The Blueberry Elephants - Cooper

Along with Grady's soccer, we head to the soccer fields on Saturday morning so Cooper can practice his soccer skills.  James and Coach John are his coaches and have been since the the very beginning of his soccer career.  Lucky guy!

Cooper is very lucky to have Noah and a few of his preschool pals on his team.  Since Grady is playing twice a year this season and Cooper and I go and watch all of them, needless to say, he is happy to be the player and not the spectator on Saturday mornings!

Sadly, 2 out of 4 of his Saturday soccers have been cancelled due to bad weather.  Like really bad, wet and cold weather.  Yuck!

The younger kids are so cute to watch and still chase the ball in a big clump.  Then there are a few that aren't interested at all and cry or just hang out on the field.

All in all the season is off to a good start if you don't consider we've missed 50% of our games.  Thankfully the weather seems to have taken a turn for the better.  Fingers crossed we have game 3 tomorrow!!

It's Soccer Time - The Jays!

It's that time of year where all the parents pull out the winter gear to sit in the middle of a cold field and watch their kids play soccer.  For real.  The past few years both boys have played on Saturday morning back to back.  I actually thought that having evening games this year would be warmer.   I was wrong.

Grady is playing 2 nights a week on Tuesday and Thursday where the first night is a practice and the second night is game.  I quite like that structure as watching your children in a 'real' game is a blast.

The first practice we all showed up we were the only team with no jerseys.  That didn't stop the team from playing hard and having fun.

After a few emails and a phone call to a less than pleasant lady, I found that our jerseys had been sitting on some ones steps for the past week waiting to be picked up.  It would have been nice if someone had told us!

This year Grady is playing on Alex's team so Cooper gets to play with Madina while we watch.  They played tag and some kind of odd (and aggressive) pushing game that had to be stopped.  I enjoy the games where Madina is there much better as if she isn't there to play, it is me left to entertain young Cooper!

Even the spectators get thirsty!!!

Don't be fooled by the nice looking weather in the background.  By the time we left that night the chairs were blowing over and we were freezing.  If memory serves me correctly it snowed that night.  Yuck!

This kid didn't let the lack of jersey stop him. He was whipping around those pylons.  I may be biased, but he is an athletic young man!

Always has his tongue out when he is concentrating.

For our first game, we had jerseys, grey skies, and big smiles.  

We started out watching outside, but eventually ended up in the van.  It was that cold.  And cold weather makes for an unhappy Cooper.

The one hour game each week is new for us  since in U6  the team would just play a scrimmage at the end of the hour.  This was a full hour of a real soccer game.  I was surprised at how into the game the boys were.  They ran hard and didn't all follow the ball  around in a pack like they do at younger ages.  They passed and dribbled the ball to the net.  They even played with goalies.

What I have found really interesting this season is the friendships that have developed so quickly.  Yesterday was the 5th time these kids have gotten together but you'd think it would have been way longer.  The kids know each other names and have big smiles on their face as they play.  They are having fun and that's what counts.

Look at those moves!

I've really enjoyed the sense of community that playing hockey and soccer have ignited for our family.  For example, one of the brothers from Grady's hockey team is on our soccer team.  We run into another hockey team mate at the pool each Monday.  Some of G's soccer teammates go to our school.  I can only imagine over the years how many connections we will make with so many other families in the neighbourhood and foster the ones that have already been created.  I am hopeful that many more friendships blossom for the kids (and the adults!) over the coming years while we huddle around in our scarves and winter jackets watching spring soccer!

Soccer - 2014

Spring soccer in Calgary sucks because it is still like winter here at 9am.

Now that that is out in the open I'll tell you little bit about our first day of soccer.  The first 2 were cancelled for snow.  Snow in May.  Seriously?  I was concerned that the third one was going to be cancelled for rain but the rain held out for the afternoon in the end and the game went on!  Here are the kids during warm up.

Notice that all the kids have tuques and mitts on.  My kids have on winter jackets under their jerseys.  It was darn cold.   But on the bright side, it was not snowing or raining and the game was not cancelled.  I don't know what I would have told poor Cooper who was so excited for his first team sport if the game was cancelled, again.

The kids are lucky to have Coach Dad and Coach John on their team.

Which team did the dads choose to coach this year now that the little brothers are playing you may be asking?  Both!  Our husbands signed up to coach both teams together.  It means so much to the boys to have their dad coaching and I am so proud of James (and John) for giving up their Saturday mornings for the spring to run around a bunch of little kids.  In all honestly, these two make a great coaching team, and don't tell anyone, but I think they actually enjoy it.

Coopers team is called the blueberry bandits.  The name was obviously chosen by the kids! For most of these kids, this was the first time they have ever played soccer and these kids rocked!  They listened and participated despite the frigid temperatures.

Cooper was a rockstar out there. I think all that mini stick playing is paying off!  He hustled for the ball and scored a few goals during the game.  He asked when he got to play again, so I would say that is a good sign!

During snack time, all the bandits gathered on one blanket to have a drink and quick snack before hitting the field again.

Cooper's soccer starts at 9am on Saturday mornings, we have a 20 minute break between the end of Coop's and the start of Grady's and we finally get to leave the field at noon.  You do the math, that is 2 hours and 40 minutes at the field every Saturday morning.  I sure hope it warms up soon!

Next up is Grady.  His team is called the Green Dinosaurs.  I would love to know what this boy is telling Grady.

While this is Grady's third year of playing outdoor soccer, we saw a huge improvement in him this year.   Our timid and shy Grady is somewhat aggressive on the field.  He runs for the ball and doesn't shy away at all.  He managed to score a few goals during his game as well.

I brought a few hockey sticks and a tennis ball for the kids to play with on the sidelines while they were watching their brothers play.  I asked these two cuties to look at the camera and smile for me and they actually listened.  I thought bringing the hockey gear was great as it kept the kids not playing soccer moving and hopefully warm.

I personally was chilled to the bone by the time we left.  While the weather warmed up substantially I couldn't take my tuque off.  Some of the parents at only the later session probably thought I was crazy!

Despite the weather, it was a very successful morning of soccer.  The kids had fun, the parents visited, the kids stayed warm, the parents got lattes.....  If every week is as successful as the first one we are in for a great season and smiles all around!

Summer Soccer

This is Grady's third summer of Sportball soccer. The first 2 summers were full of gorgeous sunny evening of playing soccer. The first year was parented so I got to run on the field with him, the past 2 seasons I,ve gotten to sit on the sidelines and watch him play... or catch up with my friends whose kids are also playing.

This year I convinced 2 friends that they should put their kids in soccer so we can catch up watch our kids play weekly together.  I told them all about the sunshine, the heat, the smiles, and they were all in. 

Then the season started.

It literally rained every week Monday at 5pm.  Every week.  The first week of Soccer my friend texted me and asked if it would be cancelled because of rain and I texted back it had never rained in my 2 previous years of playing.  We all arrived at the field and the soccer went on as planned.  The kids didn't care after all.

There was one Monday in particular where it was actually raining.  Pouring really.  But since it wasn't lightening, the game went on.  We had rain jackets, umbrellas, and lots of smiles.  From the kids.  Our blankets got wet and the adults and younger kids were cold.  Those older kids, they ran around the field with smiles on their faces.  Now that is a true soccer Mom.

While I don't have pictures of the rain we endured week after week. I do have pictures from one of our drier days where it was safe to take the camera to the field.

Grady is number 18 in the photos. Ha!  He is also the one with blue socks and bright blue shoes.

The sportball programs are great.  We've had our kids in the outdoor and indoor sessions and the coaches are always full of energy. Even in the rain. 

 

Grady always has an active cheering squad facing the wrong direction.  This particular day we had to put our blankets on the pavement as there was a massive ant hill in front of us.  I've never felt anything like it when all the ants started crawling across my feet. Gross.

I love that they run for essentially the entire hour and then play even more at the park after.  Not to mention that Grady gets to 'catch up' with his friends all week during the summer where it tends to be harder to get together on weekends. 

Cooper likes that there is a 'forest' beside the field that he can run through, because let's face it, watching your older brother play soccer is kind of boring. 

 

Today is Grady's last 'game' of the season and we are hoping that the skies don't open up unexpectedly at 5pm!

Soccer 2013

Soccer has wrapped up for this season and what a season it was!

Last year it was mostly 3 year olds and they ran around aimlessly on the field. Not after the ball, just around.

This year the kids run around after the ball and actually try to get it in the net.

They had loads of fun while taking in the sun.  It has been great weather for early morning soccer compared to last year and we dragged out the winter gear for the first few weeks.

Grady had an active cheering squad on the side lines.

Actually, Cooper actively ate and sometimes shared his toys while I actively visited with the other moms.  All in all, we were all happy.

 

 I am so proud of James for taking on coaching the kids again this year.  I think Grady loves having his Daddy as a coach!

Hard to beleive that next year we'll have 2 kids in soccer!

Soccer - 2013

Soccer is already off to a better start then last year since we haven't had to wear our winter jackets yet! I hate to admit that I still haven't packed them away, but as the weeks go on I am getting somewhat optimistic. But not enough that I am willing to pack them away until next year. Ha!

James and our friend John are coaching again this year and let me tell you they are doing a great job. It is amazing what having a year under your belt can do for your confidence. These 2 are rock stars out there with 15ish 5 and 6 year olds.  Even parents have made comments about how great they are doing.  So proud of them.

Here are John, Nicholas, and Grady during warm up.  Grady is #3.

Coach James stands back to take in the action.

 

 Poor Cooper wanted to play so bad.   I let him run around with a ball while they were warming up but when the actually learning started I pulled him back to watch.

He even wore his matching soccer Jersey.  Next year buddy, next year.

  Thankfully, Stacey had packed some cars and coloring books for the littles to play with.   I dropped the bomb on that one.  Noah was nice enough to share with Cooper who was relatively well behaved.  Nothing like last years scream fest.

The kids pack a snack to eat half way and the coaches have to constantly remind them whether it is a snack break or a water break.  The kids want to have snacks all the time.

Look at Grady in his short sleeved shirt.  We were seriously in winter gear last year.  Except James who must have been nervous and wearing only a jersey.

What a difference a year makes.   Last year at game time the kids were only somewhat interested in game time.  I remember John and James being frustrated that our boys would just run around and chase each other on the field with little to no interest in actually kicking the ball.  

This year the kids are all into it.  6 little people chasing the ball in every which direction.  Grady included.

Grady is right behind the ball wearing the blue shoes in the above picture.  We picked up some bright blue soccer cleats at Walmart for $10.  Score!  

I just loved watching all these little people so excited to be at soccer and actually trying to get the ball.  It really was great to see.

 

So far, Big G is really into soccer.  He likes to see how high and far he can kick the ball. Even in the house.  That was OK last year when he couldn't make contact with the ball, but this year is a whole other story.  I hope all that practicing pays off.

Go Blue Thunder Go!!!

Soccer!

With me being in my blogging rut, a comment from my friend Stacey in my last post said that my best posts are the one about real life.  Like taking kids to the grocery store.  Today my friends, real life happened.

Today was the first day of soccer.  All I wanted was to sit on the side of the field with my coffee while visiting with the other soccer moms while watching Cooper play with the other little kids.  This did not happen.

We were up at 5am.  Cooper was crying and we turned the monitor off as 5am is not a reasonable time to get up in the morning.  By 545, Cooper was still awake and I accepted my reality that the day was in fact beginning before 6.  Again.

Despite being up at such an ugly hour we were still rushing to get out the door and get to the soccer field by 8:30.  We like to stay in our PJs until the very last second and rush like maniacs to leave.  I'm not sure we like to do this, but time and time again it seems to be what we do.  Today the panic was to find the winter gear.  Although it is may, at am it was only 3 degrees and darn cold. We dug out the jackets, hats, and mittens to stay warm for the time we would be outside.

With a late departure there was no time for a Starbucks run.  This tired mama very much needed her happy drink and she was stuck with no caffeine kick to keep her going.  There I go again talking about my self in the 3rd person.

It started out OK.  James is the assistant coach along with our friend John who is the coach.  They met early to go over the game plan.  The 4 kids ran around the kids keeping warm.  Everything seemed to be going well.  Cooper even kicked around a few soccer balls.

Future soccer player?  Grady is #11 in the back.

Here is our favorite soccer player on the navy and white team.

Winter jacket and all, and don't forget McQueen!

Here is the assistant coach in his matching Jersey!  All the moms were surprised he didn't have his jacket on - must have been adrenalin!

Soccer started and this is where the story changes from a typical Saturday to worst hour imaginable.

Cooper spent most of the morning like this.

My happy go lucky boy cried on and off the entire hour.  I carried him, he cried. I let him walk around, he cried.  I fed him, he cried.    I took him to the park and the crying stopped.

But... since it was a school park it wasn't really designed for a one year old and i had to watch him like a hawk.  Not to mention that it has been raining for 2 days and the slides were so wet he couldn't even slide down.

We stayed at the park for about 15 minutes but I really wanted to see the kids play.  We headed back.  In the moving stroller, Cooper seemed much calmer.  I watched as we approached the field and then were playing Red Light Green Light.  James was calling it out.  In that very moment, I was so proud of him.  Soccer was his thing growing up and i was so happy that he was willing to help out with Grady's team.  Him and John were in charge of twelve 3 and 4 year olds and I thought they did a great job. James even thought to bring Thomas stickers to the field for the kids. Not the coveted McQueen stickers.

By the time we got back to the field and stopped, Cooper was crying again. He would run away screaming and then i would run and get him.  Them we repeated.  In the end, i only saw the 5 minutes as I walked back from the park.

From asking Grady afterward he really liked it.  He told us his favorite parts and said he had lots of fun.  As a parent, that is all you can hope for.

We wanted to go out for coffee afterward with friends, but we made the right decision in heading home.  Cooper cried in the car the whole way home and then wouldn't eat a thing and went to bed.

But not before we made a Starbucks run.

In the drive through James asked me if i had money. I didn't - I left my purse at home. He is patting his pockets for his wallet and comes to the conclusion he left his whole bag, including wallet, and stroller at the soccer field.   He loaded Grady in the van on the opposite side and forgot about the stuff on the side walk.  At a soccer field full of parents I was pretty sure our stuff was safe.  Sure enough, it was exactly where we left it.

All in all, James and Grady had a great time on the field and Cooper and I had a not so good time on the sidelines.  I think my game plan for next time is to bring a bag of outdoor toys or maybe bubbles.  I am not sure I am ready to persevere through another hour of crying child!

I had hoped for a nice peaceful morning of visiting and coffee and got a morning full of child chasing and frustration.   But as I said earlier this week, I will take away the good moments and remember what a good job James did on the field and that Grady had a lot of fun.

Soccer

I played soccer growing up. James played soccer growing up. So it was only natural that we wanted to put Grady in soccer as soon as we could. We looked into the community soccer that played every Saturday morning in May and June and you had to be born in 2007. Grady was born in 2008. So it was back to the drawing board.

Grady did a program called Sportball last year and towards the end of the last session I overheard them talking about an outdoor soccer soccer program. I looked into it when I got home and sure enough Grady was eligible to play! The Sportball version was different than the community soccer program. First off, it is in the evening, and second, it runs through July and August. We decided to give it a go and we are sure glad we did.

Grady is very lucky to have a friend on his team.

We don't actually play 'games'. The kids essentially wear their jerseys and do drills for 45 minutes with their parents and do a little obstacle course. And don't forget about the water break. Here we are lined up at the magic line.

James was out of town earlier this week so I got to play soccer with Grady. I was very excited about it. Being that Cooper was so young, James did the Sportball sessions last fall and spring and Cooper and I would watch. It was so much fun to run around the field kicking the ball with him.

This particular week the kids weren't as interested in playing soccer as they had been in weeks past. There was a certain distraction that kept the kids attention. We managed to keep them on the field until the end. Here they are during the obstacle course portion.

Nana and Cooper were watching from the sidelines. Cooper has been having some separation anxiety issues so about half way through Cooper started screaming for me so I ended up with both kids on my lap. I looked at this picture and was like wow, I have 2 boys.

Here is Grady in action doing a pass to Mommy.

Here is the distraction.

We managed to get the kids to wait until after the game to head over to the adjacent ball diamond to play in the big pile of shale right in the middle. A little boy's (and girl's) dream! Which led to a bath and late bedtime later that night.

We are having so much fun visiting friends, enjoying the sunshine, playing at the park, and of course playing soccer!