HI ALL!! Just so you know – SOCCER IS FUN AND HAPPENING ON THE EAST COAST TOO!! And the Normand Clan knows that first hand because a couple of weekends ago the whole family spent two days soaking up ‘INTENSE’ soccer ‘FEVER’ and ‘FUN’!!

The Volkswagen Company is a sponsor for the local DC United team whose home field is RFK Stadium in Washington DC. With VW as a sponsor, lots of the players drive VW’s and recently Andy has been working on Brian Namoff’s car – he’s one of the players (the cute blonde) and he got tickets for the family to enjoy a Saturday game, sitting in the ‘FAMILY SECTION’ really close to the field. They played ‘Chivas-USA’ but sorry to say, they didn’t win!

Then, everyone got to come back the next day for a day-long ‘SOCCER CAMP’ and ‘MEET AND GREET’ the players!! Shawnna looks really good out there on the field with Brian and Drew looks cute with the ball. I know one day he will be taller than Shawnna, even if it doesn’t look like it now. There was even a ‘VW Mechanic’s Shop’ on site, where you could see the new model VW's and they even had a REAL BIG VW BUG for everyone to sign. There's Shawnna getting ready to put her 'JOHN HANCOCK' on the fender! And, let’s not forget those cute little ‘VW BUGS’ they had for the younger guys to drive – Drew looks like he knows what he’s doing. They were actually cars that had motors, so Drew really had lots of fun! He's had so much experience driving those little cars, that by the time he gets to the 'real thing' he'll be a PRO!

The fun part of the 'MEET AND GREET' was getting autographs of the players and having your pictures taken with them too! Even Ninha got in on the action! A couple of the players are Brasilian so was fun for Ninha and Andy to talk with them. Everyone looks like they were having fun! Brian took everyone on a tour of the locker room. There's Shawnna and Drew trying out the 'seat' in Namoff's locker!

Hopefully I get the pictures and the names straight. There's Shawnna and Drew with Gonazlo Peralta. Shawnna and Drew with Brian Namoff and Ben Olsen. Shawnna and Drew with Jaime Moreno. Ninha, Shawnna and Drew with Luciano Emilio. Ninha, Shawnna and Drew with 'FRED' (he only goes by Fred, kind of like a 'Cher' thing). The last pics are of Ninha, Shawnna and FRED sitting on the sidelines - looks like fun, huh!! Wish I could have been there too!!

Take care till' next time!

Love, Grandma TaTa