A Soccer Weekend With a Side of American Football and a FUN Celebration

Thurs.-Sun., August 26-29, 2021

What a GREAT weekend to be alive!

It was the official start of the college football season meaning that we awakened on Saturday morning to the first ESPN College Game Day Show of the year.

Heaven.

Sad to see only about 10,000 fans at the cavernous Rose Bowl Saturday afternoon to watch UCLA beat Hawaii 44-10.

Are the Bruins back?

We'll find out a lot more next Saturday as UCLA hosts the LSU Tigers.

Of course it was also Week #2 of our grandkids AYSO soccer season.

Mary had an 8:00 a.m. game as

her Rainbow Butterflies took on

the ever dangerous Purple Tigers

Mary, in green, chasing the ball

Kicking it down the pitch

Mary always looks good

in her uniform

Once again, barefooted Michael was the game's referee.

Jacob was their to support

his sister Mary

Post-game team photo

Jacob's club didn't play until 12:30 p.m. but it was no problem for him since his Scorpions team was scheduled for their picture day at 10:30 a.m.

Jacob channeling his inner

Cristiano Ronaldo during his

photo shoot

Jacob has an interesting

shoulder stretch warm-up routine

before his Scorpions took on the Dragons

#8 hustling to defend against

a possible breakaway

Dribbling

On a breakaway of his own

That ball draws a crowd

One-on-One

There was a lot of

running in this game

Exercise is good for you I'm told

In the Second Half

Jacob was in Goal

Literally in this photo.

He liked being the Goalie

Thanks to the solid Scorpions' team defense, the Dragons did not score in the Second Half.

In the evening, we had a

wedding to celebrate

The daughter of our dear friends Paul and Joanne Sabolic married her beloved last March. Because of Covid they did not feel comfortable having lots of people join in on their celebration at that time.

Finally, on Saturday night, we all met at one of their friend's home to have a proper party.

Nicole and Nicholas Gray

A nice looking couple don't you agree?

Wedding celebrations with

taco bars are the BEST!

We had a good time visiting with Mike and Susan D'Antuono most of the evening while enjoying a marvelous setting and celebrating the Gray's new life together.

A Birthday Party, the End of Summer and the Start of Both Fall Sports and In-Person School

 

Sun.-Wed., August 15-25, 2021

We start this post with another celebration, my Mother's 97th birthday!

We met at her home with my sisters and the cousins to celebrate the day on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon around the pool.

Our Mother Chuny on the right

with Jacob ready to help blow

out any errant candles

Cousin Leo handled the chores

for the kid's Great-Grandmother

It is hard to believe that there is so much singing talent in the family.

Enjoying the day at the

historic Contreras family pool

CANNONBALL!

Frolicking in San Marino

 

Always good to see Jacob and Mary

with our niece Lauren's kids

Max and Leo

Mary with her Great-Grandma Chuny

The following week was the start of the kid's soccer season and the start of school for son Michael who teaches in the Social Science Department at Newbury Park H.S.

Two on one, Jacob and Mary

double teaming a defenseless goalie

Laurie and I took Jacob to the

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

The Library is located in nearby Simi Valley and was hosting a special exhibit that Jacob wanted to see entitled "FBI: From Al Capone to Al-Qaeda."

Jacob with Ron and Nancy

Jacob was allowed to take off his

mask to address the crowd

Air Fore One is always one of

Jacob's favorite things to see

on our trips to the Library

I felt that it was OK for Jacob to

ride this relatively immobile steed

with the President

Jacob liked the shot-up

Bonnie and Clyde car

It was a good visit with Jacob really loving the FBI shooting range where he was allowed to shoot laser pistols.

Michael's first day of school

was followed by . . .

. . . Mary's first day of soccer practice

Having this food truck near Jacob's

soccer practice field was a GREAT idea!

On Thursday, the Camarillo Scorpions

hosted the Buena Bulldogs

It was the Freshmen season opener for both squads.

Camarillo in gray

As the Sun set on the game,

Buena won the day, 18-0

There were lots of mistakes by both clubs but at least they got to play.

The Three Amigos before

Friday night's Buena Bulldogs at

Oak Park Eagles Varsity season opener

Jacob and I speed walking to

the Oak Park game field

A nice setting at OPHS with a

typical late arriving crowd

First Quarter action

Jacob LOVES being on the sideline

The Buena defender in white

broke up this possible TD pass

A big Buena run near halftime

The visiting Bulldogs led 21-6 at the intermission.

After a scoreless Third Quarter, the tide turned in Oak Park's favor.

The winning Two-Point PAT catch

for Oak Park with only 1.9 seconds

left in the game

The final score was Oak park (1-0) 22 - Buena (0-1) 21.

The three of us had fun but the

next day was the Opening Day

for the Camarillo AYSO season

Jacob was pumped for Mary's

first ever game at 10:00 a.m.

It was Mary's Rainbow Butterflies against the Amazing Rainbow Zebras.

Lots of Rainbows in Girls soccer at this age I'm guessing.

Michael was the Referee for Mary's game

He really needs a pair of shoes.

Mary on the left

Mary giving the ref "The Look"

after a questionable call

Mary, green #6, with the flying hair

She had fun I believe

Jacob played at 1:00 p.m.

Jacob is #8 and played in the

field in the First Half

He ran a lot today, something

that not many of these kids had

done during the pandemic

GO GET IT, JACOB!

Hands on hips usually means

WINDED!

Running some more

In the Second Half, Jacob donned

his #1 Goalie jersey

Making a stop

Goalie Kick

It was good to see both grandkids running around again after such a long time.

On Sunday we drove up to

the Estates for some cheap seat

viewing of the Camarillo Air show

We did not want to be in close contact just yet with the thousands of spectators at the Camarillo Airport.

WWII bomber starting his

bombing run

BOOM!!!

FLAMES!!!

That was another fun experience with Jacob and Mike.

I needed a football fix . . .

. . . so I headed to El Camino Real H.S.

to watch a practice and scratch my itch

Today was the first day of in-

person school for Jacob and Mary

Trendi Eats is a Facebook

sensation in our house

The hostess goes all over Ventura County reviewing restaurants and food trucks recommending future dining pleasures to this site's many followers.

Tonight, Laurie and I tried the tri-tip sandwich at Da Hickory House BBQ in Oxnard's Collection Shopping Center.

DOUBLE WOW!!!

We were most impressed and will definitely come back here often.