End of Summer Fun

This week Zack is in soccer camp each day from 9-12. He is loving it and learning new skills as well as how to be a team player. He is on the Silver Bullets soccer team, and has practice Monday and Wednesday evenings so I guess that makes me something I never aimed to be - a "soccer mom"! Oh Lord, help me not to succumb to ending up wearing the same hairstyle as the other moms!!! LOL

Zack has quite a temper when he is not the best at something. I'm hoping being on a team will help balance that out in him. Yesterday some kid pushed him down face first. I sat in the car and watched as Zack got up, brushed himself off and walked away. I had to sit on my hands. He needs to stand up for himself in these situations so I decided just to watch and talk to him about it afterwards.

When I asked him about it, he said the kid was angry because Zack kicked his ball. Nevermind that all of the balls were everyone's not labeled in any way. So I asked Zack, what he did when the kid pushed him on his face. Zack said, I just told him he is a meaner and meaners stink. I was like okay well he did say something so that is good. However, I want him to stick up for himself. I told him that next time it would be okay to push the kid back to let the kid know that he can't mess with him just because he looks little.

So today, I see Zack mildly punch a kid who had intentionally kicked his, now labeled, ball entirely off the field. It was more of a tap with the fist. I was like - "OH NO, he's gonna clock that kid" from afar. I asked him about it later, and he said he tapped him with his fist and said, "Don't mess with my ball dude." So, I think he showed restraint while getting his point across - "I may be little, but I am NOT a victim"! The kid ran over and retrieved his ball lickety split.

Anyhow, there's more being learned on that field than just soccer. I hope my boy is learning life skills and character.

Here Zack is enjoying a spar with Coach Kat.

This pic shows you that Zack is a bit shorter than the others his age. This puts him at a disadvantage, but he is unaware of it which is great!

He's working on more powerful kicks.

After practice, we joined Jen, Josh, and Matt at the beach!

Jen is a much better sport than I am...out in the water with the kids as I watch from the shore!

Sophia tries out the surf board and does pretty well.


Zack perferred the boogie board.

Josh is an aweseome friend to Sophia. They hit if off so well, and he's a great influence on her!

I'll post a pic of Sophia's new hair tomorrow.