SOCCER time!

So, this is Maddi's fourth year "playing" soccer. When she was 2.5 years old, we signed her up to play through Kids Love Soccer and did the same when she was 3.5 years old. They didn't play games, just had "practice" on Fridays to work on developmental skills, which was great for that age. Then, last year when she was 4.5 years old, we signed her up with Chinqually Booters, which Brock and I both played. We made it through the cold, wet, rainy Friday night practices and Saturday morning games (with a newborn!) just to watch an uninterested 4.5 year old flit around on the soccer field. She insisted she liked playing, but after the spring season was over, we made the decision to take a break until this year.

This year we signed her up through the YMCA so that her and her friend, Katie could be on the same team. We wanted to play through Chinqually again, but their schedule conflicted with Katie's ballet schedule and since Maddi & Katie weren't in the same ballet class this year, we had to make sure they made it onto the same soccer team. The YMCA is definitely not as organized as Chinqually, but her coaches are nice and great with the kids, so it will be fine for this one season.

Oh, and I better mention how much BETTER Maddi is playing this year. It's like watching a completely different kid out on the soccer field. We did hear last year from other parents that the year between 4 and 5 makes a huge difference, so I guess they were right. The YMCA plays with goal keepers, plays corner kicks, throw-ins, and goal kicks (kinda crazy for such little players...but whatever). Since Brock was a big goalie throughout his years playing soccer, Maddi wants to play just like Daddy, so she's been loving playing in goal and not only that, but she's made SO many saves! She is having a ton of fun and is doing really great...so much more fun to watch!first practice

first game (in the rain)

second game (in the sunshine)
Daddy has been the goalie "coach"...he likes to hang behind the goal and help out Maddi and whoever else is goal keeper at the time

goal kick