It’s December 2019.  This means Fall soccer is over and  we’re already into the indoor season!  Competitive soccer is a year-round commitment and with 4 kids that love the sport, I suppose you could refer to me as a “soccer mom,” but I’m not one for titles.  The truth is, I’m not a soccer mom.  I’m an all-sport mom, a laundry expert, a carpooler, errand-runner, appointment maker, proofreader, problem-solver, counselor, and just all-around ‘keep the ship afloat’ mom.  So yes, I LOVE to watch my kids play soccer but I also love to decorate, create, craft, exercise, learn about wellness, plant flowers, watch movies, go out to eat, spend time with friends & family, travel, write, read, organize, help others, and probably a bunch of other things too!  This might be news to my kids even though these have been hanging on the wall since their births,I was always very committed to excelling in school, got two college degrees in 5 years, had a career at Hallmark for 15 years, and here I am now not titling myself in any fashion, but hoping to excel in this phase of life and document a little bit.  A large part of me hopes my kids follow in my footsteps in regards to education and as always, I want to set an excellent example for them.  We could have a future wildcat in the house!!

Back to soccer!!  While these cuties were enjoying the football game in Lawrence, I was in St. Louis with Reece for a soccer tournament.  I’m a professional soccer tournament attender now.  My bags practically pack themselves!  Reece’s team is wonderfully talented and made it to the championship game.  We came home with finalists medals instead of champions but we enjoyed the weekend together.  The girls had an extra room to hang out in “the she shed” and parents went crazy in the lobby.  It’s really not about soccer at all and more about the parents having a wild weekend — wait, did I say that!?

When they weren’t playing soccer, they were watching soccer!  What the heck is wrong with these 8-9 year olds!?And I missed half the championship game standing in line for a shirt that Reece doesn’t even like that much…oh for the looooove.

In regards to this season, they finished with 12 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties.  They scored 59 goals and conceded 37.  They went 5-3 in league, won the CSI and finished second in the MAG and SLSG Fall Classic.  I don’t actually know these stats, people, this comes from the head coach who is absolutely obsessed with soccer and emails us multiple times a day (we love you, Chris)!  I’m not a stats keeper at all!!  But I do want to share this quote from the coach, “The competition they faced I assure you is the finest I have seen in all my years at this age of player.  The level of play is so much higher than it was even five years ago it is truly amazing to me.”  And here are a few more pics from the fall season…

Meanwhile, Drew at the old age of 11, has been playing on two soccer teams and 3 leagues and a new competitive basketball team.  He’s played in a million games (one Wichita tourney) and I don’t even have many pictures!  Maybe it’s because I’m just constantly worried about if he has on the right uniform or he’s at the right soccer complex, or even playing the right sport!?  His primary team (2008 MLS) has a new coach and everyone is adjusting.  Instead of doing tournaments, he opted to play in two leagues 9v9 and 11v11.  That’s a LOT of running.  Thankfully Drew is good at that!

 

 

 

Jake has had a bit of a hiatus from his team.  Since a majority of his teammates were playing on their high school teams, he has been practicing with his old team.  However, they are now back together and played in the HIT tourney in November.  They came up with finalists medals which is quite good considering they have not been practicing together for a few months.  These guys are always fun to watch!

 

Morgan started in a new club after being part of the Fusion family since 3rd grade…wow!  Change is GOOD!  With the exception of having to buy and entirely new uniform kit….eek!   She loves her new coach and is enjoying a new number, new friends, and new challenges.  GO MOMO!

So there you have it…lots of soccer memories!  We’re moving on to basketball/indoor soccer/futsal season.  More to come!