Go Panthers!

Dominique had her first soccer game today. As I was getting her dressed she cried because she wanted to wear her pink dress under her uniform so that she could show it to coach Amy. Then she cried because I put her hair up, which she detests, but I wanted it out of her way. However, once she got out there, she did great! It was good that I'd put her hair up, since it was super windy. She got in there, ran, kicked the ball several times and made a couple of assists, once for our team and another time for the other team ;) She threw the ball in from the side and kicked it out too. She also kicked it from center and then almost kicked it again from center when it was the other team's turn. I thought 5 year old soccer was cute, but 3 year old soccer is cuter!

One little boy had troubles remembering not to pick up the ball. At one point he threw it in the goal. We don't have goalies, at this level, but they may want to make him one in the future. We had lots of tears, a whole herd of parents on the field by the end of the game to assist their munchkins, flocks of jerseyed kids running with the ref to chase down the ball as it went out of bounds near another field... At one point, the kids seemed to think they were to play ring-around the rosie and were all holding hands for the whistle, or maybe that was a confusion tactic. They all slapped hands at the end and were not confused at all with what to do with the snacks. For some this was the highlight of the event.

Ivan thinks that he is the soccer expert in residence and sticks his nose in a little too much at times, so we are helping him to be a good cheerleader- a good skill for him too.

Our little number 3 made us smile and we are looking forward to following her 2 month soccer career with enthusiasm and gusto. Go panthers!