Busy Holiday weekend

     We had a busy holiday weekend at the ESPN WIDE WORLD of SPORTS COMPLEX at DISNEY. Austin's team "Nature Coast Soccer" attended the Soccer tournament. Please check back later on his page for video's and other pictures as I still have to collect and edit it all together. But below are a few that I have already downloaded.

HOLY HAIL

It's not the biggest and it's not the first time but it is the most I've seen at one time and am curious of any damage if any in the area.

2013 Dance pictures

Here are a couple of pictures, look for more to be posted on Tricia's page and video will follow.

ACCEPTED!

     As posted earlier that Austin applied to attend the Academy of Environmental Science. The school only had 50 positions open for the freshmen class as the school itself holds a max of 90 students total. He is excited to be accepted as he got the letter today!  

The accomplishments for the school 

2012 Regional Science Fair: All 10 high school projects selected for State Science Fair Completion were AES students.

Geometry 2012: Top 23% of Schools in Florida (195/818)

Biology 2012: Top 11% of Schools in Florida (71/672)

Selected as one of the "Best High Schools" (2010) by US News & World Report

     If you would like to see more refer to the earlier post and follow the link to AES. 

Pipers Face Painting

Fun day at the Homosassa State Park. This is Piper's Face Painting video.

Fun day getting wet

     The kids came to me and asked me to film the prank. So I stayed inside and filmed it from the window and out of site. Even though I knew the plan I admit didn't think it was going to go over as well as it did. Watch the video below.

Weekend Adventure

     Had a nice few days off with the family this weekend and we did some cave exploring and hiking in the trails of the Withlacoochee State Forest. A lot of walking I admit but it was nice weather and we all enjoyed it so I just thought I'd share some pictures here.

     More pictures of this weekend have been posted on the pictures page (Link on the right side in blog)  If you'd like to come along with us on this adventure and view my manatee experience look for the video link on the right as well.

Report Cards

     Just wanted to blog as a proud parent to two wonderful youths. (kids is not politically correct)  Both Austin and Tricia made A B honor roll.  

     Tricia's is working on her up coming Tropicana Speech with a funny and catchy topic "Surviving the Snore" about how she deals with a house of snoring people. She says I snore, however there is no proof of this! I still wish her luck.

     Austin's application for AES is in and application deadline is April 6th and we have been told we should receive a notification sometime in the middle of April. We hope he gets in but there are only 50 openings for students for the entire county.  They say it's a Lottery picking system to get in, however I think there are students that are qualified more than others.  Such as higher GPA's, teacher recommendations, student and parent interests (engagement) among other factor's.  Here again we wish and hope for the best for him.  He will have a good freshman year regardless.

Austin Art

Austin's art on display at the mall. A nice award that his art was chosen from peers to be one of a few from his school. He did't think all that much of it, so he says.

     Later tonight is his high school open house where we are planning and hoping to get answers to a lot of questions for both us as parents and for him as the student. We are planning to explore both campuses. We applied for him to attend the Academy of Environmental Science Program (AES) and have not got acceptance yet. So at this point we don't know what school to attend at open house. AES or Crystal River High. (CRHS) (AES is a program offered at CRHS) As we understand, this allows Austin to participate in CRHS soccer program which is also a major important issue for Austin. We have been told that if you attend the open house at AES You have a bigger and better chance of being accepted. Open house at AES is from 5-8 and Crystal River is from 6-7. We will post more about this subject on his page.

Video on Austin's Page

     Placed 1st in the boys Long Jump for Citrus Springs Middle School at it's first Track Meet against three other schools including Lecanto Middle, Seven Rivers Christian and The Villages with the record jump of 16ft 3 inchs! Check out the video on Austin's page.

IT'S OFFICIAL HE'S OFFICAL

     Austin took the test today in Brooksville and passed! So I want to congratulate him here by posting a picture of his achievement.

Region Cup Tournament

     Here is some of the events and video's from this weekend.  You can find more about this weekends video's and picture's and updates on Austin's Page (Link located on the right side on the blog.)

KEEP AN EYE ON THE CENTER #12

Updated Austin's Page

     Just wanted to let everyone know that I updated Austin's page. I know that some of you get an e-mail when I post to this page but not on the kids, so this is just an fyi to let you know to check out their pages too. Their links are on the right.

Our complete bench!

Ours is complete!

Austins Page

Check out Austin's page for today's soccer update.

ROLL WITH IT

     We have discussed the options to Austin about his choice of schools he would like to attend next year and their programs that they offer.  He is zoned for Crystal River under the new rezoned lines.  He was given the choice if he wanted to attend Lecanto and continue to play soccer with coach Deem on junior varsity. 
   
     Austin chose to go with Crystal River for many reasons. He already knows friends that attend the school and on the soccer team. Austin plans to play soccer for school and hopes to make the varsity team his freshman year. This years varsity team has 16 seniors graduating and Austin has a good chance of making the varsity team with his 3 years of competitive soccer experience. Austin will continue to play competitive soccer for Nature Coast.

     Austin also chose Crystal River because of their Academy of Environmental Science program. This program is only available to select students who apply and meet certain requirements as Austin has applied and now has to wait to see if he is accepted into this program.

     As an added note I want to congratulate both Austin for making AB Honor Roll & Tricia for making AB Honor Roll for a second time with all A's and 1 B. Keep up the good work.

OF ALL THE YEARS??????

     It hasn't been an issue for over six years. However now that Austin is going to be in the high school they (the school district) choose to rezone.  

Citrus County school leaders will not redraw district lines for elementary schools.

According to Bay News 9's partner paper, the Citrus County Chronicle, the school board will still move forward with a rezoning plan for Crystal River and Lecanto high schools. The move could affect 160 students in the Citrus Springs-Pine Ridge area.

Board members said they decided against rezoning the elementary school students because they thought it would cause anxiety for parents and children while solving few of the schools' population problems.

A final decision on the rezoning is expected in April.

     Austin knowing that he is zoned for Lecanto has been looking forward to attending this school and it's soccer program, as it holds championships in the past. Austin also has been working with the soccer coach for the past 2 years. Lecanto's coach Troy Deem has seen, watched and coached Austin. All in all we think Lecanto High is the better school although Crystal River High is closer, up until now we were zoned for Lecanto why do changes have to happen now?

Updates and Important up coming dates

     A lot of news to cram into this update. Where to start....... Let's start with the up coming important dates on the calendar excluding birthdays. Tricia has The Show Stopper's Dance Competition on May 3-5 in Lakeland. Tricia's dance recital is on May 11, 2013.

     Austin's soccer team has made the Region Cup Tournament. At this time we know the teams we are up against and that it will be held the last week of Feb. or first week of March, time and place TBA.

     Also it has come to my attention that there might be an opening for the over night shift in Inverness. I am thinking heavily on taking  this opportunity as they don't open up often. At this time the pro's are out weighing the cons. 

Austin's Page

     Check out the latest updates about Austin's soccer games.  Read all about it, get the scoop on the up coming games, pictures, links to the teams standings and much more.  

JUST FYI

     Just wanted to update everyone that I received my new cell phone battery today a full four days early! So after I charge it tonight I will be ready to start the NEW YEAR off right. SO HAPPY NEW YEAR!