Let the Games Begin!

Megan's soccer practice started back up last week. We specifically choose the league that starts early that way when all of your fall things start up; football, dance, co-op, cubscouts, daisies, her soccer season is almost at an end. Works out perfectly for us! Plus she only practices one night a week and when games start in August it'll be one game and one practice a week. Easy!

Last night I remembered my camera and snapped a few of our little soccer player ;)

We have a nice break from sports in the spring but around this time, the kids get excited to play again. Perfect timing!

Let the Games Begin!

Megan had her very first soccer game last Saturday! Due to not checking the schedule carefully, we arrived one hour early. GAH! Like we don't have anything better to do than sit around a soccer field watching other kids play! As luck would have it, they have a pretty nifty playground ;)

Then, finally, it was time! Megan did really well. A little tentative at first, but she soon caught on that the best way to actually get to kick the ball is to get in there and get it! Toward the end of the game, she scored her very first goal :)

G

Go Megan!

Sweet Little Soccer Player

Tonight, Megan had her first soccer practice, first sport practice of any kind for our little girl, and she had a ball! Last year when her brothers played, she told me she would like to play next year and now her time has come :) This afternoon she and I were sitting in the living room working on a craft and she told me she wanted to pray to God to not let it rain this evening and have her practice canceled. I told her she could absolutely ask God for that but she should also know that He might have other plans for the rain;) When we showed up for her practice it was pouring, but not for long. Almost exactly at 7:00, when her practice was starting, the rain practically stopped :) We had a little drizzle during her practice but not nearly enough to cancel practice and no thunder and lightning.

I took a crazy amount of pictures thinking that most of them weren't turning out but they did! And now I get to share them!

Just stinkin' cute! Tonight while I was putting her to bed, she told me she should have soccer practice every night :) I guess it's a hit!

Upwards Closing Program

Last week was the last soccer game of the season, but this past Saturday was the closing program. Since Upwards is a Christian program, there was lots of praise and worship throughout the program.

Some pictures from our morning:
Each child got a medal and a soccerball!

We very much enjoy this program and look forward to the next one!

Last Soccer Game

Of course it had to be in the rain! What a nasty morning. Our guys had fun anyway :)

Brandon had just kicked the ball here. Of course I'm not fast enough to catch him actually kicking it.
Nicholas' turn:
Here he is as goalie. He did a great job defending his goal :)
See his little celebration?? He's kind of behind the referee.
My soaked, little goalie...
It was a very wet morning but I was lucky to get a parking place up front so Megan could stay warm and dry in the van with Kung Fu Panda :) And, of course, I ducked in from time to time to sip my coffee and warm up!

We really loved our soccer season. The boys learned so much and had such a great time! I'm grateful that the Upwards season is early. We had the chance to enjoy almost the entire season in great weather.

We're thinking about basketball now. There's a church close by that offers Upwards Basketball so if the boys are interested, we may give it a try :)

He Shoots, He Scores!

It was Nicholas this time! He got his first goal today! I don't have any pictures but I didn't want to forget his very first goal! He was very excited :)

It's so funny to watch him on the field. When he pays attention and gets after the ball, he does good, but he doesn't always pay attention ;) This doesn't surprise me as this is his first year, it's just so cute though!

Brandon did good as well. No goals today, but he did make some very good passes and plays. I think he's really getting the hang of it.

So proud of my little soccer players! :)

Month of "Firsts"

A few months ago, we had a "month of lasts" where I posted, as we celebrated, some of Kristen's last special things from high school. Now it's time to celebrate the "firsts" coming up!

Today was the first soccer game of the season for our boys. The very first one ever for Nicky! They had a ball! They have been practicing so hard for the last few weeks and so today they were really excited about playing.

This is my first year having two kids in sports at the same time so I was a little nervous at how to divide my time because, of course, their games were at the same time ;) It ended up not being a problem at all! Their fields were right beside each other! Right from the start, Brandon was playing and Nicky was sitting out so we were at Brandon's field while still able to keep an eye on Nicky so we would know when it was his turn to play. When it was his turn we switched fields. Easy! As the games progressed, they did end up playing at the same time. Still, no problem since we could easily see each field no matter which field we were standing at!

Brandon scored his FIRST GOAL EVER! Of course I did not capture that on film as I was very busy shouting! It was very tense as the other team was right on him and they were all right in front of the goal kicking at the ball! Great job, Brandon! His star for the day, though, was for "most Christ-like behavior". That's the best star EVER!

Nicholas did really well too! He got right in there and went after that ball! His star for the day was "best goalie". He did great (well except near the end when he really wanted to chase the ball!)! Great job, Nicholas!

They will continue to have practice each week so the coaches can work on things they noticed from the games. Giving more informed directions based on observation. Should be fun!

Here's a few pics of my athletes :)

Our "month of firsts" started off with a bang!

Soccer Begins!

Last night, fall soccer season began. Brandon and Nicholas were really excited! Brandon has played before, but this is Nicholas' first year. I only managed to get pictures of Nicholas since every time we walked over to Brandon's team they stopped and did something sitting down! ~sigh~

The Upwards soccer program teaches kids the fundamentals of the sport while also teaching them good Christian sportsmanship. They focus not on scores, but on encouraging everyone to do their best. They also have a short devotional and a memory verse each week at practice. This weeks verse is, "Only the Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding comes from Him." Proverbs 2:6

Here's a few pictures of Nicholas at his very first soccer practice, I'll have to get some of Brandon next week!