Soccer School

Last week Silas started soccer.  Once a week for 45 minutes we go to this awesome indoor facility (we do live in Oregon...) where he and 5 other kids have soccer practice.  The coach is really great and uses games and drills to teach them ball control, teamwork, the rules of the game.  Jordan was an avid soccer player all the way through high school, so this was a proud moment for Daddy-O.

We went to watch one of the practices the night before he was supposed to start.  He does best having a chance to observe and think about things before diving in.  If he can prepare himself a little, he tends to be more confident going into it.  I know I won't always be able to help him do this, but since Jordan was home and we had the opportunity, we decided to check it out.  While watching the other kids, he was adamant he would NOT go on the field and play.  He told me all the way home that he would not go back and would not play.  So we talked about feeling nervous about things, and asking God to help you be brave and strong and try something new.  I also told him we could think of a really special treat for him to have after he did his first practice.  By the next morning he had decided he wanted an entire Zone bar to himself if he did the practice.  We readily agreed to this very cheap and accessible treat.  He talked about going to soccer the rest of the day.

When it was time to go, Silas insisted that his t-shirt be worn with the giant number on the front (making it backwards), and since we couldn't find his tennis shoes at the last minute, he was wearing his 'church shoes' (black tennis shoes).  But thankfully what he lacked in style he made up for in stamina and strength.  We left the field with a sweaty, tired, sore little boy.  He worked his tail off!

Jewel and I chased each other around the outside of the field, she pushed Trey back and forth in his stroller, she made friends with other little siblings, and just looked cute.

She only watched about 5 minutes of the 45 minute practice...in the future this may be a Daddy and Silas event.  Uncle Everett's work is right across the street, so maybe next time I'll take the littles over to visit him instead.

He even got a sticker from the coach at the end.  I mean really, what can be better!? (Besides the Zone bar, which he devoured on the car ride home, claimed it was the best treat he's ever had)