Soccer Game #1, Season #2

Doug and I just can't get over the growth/maturity in Madeline just since the last season she played soccer! She seems so much more skilled, focused and brave. The entire season last year, we would have never seen her this close to the action:
Ready to kick off (by the way, although the playing with the hair was a regular occurrence last season, this had to be the only time she did it this whole game):

OUR BABY GIRL KICKED THE BALL!!!!! The ENTIRE season last time, Madeline didn't touch the ball one single time in any game... but this game, she was aiming to score!!!

The boy on our team, behind her ended up scoring for us! We were so excited for her "assist." On another note, the girl playing defense was on Madeline team last year (they were so excited to see each other!) and her little brother is there playing too! How cute!

I have to share this next picture. I took it just because I was sitting there on this beautiful day, watching our "baby" playing an organized sport...with teammates....and a coach....and a jersey... it's kind of corny, but it just gives me goosebumps sometimes to sit back and realize our little baby...is growing up:

...and her little brother is just content playing in dirt:

Soccer....Round 2

Madeline had her first soccer practice of this season last Tuesday! I was surprised by how excited about it she was, since last season she seemed considerably uninterested in playing. She enjoyed bits and pieces of the practices (primarily the socializing, as usual), but would just play with her hair, pick at the dirt, and run in the opposite direction of the ball. But when I asked her if she wanted to sign up again...she was excited! So last Tuesday we got her dressed up for practice and she ran right out front with her ball to get warmed up.I was thrilled with who she got as a coach this time!! The lady from last season was very nice and meant well...but just not a teacher, and not a soccer player. This guy coaches girls high school soccer and is awesome with the kids. There was never a second of down time, therefore no repeated herding was necessary.

Madeline has shown a lot of improvement in "class settings" with understanding the processes of things, but there's one this we still have to work on: The girl just loves to talk. I blame it on my mother. Madeline just has it in her genes and can't help it. She's getting much better though with finding the appropriate times to talk. Her ballet teacher says she's shown tremendous improvement :) and therefore her skills have shown tremendous improvement.She played the entire 45 minutes practice without touching her hair or dirt/grass once! And she looked awesome out there!!

Still her favorite part "GO BLITZ!!"

Madeline's Last Soccer Game

October 1, 2010
The boys joined us to watch Madeline's last soccer game of the season:
I believe this was Madeline's only contact with the ball during a game...and it was set there by a coach for a foul shot:

Next to the cheer at the beginning of the game, this is her favorite part:

If I had known she was going to get a medal we totally could have convinced her to touch the ball more!! When she found out she was getting a "gold medal" she was ecstatic!!!!

The team minus one. Go Cosmos!!!

We let Madeline choose a special place to go to eat to celebrate the end of a great first season of soccer. She chose her favorite place these days, Evans Diner:

Goodbye to two nights a week at the soccer field! What will we do???

Some Odds and Ends

09/17/10
In case you ever wanted to know what he looks like when "talking" to you on the phone:
Madeline's favorite part of soccer...the cheer:

A common occurrence during games (playing with dirt/picking grass):

09-18-10

Madeline was invited to a b-day party of a boy on her soccer team. The party was the following morning at a park, so that night she helped me make him a cape (and then made sure it worked):

09-19-10 I don't have many pictures of Daddy's boo-boo, but here's one from 13 days post surgery...healing nicely!

Ethan and his buddy, Aidan, playing dress-up and tea party:

Soccer Mom?

A couple months ago we signed Madeline up for soccer too. It's through the YMCA and she goes 2 days a week for a 45 minutes each time. One day they practice and the other day is a game. She missed the first two practices because we were out of town, but here she is ready for her first practice:
Waiting for Daddy to get home:

She was so excited that Daddy would be able to go with us:

So, we arrived at practice about 40 minutes early. Having missed the first two practices, I wasn't aware that the time wasn't the same as when we signed up. So Daddy and the kids played for a bit while we waited for others to show:

She barely survived her first practice because she was over hungry and over tired before it was over. We will plan better for future practices/games.

The following morning, she was to have a soccer game (normally they will be on Fridays, but for some reason, the first one was being held on Saturday morning). So after a good night's sleep and a good breakfast, Madeline was ready! I was a little worried that she wouldn't be excited to go since the previous day she had had such a hard time making it through the practice, but she was still excited. I had a pink water bottle ready for her to take, but she wanted a green one to match her green game shirt (the girl cracks us up!).

Doing the pre-game cheer, "Go Cosmos!!"

Madeline is #6:

She ran the entire game (sometimes towards the ball)! And even when it was her turn to sit on the sidelines for a little bit, she couldn't wait to get back in!

Clarifying which goal to hit the ball towards. Madeline told her, "but my Mommy said to hit it in that one." I'm just going to keep my mouth closed from now on.

Giving Daddy five after the game:

We had a great time as a family at her first soccer game :) Looking forward to many more :)