TRACE'S PLACE: March Madness

It may be basketball across the USA right now, but in the Cofer household our March has been all about soccer.

I have officially become a "soccer mom." At any given moment there are shin guards and cleats in my backseat and a soccer ball ping ponging around my trunk.

This is a first for us. We don't know soccer. We don't watch soccer. None of the Cofer 4 have ever played soccer. So we are learning as we go. Literally, I'm afraid to cheer at games because I have no idea the rules or what's happening on the field.

Was that good?
Are they supposed to be running that way?
What does that flag meant?

I have no idea.

I'm a pretty sports savvy person, but soccer has me stumped. Maybe that's why both of our children picked it as their first team sport. Because their daddy and I are clueless to help them.

I thought we were on the school track path for Trace. I'd even filled out his track form and put it in his agenda when I got a text from his best buds mom saying Alex really wanted to play soccer and would Trace want to too. We had the BIG talk over dinner about signing up for a team sport and what responsibility that meant. There would be lots of practices and games on the weekends and
kicking the ball around in the front yard. He would be playing against kids MUCH better than him, that had been playing for years and he couldn't expect to be the best. We pretty much voided him of all self confidence and set the bar really low. Just go out there, have fun, try your best and learn something new. He said he was ready and I was beyond excited!

And terrified.

So far they've practiced about 3 weeks and had 2 games. Keatyn had her first last Saturday. Cute! Cute! We are running the roads with 2 kids playing games on the opposite ends of town every Saturday. The grands are all so excited and supportive and haven't missed an opportunity to cheer on the dazzling duo yet. Bless, Sisty and Granddaddy already had to cart Keatyn to and from a birthday party in Hixson so I could be in East Ridge last weekend. I don't know what I would do without all of them!

In other news... We finished up the birthday month with a tea party down at the English Rose Tea Room with our friends Lesley and Emily. Emily was out of town for Keatyn's party so we celebrated later. It was a fancy, dainty little place but so much fun!

Trace was being an awesome big brother and wore the gloves and hat to have a tea party with his sister. I'm keeping this photo as blackmail for later years.

Keatyn's fruit salad. She was so proud.

Trace left here for a sleepover at Alex's in his morph suit. Mandi sent me these pictures when they had to stop in Petco. Oh, that boy of mine.

Attempt #3 at ear piercing. Her ears are still un-holed. ;)

Her good luck eggs and note for her daddy's fishing tournament.

February and March have been a blur of birthday parties. It has been so much fun spending time with sweet friends! Katy Lane's birthday at the Creative Discovery Museum...

We celebrated my dad's second retirement at Southside Social a few weeks ago. Don't know if the retirement will last, he's not one to sit around. He's already planning his next career. Love him so much!

You can't see it in this picture, but there is definitely a baby bump in there!!! Can't wait until June!

This was Trace's first soccer game, before they got their uniforms. He was soaking wet and exhausted. It was so fun to watch! GO CHARGERS!

Keatyn's first practice and game. She has really taken to it. I can't believe how much she's improved in just 2 weeks.

Jimmy had his CBA that day and had been grieving about missing her first game. When I talked to him at 9:30, I told him to keep fishing it was FINE, she has a ton more games to watch. About game time, look who showed up. He couldn't stand it and had Matt drop him off at his truck. He's such a good daddy and boy does he love his girl!

Later that day, Trace played his second game and got to be goalie for a while. He really liked it! Check out those shorts. Their uniforms came in the day before and when he put the shorts on for the game, I died laughing. They fit Keatyn. Literally. But he INSISTED on wearing them. The next day we got an email from the coach saying... "I know some of the soccer shorts were a little too small, feel free to wear any navy soccer shorts that fit." Yes, please. Ha!