GOAL!!!

The final soccer practice came. And, similar to last week, they broke up the kids into group to have scrimmages. Last week, Mikie and I had gone to practice alone, so I was the only person to witness his first goal. It didn't matter, because he was on fire this week. During warm-ups, he had a run in with the assistant coach's son, who was playing goalie. Mikie took a nasty fall in the dirt as they both clamored after the ball. It was so bad, he told me he wasn't going to live. After I pointed out there would be no one to help me eat the brownies we made, he quickly rebounded.

During the scrimmage, Mikie scored three goals for his team. Even more impressive, he never forgot which goal he was going towards. He ran in hot pursuit of the ball, turning it back to his own goal when he overtook the other team. If the entire team hadn't clustered in the crease (or whatever you call the area in front of the goal in soccer), he would have scored more. Similar to last week, he felt the need to run off the field and high-five us after each goal. We had to remind him that the game was still in progress, but it was great to see him so excited.

At the end of the scrimmage, the coach had the kids line-up to shoot goals, so that every kid had a chance to feel like a winner (hearkening back to the #1's on each kids jersey). Mikie was second through the rotation. After he scored, the coach told the kids to stand "over there" (motioning to the back half of their mini playing field) while the other kids had a turn. After a few minutes of us wondering where Mikie was, we realized he ran onto the other soccer field where the middle school girls were playing a game. Luckily, Mike ran after him before he got squashed.

After an hour of play, the kids lined up for their "awards ceremony". Each kid was called by name to receive a trophy. Amazingly, Mikie and his friend Erin waited patiently until they received their trophies (Trahan and Wiehn both falling at the end of the alphabet, we had a LOT of other kids to cheer for). Then, they proudly showed off their awards, and devoured junk food. Sign-ups for Spring are open now. And, in spite of the few practices we missed, Mikie seemed to enjoy himself enough that he wants to keep playing. After hockey is done, of course. So, unfortunately for me, it looks like my life as a soccer mom is not at an end yet.

At least all these sports wear him out. I wonder if we can sign Nibbles up for Spring soccer too. . .

Love, The Trahans