"Hey Dad"

What a welcome break for Robert to get a call from Kawika on a Saturday between games. This Saturday also marks two firsts for Kawika:

• Yellow card (not a bad thing & can be used as means to 'fire up' or encourage team mates)
  
• Successful 'juggling'
  

Keep an eye on this young man, he may just be the next big soccer star!

Introducing....

two new grandsons! In the order of their arrival are Braydon, due to arrive in May to proud parents Noelani (Robert's daughter) and Dan



and Elijah Victor, due to arrive in late July to proud parents Angela and Mike (Sheri's son) and big brother Nathan.



Tutu Kane and Tutu Pink are sooooo anxious to meet both of you! Welcome to our world precious baby boys! Please see Nathan for references.

It's for a good cause....

and fun to boot! Last night, Robert and I attended the NFL Alumni Texas Hold'em Tournament at the ESPN Zone in Buckhead (Altanta). Bobby and Cheryl, who we met at Darwin's a couple of months ago, invited us to the event and it was a blast.

In addition to the Texas Hold'em Tournament, good food and drinks, retired NFL players and some of the Atlanta Falcon's cheerleaders were raffling off opportunities to have your picture taken with them. Both Robert and I had our pix taken with the cheerleaders, then I had one taken with all of the players.




Because we got there a little late, we missed out on the first two elimination rounds of the tourny, but one of the dealers let Robert sit in for a few hands. Lesson learned; good hand does not necessarily equate to winning. Oh well, it was fun anyway.

There were also several sports memorabilia items being auctioned off, such as Mohammed Ali's autographed trunks for $650. Robert and I perused the silent auction items, bid and won! Here is the pix of the Hank Aaron autographed baseball we took home last night. Yeah!

The entire benefit was held to raise funds for a local charity, the Cavaliers Childrens Home, so going home with a little less green in the pocket was well worth it! One can't put a price on the good times we had or a good cause!

Road Trip to Helen, Georgia

Sunday finds both Robert and I off for the day, which is a very unusual event lately. We decide to spend some quality time together and take a ride to Helen, Georgia, which is about two hours northeast of Marietta.

So what are some of the signs that you are in the country?

1. Piggly Wiggly - when is the last time you saw one of these?
2. Ewes and shetland ponies on the side of the road
3. 9 out of every 10 vehicles is a pickup
4. Abundance of RV dealerships, as well as churches and tanning salons
5. S & H Trading stamps accepted here!
6. Boats worth three times the mobile home they are parked in front of
7. Hot Tubs and Billiards Sold Here!

To fit in with the locals, Robert and I decided to dress the part. He with his Tony Stewart t-shirt and I with my redneck t-shirt that says, 'Ever so slightly spolied' in little psuedo rhinestones. And tennies, which I never wear.

Our finds of the day? Chocolate, t-shirt with basses and a walking cane (for the Living Room decor.)

Fun stuff includes the guy who played a ???????? (check out the pix) and getting out pix as local beer drinkers!

We took a little trip to try out some of the fishing, but to no avail. Don't fret though, I did get some good pix! (You can even see the worms that we set free. It's so clear - you can't even tell it is water!)

You'll have to take a look at our new blog, Robert and Sheri on the Road for more pix.

Introducing.............

Fireball Pope

R. Kawika Pope, of the KC Comets, set records this Saturday, scoring an unprecedented 17 points in a three game run, amounting to 27% of the team's total points today. Few players such as young Kawika have the endurance to play three games, much less score at such high rates. Powered by by Guava Juice, which is very close to the power drink POG from Hawaii, this guy just keep goin' for the goal.




This just in - straight from Kansas City - in the field reporter Kawika's very own Mom, Chris.

Game One:
The final score of this game was..... ummmm 24-11. Kawika lead the win with 6 goals. Toward the end of the game though, their keeper was grabbing and pushing, playing dirty, most of it directed to Kawika. Well, he got so angry, he spent all his energy in about 15 seconds. Running as hard as I've ever seen him run, kicking the crap out of the ball... just... wow, playing awesome soccer.

Game Two:

Final score: 26-12. Kawika again lead the win scoring a total of 6 more goals. He's just a monster out there. He'll play keeper, and guard his goal but then he just charges the dude bringing the ball and wins the tackle, other guy falls down and Kawika takes off. It's amazing to watch. 2 kids, 1 ball between them, other kid is taller, Kawika goes in for the ball, other guy trips, their legs are tangled, Kawika comes out with the ball... fakes out other kids ... GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.........

I'm like that guy on TV with the iPod... his shadow dancing to the music, but he's just walking down the street. I'm standing there watching the game (I don't understand how parents can sit during soccer) but my shadow is jumping and banging on the glass and screaming for Kawika.

Game Three:
Final score: 13 - 19 them....... but this is the first place team and we made a huge come back too. Kawika scored 5 goals. The game was a tough one, lots of shoving - fingers in noses and ears.... it was ugly. Once I worried Kawika was hurt, but he never flinched. Parents though were doing the "oohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Kawika are you ok????" He was playing keeper and slid and hugged the ball and a kid came right up and kicked it full on into his stomach. My heart stopped at the sound of it and I could have thrown up ... that's how scared I was. but Kawika was in that soccer zone he gets into, and never even blinked...... weird, sometimes it's like he's Superman.

Some parents standing next to me (other team) toward the end, after Kawika had scored two goals in real quick succession, said to each other "that #16 is a real ball of fire" ------ okay I couldn't keep my mouth shut. "He tried out for your team last summer, but didnt' get called back." "Oh? wow... " then very excitedly "do you think he'll try out again this year?" "I think he likes this team, but it's his decision" My mommy head was VERY VERY big at that point.


Kawika read the first of this email and said.... "17??? Wow, I just amaze myself" then he says.... "Mom! that's almost six hat tricks in one day!!" and then he ran upstairs to shower.

Back to Atlanta -
Kawika - ahem, I mean Fireball Pope - We are very PROUD of you!

Check out tonight's gameball!