Blue Diamonds 2007

Last week Brynn finished her first soccer season. We had lots of fun as a family going to support her at her practices and games. I'm kind of sad to see it end for a few different reasons. We loved Thursday nights because that's when Brynn would practice. It would give us an excuse to go to the "park" again and to let all the kids run around in wide open spaces. Aaron was often found running onto the field to give Brynn a great big hug or to try to throw a soccer ball to one of the coaches. It was pretty cute. Abby became quite good at manuevering the ball across the field, maybe they will let her start next year. We'll have to figure out how to coordinate that I guess. How do you mom's with more kids do it with organized sports?

Another reason I'm sad it's ending....I'm slow to warm up to people and so just when I feel like I've gotten to know them....the circumstances in which we are acquainted always seem to come to a close. Of course it happened with soccer, but the coaches would like to keep the same team next year, so hopefully we will be able to keep in touch with them.

It was fun to see Brynn improve her skills and confidence each week. The best part was seeing her thrive in a new social situations.

We ended the season with a pizza party on the historic Woodland Main Street at Steve's Pizza. It was fun to chat with the other families, otherwise with whom we wouldn't have associated. It always makes me happy to know that there are good people out there trying to teach their children values and serving in the community. I find myself wondering what motivates people to serve? It's easy sometimes for me to think that because I am serving my family and serving in the Church it excuses me from any civic responsibilities, but lately I've been thinking alot about improving communities. It's easy to recognize problems and complain, but it's not always easy to be the problem solver. I need to do much better at finding ways and being willing to serve at home, church and in our community. Okay, that was a tangent.

While we were eating pizza it was fun to ask the other parents about what brought them to Woodland. Some came here from the Bay area for a slower paced life. Some were born in Woodland, married in Woodland, and will most likely die here. (Joe calls that hatched, matched and dispatched.) And some are like us, had no clue that Woodland even existed and then were transferred to the area for work.

One set of parents a the pizza party gave us an ego booster when they asked if we would give them lessons on patience. They have an only child Brynn's age and they said, "We 've been amazed as we've watched you two with all of your children....You have so much patience!" I wanted to say, don''t be fooled, we are tolerant of a lot of nonsense and we both lack skills in disciplining children. This is closer to the truth, but we'll take the boost! On another side note, when Brynn was a baby my mom said, "Amy, you and Joe need to decide who is going to be the disciplinarian, because neither of you are doing it." Hopefuly we haven't ruined our kids. :)

Anyway, here's to a great first soccer experience. Thanks Brynn

(taken from a previous post by Joseph) Brynn plays soccer at an old elementary school in the middle of the city. During her first game last week, I yelled and cheered and tried to give her directions from the side lines. This was a new experience for Brynn. In her past performances with dance and ballet, we cheered and clapped for her energetic efforts, but here at the soccer game I was yelling directions! "Stop the ball... Go Go.. Kick it... Run!!" It was all too much for my sensitive little angel. In a dramatic moment, 5 year old Brynn took the ball on a solo breakaway, dribbling all the way down the field, passing the other rug-rats and scored a goal! I was whooping and hollering.... and Brynn was overcome in the moment. She started sobbing on the field! She didn't know what to make of her baffoon of a bellowing, screaming father. I called for her and she ran to my arms. She wanted to go... never to play that aggressive sport again. I calmed her down, explaining to her that I was cheering and yelling because I wanted her to have fun and do her best. It didn't matter to me if she "won" the game, but it was always important to try hard and give her best effort. Well, she overcame her reservations and yesterday had a marvelous, enjoyable, soccer game with her team. I toned down on yelling directions, and focused on big smiles, thumbs up, high fives, and happy hollers. She jogged off the field happy as can be. (Victory)

Left to right, Brynn, Delaney, Isabella, Mia, Jessica, and Maya.