Super-Bowl Bound!!!

First Grade BEARS are Super-Bowl Bound!!! Well, I haven't kept up blogging about the happenings with the Williams Family lately, but I thought I would share the latest news. Kendall's Football Team is undefeated and will be playing in the Blue Springs Athletic Association Flag Football SuperBowl on Friday Night. They started the season very well and just kept building on their experience as the season progressed. There were a few weeks that they scared us by playing pretty bad, but as all good teams do - they found a way to win. The Bears will match up with the Lions in the Championship Game this weekend which we played in the opening week and week four of the regular season.

Kendall has had a great season and is contributing on both sides of the ball. He has scored several touchdowns and pulled lots of flags. He has played almost every play of the entire season and has played all over the field from Quarterback, Running Back, Receiver, Cornerback to Safety. We are very proud of him and his dedication.
We have also been challenged with lots of cold, wet weather but the boys have handled it very well throughout the season. This weekend is supposed to be one of the warmest games we've had all year, so the weather should not be an issue. We want to wish the Bears the Best of Luck on becoming the First Grade Super Bowl Champions!

Blue Springs Cardinals

Take me out to the Ballgame!!!

Kendall had his first T-Ball game of the season last night and made Mom, Dad and Lizzy very proud. He started off playing at second base and only had one ball come to him but made the play and recorded the out. During the Third and Fourth inning, Coach Rick moved Kendall over to play First Base and he had the first ball come right to him as a line drive and he knocked it down with his glove but was unable to make the catch in the air as I think it startled him. After that, he caught a few throws from other fielders to make the three outs that were needed each inning. The next inning Kendall played Pitcher and did a wonderful job, fielded almost everything that came his way and made some great throws to first base. The last inning, Kendall played catcher so he didn't get much action but he sure looked cute in that catchers mask. He had four great hits and made it on base every time he batted.
After the game, coach huddled them up and told them all how proud he was and decided to give the Game Ball to Kendall as the MVP of game one. He wants to write the date on it and put it on his dresser with the rest of his trophies and medals.
Go Cardinals!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

They made it to the finale -we've decided
that we are not going to let them get any older.

Kendall hit the Big 6 and Lizzy turned 12 last week.
We had a small bowling party for Kendall last weekend
with some of his friends and Lizzy is going to have a
slumber party and roller skating party next weekend.

Lizzy's Cheeseburger Cake

Kendall's Lego Cake

Saturday, after Kendall's last Basketball game of
the season we had family over for cake and ice cream.
Grandma Marge and Papa Jim were able to bring
Aunt Lois. Grandma Betty brought Taylor, Jordan,
Kennedy and Chezney to the game and then Aunt
Cheryl and Susan joined us at the house for a while.

Finally....

After well over 200,000 miles and about every light in the dash coming on over the past few months - we finally traded the old silver Oldsmobile Intrigue in for a Oldsmobile Aurora with less than half the mileage and hopefully many less worries. It is a very clean 2001 vehicle that is a cross between sage green and gold with immaculate tan leather interior. We had been looking for about a month when we stumbled across this one on a small used car lot after hours one Friday night. We went back on Saturday afternoon to check it out and test drive it - it was nice, but the dealer said he didn't even have clearance to sell it yet. We looked at a few more cars over the weekend and then went back on Monday for Fonda to work her Crooks bargaining powers. Well, she did her magic and we came away spending two dollars more than we had planned on being our limit. There are a few minor maintenance things we want to get done with it, but nothing too pressing I hope.

Watch out Lebron James - We've got Kendall Williams!

Kendall has switched from Football to Basketball in December, and is having a good time. His team is very young and the majority of them are very short, but what they lack in size is made up in hustle. He's handling the ball much better this year and has made at least one basket in every game so far - with a game high of three (I think). They have three more games left in January and then we just signed him up for the next session as well, which I believe is another 7 weeks which should lead him right up to Baseball Season.

He makes a great point guard, and spends lots of time trying to get it inside to the bigger boys! If he can't find one of them open he's not scared to drive inside and shoot.
As you can see they play some very aggressive man to man defense...

Keep playing tough Kendall - you are a real Superstar and you make Mommy and Daddy very proud when we watch you play!

Flying High

Well another Competition Cheerleading Season is upon us and Lizzy picked up right where she left off last year... looking awesome! We can't help it but to be so proud of her when she is on that competition floor - that smile, those expressions and mostly her jumps! Her jumps are incredible and it makes it worth every penny that is spent to see her perform like she does. Her team has competed twice so far this season, they started the season off with a third place finish at Twister Jam in Topeka, Kansas on November 8th and then they had the CTC Nationals at Bartle Hall in Kansas City on December 6-7th where they won First Place and each team member received a beautiful National Champion Jacket. This weekend they head back to Topeka, Kansas for a two day Nations Best competition. Good Luck Lady Dragons!