Fall Sports Come to an End

So this really happened a week or more ago at this point, but I'm behind as we all know.  All the kids' sports for the fall closed out.  Isaac's t-ball finished up.  Here is his team picture.

When handing out trophies, the coach made a point of saying how much Isaac has improved this season.

We had a pizza party in the freezing wind after the trophies were handed out.

Isaac's the tallest one in the back.  The girls in the back that is almost his size didn't come to a lot of the games, and that's why I thought he was by far the tallest one.

Drew's soccer ended as well.  He got a medal that he was not nearly as excited about as Isaac had been when he was in this soccer class once upon a time.  Drew made some improvements over the season, mainly not picking the ball up with his hands.  :)

Team picture

The girls finished up golf and I have no pictures of that.  They did not have an awards ceremony, but they were given a free (used) starter golf bag and clubs.  They are thrilled!  That First Tee program is really amazing.  They love it!

Now I have had a short reprieve from sports, mostly, until winter sports start up.  Genna already started gymnastics with some friend in the neighborhood.  Yay for carpool!  Hannah starts basketball practice this weekend.  The boys both opted for an indoor soccer clinic that worked out nicely where it is at the same time and place.  Yay for killing two metaphorical birds with one stone!

Drew's First Soccer Practice and his Third Birthday

Drew had his very first soccer practice on The Friday after we got back.  He got to wear his Superman shirt and socks that Uncle David got him.  He looked like a real soccer player, not like the three year old that kept picking up the ball with his hands when his feet couldn't quite make it do what he wanted.  Out of bounds is also a concept he did not get.

Drew had a pretty cute fan watching him play in his Spider man baby legs.

He was pretty proud of himself, huh?  He got a soccer stamp at the end.

The next day was his actual birthday.   He turned 3, and we let him open most presents first thing in the morning before the other kids left for German school.   He got an Avengers camping chair, Batman sheets for his new big boy bed, a Wolverine mask, and a Captain America book.  I saved one gift for later because I ended up exchanging it really quick.   He found these superhero mash ups at Target that he went nuts over.  So I took back the transformer to get one of those.  It was a big hit!

After his birthday shower, he got to have his birthday dessert with me on the kitchen counter.  He helped me make Ritz crackers with melted Rolos in the middle.

We spent the evening and dinner in the culd-de-sac with friends.   Then he helped me make the Ritz cracker dessert.   His real birthday dinner out was the next night so we could capitalize on the free kids meals on Sunday again.  We met some friends we hadn't seen in over a month.

I love this boy!   He is full of cuteness and personality! 

Soccer comes to an end so basketball can begin.

 All three big kids were in different classes, but all at the same basic time which was great for me and the only way they got to play the indoor winter session to be honest.  Isaac and Genna got medals in their classes.  Hannah's was a skills clinic for older kids so she was still playing when I took these pictures. Genna got an extra medal to give to her sister since they were giving away the extras to the siblings.

Isaac is so much bigger than all the other kids.  The class is for 3-5 yr olds and he is right in the middle of that age group.

Genna's class was for 5-7 yr olds.

 Basketball starts on Friday, but just for the girls!

First Goal!!!!!!

Hannah scored her first goal EVER in the last few minutes of the last game of the season! Drew was in the sling asleep on me, and I was standing behind our goal on the other side of the field helping coach Genna as goalie and the defense when it happened. I jumped in the air and cheered. I was so proud that tears came to my eyes. Several of her teammates gave her a group hug. It was the cutest thing ever.

My camera battery had died right before we left for the game so I didn't get any pictures of it. Here are the pregame pictures I took before heading to the game.

Genna got her first trophy ever and was super excited. She has been looking forward to this moment all season. Speaking of Genna, she is an excellent goalie. Not one ball got by her during this game. I think the reason goalie is her best position is because it doesn't involve running or her feet. :) Maybe basketball will be her thing.

An induction into the society of die hard soccer moms

Hannah almost got a goal three different times. Poor thing! In the rain, she really needed a better mom. One who would have spent the money on cleats! I have been guilted into it by all the slips and falls she took on the slippery grass.

Genna did a much better job at goalie this time. She didn't let any get by her. She did get bored at one time though and started waving to Isaac and me.

I feel like a real soccer mom now! I have officially sat through a game in 50 degree weather with high winds and light rain with a newborn. That doesn't mean I wasn't secretly hoping that they would call the game off by half time. Don't tell!

So long soccer. Until next year.

Hannah had her last soccer game of the year today and got her trophy. She has improved a lot this season and has really started enjoying it too. So that makes me one happy mom! She was so excited after her practice this week because she scored a couple of times and stole the ball from someone. She did pretty well today too. They put her in as goalie the last quarter, and Brian and I both turned to each other and said, "Oh, no" because she is not one to sacrifice her body to stop the ball. She stopped the first ball, but then one got by her when she tried to go and get it and then chickened out when the other team's player ran at her and the ball. I told her later that if she is going to commit by leaving the goal to get the ball, she better throw herself on top of that ball come what may. Brian stood behind the goal and helped coach her since this was the first time she ever played goalie. She was super hyper after the game and so pumped about her trophy.

Next up, my personal favorite, basketball! I volunteered to coach. I have until January to get her ready for the season.

Extracurricular Activities

Genna is doing a creative dance class for this 10 week session through the local Parks and Rec. This is her first class without Hannah. We think one activity for each of them is all we can handle right now which makes these 10 week sessions great for trying different things out to see what they enjoy and where their talents lie. So far, parents are not allowed in the studio so I have not seen her dance. The class suites her free spirit though. The last class will be a performance for the parents. I can hardly wait!


An update on Hannah's soccer: She is improving every week, and it is so fun to watch! Two weekends ago she was treated to a spontaneous special ice cream trip with her dad because she got hit in the stomach and didn't cry this time. I was just so proud of her that I thought she needed something special. She is making contact with the ball a lot more often too. We are currently trying to get her to get in front of the other team during throw-ins. She is getting closer, but not quite in front of them. I love going to her games every Saturday!

The Soccer Decision

Hannah always said that soccer was a boy game and she had no interest in playing. However, after our mini soccer lesson back during B week and they announced at church the extended deadline for registration, she said she wasn't sure. So we were discussing as a family what she was unsure about and it comes out. The truth I already suspected, she wasn't sure about the clothes she would have to wear. Figures. My little princess doesn't like clothes that are tight, itchy, have buttons or zippers, have layers, or are puffy. And the list goes on. We make her wear things she doesn't like sometimes since her list is very limiting. She didn't want to have to wear the shin guards, thick and long socks, and tennis shoes for two hours a week. We talked her through that issue and said it is only 6 or 7 weeks and only a couple of hours a week. She agreed to try it for one season and see if she liked it. Here's my soccer girl!

Ok, so she needed a pre-game pep talk since the shin guard-sock-shoe combo didn't feel good. But she is a cutie despite the pouting.

Warm-up time

She ran a ton!

She tried her best!

She is a little timid, and we will have to work on being a little more aggressive. I think she thought they were supposed to share the ball with her so she could have a turn too. I guess I have to explain this is the only time she is allowed to take things away from someone else, huh?

She had fun, at least until the last thirty seconds when she got the ball kicked into her stomach. That was a bummer, but a learning experience also.

Genna and Isaac are chomping at the bit to play soccer one day as well. I hope some of them play sports long term because I love being a soccer mom! I bet my parents are looking at these pictures think it brings them back to when I played soccer. I think I looked just like this little girl with blond braids running around in a pack of kids trying to learn to play soccer. Go #10!