10 months already!

they look like they are trying to be the backstreet boys or something...

In case you were in a cave and missed the cutest commercial of Christmas...

Here is the Target commercial with Elizabeth. Elizabeth is Gracie's buddy and my good friend Mashell's daughter. She really is this adorable...she is auditioning and booking like crazy... Just think - we knew her when.

This is Grace and Elizabeth on Hannah Montana Day.

Can I vent...you know for just a minute?

I have been a coach's wife for about 24 years - give or take. Not to a coach who volunteered, did it in his spare time - but was a professional coach. Where success governs your future. During this time I have seen all kinds of things, kids, parents etc. I have had my own kids play on teams at many levels, watched them as they took their turn, watched them as they rode the pine. I encouraged them to keep at it - that being part of a team was most important. I have witnessed the most amazingly ridiculous thing in the past few years. I have seen a coach who was afraid to win! Seriously! In the recent past, this team has gone 15-2 and just kept on improving and the team chemistry was great. They brought this great preseason record into league and then all of a sudden the rules changed. Let's try something new - always ok - but to the detriment of that team. Why now? Now this group of boys does not know what to think - talk about cutting their hearts out. Their chance at the league title has fizzled away - not that the season isn't still great and the playoffs are in their future. But, as a team they had set a goal of conference champs and were well suited to achieve this goal. The recent disruption in flow and confidence make my stomach churn, churn, churn and it is heart wrenching to watch these young men question their own efforts.

I understand the lessons learned in athletics are many. You always work for the common good of the group and the team is bigger than the individual. I am just stumped on what lesson can be learned from this. When we have success, change the process? When it starts to get stressful, quit? Call it what it is - it isn't nice to blast the players in the paper and allude to the falsity that they aren't ready to play and that is why they lost. They were ready to play, ready to compete and ready to take the outcome - whatever it was. All I ask, is give them a chance. The same chances that allowed them to be 15-2. If it is too much pressure for you to take, maybe it is time for someone to step in to that role.

Done. For now.

Sister Absher has been tagged by La-Shana

Rules are: all answers must start with the first letter of your last name. Here I go!
What is your last name? Vasher
Four letter Word: Vote
Vehicle: Viper
Boy Name: Victor
Girl Name: Vanna
Pet Name: Voodoo
Occupation: Veterinarian
Something You wear: Vest
Celebrity: Vanna White (I borrowed from above)
Food: Vinegar popcicles
Found in Bathroom: vacuum
Reason for Being Late: very slow driver
Cartoon Character: Vred Vlintstone
Something You Shout: Very bad call Mr. Referee!!!
Animal: Viper (car, animal - same thing)
Body Part: vas deferens
Word to Describe You: Valentine
Something You Would Like To Do: Vinish school
Place You'd Like To Be: Volcano

I tag Traci, Alli and Kelli.

The agony of defeat....

The Monterey Herald

The Salinas Californian

It's not easy being so cheesy...

Dumb title I know, I just think this picture and article are a little cheesy

SVMH Nurse

The papers in the area are also full of articles hyping the big game tonight!
Salinas vs Palma. Dun Dun Dun...

I am trying to keep Kyle's feet on the ground - he is a bit excited. I have to admit I even have butterflies - what is wrong with me?

The lights that aren't so pretty

The Vasher family and their associates (you know who you are Kyle Taggart) have been having some run ins with the law as of late. I was driving everyone home from the game in Castroville tonight and had a great idea to go to Cold Stone as the last official Christmas vacation splurge. I was thinking about cake batter and graham cracker crust - maybe some brownie mix ins too. Then IT happened - those red and blue lights in my rear window. All of us were in the car - and everyone BUT me giggled. I have not had ONE speeding ticket since I was 18 - 18 years old driving my new Toyota Tercel home from the Roundhouse Resort. The nice highway patrol man was probably laughing at me too. The car was all fogged up because Kyle was all sweaty from his game and all those kids were breathing heavy. A policeman once told me when I worked in the emergency room that I should always have my nursing identification badge visible because HE would never cite a nurse. Well, I had no badge on me tonight - I don't think it would have worked anyway. I couldn't even flirt because my husband was right next to me in the care - I don't think that would have worked either. Oh well, thank you Mr. Officer for not giving me a ticket for the 73 in a 55 but for 65 in a 55. Well, Tag, we must be living right for not getting the BIG tickets.

It sure is quiet around here...

It was so great to have you all here for Christmas! Thanks for driving and coming. Katie is adorable and so smart and it always fun for you all to come. We had a great time getting to know Liesel - thanks Nate for sharing her with us. And remember Liesel, you gave me your word...jk.

Love,
Mom

North Monterey Tourney

The Monterey Herald 1/1/09

The Hollister Freelance 12/31/08

Congratulations Cowboys!!! Condor Christmas Classic Champs - two years in a row!

Congratulations All tourney selection - Eric Neal

Tourney MVP - Kyle Vasher

Condor Classic results

Monterey Herald 12/31

the Californian 12/31

Monterey Herald 12/30

The Cowboys play in their third straight championship game today at 3:00.

California Christmas

On Christmas day, I took some wonderful pictures. I went to transfer them to my computer and they were lost. I was a tad bit upset! Christmas was a wonderful day with everyone home except Joey - but we got to talk to Joey for a little over an hour. He had a hard time speaking English at the beginning - he sounded so great. He did sound a bit homesick -first Christmas away from home. He is where he wants to be. I was a bit sad when we hung up - I sure do miss that boy.

After we were done on the phone, we went to "Bedtime Stories". It was a great family movie. Some little ladies said that Katie was the perfect baby - she just had the cutest face. I will have to agree.

The day after Christmas we piled into our cars and went to Point Lobo State Reserve. It is such a pretty hike and we had a great time. Gracie wins the prize for the most complaints - "my legs are going to fall off ", "are we almost there", "you mean we have to walk back to the car?". But she made it and it was a fun day.

Trying to outrun the waves - Matt didn't quite make it.

Christmas Eve at Grandmas

Katie's cookie super saturated with sprinkles.

Gracie's red hot happy cookies.

Matt's artistic wild cookies.

Cookie decorators.

Marshmallow Mateys with cheese?

Playing in the backyard.

On our way to church

TRIPLE heartbreak!

Salinas was in another tournament this weekend. They played in the championship of the Carmel Tournament. This was a triple overtime thriller - but unfortunately the Cowboys did not prevail. What a heartbreaker! Below is the news article. Congrats to Kyle on the all tourney team.

Monterey Herald