Always On My Team

Tonight was the first time he laced up his cleats...



joined others on the field...




dribbled the ball and fought the temptation to pick up the ball when it got away from him



and gave soccer a try!



Carter enjoyed his first soccer practice... and as for me?

I don't know if I was more excited to watch him play, or to find out that the ball we bought him matched the team shirt they gave him at practice to wear each week, which wound up matching the goal for a super-cute color-coordinated picture!

Seriously, though, it was an absolute joy watching him! I don't think I stopped smiling the entire hour. Between silent giggles at the parents yelling at their son to "Go get it! Go get it!" as if we were in the midst of the World Cup playoffs, and the little girl who continually picked up her soccer ball every time someone else got near her, I watched Carter.

I watched him think. I saw his little brain spinning as he processed all the rules...

"Tip my foot so I kick the ball with my shoe laces... keep the ball close to me... turn my body so that others won't take the ball from me..."

I saw him make choices.

"Should I go get a drink right now because I'm really thirsty, or should I wait here until Coach says it's time for a drink break?"

"Should I help the little boy that just fell down, or take the ball from him because he's not on my team and head down the field to make a goal?"


My heart smiled when Carter stopped, looked our direction, and gave us a smile and wave.

I don't know if this is the start of many years of soccer-playing, or if he'll decide to hang up his cleats after this 6-week session is over.

What I do know is that it was pure joy watching him tonight...

and I am so happy he's always on my team.

She is...

... spunky.

... delightful.

... strong-willed.

First Days of Kindergarten (2009), 1st Grade (2010) and 2nd Grade (2011) with Dad

She is kind-hearted.

... thoughtful.

... silly.

First Days of Kindergarten (2009), 1st Grade (2010) and 2nd Grade (2011) with Mom

She is growing up.


(More on Rylee's start to 2nd grade to come...)

Today

We spent today at the lake...

swimming,





sweating,

eating snacks,

trying to avoid the rowdy group of young adults using inappropriate words and indulging heavily in adult beverages,

taking walks hand in hand,



and stopping along the way for smiles




and funny faces,



applying sunscreen every 47 seconds because of sunburn paranoia,

fishing,



and enjoying the beautiful day!

The holiday is a tough one to explain to young kids... to them, today was a day Dad didn't have to work, Mom tried telling them about something (or was it someone?) called "America", and their neighbors made lots of noise outside which would have made it difficult to fall asleep had they not been completely exhausted from the fun day! (Some day they will understand the importance of this day!)

We will soon post our annual 4th of July family photo! (You know... after we take it.)

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Sportsmanship and Dirt

I am not big on competition. I am usually the one that feels more bad for the team who loses than happy for the team who wins.



(I do know that conversations, car rides and overnight stays with Jordyn following softball games are much more pleasant when her team has won.)



But, what I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing is Jordyn grow as a player over the years.



I remember when I first met her at six years old... she was a good player -- hitting, fielding, pitching -- but her attitude and sportsmanship was... well, in need of some work.



But let's be honest. It's hard as an adult to handle pressure and disappointment...



so for a six-year-old? Yeah, it's tough.



(Jordyn was picked up by another team, the Sioux Falls Flash, to play in a tournament 4th of July weekend... hence the different uniform!)



Today, at 16, Jordyn has great sportsmanship.



She has found that delicate balance --



the drive and determination to win,



and the accepting attitude that comes along with loss.



She's got a lot going for her...



and I can't wait to see where softball takes her!

* * * * *

Though Carter loves his big sister, I don't think it's necessarily her softball-playing that draws him to the field.


I think it's the dirt.



I mean, with all the dirt just laying around, what's a 4-year-old boy to do but sprinkle himself with it?



Carter has also become a big fan of ball retrieval. The moment a ball is hit outside the fence, he's scanning the crowd to see if there are any other kids he's going to have to out-run to make it to the ball first.






And when there's a lull in the game, shouting "Blue!" and tossing the ball over the fence to the umpire... well, it doesn't get much better than that.



(We're grateful to have had some very patient umpires... it doesn't always make it over on the first toss!)

* * * * *

(Note: Rylee's not a fan of softball games this season, so we're finding her fun babysitters or wonderful grandmas to stay with her!)

Wordless Wednesday (Sand Angels)