So Long Soccer

Soccer season is over.  Today Casey and the Red Firecrackers lost in their little state tournament game.  She was sad and there were tears (and some actual sobbing - like the moaning kind). Controlling emotions isn't one of the things you have mastered when you are 7.  One of our family members teased me a little for taking a couple of pictures of the tears, but I want to capture all of our memories, not just the ones that look good on paper.  I think one day, she'll appreciate seeing her 7 year old self so emotionally invested in something and truly caring that the fun of the season was over.  But probably not any time soon...

 

One last huddle

A hug from daddy

 

This was the first time Casey seemed to really enjoy a sport and we enjoyed watching her learn, have fun, and make new friends.  And it was a really good group of girls, too.  They all learned about the game and cheered each other on like no body's business.  And yet, no one took it all too seriously to lose perspective that they were really all just 6 and 7 year olds and playing Barbies was a priority, too. 

Winning smiles from last weekend

 

Different sports and activities will inevitably come and go for Casey in years to come, but for a while, the concept of 'team' will be compared to the fall of 2012.  Casey is old enough to remember how fun it was to jump up and down when another teammate scored a goal or get jumped and celebrated on when she scored.  And how bad she could feel for a friend who played on another team that lost.  And how there was no jealousy or cattiness that will soon come when a group of girls gets together at all, much less to compete (ugh!  I am soo going to hate that business!). 

Celebrating a teammate's goal

 

The excitement of all of our families coming here to celebrate her birthday today has made the end of soccer all but forgotten.  She'll have her memories, our pictures, a medal and a trophy to remember the year she started to love sports and being a member of a team by.  (I'll have to remember to tell Casey one day far in the future how she actually got that District Champs trophy - I think it will make her smile). 

 

 

At the team party a few weeks ago Emily was given a participation trophy and medal for being such a good cheerleader and (Casey-appointed) team mascot.  It was a sweet gesture that Emily beamed about for weeks. 

Emily is still shaking her thing at dance class and her dance competition will be the next opportunity for me to go all sideline-mom at.  For now, though, someone has turned her tears into silly grins.  She's turning 8 tomorrow and is just a little excited about it! 

This is one of my favorite pictures. :)