Braden's first soccer practice

Or was it gymnastics?! Or track?! Heck, it could've even been breakdancing! I'm not sure, but he very rarely actually touched the soccer ball. Watching him play soccer for the first time was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. I wonder what we are in for when he has his first game. This was a complete 180 from the first day Kelsey started soccer. For the first two seasons of Kelsey playing, she spent more time on the sideline crying than she did in the game. Me, having zero patience with her, didn't handle her crying very well and I got grumpy. I still feel guilty for the lack of patience I showed with her, she obviously wasn't ready. I handle hyperness a bit better it seems....

When we first got there, a bit early, Scott, Braden and Kelsey kicked the ball back and forth. He's got quite the kick. Zero aim, but quite the kick. Once the rest of the team got there, he got a bit shy and wanted to come sit by us. After a few minutes of sitting by us, I coaxed him back out to his team by offering him the matchbox car he brought. Unfortunately, I missed the shots of him actually sitting (and then yes laying) on the ground with his car, driving it along the lines on the floor. For the remainder of the practice he spent his time alternating between us and the coach. He'd RACE over, give us a high 5 and RACE back to his coach. Then he'd get bored and just before it was his turn to kick, he'd RACE back to us for another high 5 or a hug.

I think he's also trying to learn how to fake a good fall. He'd do fake trips and throw himself down on the ground. I gotta give him credit though. One of the time he ran over to kick the ball, he tripped over it and landed flat on his rear. Now, if it had been Kelsey at that age, game over... she'd get up crying and wouldn't look at anyone. Braden... gets up and says, "owww... my butt hurts." A bit later, from across the gym, I hear him yell out... "HAHAHAHA... MOM.... I FARTED." Ugh.... he recently learned the words fart and burp. Now when he does either one, he announces it to the world. no matter how many times we tell him it's innapropriate to tell us, you just say excuse me, he thinks it's funnier to point it out.

Because his antics were so funny I gave up trying to get a picture of him kicking the ball and I just started recording him. Here is my favorite video and a few pictures.




Running away from us after one of his trips over for a high 5 from dad.




Oh, there he is on the ground



and again....


Okay... I give up, he's just weird.



Oh look... here comes the goofball now....


Needless to say, we had a great time and he was exhausted after all the running he did. I think he got more exercise than anyone on the team since the rest of the kids actually stayed by their coach instead of running across the gym every 2 minutes.