Soccer!

Daniel's soccer season finally started last Friday night, after getting cancelled the first week due to severe flooding in our area (see "Flooded!" post). To say Daniel was excited is an understatement- this kid was SUPER excited for soccer to start. We had a brief meeting a few weeks ago to pick up his uniform, which Daniel promptly came home and put on. He even wore his uniform all the next day, too. We actually really lucked out with his uniform- the shirt is big, but not super huge thankfully, and the shorts, while really long on my munchkin, have a drawstring- score! So the whole outfit actually worked out well enough! We had already gotten Daniel his first pair of shin guards, which he also put on right away with his uniform...so voila, he looks great! Can't believe he's starting his first organized sport! Sigh...

Daniel's league plays soccer on the fields right near our house- which is so nice. We can all walk over and have a nice little evening out every Friday night after an early dinner. Daniel was so eager to get over there and get started! Annabel was just as eager, too, I'll tell you. She's all "TWO! Sot-ter!"- because she's two she gets to play soccer, or so she thinks. She kept saying this over and over as we walked up to the fields- she was so excited. We knew Daniel would be getting his own ball, so we made sure to take our little Chicago Fire soccer ball with us for Annabel. Annabel was happy to kick her ball around a little while Daniel and Daddy practiced on the field. Then she pretty much just ate snacks the whole time, until Daddy came back over to sit with us when the kids were just practicing on their own, then Annabel wanted to play with Daddy, too, just like Daniel. After the hour of practice was up, we all walked back home! And now we have to listen to the question, "Is it soccer night?" every single day, sometimes multiple times a day! Daniel's quite happy to go on our own over to the fields and practice, too. This gives Annabel a chance to play on the field just like Daniel, too. I'll keep you posted on how things go as the season progresses through the end of June. We're so excited to be starting our soccer journey in our little family!

Here are some pictures from Daniel's first night of soccer! They "practice" for a few weeks and then eventually they will practice a little and then play some "games," too. It should be interesting! We thought it was great how Daniel took the no-hands rule to heart- even when the other kids were picking up their balls to carry them over to a new spot to practice, Daniel always made sure to kick his ball, his hands remained fisted closed!! You'll see him doing this in the pictures below- Go, Daniel! Also, we discovered last Friday night, the kids are all #4, so I can't help you identify Daniel via his number, but I tried to make sure you could spot him easily enough with most of these pictures!

Our soccer champ!

 Annabel watches Daniel play!

Happy to have her own ball!

Daniel has a blast practicing!