Spring Soccer

The boys have spent their evenings playing soccer during the last several weeks.


Jonah takes the game pretty seriously, and has learned a lot of new skills this season—especially dribbling and passing.



He'd still rather just kick it straight at the goal from half way down the field!



Paul always finds something to do on the sidelines.



Jude's always having fun—sometimes getting silly—on the field, but he still plays hard.



Jude usually has a smile on his face while he's playing.



Jude's team has a lot of friends from school, plus his friend Theo's dad is the coach.

I'm a Soccer Mom!

So, it's official. As of this week, I am now a soccer mom. Complete with minivan. Startling how it sneaks up on one. Less than a decade ago, I was an über-cool, late-night-latte-drinking, hemp-jewelry-wearing art major. And now I push a double stroller around town, sing along to "The Letter Factory," and stand cheering on the sidelines taking pictures of little kids in oversize shirts running around after a ball. It could happen to you. And frankly, if it doesn't, you haven't really lived.

Anyway, Jonah's favorite recess activity is playing soccer, regardless of how much bigger all the other players are. In fact, we finally told him we wanted him to spend at least one recess a day doing something other than soccer. (Nothing against the sport, of course. We just don't want him turning into one of those obsessed, maniacal Brazilian-type soccer fans who cause deadly riots when their World Cup team loses. Got to be well-rounded, and all that.) So, since he was playing it so much without knowing the rules, we thought it would be great to sign him up for a real live team. And while we were at it, we got Jude in on the fun, too. Both kids get to play with classmates. Here are some photos to document this new stage in our lives.

Jonah with his coach

Jonah defending the goal.

Jude coming in for a high-five from his coach

Jude kicking the ball—and almost getting it to go somewhere