The Stelmazewski Family: Soccer 2012

Last fall, Parker played on a coed soccer team and didn't really love it AT ALL! She was shy and timid. We were happy if she was running anywhere near the ball and thrilled if she made contact with the ball. This year one of her very best friend's, who also lives on our street, Elizabeth, asked if Parker wanted to play on her team. Elizabeth's Dad, Lane, who Parker thinks is in super funny, was going to be the coach. And the team would be all girls instead of coed like last year. Another upside to Elizabeth's team was that they would play their games at the same park where Kegan's baseball games were played. We asked Parker if she wanted to play soccer on Elizabeth's team. With extreme hesitation she agreed.

I really think she only agreed because she adores Elizabeth.

Parker and Elizabeth both go to school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They think that on Tuesday (after dance class, which they have together) and Thursday that they MUST play together the entire day!

making cookies together

Dance class together

pretend trick-or-treating (several weeks before Halloween)

dress up and make-up

they LOVE riding together in the car

more dress up (and yes Parker did add a bow to her crown)

they begged me to take them to the pool (in November) when it was approx. 50 degrees outside. They both have a one piece bathing suits on and and bathing suit skirts over the one piece.

So the soccer season started. Two pluses right off the bat…1) the team jerseys were HOT PINK (very exciting to 4 year olds and their moms) 2) Parker got jersey #5 which also happened to be Kegan’s jersey number. They were both VERY excited about that!

Parker was excited about the practices and the games but she was pretty much her shy, timid self like she had been the previous fall when she played. On the way to the game she would say, “ I am going to school 100 goals.” Then during the game she would run around with the other girls but barely touch the ball.

Coach Lane making sure the girls know which direction to kick the ball. Parker was famous for finally getting the ball and kicking toward the NEAREST goal not necessarily the right goal.

About halfway through the season Parker wasn't making much progress in getting aggressive and scoring goals. I would always tell, "watch Lizzy (Elizabeth)! See how she steals the ball away from the other girls? See how she kicks the ball fast and hard?See how she kicks it in the goal? etc." Lizzy has two older siblings who play soccer, she has grown up watching them play and she is definitely our STAR player.

Well one Saturday, when Kegan and Parker had games at the exact same time, Kyle had watched the first half of Kegan's and I watched the first half of Parker's game. Half way through the game Kyle and I switched games to watch the other one play (The plus of having games at the same place.) As I was watching Kegan play, I get a text from Holly (Elizabeth's mom), "Wow Parker is playing great..She is a completely different girl!" Then immediately get a text from Kyle, " Parker is doing great." Then I get another text from Holly telling me that Parker scored. And then another text from Kyle telling me that Parker scored. From that game on she was a completely different player. She was aggressive and much faster! She scored lots of goals every game and REALLY LOVED it! Her and Lizzy would even play against each other outside in the street, and Parker would really try HARD!

GO TEAM!

We had a wonderful fall season and a really fun end-of-season party, where the girls were thrilled to get trophies and play together! The parent were excited to drink margaritas together while the li’l ones played! ;)