Much to my heart's delight, the boys wanted to try soccer this year. They said they want to try each sport until they pick their favorite. It was so fun to watch them play! The coaches often needed help at games or practice so both Mark and I got to be involved and part time coaches. Running all over the field with my boys' teams was so fun.
Shortstop definitely improved throughout the season. At first he was very distracted and super confused. But his logical and methodical brain worked out how to follow through on plays and be a part of the game without having to be the fastest or the best kicker. His team name was Firewolves.
Fullback was suuupper nervous the first game and actually cried the whole time. It was sad and cute all at the same time. His little face was red and his body was tense but he kept running and trying his best. He wanted to push through it and be brave so through tears and fears, he made sure he was involved in all the plays. Every once in a while he would run over to the sideline, ask me to hold him, then shake it off and run back out...usually still wiping tears off his little chubby cheeks. I was so proud of him and more than that he was proud of himself. He said on the way to the car "Mom...I did it! I pushed through and I finished the game and I did it!" His team name was Golden Aliens.
Seriously...how cute are these boys learning how to high five as a team?!
The boys loved watching each other and of course getting treats at the end of each game. The nice thing about how they set up soccer this year is that in the Spring it will be the same team and the same coach so hopefully those nerves they both had at the beginning of the season will not be as strong since they will be familiar with who they are playing with.
I signed Fullback up for some itty bitty football and his cousin Nick did it as well. Again, he was nervous the first day and emotional but got over it quickly and then loved going each day after that. I try really hard not to force my kids to do things but when they say they want to be a part of something and are all signed up, I want them to follow through. Then if they hate it, they never have to do it again.
There was one drill where I could tell he was nervous...it was flag football drills. So I stood at the other side of the room and yelled for him to just run to me. Man alive that kid was fast and he ran straight to me. You think they will let me do that when he is in high school and I am in the end zone?
Shortstop did his school jog-a-thon again this year. He really wanted to beat last year's number of laps but they did them differently so we are not sure which year had more but he did great. He was encouraging to other kids, loved high fiving Fullback as we cheered him on and felt very proud of himself for not giving up when he was tired.
And ACE just tags along and is happy to be there. Love this girl!
She was bound and determined to suck on that thumb to keep herself occupied while watching her brother
