Go Warrior Tigers!

Anna officially started playing soccer last month. Her first game was mid-August and she will play through mid-October. Independence has a really good soccer program with a large Under 4 league. We got Anna on a neighborhood team and she plays all her games at the park right next to our house.

Matt and I have been waiting for this day for about three years because we knew how much fun it would be to watch our kids play organized sports (and yes, this is a pretty organized league even with 3 and 4 year olds!) Matt was so excited that he actually turned cleat and shinguard shopping into a nice Saturday morning daddy-daughter date complete with a trip to Dunkin Donuts. Do you know how cute preschool soccer gear is?! Size 8 Umbro cleats, extra small pink shin guards, and a black Umbro soccer bag - that's what Matt found. Anna fell in love with these items immediately and carried or wore them around the house for days.

The first game day arrived, we had a whole cheering section ready to greet her (grandparents and uncles and their girlfriends). She got all psyched up in her gear, she had her water bottle ready, her headband on. She walked right on that field and started warming up with coach Kris and the team....and then she burst into tears. Matt had to be the assistant coach and hold her hand on the field. It was quite funny. Anna is definitely the youngest on the team with a July birthday so we figured she just needed to warm up and "mature" a bit :) We were right; By game two, she was out there having a blast and by game three she became a true Warrior Tiger elbowing and pushing kids when they take the ball from her. I think maybe she watched some old films of her mama on the basketball court :)

P.S. Warrior Tigers is the combination name the kids came up with when asked what they wanted to call their team. One boy said warriors and Anna said tigers. The coach actually has the kids put their hands in a huddle and scream, "Go Warrior Tigers!" It's pretty awesome!