Goal!

This year we thought it would be fun to sign both kids up for soccer as well as keeping up with activity days at church and ballet classes. I think I left the "thought" part out of the equation.

We were incredibly busy, especially after I was promoted from team mom to head coach of Andy's team when no other adults would step up. Thankfully, the boys were young enough to not notice that I had no idea what I was doing- the only rules they needed to know were: no hands, stay inside the lines, and kick it that way. I could handle that! We ended up with a small team, just 6 players compared to the 10 or 11 on most teams we played, but that just meant more playing time for everyone. By the end of the last game, every boy on the team had scored at least once. I figure that is as close as you can get to a successful season at that age.

Lenna played for the second time this year. Her team did much better than last year and Lenna really did well as her confidence grew. She scored her first goals, took a turn as goalie, and by the end was "Lightening Lenna" all over the field. She is growing into her long legs and is a really talented runner. She managed to keep up with her busy schedule pretty well but we both decided one extra curricular activity at a time is all we can handle.

It was also wonderful that Mike was out of school this year and was able to see many of their games and practices, as well as help me play taxi and keep Becca off the field while I ran Andy's practices. The kids loved having another proud parent there to cheer them on.

At the end of last game, everyone got a medal. We had a few extra from our team, so Becca and I got one, too. I think we earned them after four nights a week of soccer games and practices! Hooray for soccer, and hooray for the end of soccer season!

Note to future self

Some little gems of knowledge I would like to remember, so I am posting them here for future reference.

* If you drop a frozen pie crust when it is still very frozen, it will shatter into a million pieces.

* Do not buy Easter candy (or any holiday candy, for that matter) a month early "to have it done and over with". No matter how well it is hidden, you will not be able to resist the temptation to eat it yourself, and will have to go out and buy more at the last minute.

*Naked toddlers pee on things. No matter how much they struggle and protest, it "is" worth the fight to get that diaper on.

*Say no to the nice man at the YMCA who asks you to help out with your son's soccer team. You will most likely be the only volunteer and be promoted to head coach instead of team mom and snack coordinator.

*There is something hilariously disturbing in listening to 5 and 6 year old boys "talking smack" at each other over the goal line. Especially if they have no idea what they are saying.

*Don't bench your son, he will be "mad at you forever and ever". Don't play your kid more than everyone else so that he won't hate you- all the other parents will think you are playing favorites.

*Remind self that having 8 year old in ballet, soccer, and activity day girls with a 5 year old in soccer isn't so bad and is completely do-able. Unless they are all scheduled on Tuesday night. Then you will be sorry. And hungry. And always out of gas.

*Sunscreen, even if it is 35 outside when you leave in the morning. 4 hours later, you will be pink!

*If you see a pair of Elmo socks in the Target buy 4000 pairs. Because one will always get lost in the wash, and your daughter will wander the halls with one sock on looking fruitlessly for the other one calling "Elmo! Elmo! Elmo!" Until you both have a headache.

*Buy stock in antihistamines and Kleenex. Allergy season has arrived. In February.

*"Yoga-laties" is code word for "your stomach muscles will never forgive you." Don't be fooled by the word "beginner" in the class title. It just means you have to hold each pose longer while the teacher moves each person into position.

*Family-wide Sunday afternoon naps are wonderful and now mandatory for everyone. Even if mom is the only one who sleeps while the others play behind closed doors.

* Someday you will catch up the blog. Until then, take comfort in the fact that your loyal readers are waiting on the edge of their seats with baited breathe, eagerly anticipating your next delivery of witty and intelligent prose. Or, maybe they gave up following months ago and don't care what you write. Either way, it will all be ok in the end.

GOAL!!

(Click to enlarge)

For our first foray into organized sports, Lenna played spring soccer this year. She started out not knowing the difference between a cleat and a shin guard, but ended the season with promise. She really found her niche in an unexpected place, the goalie box. She loved that position and did really well. She played through a bruised/cracked tailbone, jammed fingers, and several balls to the face. Sadly, her most significant injury occurred when I shut her foot in the car door after a particularly long night. Sorry sweetie.

Her team only had two returning players (the rest were first-timers) so they didn't do so well statistically but the difference between their first and last game was amazing. If they all play together in the fall they will be great. Lenna is considering soccer academy for her summer camp to learn some more goal-keeping skills.

She really had a good time, which was the most important thing, right?

soccer sign ups

Ok fellow Georgians (I know this cross-posts to my family site and auto-emails to the far corners of the earth. Sorry. I know you have nothing to say regarding your program preference. I will forgive you for not commenting on this one.),

Lenna has asked to play soccer this year. I am inclined to honor her request, as this is the first thing she has shown an interest in since asking for a sequined jacket so she could look like Hannah Montana. I'll take the shin guards, please.

Anyway, for those of you have participated in this rite of passage before me, any suggestions on where to sign her up? I think I have three choices:

1. Columbia county at patriots park. costs $60 but is the farthest from my house.

2. Marshall Y- $75 but have to fight the least traffic to get to the AJCC for games.

3. Wilson Y- $75 and distance wise the closest to our house.

Is one program better than the other? Which is the least competitive? What freebies are included? Have a kid you are signing up and want to carpool? What junk will I have to buy?

Thanks for any help you can offer!