Sporting KC with our soccer team!

I think it was almost two years ago that the major announcement was made that KC was having a new professional soccer team:  Sporting KC.  I remember the day because it was the same day that on my run I saw a couple of guys pushing a a GIANT soccer ball down Meyer to Ward Parkway to hype up this "big announcement" coming that day.  It is memorable, because it was the same day that Paul got attacked by an owl.  I thought the name was weird and not being a big sports person, never went to a game.  I've only heard good things about the games.  Everyone loves them, the team is actually really good and the stadium is beautiful.  So, when it was Brookside Soccer Club night, we jumped on it and went with 3 other families from Noah's soccer team.  Paul ended up going to San Antonio that weekend so he missed out, but we had a blast!

I've been to Royals and Cheifs games, but the energy doesn't even compare.  Not to mention, they WON!  The kids NEVER got bored and we stayed until the end.  Elliot was really tired though and asked to go home so he could go to bed several times, but he was easily distracted.

Paul & I are going to the last regular season home game in a couple of weeks.  It's on a school night, so I just bought the two of us tickets.  It took the boys a few days to recover from that late of a night.

Dinner at the Jazz

Kid's section

Instant fans (and aspiring Sporting players)

First goal of the night!

Elliot's soccer debut

Tonight was Elliot's first soccer practice at the YMCA's Bitty Soccer.  All these years on the sidelines watching Noah, dozens of times when he was 1 & 2 of me pulling him off the field in tears because he couldn't play, and today was HIS turn!

I expected excitement when I told him this morning tonight was the big night, but he was nervous and said he didn't want to go.  That hesitation combined with his age didn't give me high expectations.  Boy, did he exceed them.  By the time I got him dressed in his own soccer shorts and socks, his attitude changed.  He was excited to just be looking more like a real soccer player.

When we got there I was relieved that he was on a team of all 3 year olds (bitty soccer is for ages 3-5).  So all the kiddos are just learning the game and they ask for a lot of parent involvement.  I was shocked and actually quite amazed at how well he did.  He actually listened to the coach, followed direction well, waited his turn in line and stayed on task.  For the entire hour.  That made me prouder than how well he kicked the ball.  And he has a great kick and dribble.  He did so awesome!  We are super proud of Elliot!

He has 3 practice sessions like tonight total and then 3 games.  We go twice a week, so the season is over in 3 weeks.  It was super cute and entertaining to watch the practice tonight.  I can only imagine the games.

Exited he got his own soccer ball!

Nona Grace is on his team, too

Nice kick, buddy

I love this shot with his big ole jersey.  He just looks so little and cute.

Running sprints at the end of practice

"Go, Blue Lightning!"

Fun weekend

Today we had a pretty fun spring day with the family.  Not a lot of excitement, but lots of family time - something we've been lacking with my work schedule lately.

It started out pretty crisp, but warmed up nicely later in the day.  Mandy and I both got in a morning workout before both kids were up.  After making pancakes for the boys, we rode our bikes to the Brookside farmer's market for it's seasonal debut, picking up some farm-fresh eggs.  Elliot is getting really good at riding his bike, and more importantly, using the brake we put on it.  He's able to keep up a reasonable pace, and make it to and from the parks under his own power.

We played at the playground next door for an hour or so, and then rode back home to make Noah's soccer game.  Noah is really getting the hang of soccer, and it's fun to watch him.  We've always stressed that our number one rule is to have fun.  He likes to score, but you couldn't tell it from his lack of reaction.  He mostly likes to goof around on the field when the ball isn't in play.  Today he scored six  of his teams eight or nine goals.   Not willing to let him have all the attention, Elliot made a splash too by dropping trou and peeing a few feet from the sideline, oblivious to the crowd.

After we got home, Elliot went down for a nap while Noah and Mandy went for another bike ride.  They played at the church for awhile, then ended up, as usual, at a park with boatload of Noah's friends.

Around five, we fired up the grill and did some vegetables, hot dogs for the boys, and mahi for fish tacos.  Mandy and her sister Sam reviewed her wedding song selections while the Noah practiced t-ball in the backyard.  He's not skilled at it yet, but when he hits the ball, he hits it hard.

A couple of baths later, and our two tired boys were down for the count after a good, fun-filled day.

Taking the road less traveled.

Eating a healthy cookie from the farmer's market

Lots of bugs flying around

Dancing in the middle of the field while waiting for the game to restart.

"Shamrocks!"

Out like a lamb

The end of March was more like the beginning of summer. The day started out warm, and just kept getting warmer, reaching a high of around 85 - about 25 degrees above normal for this time of year.

It was time for Noah's first soccer game of the season.  Mandy did a good job getting him ready after all the growing he's been doing since last season - new clothes, shin guards, water bottles, etc - but didn't realize his feet had grown too.  So an hour or so before the game, we found ourselves at Dick's Sporting Goods along with nearly every other kid that had a game that day, searching for shoes that fit.   To say Noah's feet are wide is an understatement.  To get shoes that fit his width, nearly every shoe they brought out had to be at least an inch longer than his foot.   

We finally found ones that fit well enough, and made it to the soccer field. It was already sweltering hot.  Poor Noah, who unfortunately shares my internal furnace.  His face lights up like Rudolph's nose when he's hot.  His first minutes of the game were a bit sluggish, as if he'd forgotten how to play, but he picked it again pretty quickly and ended the day with three goals.

Goal!

Lots of ponytails on this year's team. 

Afterwards, Grandma Lois had a workday/hot dog roast/Easter Egg hunt scheduled at her property.  We went here after the game to mow and trim, and burn some fallen branches and limbs.  Noah and Elliot ran around with Charlie, Cole, Elijah and Luke, playing with the hose and exploring the woods.   

With all the cut wood, we got a roaring bonfire going - a dubious achievement on a hot day.  Eventually it died down somewhat, and we managed to get close enough, long enough to cooks some hot dogs and marshmallows.  The kids hunted Easter eggs afterwards; Grandma Lois helped Elliot look for eggs, helpfully taking down some of the ones hidden in tree branches and putting them on the ground, saying, "The Easter Bunny don't live in a tree."

A few showers later, we got the smoke, dirt and grime washed off everyone, got the kids into bed and reveled in the cool air conditioning.  In March.

Tired boy, telling mom not to take any more pictures

Brookside Soccer

What a difference a year makes.  When we started him in YMCA soccer a year ago, Noah barely acknowledged that there was some sort of sport going on around him.  He was content to run around and play with his friends, occasionally being corralled by a coach and instructed to do something.  We signed him up again in the Spring, and he was marginally better, but until the last couple of games it wasn't very apparent he understood what the point of the game was.

On Saturday, we played his first game of the new season, now with Brookside Soccer, and suddenly Noah played like he knew what he was doing.  It helps that it's 3-on-3 instead of two herds chasing the ball, and the coaches are more focused, but he really seemed to get it.  He's bigger than anyone on his team, and this natural advantage also gives him speed.

He dribbles the ball well, which came naturally rather than as the result of any coaching I or anyone else did, and it allowed him to break away and score at least two goals (there may have been one more, but we weren't sure who scored it).  Whenever they group up and both teams are trying to get the ball, he mostly just stands there waiting for the ball to pop out on its own, I guess, but then does a great job of going after it

He's funny when he scores, because he turns to us with a very serious face and thrusts his "thumbs up" sign at us.  Elliot wanted to play so badly, it was hard to keep him off the field.  We would kick the ball back and forth, turn to look at the game, and then find Elliot had run out onto the field.

Elliot trying to get in on the action.  He's going limp and crying as Mandy picks him up.

Soccer

A few weeks after Basketball at the Y ended, we started soccer.  The YMCA sports programs are so short.  Only twice a week for 3 weeks for a total of 6 sessions.  Not nearly enough for Noah.  He really enjoys and looks forward to going and it ends pretty fast.  Every time we enroll him in a new sport he does a little better.  I don't mean his athletic skills, which he is an athletic kiddo, but listening to his coach, paying attention, waiting in line, taking turns, being part of a team, etc. 

He had his 4th session on Wednesday, which means his first game.  The first 3 sessions are practices and the last 3 are games.  I was so impressed with his ability to stay in the game and really pay attention.  No dancing in circles or getting distracted wrestling with a teammate during a game.  He really payed attention and did great!  He also managed to make a new friend named Emerson.  He informed me they were "friends forever" because they hugged.  I think he was as excited about his new friend as he was playing soccer.

His biggest fan, Elliot

Warming up with some jumping jacks

stretching

more stretching

Team "Blackjay Sunshine" huddle.  Don't ask about the name.  I don't get it, either.

Woohoo!  Right in on the action.

Noah trying to stop the purple teams star player, #6.  He made several goals that game.

BOOYEAH!  Noah was able to play good defense and stop a few of #6's goals.

Looking lovingly at his new friend.

Dribbling it down the field

That #6 is at it again.

Noah getting in front of #6 and stopping him

When Noah came out of the game, Elliot was there with a hug waiting for him

Noah's friend, Emerson is the girl on the left.  They are all sitting on Emerson's mom's lap.

Elliot always making friends wherever he goes.

Go Noah!  He almost made a goal a few times but #6 was always there

Silly boy

Elliot isn't the only one hugging Noah. 

AGAIN with #6.  Do you see a pattern here?  That kid didn't sit out the whole game.

Go Noah!

Ells & Dad

Good game!

Our little soccer star!