Soccer

Malia's soccer tournament was on Saturday.  Her first game was at 9 am and the wind was bitterly cold.  I did not enjoy the cold, but it had it's benefits...Raina actually cuddled with me for most of the game!  I treasure every moment of cuddling!  Raina is cuddling less and less as the months pass.  I know it is simply a sign of her growing up and gaining independence, but it makes me sad.

Malia loves playing soccer, even though, for the most part, she has no concept on how to play the game.  She runs, following the play and on occasion will kick the ball.  At the beginning of the year she would not touch the ball at all, until I finally bribed her with 25 cents each time she kicked the ball...it cost me $2.00 the first game!  She seems to think kicking the ball out of bounds is a good thing.  I repeatedly showed her where the nets were, but she seemed to not "get" it.  Perhaps it would have been helpful if the nets had been actual nets and not simply 2 flags, that in a kids eyes look similar to the flags outlining the boundary.
I think it is difficult for Malia to understand that in playing soccer it is a good thing to take the ball away from another child.  We have taught her to share and not take toys away from other children and now we expect her to do just that!  She must think we have lost our minds!

The 3 girls ready to play...aren't their expressions priceless?!?

Getting her medal.

Note to coach:  never give kids freezies before taking pictures...lol!

The proud soccer player!

Of coarse, we had to get a picture of her putting the medal to her mouth...just like the Olympians do...however, they do NOT put the ENTIRE medal in their mouth!  :)