He Said It

Keagan: That's a bunch of Tom Foolery, Mom, and I will not have anything to do with that.

Me: uummm, okay?

On the Pitch

Thankfully we played soccer this weekend without rain and mud. Instead, we played in the cold, wrapped in blankets wishing for anything other than the cold wind - maybe even a little rain.

Keagan's team lost game one, but came back to win the championship. Keagan had a beautiful corner kick in game three that slightly bent and fell in the back of the net. 

Evan's team was undefeated until the championship and then lost 1 to 2. 

Evan was called for more fouls, but in game two, he had a beautiful shot that fell right under the cross bar and into the back of the net. Losing is hard, though, and Evan didn't want anything to do with celebrating as a finalist, as you can see in this picture. 

Perhaps better than the wins and medals were the times we spent together. In between games on Saturday, I caught the boys telling stories and laughing with one another. 

It is this snapshot and memory that I will treasure the most from the weekend. Time is slipping away too quickly for me to be consumed with wins and losses. 

Mud, Mud, and More Mud

Keagan's team played soccer this weekend at a beautiful complex with fields completely covered in mud. Just how muddy?

Um, well, fairly muddy. 

Sunday morning we beat the team that beat us last fall in the I-will-never-forget -you-PK shoot-out. Keagan had a hat trick and played at the top of his game. We lost the championship game, though, 1 to 2. I dreamed all night about the one shot that should have counted! 

This should be a sign that I take youth soccer too seriously, but instead, I researched topics online like "tips for lifting the ball when you kick" and "improving your shot." 

Next weekend is more of the same: mud, soccer, and rain, but Keagan will be ready to turn around and play again just as soon as I get that uniform clean!

What a Weekend

What a weekend! This was definitely the biggest tournament the boys have played in, and out of 19 teams, they placed first! They won five of the games easily, but game five was likely a game I will not forget.

First, there were 31 fouls called, five of those were techs. Evan was responsible for one of those. Don't think for a second you can steal the ball from him. If you try, be prepared for a struggle - or an elbow to the face. I feared for my safety at this game. This never bodes well at a youth sporting event. The taunting, the name calling, the sheer lack of respect for the kids. It was all more than I could bear. I wanted to walk out, but I couldn't leave Evan in the gym. So I sat as close to an exit as possible and planned my escape route. Game six, the championship game, was anti-climatic after the previous game. No one cheered or even smiled at the win. The medals were passed out in an empty gym. We won by 21 points, but we were all ready for a stiff drink and home. 

Tomorrow we are back to work and school; we are all praying for rain so a game and a couple of practices will be cancelled. After today, we are in need of a break and some rest!

Happy Easter

We didn't hunt or dye eggs this weekend, but we spent a wonderful weekend in the sun. After a very long winter, nothing could have made us happier.

Happy Easter!

Take That, Middle School Mom

Hey, You! Yeah, You, Middle School Mom! Remember when you told me 6th graders don't usually make the middle school team? Yeah, I remember, too. Well, guess what? Evan made the team.

Remember when you also told me if a 6th grader does make the team, he will get very little playing time? Yeah, me too. Well, guess what? Evan played right wing and ran up and down that field as much as any other winger.

Remember when you also told me only eighth graders and maybe a few seventh graders will ever get to start a game? Yeah, me too. Well, guess what? Evan started last night.

So I was wondering. What do you think about my boy now?