30 days of Thankfulness ~Day 5

Today's post is dedicated to my baby boy...Anthony Jose Herrera
As much as I'd like to strangle him lately, he's still my baby boy!
So, tonight we went to his Friday Night Football Game yh7ujiu7jmukm8uk,iink,b8iubvjubu, hyn nh nhngh gn nhgtb bgnjbnjnjum
And that's what I mean by wanting to strangle him, as that would be his doing...
Anywho, he truly makes me one proud Mama! Tonight's game he not only walked away with a 52-6 winning game, but he also made captain!!!!
He has really embarrassed his position in football and is really excelling in it. He is also working hard to keep his grades up. His coach has had him going to study hall everyday after school before he goes to pracitce.
His new interest is wrestling, but we will see what happens. His soccer friends are really wanting him to go and try out for the goalie position on the HS team. Which, we all know hands down, he kicks butt in that goal box. He has no fear and for a majority keep those balls out of the box.
Now about Anthony, my baby...
He is the sweetest big brother, he truly is. He loves his role as a big brother and knows that he has 3 little ones looking up to him. He's not the perfect kid, but he really isn't a bad kid, never has been. He loves his little brother and baby sister. And recently has been embracing Adriana. For some reason, those two have finally clicked! He even started training her for spring select. He wants her to get out there and kick butt!
I mentioned this before, but after every football game Delayna wants her Bobo. So I will take her down to him and he will call for her to come out to him. What a precious, precious memory they will both cherish as they grown older.
Dominic and him shared a room for a little over 2 years. When we moved into this new house, Domi got his own room. He was soooo sad and didn't want to sleep alone. But he's adjusted and got used to it. But there have been a few times that I will get up in the morning to wake him up and find him in Ant's room on the floor with his pillows & blankets. There have been about 2 times that I have gone in looking for him and couldn't find him. After searching the house, I found him tucked into bed with Ant, snuggled up next to him. Ant told me he went in there and said, "Bobo, I had a bad dweam, can I sweep wif you?" AWE, HOW SWEET! Ant just pulled the covers up and tucked his baby brother in next to him.
This boy melts my heart!
He has the greatest aspirations of becoming a professional football player and is very focused...just to keep him there.
He's a good kid with a huge heart! One day, I will be proud to announce this kid will be going on to the NFL!
Here's a photo of him goin up as captain for his game last night #33

Not so great news

Well today was the day that Anthony got the news weather he would be pulled up to the JV team for the BIG Beaumont vs Banning football game this Friday night.
When he called me to pick him up, he didn't sound so great. Jose brought him home and when he walked in and didn't really want to eat what I made for dinner, I knew something was wrong.
Jose texted me and told me that he is really upset...the coaches didn't choose him to play for the game this Friday.
So i asked him and he told me he didn't make it. He told me who all was being brought up to play and that the coaches didn't choose him.
My poor boy is super bummed. But it's also a lesson he needs to learn. This is his first season/year/EVER playing football. He's already first string and the coach is very impressed with him. He needs to know that he is doing AWESOME for where he is at right now and not making it for the "Big game" is ok.
So, I'm going to plan that we all head out Friday night to support our Boys In Blue! try to make it a good night.

Beaumont vs Yucaipa-Freshman Football

Game #5 and only the second one I've been able to watch. I got to the game just before half time. Walking onto the field, Beaumont is making a Touchdown! Always exciting to watch your team doing that =)
I have Jose on the phone and am going around the bend to give him the score. I see Home: 27 and then I look at Away: 00...WHAT? REALLY? 00?
After getting over the shock of the score, Yucaipa is doing the return kick off. Ant plays in this play and I'm looking for him. I see a guy take down the Yucaipa guy who has the ball, but I can't see who it is. Then I see 3 guys down on the ground and who I thought was my son, being tackled.
Come to find out, the announcer states, "Number 33, Herrera, for the take-down".
WHAT!?!?!?! That would be MY BOY!
I get to the bleachers and hear again...#33, Herrera for the tackle...WHOOP WHOOP!
The game went on and it was really a tough game. Yucaipa played their hearts out, but Beaumont took it...
50-0
Our boys are 5 & 0!
I am one proud Mama!!!

Interception & a TD

Ant had game #2 tonight in Menifee playing against Herritage High School. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go because Little had Color Guard until 3:45 & Ant's game started at 4pm.
Just got a text and once again, Beaumont Freshman won...15-12.
Ant said he got an interception and almost made a touchdown! ACK, I'M SO FREAKING STOKED! My boy is doing so good in football. I am such a proud Mama!

I didn't post about this, but last Wednesday I ran into Ant's football coach. I stopped him to ask him about something else, but in the conversation he asked me about Ant.
He asked me if this was his first year playing. I told him it was. He stated, "he told me that, but I didn't believe him." He also went on to tell me that he is very impressed with Anthony. That his skills are up there with the kids that he's been coaching for 6-8 years. He expects Ant to be on the Varsity team if not next year, then his Jr. year for sure.
Coach Gabe Penna was telling me that he makes a list of his boys every season. He said he'll sit down and start writing down names as they come to his mind. Anthony was in the top 12...he was saying that's how impressed he is with him.
I'm just flabbergasted!!!!
My boy has a very promising future. Now to keep him focused and see that he has a lot at stake if he messes around.
God's hand is upon him either way!

Sports Orientation...My little boy is growing up =(

Didn't know how else to title this, but with what I'm gonna talk about.
Wednesday night Anthony & I went to the High School Sports Orientation. While it was pretty lame (due to the speaker they invited) it was kind of a sad/proud moment.
I sat with Kathleen's Mom (Ant's main squeeze's mom) and Linda Keck (Ant & her son Zach went to elementary school together). During the meeting I couldn't help but wander in thought about My Boy starting his new journey in life.
They showed pictures of kids who have achieved great things in their sports. One boy from Beaumont High now plays for the San Fransisco 49ers, another girl was presented an award...here is a blurb from the BHS sports website:
CHAMPION!!!

Junior Amanda Hendey has won the first state championship in Beaumont High School history. Amanda won the 126-lb. weight class at the girls' state wrestling championships at Hanford HS on Saturday by pinning her opponent in the 2nd period. Congratulations, Amanda! BHS is proud of you!

They spoke so much on the fact that they are very supportive of their athletes and want the best for them. How awesome to hear that? Especially from school staff!
After the speaker we were able to go meet the coaches. First was the football coach. I spoke to him regarding the rumors of the coaches not "allowing" the boys to play HS football and AYSO. He said that he would support Anthony, if that's what he wants to do, but wants Anthony at the practices and games. Which is understandable and already discussed to us with Lenny. Lenny (Ant's tournament soccer coach) is willing to allow Ant to practice with the football team during the week to get his conditioning and play him in the games on Saturday. Which is AWESOME! This is an awesome opportunity for Anthony to play both sports! OH, and the coaches to support him!
Next we went & spoke with the soccer coach (who just so happens to be the husband to Ant's old PE coach that kicked him out of her class. I think she had a crush on him & that's why she removed him, but whatever). He said that he wants Ant to only play soccer, not football. But that if he is skilled enough that he would work with him to play both sports. He is only taking 5 freshmen, so he will be holding try outs. He is going to have the boys go 1v1 to see their skills. Looking at the list, Ant will do really good up against the boys. We saw 2 boys that he would have good competition with.
After walking away, we were talking about GPA's and scholarships. Ant is stuck on "only needing to carry a 2.0 gpa". But if he wants a scholarship, he needs to focus on a 3.0 or higher. Which he is VERY capable of!
So, we are both really excited! I would LOVE to see my boy get a scholarship to college. He wants to go to USC, but God knows where he will be placed.
Looks like we are going to have our work cut out for us, but it will ALL be worth it in the end!
3 weeks of school left & my boy will be graduating from Jr. High!
Beaumont High School, Here We Come!