Random Fun with the Boys

One of my favorite parts of the day is just hanging back and watching this pack of boys as they walk home from school with their friends.

Sam's first soccer season was a smashing success. He's had a lot of chances to practice with his older brothers in the back yard, but since they have always been bigger than him he was convinced that he wasn't very good at soccer. It took a bit of pushing to get him to even go on the field for his first practice. But once he got playing, he realized that dribbling around these kids was way easier than trying to get past Ellis! In the end, he scored in almost every game of the season, and was the Sharks and Minnows champion of his team.

Ellis' main accomplishment this season was perfected some of his goal celebrations. And luckily, he scored quite a few goals so he could put them to good use!

The medal is cool, but Sam's mostly in it for the snacks.

I just like this picture of Sam.

And we can't leave Henry out of the fun! One of the best parts of kids getting older is that they start to become capable of putting together their own snacks. Here is Henry with his chicken nachos on a Sunday afternoon.

Rather than finding a way to get RSL players to sign his hat, Ellis decided it would be cool if he just signed it himself. Nothing could be more Ellis than that!

Soccer season

We completed another season of soccer!

Ben Severson was Ellis' coach, and Charlie was on his team.  Ellis loved being old enough to be on a REAL team with REAL games.  He did great and even scored a few goals, followed by emphatic celebrations each time.

Ben coached Henry's 3rd grade team this year, and had a really great group of boys.

End-of-the-season medals!  Sam definitely deserved to get a medal as well for his tireless support.

But wait!  The soccer fun wasn't over yet!  All three boys got to do a full week of soccer camp after school got out.

The best part? Getting to do it with Eli and Charlie Severson.

Here is Sam, Ellis, and Charlie's group

Henry and Eli with their group

Sam could not have been more proud that he was big enough to participate, and was so glad to be in Ellis' group with a great coach!  He plays enough soccer in the backyard that he had no trouble keeping up.

Henry and Eli with their coach.

The whole crew after some hard running

Fall Soccer

This year, Ben once again got to coach Henry's soccer team.  They were the Blue Diamonds, and they had a lot of fun!

Ellis also got to start playing on a soccer team for the first time.  He totally got into it.  

I think Henry enjoys soccer and has some great soccer skills.  He has always had fun playing and is a good defender.  I might be wrong, but I dare to say that Ellis has even more fun.  He is super competitive and just wants to WIN!!!  

 He fights pretty hard and ended up scoring several goals this season on the Black Crushers team, coached by our friend Ben Severson.

And Sam is really enjoying being the soccer brother!  He gets extra snacks from all the games just by flashing this cute smile.   I think he's going to be totally ready whenever we decide we're ready to enroll three children in soccer.  It might be a while.  Our Saturdays were crazy with two!