Sports Season

I have a love hate relationship with sports. I love that my kids participate in sports but I hate the time that you have to invest into practices and games.

This is Madison's 4th year playing soccer and every year I think I should sign her up for private instruction or put her on a private league but then I remember that I'm cheap and so I don't do it. However, this year she's at a point where she won't progress much more without guidance. So we broke down and got her a soccer tutor. It is amazing how much difference it has made and I wish we had done it sooner.

However there is one problem Madison seems to have at every practice and every game--she can't seem to keep her shoes tied. Seriously, her shoes are NEVER tied.

Have I mentioned that I love my new camera?  Because I really really do. It makes sitting for an hour in the freezing cold almost worth it.

Soccer Star

This year Chase decided to try his hand at soccer.  At first he was upset that Levis and cowboy boots weren't part of the uniform, but ten minutes on the field and he forgot all about it.

After a few short weeks he changed from a little boy who stood on the side lines to a little boy who charges onto the field with a battle cry.

It doesn't hurt that he's met a cute girl or two.

Four's My Lucky Number

Last night when Madison started her fourth season of soccer she'd never made a goal. However, during last nights game she made not one, not two, but . . . .


THREE goals! In fact one of the goals she made off the goalie's face. I told her I was proud of her and she said, "Thanks, but I'm not really surprised because it's my fourth season and four is my lucky number."

Fourth season, four goals (I think the one off the goalie's face should count double), and fourth grade. It's bound to be a good year.

Last Game

Madison had her last soccer game last night. She ended the season with some fantastic soccer ball to face contact. I think Michael caught it on video tape-- poor girl. Yet, despite her first taste of soccer induced pain, she is not only willing, but excited to sign up for the fall season. I on the other hand am excited about not having to work soccer practice and games into my already crazy busy schedule for a few months. I wish I'd thought of that before signing the boy up for T-ball.

Because it was Madison's last game I wanted to get some good pictures. Unfortunately I wasn't particularly successful. Every time I tried to take a picture Chase would jump in front of the camera and laugh.

The boy was determined to have me document his newly made-up karate moves. "Take a picture of me doing this, mom!" Insert crazy karate type movements here.

However, with a little patience and some serious zooming in I managed to get this shot. Madison is 1/4 to 1/2 the size of the other girls on the team, but that doesn't mean much when she's got her elbow in your stomach. She may be small but she's tough.

The Big Game

Yesterday was Madison's first soccer game. Her team pretty much got their trash kicked. I think they got beat 5 to 0. They had NO idea what they were doing. It was pretty funny. All the girls followed the ball around the field like a swarm of starlings. At half time they got confused because they didn't realize they had switched sides.

When Madison got to try out being the goalie she did a really great job. She was right in there grabbing the ball--apparently she has no fear of being kicked in the face. I over heard a little girl from the other team telling her dad she "just couldn't get the ball past that little girl." Kai told her she played so well that she "freaked him out."

She had so much fun, I'm not even sure she knows they lost.