Matt, Lindsey, Kaylee and Braden: "I need a break"

Well, today was Braden's first soccer game. For the past two and a half years he has sat on the sidelines with me as we watched Kaylee take swimming lessons and take part in dance class. He was so excited that this year he would be able to do his own thing. Even more - he would be playing with his best buddy. As far as he knew it would just be the two of them out there playing by themselves and that was okay with him. Over the past few weeks he has told every one we come into contact with that he is going to play soccer. He got really excited when he got his new soccer shoes and his "knocker things" that I had to remind him are really called "shin guards." He has done a great job at not kicking his soccer ball in the house (because Daddy D says not to play ball inside). His first practice was quite interesting from what I hear. Actually, Matt described it as a "kindergarten fire drill." Since I taught kindergarten for one year, I quickly understood. However, I don't think anything could have totally prepared me for today...

The game was at 1:00. We planned on leaving at 12:00 and being there 45 minutes early, but I wanted him ready early. At 10:30 I put his shirt and shorts on him. Kaylee came in and laughed because "Mom - he's so cute - it looks like he's wearing a dress." (Yes, the smallest jerseys are still huge on the 3 year olds). I tightened his shorts and walked away for a few minutes. When I came back they were on the floor and he was just standing there looking at me saying, "Mommy my shorts fell off." Okay - we already had a wardrobe malfunction at Kaylee's dance recital last year and I was not about to have my little boy on the soccer field run out of his shorts. We still had an extra hour, so we loaded up and went to look for some smaller black shorts. He walked through the store holding onto his shorts because he was afraid he would lose them, and whining the whole time. Finally we found some shorts, and were on our way. I even let him change into them in the Target bathroom so he would not have to hang onto his shorts any longer.

After sitting in traffic forever - apparently everyone around here plays soccer on Saturdays, waiting to find a parking place and a half mile hike to the field we were ready to play. He got out there and did a great job at kicking the ball when he got close to it, not the best at going in the right direction, but we'll work on that. After about 4 minutes of playing he said he was ready for a break. WHAT?!?! You're kidding me, right? He was DONE! We took a quick trip down to the bathrooms and then came back to play again. He said, "Nope - I'm just going to sit over here and eat some cheetos and take 3 breaks!" Finally, after a few begs and pleads from his coach and myself, a phone call to Daddy for some extra encouragement, 3 cheetos, a few threats and a bribe for a sno cone on the way home he decided he would finish the game. Geez, I never knew that you had to be a psychologist to get kids to get out there and play. By the time it was all over I was spent. (And we still had to hike back to the car).

Where was Kaylee during all of this? Well, you see - she decided that she would climb on the kitchen counter this morning and get her finger nail polish from the top of the refrigerator. (The child has NEVER been a climber and she decides that she's going to do this now?) She was sitting off to the side with her friends and being pretty good. However, I noticed that she had a purse full of goodies and thought I should check things out. Yeah, it was too late - she had already painted her nails and a few of her friend's nails as well. Oh, joy. (There's a reason we have not signed her up for soccer. I'm pretty sure that nail polish and a purse are not part of the standard uniform). :)

Well, it's all about the memories and hopefully a few good pictures along the way. Here are a few from today...