Dallas Soccer

A wanted to play soccer again so we signed him up at the YMCA and he was on a team of 8 kindergartners.  A's team had 6 boys and 2 girls and he knew one little boy from his school.  Coach Aaron knew a lot about soccer and said he's played at the next level (not sure if that means college or what....) but his son, Brody, is one of A's buds from school.  A has played 2 seasons of soccer so he already knew the basics.  This outdoor season was 5 v 5 with 1 goalie and 4 field players.

A scored in most of his games, but his natural tendency is to play more defense.  We had to find something to motivate him to want to score and finally settled on money (we should have known).  I think in the small games they play we want to see him run up and down the field and play both offense and defense but if he continues to play to the point of actual positions, I can see him playing a defender and then not going up to score as much.  He also enjoys goalie, and he was good at it too, but I don't think that's where he will end up.  But what do I know?  He's only 6 and seems to be athletic up to this point.

His coach, Aaron, asked us at the end of the season if we would consider joining the Lamar Soccer Club and playing under him.  He's trying to put together a team of kids that have talent and potential and coach them and keep them together season after season.  A doesn't even realize that this is really a nice thing that his coach wants to develop him, so it's something that B and I will have to discuss.  We like the Y because both soccer and t-ball games were played at the same place, but the thought of A having a coach that actually knows stuff about soccer is nice as well.  Lamar Soccer Club is offering a soccer camp in June, so that's our first decision, is if we are going to sign A up for soccer camp.

A's first game April 2016

Valentine's Weekend

B and Paul M worked out a trade off for babysitting for Valentine's weekend.  We would have our date on Friday night (the 13th) and they would watch our kids.  Then Saturday we would keep the cousins and they would have a date.  It worked out great.  I was concerned that we might have to cancel because early Friday morning, on my way home from the Y, Cherry's power steering went out.  I was able to pull into a parking lot and called B.  He came to us and drove Cherry, while I drove the Camry with the 3 kids (R was in school) to Firestone.  Firestone had just worked on Cherry's power steering pump, so it was naturally the first place we thought to go. They basically said they couldn't fix it and we needed to go somewhere else.  That was more than frustrating so B brought us home and went back to Firestone and met a tow truck there and towed Cherry to a mechanic all the way down town Houston.  I had the kids at home and R came home from school.  Since it was Friday, she didn't have any homework, so I let them watch TV while I got ready for our date...if we were still going to have one.  I think B got home around 5 pm and jumped in the shower very quickly.  We managed to drop our kids off at Anna's around 6 pm and then grabbed dinner at Panda Express and ate in the car. 

We originally were going to dinner and a movie, but a couple from church asked if we wanted to see a play with them.  It was As You Like It (Shakespeare) so of course B was excited.  We like this couple and still want to make Christian friends so we ditched our boring plans and decided to join them.  The play was at 8:00 down town at UH.  It took us about 50 minutes to drive there from Katy, TX and that's why we grabbed fast food on the way.  The play was good and I was happy to hang out with Matt & Shara.  They have 3 kids and are expecting their fourth in April.  She stays home and Matt is some VP at some business some where.  I think we got home around 11:30 and crashed, but had to wake up early to go get our kids for their soccer games.  I don't remember the times they played or if they won/lost, but we always have fun watching them play on Saturday mornings.

 After soccer we headed to Erica and Arts house (MOPs friend) for a Valentine's lunch/party.  Art was making home made pizzas and Erica had cute crafts and games for the kids.  It was really a fun time and all the kids exchanged little valentines at the end.  Our kids took a quick nap when we got home, but then Marcus & Mandy arrived and shortly after, the Marshes with all the cousins.  A & P had their reservations for 6:00 so they came by around 5ish.  We were excited to have all the kids at our house.  I had planned to cook, but Marcus wanted Mexican so we drove to Jimmy Changas for dinner.  Typically we find seats at Jimmy Changas rather quickly, but not this night.  It was Saturday, Valentines Day, and about 6 pm so we waited, waited and waited.  Our beeper finally flashed and it was 6:50.  Avery and I had about 15 minutes before we needed to leave for her bat mitzvah.  We ordered and they brought it out quickly and then we left.  B, M & M ate with all the kids and from what they tell me, it was good and relatively peaceful.  When I got back to Jimmy Changas, they were outside and the kids were playing in the play area again.  **I need to stop and say that we were driving Ruby since Cherry was in the shop, A & P let us borrow Ruby for the evening**
Around 8:30, M&M headed back to College Station and we took the Marsh cousins back with us.  It didn't take them long to fall asleep and B went to pick up Avery at 11:30 and because I fell asleep. 

The next morning, we headed to church at 9:30 and then back home for lunch.  The kids were great and we had a great time.  A & P came and picked up their kids (and Ruby) around 5 and then our family went to Awana at College Park Baptist Church.  A fun weekend full of love and family!

 

Soccer Fun and Creole Festival

I must admit that I'm totally embracing this soccer mom thing.  I love watching my kids play soccer on Saturday morning and cheering on all the other players with proud parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  It's been fun spending our Saturday mornings playing indoor soccer.  Spring sport sign-ups are now, so B and I will have to decide if/what we will sign the kids up for.  We have enjoyed this winter soccer season and the kids have liked it too.

Last Saturday, February 7th, was a creole festival in Houston.  We wanted to check it out since it's the Mardi Gras season, and Lorenzo came with us.  I must say that we were disappointed with the 'Creole' part of it.  By the time we got there, we had missed the parade, but there also wasn't any food left.  I think there were only 3 food booths to start with and one was Chinese food.  We ended up eating at the cafe which wasn't creole, but it was still good.  We walked around for a bit, but left, feeling unsatisfied.  We look forward to eating our King Cake from granddad more than ever!

Indoor Soccer Stars

Of course my dream is that one of my kids would love soccer and want to play soccer at a competitive level like I did growing up....but I'm realistic enough to know that it might not be the case.  Either way, we signed the 3 bigs up for indoor soccer through the YMCA.  The season runs from January to March and A/W are on the same team and B is their coach.  R is on a 1st-2nd grade team and her coach is Coach Reuben.  So far the kids are loving it and they've each won a game and lost a game.

R's team practices on Tuesdays at 6 at Hicks Elementary.  We've gotten the schedule down to where I feed the kids dinner at 5 and then we leave the house at 5:35 to get her to practice 10 minutes early.  B meets us at practice and we bring his dinner to him there.  R is a bit timid when there are a bunch of people trying to kick at the ball, but when she happens to have a chance to kick it, she doesn't shy away from it.  Goalie isn't her strength just because when it's coming at her fast, it startles her.  Her coach wants to practice her at forward and middle to see if he can get her to be a good passer.  We will see.

The boy's team practice on Wednesdays at 6 at Hearne Elementary.  We pretty much have the same schedule with dinner at 5:00, and ready to walk out the door at 5:35 except B comes home, changes, and eats his dinner in the car.  Since he's the coach, he wants to be at practice a few minutes early to talk to parents and greet the kids.  Lorenzo is his assistant coach and it's a huge help since B has usually 12 three to five year old players who require constant redirection.  The 5 year old kids aren't as needy since they are in kindergarten or pre-K, but we have a few 3 year olds that are all over the place.  Sometimes their parents have to hold their hand to keep them focused and even that doesn't help.  Coaching this team is really a 2-3 man job.  B has supportive parents and they have been very happy with him thus far. 

 All the games are on Saturdays at Youngblood Intermediate.  The boys play at either 8 or 9 and then R's team is a later game.  We've enjoyed having soccer fill up our Saturday mornings so far and we are hoping (I'm keeping my fingers crossed) that at least one of the 3 will want to continue and play spring outdoor soccer when the time comes.  For right now, they are all having a blast (which is most important) and learning some skills.  Being this is the first time for any organized team thing, I'm very proud of them.