American Gladiators...

AYSO Soccer season is here again, and this season our family will be trekking to the soccer fields each Wednesday night for practice and Saturday morning for games. Today was our first game.

The team: The American Gladiators. They do a guttural roar that's supposed to scare the other team. Their colors: NEON yellow and royal blue. Here is Michael trying on his uniform and gladiator face the night before today's big game.


And here are some words of anticipation:



Michael was excited... I was terrified. You see, Paul worked today and the game was at 8am. What's that?? Get all the kiddos and myself up and fed and ready and in the car and on the field by 7:30... AM??

Well, we weren't really there at 7:30... but we did make it before the game started. And the girls wore their clothes to bed. And I got McDonald's on the way. And miraculously, Abby and Bekah stayed on the blanket with the diversions I brought... and Ella was awake but graciously calm. Whew.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Michael loved playing his first game. Here are a few pictures to put you in the moment.

The team huddle. Coach Uribes is so good with these kids--thoughtful about the whole "experience" for the kids and their families. He's teaching them great concepts and is so positive with them.


It was so fun to watch these kids get the hang of being in a game. Here is a short video... Michael kicks it in.



Michael did a great job running for most of the game. This is how Michael walked on the field when he wasn't running--on the heels of his nifty cleats.


Michael loves playing defense... or, as Coach Uribes calls it... "Monster Trucks." He would prefer to play goalie if this league had goal keepers. He guards it anyway, as you can see in this picture (didn't get a closer shot b/c I didn't dare leave the girls...).


So I don't feel the need to publish the score of the game, but I'm hopeful that the American Gladiators will score next week :). Win or loose, I think these boys just love playing the game. Here is Michael with teammates Kai and Luke. They love the banner that we made.


The best part of games are the snacks at the end, right?? Especially when they're doughnuts!


The girls loved cheering for their Michael. They felt so big hanging out with the players after the game.


And Michael was named the "Player of the Game" by his coach! Go Michael... we are so proud of you! Coach tried to establish the tradition of giving a "team tackle" to the player of the game. The kids got the hang of it eventually...



This is what Michael has to say about his first game: "I was the player of the game. And we did good. And I was a good monster truck. I did good goal kicks. And we did cheers for us. Love, Michael."

I asked him afterwards what his favorite part of the game was. He told me "When we scored the goals." I didn't have the heart to tell him that... well... they didn't score any.

Maybe next week...