Spring Soccer Week 2

This morning after making it to the field and sitting down in my chair, I felt like a champion!
My morning started out nicely, I got to sleep in and stay in the bed until after 7am! But soon after I had to bust a move. I made egg and cheese burritos for everyone and wrapped them in foil, packed the diaper bag and made sure everyone had all their gear. Oh wait- Gracie left her cleats at PE this week and the gym couldn't find them and of course we don't have another pair that fit her! So, I prayed the Sports Shack would be open at 9 am on Saturday. It was our turn for snack, so I had to make 18 snack bags, but forgot to get Gatorade at Costco, so I had to run to Staters and grab two cases. In my search for a medium size ice chest, I found one without a lid- that does me no good and 20 bottles of Gatorade wouldn't fit in the small ice chest :( No ice chest.
Realizing how much stuff I would have, I needed to get the wagon, but realized I had forgotten to ask James to get it from the trailer. So after getting everyone in the car, we had to get the wagon out of the trailer, then we were off to soccer. No wait, we had to go to Sports shack and get Gracie new cleats and then to Staters for drinks for both teams. After all of that, we still made it to the fields by 9am, parked in the last slot of the lot on the far side, loaded everything, including the baby boys in the wagon (which was SOOOO heavy, I think it was about 85 lbs) put my chair on my back and pulled it up the hill, around 2 fields and down another hill where I set down my chair and took a deep breath :)
I really do love soccer Saturdays :) We realized when they were putting on their jerseys they have chronological numbers, so of course I had to get a picture of that.My Papa came about halfway through Hope's game and she was happy to see him there and so was I :) This was Zach's first game of the season, so it was fun to see how he'd improved since last season. Grace and Zach both think it's fun to play together on the same team and worked well together on the field (I guess all that play time has helped)(yes, their jerseys really are that bright)

They played against Ethan and the Demon-Pickles, and he was on Gracie's team last year. They both thought that was fun.All 3 kids played really well and enjoyed themselves and the little boys did great too! Only 3 hours at the field this Saturday, home in enough time for lunch and naps...I"m a happy Momma!

Spring Soccer

Playing soccer is an Oates family passion, that started when James and I were both kids. We have continued with our kids and started when Zach was 5. We LOVE spring soccer! The season is shorter, the coaches are more laid back and we don't have to deal with fundraisers or picture day, all in all, it makes for a great 6 weeks and a really fun time for the kids.This season, Zach is playing 10 and under and we played Gracie up a division (convenience & her height/skill level) so they are on the same team and Hope is playing 6 and under. They were all excited for their first game and I was looking forward to it as well. Zach had been planning a trip to my Grandma's house for the weekend in Escondido, so he missed the first game.The girls wanted hair bows to match their uniforms, so I made them each a "soccer" hair bow and they turned out really cute. Gracie has a friend from church, Clara Prins, on her team, so I made one for her too! :)Game day, although it is fun to watch them play can be a very long day, as it was today...James had inspections in the desert, so it was just me and the 4 younger ones. Hope's game was at 9, so we were at the field at 8:30 and then Gracie's game wasn't until 12. The gap in the game time wasn't enough time to trek back to the truck and load up only to unload and trek back up to the fields with the boys, so we just stayed at the fields. I brought lots of drinks and snacks and we got lunch from the taco lady at the fields and managed to keep occupied chatting with some friends in between games.Hope's team played a good game and she was very excited to play in her very first real soccer game :) In the 6 and under division they don't keep score yet and there isn't a goalie, so that was all good. Gracie's team also played very well, but got beat BAD. I think it was like 12 to 2. They knew it too and some of them got a little disappointed, but Hope reminded me and another mom that "soccer isn't about winning, it's about having fun and working together as a team!" I guess she must have heard that somewhere before...hehe!
This picture cracks me up! The balls getting thrown in behind her and she's looking at the camera :)Even after 5 hours at the soccer field, the day ended up being lots of fun and the kids did great! It helped that after such a long day when we got home James was home and we all got to go to a birthday party and the kids got to jump in a bouncy house and have cake :)

Soccer Saturday

3 weeks in a row I've intended to take the camera to the fields on Saturday, but I keep forgetting. :( Both Zach and Grace are playing spring soccer and it has been a lot of fun so far. It does make for a long day Saturday, but it's worth it. This week Gracie's game was at 11:45 and Zach's was at 2pm so, it left us just enough time to eat lunch in between games...unfortunately we didn't have any cash to eat at the fields, so we had to pack everyone up and go to Cuca's and drive thru (it's ok though, it was sooo yummy!)

Zach's team has a few players that have played before and get the concept of the game, but the rest have never played before, so, let's just say their games are pretty rough. There is no official score keeping in spring league, but they lost 9 to nothing! :( So sad. And they didn't have any subs, so they were so tired from playing the entire game. Zach did really well though and almost had a goal.

Gracie's team did pretty well. She still likes to run all over, rather than staying in her position, but she did good :) James is a better encourager than I am on the slide lines, I'm just that crazy screaming mom; he talks to her and she listens to him (for a change) They won 5 to 2 and the coaches son scored 4 out of the 5 goals :)

Anyway, after their games we headed over to Jeffy's graduation party and hung out for a bit and had some yummy food and celebrated his college graduation! We were all tired and sun burnt (the cloud cover did us in) and came home to finish watching the race and get in the bed early.
James and I watched Changeling (it was pretty good) and planned for the coming crazy week.

We had a busy, but nice Saturday. Next week, I will remember my camera and take their pictures! Hope you had a nice Saturday too.

Zach's soccer game

I remembered my camera for one game at least. Sorry Gracie, I forgot to take it to your game :(

You'd think I'd be better about taking pictures at the games, but we've got to haul half the house and then I've got to keep an eye on both the game and 4 other kids at the same time, so it is what it is :) We got a new ride to make the games easier...

This picture makes me laugh, but here's James pulling the boys and half the house!

Grady loves his new ride!

Hoper likes the ride too :)

Zach and his team doing a cheer!

Zach after the game
Today both Grandpa and Papa came to watch!! Gotta' love those afternoon games :)

You did a great job Bub! I am hoping to get some pictures of you actually playing, but only if your brothers and sisters cooperate :)