End of the Season Soccer Parties 2012

Ethan's team.  He the one on the far left with his arms up.

Hannah's team. She's the 2nd from left in the front. 

The 2012 fall soccer season is officially finished.  Whew!  We are beat.  Three soccer practices and three  games every Saturday since Labor Day combined with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and AHG has made this fall fly by.

The kids all enjoyed their end of the season parties and this year their certificates were received with joy.  At the church where we play soccer, they don't pass out trophies but certificates at the end of the season.  Andrew received the "Best Teammate" award.  Ethan received the "Love of the Game" award.  Lastly, Hannah received the "TNT" award. Her coaches explained that was because of her tiny stature yet ability to throw the ball back into play with such force that it surprises you.  They were right.  She looks too little to throw the ball far yet surprises you with her hard kicks and great throws.  I even heard parents from the other teams commenting on the little number 8 player.

The funniest thing happened during Hannah's party. She lost her front tooth in her cupcake.  She didn't even know she did until she turned around to talk to me and I noticed.  She found it later and proceeded to bring it to me all covered in blue cupcake icing.  Yuk!  It stopped the coaches' awards presentation for all of the parents to giggle at her.  She is an official snaggle tooth now.  She's been singing the song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."  I should get it on video to post because she looks so funny.

Hannah's before picture

Snaggletooth Hannah

Caleb, the train conductor

Here's how Caleb entertains himself during his siblings' soccer games.  He pretends he's driving the train.  One kid was actually in the back of this concrete block shoveling leaves and rocks (coal) in the engine to make it go.  Caleb would then drive it like a car complete with a steering wheel until this other kid corrected him and told him ALL about train engines.  It was too precious not to get a picture of. 

1st Soccer Game of 2012

The kids' first game of soccer season ended with a tie, a win, and a lost but they all had fun. 

Soccer Season has begun

3 kids= 3 team practices per week + 3 Saturday games which means we will have 1 full autumn. 

Swimming Lessons

All four kids have started swimming lessons this year.  They are being offered for home school students for an insanely cheap amount, $30 for the first child and $10 for each additional child by the City of Knoxville.  We are getting a full month's lessons twice a week for them.  It's great!  Hopefully, it will help me to not have nightmares all summer long before and after swimming outings. They are each getting better every lesson. Caleb is in a class with Hannah and he will do everything she does (which is why I desperately needed to get him lessons). The older boys are tweaking their strokes and breathing techniques and Hannah's learning to swim without holding her nose.

Here's Caleb practicing his floating with his teacher.