This spring we let Finn try his hand at soccer again. We had him sit out in the fall because it was, well, a disaster. And most of the time he was running off the field crying to us and wanting to be a spectator. He just wasn't ready, and I was tired of being frustrated with my small child who really wasn't supposed to be performing like David Beckham anyway. So we backed off on all sports for the fall, let him practice with his big brother's team, and then decided to try again this Spring. And it was a good plan. Finn came out of the gate on fire and excited to play. He actually listened at practice and tried to get the ball! The biggest accomplishment this year, however, was that he sat on the bench with his team when it wasn't his turn to play and he never ran off the field to tell me something/sit with me/cry. Now, he came ready to play that very first game and we rewarded him with a DQ Blizzard because he scored 3 goals. But then his skill level went downhill from there and most of the time he was practicing skipping or spinning down the field as the ball rolled right by him. I got a laugh out of it, really, and chose to not get frustrated...because Hey! he was not coming crying to me. All in all, he was fun to watch and provided a good laugh most of the time. And he learned to listen to and take direction from someone else, and was able to burn some energy. Score!
Finn's first game (grey team):
Finley's last game was yesterday. We are in the MIDDLE of MAY and it was 51 degrees and windy. It was miserable. Thankfully the sun was shining, but oh-my-gosh we froze. Finn made some contact with the ball, and kicked it down the field a couple times but never towards the goal. But he seemed to be enjoying himself. And he got a medal!
Finn's team had professional pictures made. I tried to get a decent picture of the picture we purchased, but the quality isn't the best. But it's cute anyways so I included it:
Now for Keagan's soccer season. Keagan started off playing hard, even made a couple good shots during the first game, but his skills and teamwork really improved throughout the season. He was pretty consistent with scoring goals, but if he didn't score he definitely helped his team out and that was the best part. He gave the game a lot of energy and worked hard when it was his turn, cheered on his teammates when he was on the bench. The best part of the season, though, was seeing Keagan's character blossom. Soccer is a rough contact sport and these boys were no exception, but on more than one occasion I saw Keagan holler out to his teammate to see if he was ok when he got knocked down, whether Keagan was on the field or the bench. I also saw him stick out a hand to help a teammate up when play had paused and his buddy was on the ground. It made me exceptionally proud. He is right in the mix and doesn't shy away from the contact of the sport, but he also shows kindness when it is appropriate.
Keagan's first game: He definitely tried but the "every man for himself" mentality was still prevalent in his little mind, and his teammates as well. There was a lot of fighting over the ball and less passing and helping each other out.
Keagan's last game was awesome. Actually, the last several games were awesome. He played great, his team played great. They all tried, they communicated, and they worked together to move the ball down the field. It is almost like it clicked for these boys. The play was so fast and I was so into it that I didn't get as many pictures of Keagan as I did of Finn...but the ones I got I love!
At one point a cat ran onto the field! It was funny, and the boys got a kick out of it!
Medals and team pictures. They were told to act silly at one point, they didn't really do that but I got a zoomed in pic of Keagan and cracked up.
My soccer studs and their well-earned participation medals.
Gamma and Poppy came in this weekend for Keagan's preschool graduation and stayed to watch the boys play their last soccer game. And froze!
Before the games I took a couple pictures of the boys here at home. I told them to act tough, and then to smile. I got pretty much what I asked for. I might love being a soccer mom!
And now we move into a crazy 6-7 weeks of t-ball and baseball! Both boys are playing and, just as soccer has kept us running, so will baseball!! The only good thing is there are no weekend games...just weeknights. Games start tomorrow!!! (No rest for the weary)
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