soccer

fall soccer season was new to us this year.  in the past we have been scared off by the heat.  but Madeline and Avery are dedicated soccer players.  this year Avery had dad as a coach.  Go Blue Robins!  (yeah, you read that right, BLUE robins)

Madeline was happy to be back with Coach Hal and her pals.  this season these cuties were the watermelons!

snowflakes!

the Snowflakes had a great season, and Madeline had a great time meeting new friends and playing hard!

this season was so fun, that we are already signed up for another with Coach Hal and the gang!  great season Maddie!!!

orange crush!

 it's the last day of soccer season, so i took some team pics.  the Orange Crush had a great season!  Avery had so much fun in her first season of soccer.  she was fortunate to have a team with a bunch of great kids.  

and some great coaches!

Avery was thrilled to get her first trophy.  way to go Orange Crush.  

and the soccer lovin' saturdays continue!

so, soccer season is in full swing, and the Orange Crush and Snowflakes are dominating.  

not to mention looking super cute!  

 in years past I have lamented that I never catch goals with my camera, because i am too busy watching the game.  well, this year the girls decided to make it super easy on me and average at least 3 goals a game.  this allowed me the freedom of focusing my lens on the first goal, and then relaxing and enjoying the 2-5 others that were sure to follow.  thanks girls!

 it is a pleasure watching all my girls play sports, and grow and excel in their various activities.  but Avery has been especially fun as she dons a cool-as-a-cucumber persona on the field.  

 Madeline is no slouch out there either.  if you ever oppose Maddie in soccer, a good rule of thumb is: DON'T LEAVE HER UNGUARDED.  she can outrun anyone, and scores almost every time she breaks away.  

 everyone gets a chance to play "patrol" or the defensive position in 4 on 4 soccer.  but this particular game, coach had to pull Maddie back there right away, since the had 3 in the first quarter.  though the girl loves offense, she works just as hard in the back field as well!

 boot it Maddie!

i wasn't the best player when i was a kid, but i sure loved the game.  it is a thrill for me to cheer on my girls each week!  

soccer time!

spring soccer started once again for the Earls.  Anna is playing tennis instead, but Maddie and Ave are both #9, so Anna put on last year's jersey and joined them for opening day!

it's Avery's first season and she was ready to go!  she proudly named her team, Orange Crush, and crush she did with 3 goals!  not bad for a rookie!

 ORANGE CRUSH

 Colin is an enthusiastic fan.  he is dying to be big enough to play!  he has the funniest habbit of shouting the name of whatever sport he's playing.  so, if he's running the football it's, "FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL"  swinging the golf club, "GO:F GOLF."  dribbling the soccer ball, "SOCCER, SOCCER."

 Madeline is on the Snowflakes this year.  she was a little disappointed not to have any goals her first game since she was such a high scorer last year.  but we explained that defense is just as important as offense and that her big kicks were just as useful when they helped stop a goal as when they score one.  

 Jason put the kids in charge of the photos today, and they caught a glimpse of the Dads on the sidelines. 

we look forward to a fun season! 

another soccer season under our belt!

the Angry Birds finished their season with smiles on their faces!  Anna had a great time playing on this team, and really saw improvement by the end of the season.

 these two super fans are going have had a blast on the sidelines cheering on their sisters!

 we had a super fun end of year party for the Green Dragons!  they were all super excited to receive their trophies! 

go Green Dragons!

i learned a few seasons ago that cute team snapshots are way better than the formal team pics the league sets up.  so at practice today i brought the camera and did some fun team pics. 

here's my little all star:

 we set up kind of the traditional team pic:

 and then just had fun:

even though i feel i'm in way over my head with this coaching gig, i am having so much fun with these little cuties!  everyone except Maddie is new to soccer.  so, i am their first coach, the first one to teach them anything about the sport.  it's a little daunting, but so thrilling to see them get it and improve.  go Green Dragons!

February = soccer time!

soccer season is upon us.  this year, we couldn't get away with having the girls on the same team.  so Anna is on the Angry Birds.

 and Madeline is on the Green Dragons. 

soccer season brings 2 practices, and 2 games a week.  and many an interrupted nap for little Bubba.  oh, and i'm on the Green Dragons too!  they did not have enough coaches for Maddie's division, so i volunteered.  it's an adventure!