4 year olds and soccer

I thought it only seemed fitting to blog about Eli's first organized sport experience since his last soccer game was yesterday.  What a season.  

FYI, this is a LONG post.  If you don't want to read all about my experience with Eli and soccer, just scroll to the pictures....they are at the bottom.  I swear:)

Where to begin.....

Eli was finally old enough to join in some sports this year.  I was so excited to get him signed up for something.  This kid is so active and loves to be outside, so I thought he would love anything we signed him up for.  We went with soccer.  We are a soccer family around here:)  We had to sign up through the YMCA because he was just a few weeks too young to play for AYSO.  It didn't really matter where we put him, we weren't expecting much out of him because he's four and he's never played before:)  We put him on the same team as his best friend, so we figured we'd be set and he'd be pumped and ready to go every week.

Man, my low expectations of soccer for Eli weren't aimed low enough apparently.  I suppose I forgot (or maybe intentionally tried to forget) how hard it is to get Eli out of the house for ANYTHING!  That kid loves to be home.  Not. Even. Kidding.  I'm pretty sure he could not leave our property for 2 weeks straight and be happy as a clam.  Add to that that our first "practice" was during his first week of preschool and he was adjusting to being gone all morning 4 days a week.  That seriously cut into his train playing time!

Needless to say, all those factors combined, getting Eli to soccer was sort of worse than getting cavities filled.  Not to mention that B had soccer practice himself, so I was doing it all solo.  Imagine tears, fits, kicking, ect.  And that was just trying to get the darn shin guards on!  Then I still had to get the other two loaded up in the car.  Before soccer even started I sort of hated it:)  I figured once we got there things would be better.  As much as Eli hates going places, once he's there, he usually does fine.  

This was not the case with soccer.  Practice didn't go much better than getting him there.  He refused to do anything.  Even with his bff there, he just flat out refused.  I was useless because I was ticked off and had to other two to keep an eye on by myself too.  Anytime I'd walk away, Parker would cue the waterworks and Kamdyn would follow me.  So pretty much I was in tears by the end of our first soccer practice for a four year old!!

With that being the start of the season, I definitely had no expectations for Eli when it actually came to game time.  I figured he might be a really great benchwarmer:)  His first game was cancelled due to rain. I was secretly kind of glad because I was dreading getting him dressed and out of the house.  Figured it would be better if daddy was there to help though.  Well, his second game (actually the first he played), B had a soccer tournament:(  So I was flying solo again.  Insert sad music.  Getting Eli out of the house was just as hard as it was for practices.  But we got there.  I hoped he would get going once he saw all his team and got to playing.  Once again, no dice.  I was done with it all.  Pretty much in tears again, I sat him on the bench told him to sit there if was wasn't doing anything and that I was going to watch everyone else.  He was happy to sit there for a while.  But, the guy that runs the group practices (they had a 30 minute practice to teach fundamentals before each game) went up to him and got him to go on the field.  YAY!  I was so glad he was actually doing something.  He actually participated in the whole practice!  I was nervous about game time and whether or not he'd actually do anything.  Thankfully he did.  I was so grateful to the guy that went up to him and got him to go on the field.  Soccer season could have been really long (who am I kidding, it was long enough anyways!) had he not made the effort to go over to him and spend 5 minutes with him on the field before his first game.  

Watching 4 and 5 year olds play soccer is so funny.  Or mabye it's just our four year old.  Eli got to play on the field at the same time as his friend the first game.  He just chased Grey around.  So stinking funny.  He even told us that.  He had fun chasing Grey around:)  After that first game, they never played at the same time again......his coach was probably hoping for better things if they weren't on the field at the same time:)  He never got aggressive and went for the ball.  The only time he kicked the ball all season was when he was practicing or when his coach made him kick in to his teammates:)  He was actually a hoot to watch.  Very easily distracted and could care in the least about what was actually going on on the field.  He just ran behind the pack.  Got distracted by airplanes hopped around.  What a goof.  But he was out there and having fun.  That's all we cared about.  And we got a good laugh every Saturday morning:)  

Soccer for Eli wasn't anything like I expected.  But that's ok.  He actually ended up having a little fun and he was active.  Brian and I could care less if soccer is a sport he likes or not.  We just want our kids to be active and involved in stuff.  We gotta start somewhere.  So maybe soccer isn't for him.  And maybe we will try something different next year.  Oh boy, I'm dreading it already.....

Anyways, the Bumblebees (his team:)) ended up being undefeated (I think....so not one of those moms that keeps track of that stuff.  I was just glad we could get him on the field for 12 minutes of every game!  The little things in life....).  I'm hoping if we decide to do something next year it's not so much of a challenge to get him to participate since he's used to it now.

And for reading that very long post, enjoy some pictures from his first game!

Lately

I know at this point in my blogging history, you guys don't' expect much of me.  That's a good thing, because I'm not promising I will ever actually keep this thing updated:)  I don't feel like lugging my big camera around half the time, so I use my phone to take lots of pictures for most of our day to day life.  Therefore, the pictures that ARE on my camera go un- uploaded for a very long time.  But here's to turning over  a new leaf!  Especially now that soccer season is nearing an end for Brian and he will be home more to help me chase the kids around. 

But since I finally got around to uploading pictures of our adorable kids yesterday, I thought I'd share what we've been up to lately:)

My baby turned one back in August.  Insert sad sappy music and tears.  Parker is the most handsome little man and I sure do love him heaps.  Same goes for the other two as well....Parker just doesn't really talk back to me yet and I am the center of his world still, so it makes him extra loveable:)  Gotta enjoy it while I can!

Anyways, because I love taking pictures, I decided to attempt (attempt being the the key word here folks) to take some one year pictures of him.  We've had pictures taken of the other kids when they turned one, and I wanted the same for Parker.  I love being able to capture them at this moment in their lives.  But with our busy schedules and the fact that I'm just too cheap to pay someone, I decided to do it myself.  I figured it wouldn't be too hard to capture those beautiful baby blues of our youngest.  Besides, I'm still the center of his world, right?!  ;)

Well I was wrong.  Go figure........

We have a VERY active one year old.  Add to that his older siblings playing around in the front yard and our neighbor mowing, and Parker was about as interested in looking at me when I wanted him to as he is in peas.  I still managed to get some cute shots of him, but nothing like I wanted (So I ended up eventually having my fabulous friend take some pictures of him:)  That post will come later.)

So here are a few from my failed attempt at one year pictures for Parker.  He's still cute even though he wouldn't cooperate and look at the camera for me:)

 I have some adorable pictures of Parker in one of his daddy's ties when he was about 7 or 8 months old, so I had high hopes of getting some new ones at one.

There you have it.  My baby went and grew up on me overnight.  While I make it no secret that I pretty much hate toddler years, it is still so fun to see this little man grow.  It's fun to see him play and interact with his older brother and sister who adore him.  I'm so thankful for the year we've had with him so far and can't wait to see how he continues to grow and change!

Soccer

Soccer season is in full swing around here for daddy.  Which means that the kids and I get to spend far more one on one time with each other.  Which also means that I am usually looking for things to do to get out of the house to burn off some energy!  When we can, we go to games.  I usually bribe the kids to go by enticing them with a treat.  Who doesn't love m&m's?!?  But they have a blast when they get there anyways because they LOVE running up and down the bleachers and climbing all the stairs.  Wears me out just watching them, but I guess that's kind of the point....wearing them out, not me:)  This particular night was actually just a soccer practice.  The first week of school, B has practice in the evenings, so one nice evening the kids and I loaded up so they could go play on the bleachers without parents trying to watch the game, and I got out of the house:)

This is what they do most the time....run up and down this ramp.

She scares me....she is fearless, and pretty fast, but I just picture her wiping out and the water works that will follow......

 He is usually slightly disappointed that I won't let him out of the stroller to go up and down the bleacher stairs too.  In time little man, in time.  For now, I enjoy having him strapped in where I don't have to worry about what he's doing:)

More birthday fun

Since we were already in birthday mode, we decided to make a weekend of it and do a big birthday bash at Brian's parents house on Sunday evening (the day after the friend party).  Brian's Aunt Susan was in town from New York and her birthday is at the end of July.  Then Mark's birthday is August 5, and we finish off with Eli's being the 13th and Parker's the 24th.  So we just decided one big family celebration was in order.  The kids got to see cousins and we got to eat yummy food.  Plus, there was swimming again.  

I will warn you that even though this post is about a big birthday bash for lots of family, it's mostly pictures of Parker shoving cake in his face.  It was his first birthday celebration.....and he's just so darn cute, so I can't resist sharing a bazillion pictures of him enjoying his first cake.  And he did enjoy it.  So I apologize if you get sick of seeing the same thing over and over.  Just scroll down:)

Cheese!  You'd never know it by looking at this picture, but Kamdyn and her cousin James are SO similar is personality and little quirks.  James is a year older than Kamdyn, and she does things all the time that just make me see her older cousin in her.  

 He wasn't too sure about everyone singing happy birthday to him.

 But he sure liked the cake.......

 She was a fan too.  This girl has a serious sweet tooth like her mama.

 Present time!

Such a fun weekend celebrating lots of birthdays!  Now we have a little bit of a break before the crazy holiday season and birthday season for our families in the winter!

August Birthday Fun

The first weekend of August we had a "friend" birthday party for Eli and his bff, Grey.    Their birthdays are just 11 days apart, so we(meaning the mommies:)) always think it works out perfectly to do a joint friend party together.  Especially since they have a the same friends.  A little less work for everyone involved when we can combine forces.  And since they are August boys, a pool party is almost always a must.  This year, we just decided to add a little bit more to it by making it an ice cream social swim party.  Perfect.  I love ice cream.  So I was happy.  And the kids are 4....so they were happy with seeing friends and swimming and getting sugar.  Win win for everyone.  We had a blast.  Enjoy some pictures from the night!

I saw this idea on pintrest for a balloon wall.  I would have loved to do it, but I'm cheap and wanted something I could use more than one time and that would last more than a day.  So I adapted it to be a streamer wall.  So fun!  Even though it wasn't balloons, I loved the way it turned out.

 The boys posing for us with their ice cream table before all of their friends got there.  Not real sure what Eli is doing.....

Cute girls......Kamdyn and Grace are just a month apart in age, and though I may be a bit biased, they are about the sweetest little things ever.  They even wore their matching swim suits to the party:)

 Every swim party needs goggles.......

 Proof that Parker was there too. He was my camera helper:)  He hung out with me while I melted and took pictures of all the fun.

 Treat table!  Little slice of heaven in my book.  Oh how I love sweets.

Happy birthday Eli and Grey!  Can't believe you boys are a year older already!  Definitely can't believe that next year we will be celebrating the big 5 with you two!