Red Hawks, Blue Dragons and Tired Twins

To be honest, I was relieved when both Blake AND Garrett announced they both wanted to play spring soccer. I was a little conflicted about having them on the same team since I have been trying to let each child find what they love and are good at to minimize competition with each other (and Blake just happens to love and be good at soccer). But since the boys were okay with it, I decided it would make my life easier too...and I was looking forward to having them at the same place, at the same time, and (hopefully) on the same team. Well, one out of three isn't bad, right?

As it turns out, although they are close in age, Blake was bumped up to the next division because he is already 8. So, while they play at the same field on the same day, they play an hour apart and on different teams. Since there are no weekday practices and games are kept to an hour, it is worth the 3 hours total we spend on the sidelines. Even if we do end up sacrificing naps for the twins.

Blake is on the Red Hawks team made up of mostly 9-10 year olds and is doing great! Since he's pretty tall for his age he fits right in and since the game is 4 on 4, he gets plenty of action. Blake is still not very aggressive, but he's really showing good control over the ball and can be counted on when it comes to passing. He's already showing dramatic improvement and his team has won all their games so far! Go Red Hawks!

Garrett is on the Blue Dragons and is loving his first experience with soccer! He gives 110% when he's on the field and really puts his heart into it! And the best part is that he loves it! Even after having to deal with being intentionally tripped by an opponent and running off the field in tears. After a short pep talk, he got right back out there and left it all out on the field. Way to go Garrett! I was extremely proud of the courage and determination he displayed in getting back in the game after he felt humiliated. Isn't that why we stand for 3 hours on the sidelines...so they can have opportunities to build their characters and learn how to adapt to winning and losing in life? I hope he can hold on to that moment for years to come.

Of course, all my observations are based on the limited amount of time I actually get to watch soccer, since my eyes are usually fixed on the two two-and-a-half year olds who are usually overtired (since soccer conflicts with nap time) and don't understand why the Tired Twins team doesn't get to run around on the field with their brothers. So they try to pass the time looking for bugs (and trying not to squeeze them)...

playing with rocks, eating LOTS of yummy snacks they don't usually get, and discovering the special "backpack" of toys that they only get at soccer. The twins are getting a little easier to manage but by the end of this long day the twins are making themselves makeshift beds with clean diapers for pillows and our picnic blanket for covers...when they aren't climbing INTO the stroller begging for a nap!

Only to fall deep asleep on the way home- at 4:30pm. Oh well, it's just one day a week. A small price to pay to see Hawks soar and Dragons slay.