Ethan's First Soccer Game...and my initiation into soccer momhood

Ethan and Chris had their first soccer game as the dynamic duo of player and coach!

Scary Sharks!

Smiley Sharks!

Pregame huddle

Love this pic.

Ethan's feet made contact with the ball sometimes, even usually in the right direction.

Sometimes he thought Scary Shark was how Soccer Sharks play?

Other times I think Ethan forgot there was a ball?

Then suddenly remembered again!

Then ran off the field to show me amazing mulch!

And took some mean water breaks!

(I love how his hair looks in the sun, admiring it made me forget about the ball too ;)

Refreshed he charged back out there!

Until the next time he found a perfect blade of grass.

At one point I heard Coach Chris yell, "Yes! Cool leaf Ethan! Now play soccer?!"

In their post game huddle, Ethan wrapped his arms around his Daddy.

One of the other boys saw, and then put his hand on Coach Chris's shoulder too!! I LOVE four year old boys!

"Sharks! Sharks! Sharks!"

One of the kids asked, "Who won?" (the other team did but they don't officially keep score this age group)

My ultra competitive husband answered, "We all did."

Afterwards, no better way to celebrate than some cold treats!

 

To see them in action, here's some videos of practice.

(Go to www.livingingear.blogspot.com if you don't see them)

 

 

View videos, photos, and more on our family blog:www.livingingear.blogspot.com

 

Shark Attack!

Today was Ethan's first practice for a soccer team, the Sharks!

It was a day of a lot of firsts. Ethan's first time being on a team, my first time as a soccer mom, Gavin's first time benched on the sidelines, and Chris's first time coaching!

Here's the proud Shark!

Who was thrilled to get a turn with the coach's whistle, he really embodies the role doesn't he?

Our longtime neighborhood friends joined the team, Thane as a Shark, and Dan as fellow coach.

As coaches, they even got to pick the practice location and it's the park behind our house. Literally, we open our fence, and we're at the field!

While there were four year old boy wiggles, they really listened!

"Sharks! Sharks! Sharks!"

Gavin was a little less enthused. He desperately wanted to join the team. All day he had talked about the soccer game and was determined to wear cleats as well.

He signed coach over and over (pictured below).

And made a whistle sound (doesn't quite get blowing into it yet ;)

Sitting...watching...

signing "coach"...

"blowing" the whistle. Repeated over and over.

I suppose this soccer mom might have to miss some practices to not torture her other son, poor kid!

Otherwise, it's Goooooo Sharks!!!

 

Circle Time Cherubs!

Last week was a major parenting win!

First I took the boys to a local community preschool center.

Ethan was thrilled to "teach Gavin how to do circle time" and literally took him under his wing!

With big bro having his back, Gavin readily separated from me and participated the whole 20 minute session!

The very same night, the elementary school that hosts Ethan's pre-k threw a birthday party for Dr. Seuss. Kids were invited to come at bedtime in their pj's, read a Dr. Suess bedtime story, and end the night with birthday cake!

They had Ethan at out at bedtime, pj's at school, and most of all, CAKE!?

Grateful for all three exceptions to momma's rules, he polished his halo and was yet again a circle time cherub.

That day, for a couple hours at least, my boys were definitely mommy's little angels.

Boys need warpaint for arts and craft time?

We painted some birdhouses for our backyard, but the boys had a different idea!

Warpaint?!

At one point, Ethan jumped up and started racing around the house. "Red paint makes me faster, like a red race car!!!!"

Ethan asked me to paint the house with a heart cut our "because I love you mommy".

That was some colorful bath water!