3v3 Champs!

Willem and his buddies lost in the final of the annual 3v3 Challenge Cup tournament last year and, quite often over the past year, the boys would talk about getting 'revenge' and winning it this year. Us parents hoped they'd win just so we wouldn't have to hear them talk about getting revenge all year again! Well, they did it and I think it was much sweeter for them because they came so close last year. I was lucky to coach this great little team of four. They played in the U10 Gold division along with nine other teams from across the state. In pool play their EMFC Red Fury team won three games and tied one game. It was just enough to get them into the final against a team from Brookings, OR and they made the most of it, winning 7-1! They were on such a high the rest of the day and were just so excited. It was a lot of fun seeing their joy and also seeing their hard work pay off! 

Some pretty excited boys after the final!

Massimo (age 9), Brayden (age 10), Willem (age 7), Zane (age 9)

Willem always works so hard!

Brayden flying through the air! He is such an athletic boy and a great addition to the team this year.

Massimo and Zane protecting the goal

So much drama! I love their expressions, how hard they work and how passionate these boys are...

  

 

Cade did not play in the 3v3 Cup this year because his ODP team had training all weekend in Salem. Gabrielle and four of her Athletica teammates did put together a team. They played in the U12 Gold so they had to play a couple U12 club teams comprised of girls an age group older than them and it was a little tough...

Elle's team lost their first game about 8-0 and their second 6-2 and Elle was frustrated. But her team gathered in their tent and started having fun together and Elle decided this tournament was mostly for fun and she was going to have fun with her friends and that's just what she did! I was proud of her for making the best of it and making it a good day. Her team tied their 3rd game and then won their last.

 Maddy, Athena, Kyndsi, Avalon and Gabrielle

The weekend wasn't just about our kids and their teams, it was also another family reunion on the soccer field! James and Jenn had three kids playing and David had two kids. My dad came and watched the seven cousins (his grandkids) play and (my bro) Marcus helped coach. There were also teams from the kids' school and, of-course, many teams from their club. It was a great seeing so many people together, enjoying their kids and soccer!

Willem's Spring Season Update

I wanted to document the end of the spring season for Willem. Willem's EMFC U10 Rovers White team comprised of Andrew B, Max P, Irwin L., twins Sean & Ryan K., Dan R., Garrett G, Julian N., Trent S. and Willem played in the silver (2nd out of 3) division of U11 Kidsports and finished the season 5-3 and in 3rd place out of 10 teams. Willem played half of most games in the goal and the other half usually at forward. He is always fun to watch, sometimes a little too competitive :) and always wants to win (really badly) but luckily recovers quite quickly when he doesn't. Willem scored about 5 or 6 goals this season and always held his own against the bigger boys. We look forward to watching him play U10 again this year and he'll hopefully make up a little more of the difference in size from the kids he's playing!

Willem in goal

Willem isn't afraid to direct the team when he's in goal or on the field. It always surprises me how he is not intimidated at all playing with boys 2+ years older than him.

Will has the form all figured out when he throws the ball out instead of kicking it

We didn't get a team pictures but here are five of the boys: Julian, Andrew, Max, Willem & Dan

Andrew battling it out with a much bigger boy

Painting and Uncles

Today, Genevieve found our box of kids' painting supplies in a cupboard in the playroom and came out with paint all over her dress and mouth. Luckily it's all washable stuff! I explained to her that if she wanted to paint (which she had never tried before), she could paint in her highchair with a bib to protect her clothes. I also explained that she shouldn't eat paint! A few minutes after cleaning her up, she came out with the paints and asked to go into her highchair and paint, which is what she did. I was impressed that she was very careful and painted nicely on a piece of paper (though she did try to suck on the paint brush a few times). It was sweet how she was concentrating and having fun doing it...

Genevieve is lucky to get visits most days from her Uncle David and Uncle James. Here are a few pictures SHE helped take of them yesterday (these are the couple pictures that actually have their faces in them). It's no wonder she yells their names with excitement every time the back door opens during the day!

Uncle James

Uncle David

Boca Jrs in the State Cup Final

Cade's U13 EMFC Boca Jr. team played in the OPL State Cup Championship game on May 7th. Cade told us he was pretty nervous before the game but settled in once the game got started. It was an early 9:00 am start and their opponents, Eastside United FC (ESUFC who the Boca's beat 3-2 a couple weeks prior), came out very strong. The score was 1-0 for ESUFC at half. ESUFC controlled most of the play but there was still a lot of hope for our boys. Unfortunately though, ESUFC came out even stronger in the second half and EMFC never got into their possession game. The game ended 0-5. Cade played the entire second half of the game and all but about twelve minutes of the first half. He played so hard but did not get a lot of opportunities playing up front. His coach told him he was the most intense and competitive player on his team and that he appreciated that Cade never gave up. Despite the loss, it was a great accomplishment to make it to the championship game and we are so proud of the team and how hard they worked to get there. They all amaze me with their athleticism, skills and hard work. It will be fun to start their U14 year in a couple weeks and see if they can make it back to the finals in May 2012!

Before the start of the game

It was pretty neat how official it all was with the players coming out to the center of the field before the match

Jose getting his head on the ball

Jay

Halftime

Cade making some room for himself between the defenders!

Cade, Gio, Juan

Gio working hard as always with Jose, Akira and Juan looking on

Jay, such a great athlete

Cool picture

These boys make it all look so easy!

This picture cracks me up!

 Some starters get a break in the second half (Joe, Mason, Jurgen, Daley, Juan, Hunter, Dana, Gio)

Edgar with the ball

I like this shot

 After the game

On the medal stand (Cade never put his medal on. Says he only wants to put a championship medal on :)

A Lucky Mom...

Mother's Day morning and the YUMMY brunch Chad and the kids made (yes, I did just wake up)!

...A VERY Lucky Mom. That's what I felt like this past Mother's Day weekend. We had a great weekend that started with an early afternoon trip to Portland on Friday. Chad had the day off Friday and the kids got out of school early so we headed to Portland, did some shopping and then went to Embassy Suites. Elle & I did a little workout at the hotel, then Chad, Elle, Will and Nev played in the pool followed by relaxing, room service and a movie. The next morning we woke up early for Cade's team's OPL State Cup championship game. The team lost but Cade played his heart out, got a lot of playing time and we were very proud of Cade and his team. About 20 family and friends came for the game and a group of us went out to breakfast together which was very nice and helped ease the pain of the loss for Cade. We then headed home and got to watch Willem play his soccer game and play on the playground with Genevieve. Sunday morning, I got to sleep in and then enjoy a fabulous brunch courtesy of Chad and the kids. We then relaxed a little and, in the afternoon, Elle and I went shopping together (always fun!). To top it off, Chad's parents came over for leftovers and games. It was a great, great Mother's Day weekend!!

Here are some pictures of the always entertaining Nev this weekend...

Love the pose!

Nev is very fearless/daring on the playground and reminds me of Willem at this age. She is always climbing up everything fast and leaning over high ledges!

She loves the playground!

"Higher, Mommy, higher"!

 

 Flying

 

 Climbing!

Sunday afternoon, Nev spent a good 25 minutes outside in the pouring rain having a blast!