We pulled out the remote controlled car today.  Eli and Jess had a blast zipping it around in front of our house.  Eli was so excited, he kept saying how fun it was.  I do believe his exact words were, "This is AWESOME!" Yes, several times.

The Game Before the Storm

Saturday brings soccer.  We were very lucky that our game was scheduled in the morning and we were off the field before it started raining.  There were only 6 kids there so they all played the whole time, no substituting.  The game went really fast yesterday though.

 Even though we were rainless, that doesn't mean there weren't any puddles on the field.  Eli contemplated the placement of this particular puddle mid-game.

What A Game!

Eli had another soccer game today and I have to admit today's has been by far the most exciting to date.  We started with a little paparazzi moment.  OK, it was really just picture day for all of the Maple Valley Pee Wee Soccer teams - all 20 teams.  Can you believe there are TWENTY teams of 3 and 4 year-olds who play soccer out here? It is crazy to think that there are that many, but then again, when you think about the number of kindergarten classes at just my school and there are four schools.....yeah, that's a lot of kids!

After individual and team pictures, it was game time!  The kids were really into it today - all 7 of them that showed up anyway.  There was only one child sitting on their bucket at a time while the rest were in the game.  Kids were running up and down the field, goalies were blocking shots, and they were even scoring goals on the other team!  This group of kids are really picking up the idea and how to play.  They were having a great time until injuries started to happen.  One child would trip on the ball causing someone else to fall over.  Two kids, one of which was Eli, ran into each other resulting in one bloody nose and two wailing boys. At this point, tears were happening everywhere.  I finally got Eli calmed down enough to go back in the game with the excitement that he could kick the ball in the goal, only to have the two head coaches call the game because the kids were totally spent.  Well, the waterworks began again, so I asked Coach Mary if Eli could just run down and shoot a goal - she let him.  Miraculously, empathetically, kindly, parents from both teams started cheering him on!  It was an amazing moment.  The game was over, people were moving on, yet they still cheered him on.  What a wonderful group of people, we really live in a great area.

Waiting patiently for pictures

Eli and his two best friends, Jack and Eric

Little boys wait patiently by playing in the trees

They tried to keep me out...but I got a picture of him anyway!  

The silly shot.  Scott and Jess proudly showing their Maple Valley pride.  LOL  It cracks me up that Eli and Eric just stick our their tongues...nothing else.

After Eli's game ending goal.  

Grandma took a great picture of the kids running through the tunnel of love after the game.  

Eli is #1.