Strong and Confident

I love being a mom to my little awesome athletes!  As the girls continue to work hard in their sports, I am in awe at how much they have grown with their personalities!  Both are becoming such strong and confident young ladies.  They know what it means to work hard for something that they want.  They have experienced disappointment.  They have experienced success.

 

I know our family must seem so busy and we miss a lot of events because of the girls' schedules... but honestly, I wouldn't change these soccer Saturdays for anything!  My girls are growing up right in front of my eyes and it's going way too fast!

 

GOALIE CHARLIE?

 

 

Charlie is experimenting with goalie!  Oi.... how scary!

 

LEGEND'S CUP TOURNAMENT

 

 

 Ryan's team took on their nemesis in the Legend's Cup tournament and won in PKs.  I was so proud.  Ryan was actually on the bench with just minutes left in the game.  The game was tied and coach knew that we would go to Penalty Kicks after the whistle blew.  Only the girls on the field can be eligible to take one of the Penalty Kicks.  The coach quickly subbed Ryan back onto the field so that she could be in the PK line up.  She made her beautiful PK shot and her team won the game!  They ended up getting 2nd place in the tournament but made a huge impact as a team who has moved this year from being a "Tier 2 team" to a "Tier 1 Team."

 

I don't have a picture but it CERTAINLY worth mentioning but while Ryan and I were at this venue for the tournament in Riverside, Steve and Charlie were at a different venue in the same tournament in Chino Hills.  Charlie's team took first place in their very first tournament!  Charlie was very excited to get a first place medal (especially because her sister got a second place trophy - she has been waiting for a moment like this!)

 

SAND SOCCER PRACTICE

 

 Now, on to soccer on the beach.  Both teams moved their practices for two weeks to the sand in order to prepare for the big 5 v. 5 sand tournament.  I have to say... moments like this make us remember how lucky we are to live where we live!

 

JUNIOR LIFE GUARDS PREPARATION

 

 In the midst of training on the sand for soccer (exhausting), Ryan has been attending swim classes 3 nights a week in order to prepare for the Junior Life Guard program this summer.  In order to qualify, each candidate must swim 100 yards in 1:54 minutes.  Ryan's initial time was 2:12.  By the end of the month long class, Ryan came in under the qualifying time at 1:53!  We are so proud of her!  She worked hard at every class in order to shave off her time!  Now that she made her time, we have to try to get into the program.  Slots are tight but if we get in, it will mean Ryan will be on the beach all summer learning how to safely navigate the ocean!

 

SAND TOURNAMENT TIME

 

Look at this amazing venue for a tournament!  Not bad, eh?

 

 

Look at this cutie in the goal!

 

 

 

 

 

Having fun in the sand between games. 

I mean, they are still 7 and 9 years old, right?

 

Look who got another medal!  2nd place this time for Char Bear

 

And guess who got 1st place... Ryan's team!

(Charlie's triumph on top didn't last very long!  It's just like Ryan to not accept Charlie having the most recent 1st place standing!  It looks like we might be in for YEARS of competition like this!)