Mesquite round three

This was our third trip to Mesquite for soccer. Normally it's a moms/daughters trip. This week Brooke and Mylissa were in Florida chaperoning a drill team trip with their older daughters so this particular soccer tournament ended up being me with the two dads (Darrin and Rob). Pool time, meals and soccer sidelines...the six of us (plus little brother Caleb) hung out all weekend. Chatting revolved around politics, Coronavirus concerns/preparedness, a bit of sports, a bit of religion and work travel. A little different of a dynamic than discussions about drill team, who's dating who, motherhood responsibilities, etc. It was an interesting and fun change, and we had a wonderful time. I'm so thankful for this team and the unity amongst them, but also the friendships between our three specific families, and especially the sweetest bond Lilian, Sophie and Julie share. 

Even  though the first game wasn't until late Thursday afternoon, Lilian and I decided to drive down Wednesday evening, partially so we could sleep in Friday morning and not have to make the long drive the day of play, but also so we could stop to visit Julianne and Jordan in Provo and have dinner with Brandon and Abbie in Cedar City along the way. 

What is it about palm trees that immediately makes you feel like you are on vacation, even if you are only a 5 hour drive away from home? The 7 of us spent a lot of our downtime in this pool and on these lounge chairs under those palm trees. 

Lilian was laughing so hard while trying to float upright on this lounge chair as it continually flipped...

But really we were here for soccer...

Interesting enough...I posted this picture after we arrived home from our trip and received a comment from our next door neighbor in our old 'hood in Centerville that said, "Hey...that's our Ellie in your picture!" We lived next to each other for something like 7 years and got to be pretty good friends. But it's been 12+ years since we moved away and these two girls were just babies...it's no wonder we didn't recognize each other's daughters out on the field. I just wish we had seen each other on the side lines. What a fun reunion that would've been. 

One last picture of the team and the sideline cheerleaders, and we were on our way back home. 

Pink Lightning

Lilian begged and pleaded for me to sign her up for soccer this year.
She insisted on a bright pink soccer ball.
Pink is her favorite color.
Mostly due to her love of the "Pinkalicious" books.
(Have I mentioned how tired I am of reading those "Pinkalicious" books?)

Lilian was hoping she would get a pink soccer uniform.
I told her it was unlikely.
So she was delighted when the soccer uniforms were indeed pink!
She suggested Pinkalicious for the team name.
The team settled on Pink Lightning.
She was only disappointed for about 5.2 seconds.

Lilian's enthusiasm level waned after the first couple of practices.
At the first game she only played one quarter.
And told her coach that she "hated soccer."
Luckily her coach laughed.
And I promised a trip to Yogotogo after every game if she would actually play.

Her enthusiasm began to re-grow little by little with each game.
She especially liked to play goalie.
And enjoyed wearing her bright pink fishnet "power gloves"....as her coach nicknamed them.
(Actually they're mine from the Electric Run.)

(She got kicked in the knee by a member of the opposite team as she tried to save the ball from going into the net. She cried a little. Her coach gave her a big hug and words of encouragement.)

According to her coach, Lilian grunts every time she kicks the ball.
(She says it's very cute, actually.)
She dances out on the field.
And sometimes her coach has to pick her up and physically put her in the spot she wants her to be.
Because Lilian is pretty clueless.
But she's improving.
I can see it.

We went to Yogotogo after every single game.
Even when the game was played in the cold and rain and we were already freezing.
And even though she got treats after every game already.
Holding me to my promise.

The fall season is done now...no games till spring.
Amazingly, Lilian is sad about this.
She's come a long way.

Favorite Photo(s) Friday: Soccer girl

It's Fall. In past years Fall meant soccer. Of all my kids, Rebekah is the one that enjoyed soccer the most and was on a team for 4 years. And although I'm not really one to get excited about stereotypes, I guess you could say that I was a "soccer mom". I LOVED going to Rebekah's games. Rebekah was always the smallest team member but her coaches loved her because she was FAST and could weave in and out of other players to steal the ball away. Rebekah didn't like the pressure of playing goalie, didn't really care to be a forward and have the glory of making the goals (or the disappointment if she missed). Her preferred position was fullback. She defended the goalie. She got that ball turned away before the goalie even had to worry that it was coming her way. And she was good at it! I miss soccer games. Not the craziness of the schedule but more just the sitting in my big chair at the park, chatting with the other parents, cheering for Rebekah and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a fun sporting event in the Fall. Here's a few of my favorite photos of the soccer years...

This is Rebekah and her friend Deidra in 2003...their very first soccer game ever. Look how little they are! They didn't win a single game that season but they sure had fun!


I love seeing the contrast between Rebekah and some of her other teammates in this picture. Spring 2007.

Each new year and new team Rebekah would get a new soccer uniform. Colors changed...two years red, one purple, one blue...but the one thing that never changed was her number. She always insisted on being number 4.