Junior Player Development

Austin has been very fortunate to be part of a 12 session football camp sponsered by the NFL and the Buffalo Bills. The following is taken from the NFL-JPD site.

The NFL JPD program, developed in 1998, as an instructional football camp for children age 12-14 in underserved communities. The program provides step-by-step instruction for every position on both offense and defense in a fun and engaging atmosphere. It also serves as a feeder system for high school football programs that may not have organized football in nearby junior high schools. JPD integrates on-field skills development with life skills and character development. As youngsters plan for future high school interscholastic activities, participants receive instruction from NFL-selected high school coaches, as well as counseling that focuses around a variety of life skills, such as responsibility, goal-setting, sportsmanship, self-control, smart moves, and teamwork. Each life skill addressed through the context of football allows coaches to make the connection between life skills as they are applied on the field, in school, at home and in the community.

Austin loved every minute of it and cannot wait to play on the Lancaster Middle School modified team this Fall. He makes a pretty good tight end!

Tin Grin

Most people think of Austin as that two year old kid that was a terror on two legs. There were some amazing temper tantrums, destruction of property and over all revenge on his dad for the things he did (if any of you tell him you will be sorry!).

But - in reality - Austin is a teen now. 13 years old! He is a fun loving kid who loves sports, still loves to draw and illustrate (and don't tell his Mom - has already driven a car in school parking lot). We love Austin to death, even if he can pick-up Russian radio stations with his mouth now.

Finally

The warm weather seems to finally have hit Buffalo. It was well over 90 degrees today. Of course with that warm weather comes the humidity. Last night I participated in the Chase Corporate Challenge - Buffalo. It was a 3.5 mile race through downtown Buffalo. I have not ran that distance in awhile and I felt every step. My time was not all that bad really, 37.08 minutes. There were definately faster, but I was proud I did not leave the race on a stretcher as Tania thought I might. Not too soon after the race ended - the clouds decided to give us a little shower. It was the heaviest down pour of rain I have ever seen. The lightening was striking everywhere and of course we were in a very wooded part of Buffalo. So - I stood in the monsoon vs. getting very charred. Good memories were had by all.

With the warm weather comes the time that I open the pool. The boys have been bugging me for weeks to open it. I relented and opened it on Memorial Day - but it was only 67 degrees outside. The boys jumped in and jumped right out. Today was a different story, they have been in the pool since the got home from school.

And what goes best with hot weather?? Well FROG EYE SALAD of course. After months of talking about it, I finally made big ol' batch of the heavenly treat for a friend of ours that is coming to dinner tomorrow. I am out to convert the world to the King of Mormon Salads!! I think I was missing my Mom just a bit too and making something that she knows I love helps bring her a bit closer to the heart.