Soccer Season Begins!

We are officially in soccer season! This is a crazy time of year for the Bennett family because the three boys are in different age brackets and therefore play on three separate teams. A typical week includes practices Monday through Friday nights with three games on Saturday. To tell you the truth, this is my favorite time of year. I love watching my boys play sports and cheering for them in their games. I love sitting at practices and games and getting to know the families of the other players. I love the weather as it cools throughout the season and the colors in the trees begin to change. Most of all, I love the enthusiasm of the boys as we discuss their progress and success.

Eric is coaching Jacob's team this year and Jacob is thrilled! His soccer uniform has been laying out on the floor of his room since Tuesday in preparation for his Saturday game tomorrow. Last week on the day of his practice I caught him in Breanna's room drop-kicking all her toys. When confronted about all the ruckus he told me he had already done all the warm ups for practice he could think of and needed to practice his kicking. I love his enthusiasm!

Last Saturday was the first day of games. Andrew and the Red Hawks played first. Andrew was an aggressive player and an awesome goalie! Christian kicked the third of six goals his team made against their scoreless opponents! He was excited about the shut-out. Christian and I raced from his game to catch the last few minutes of Jacob's game and were able to watch the final two of the eight goals he kicked for his team. Jacob was "on fire"! I don't know how much any of the other players on the field touched the ball, but the entire team was excited about their win thanks to Jacob! Now I think Eric's focus with Jacob will be teaching him to assist the other players on the field in scoring goals too. His aggressiveness and coordination is no doubt the result of daily practice with his older brothers. Not many five-year-olds have the advantage of daily seven and nine-year-old competition.

Amazingly all three boys ended up with number 7! "Craig Biggio is number 7! And...we have 7 people in our family!" What luck!!!

Yes. That is Jacob hiding behind his brothers. He was happy about the picture of the back of the uniform, but unhappy about having to smile for the front view. Oh well.