Soccer time!

Here we are again.. Spring 2012 and the team got off to a great start.. Martin and Megan are back as coaches.  They were thrilled to see some faces from last fall and a happy to get a few new friends.  The Avalanche is an exciting group of giggling girls.. 

Have a great season!
Alex 

It's that time again...

SOCCER SEASON!

This season Martin is head coach and the girls are the Mighty Mermaids..
Maya has decided to be an offensive player and that she wants to score.. Who knew?These little girls are showing some amazing heart, teamwork and tumbling (yes, tumbling!)..
The season is about half way through and every practice, scrimmage and game we are enjoying watching them grow as soccer players..
Go Mighty Mermaids!
Alex

A friendly game of soccer

The Red Hot Chili Peppers continued their good play and winning ways..

The girls gelled and the coaches decided a Mom vs team game was in order..

The girls had a blast showing us their moves, keeping the ball away from us and oh yeah, scoring on the moms!

It was a great chance to walk/run in their shoes.. I think all the moms have a new appreciation for what it takes for these little girls to play soccer..

Soccer Rocks!
Alex

Ouch!

Last week Maya gave practice her all.. Unfortunately, it meant she took some bumps and met the grass too often.. Most plays she bounced back.. a few she wimpered but was able to keep going.. Thursday towards the end of practice Martin and Steve set up Alexandra against Maya...

It happened in a split second.. Next thing I know I hear the cry.. the one that rattles your bones and tugs at your heart.. After 3 years of playing soccer I have tried to grow some tough skin.. We always remind Missy to shake it off.. But in that split second the little voice crying in my ear was in pain.. I tried to sooth.. I looked for wounds.. Nothing was obvious.. My mom issue xray vision was malfunctioning..

We headed home and still she insisted there was pain.. I borrowed a bandage, gave her some ibuprofen and reassured her that it would be fine in the morning.. I sent her to school sure that she just wanted the chance to show of a bandage to her classmates..

By midday her teacher sent me a note that in fact the pain was still bothering Maya... Oh No...bad mom award for me... time to call the pediatrician.. He insisted he check her before the weekend. Here we go to the doctors office..Two fast xrays would later reveal what Missy's pain was all about... A broken wrist... Ouch!

I could write an entire entry on Martins craziness.. He was so worried she would miss the season. He put so much time and effort into the girls how could his kid not play? He wanted to know everything.. how broken? how long would she need a cast.?. could she play with a cast?..

I won't bore you or enrage you with the nightmare/adventure it was to locate an pediatric orthopeadic doctor in Riverside county.. Needless to say we finally found an awesome one at Scripps in San Diego.. (Have you seen the price of gas..? over 100 mile round trip).. But what's a mom to do.. afterall I have a broken girl and a crazy soccer coaching husband..

The soccer gods were smiling (laughing) on Martin..But this smile was worth it...

Maya and her newest accessory.. color coordinated to match her uniform..

She insists she will be ready to play as soon as it is cut off...

Wish me luck that I can survive the season..

Alex

Wrapping up the soccer season...

The season ran long this year due to the rain delays.. Unfortunately, our last game was also a cold and wet day.. The other team did not show but our girls did and they wanted to play!

Play they did.. After chatting up a younger team who was also determined to play at 8am on a rainy Saturday, our girls had a game.. We combined teams to even them out..
Maya scored 2 goals! She was estatic! Here she is running to Dad after a goal...

Our team party was filled with giggles and pizza..
The girls loved looking at pictures of themsleves and eachother on the field in their scrapbooks..... They were all very sad to know that the season was ending and they would have to wait until next year to see their friends again..

A big heartfelt "Thank you" to our coaches Steve and Martin.. The wore their pink jerseys with pride..

Coach Steve and Alexandra

Assist. Coach Martin and Maya..
The fun wasn't completely over as a small group headed to the local bowling alley for more fun.. The girls shared fries and played games in between their turns.. It was a very pink season and the Bubblegum Blasters rocked!

See you all next season on the field...

Alex

Let the games begin.. Soccer Games!

Yes, we love soccer at our house.. This year the Dad's took to coaching and I get to take pictures and jump up and down like a crazy woman.. Yipee!

We have a great team and they are gelling.. Our team is made up of some familiar faces who we have seen on the field in the past and some new friends..

We are the Bubblegum Blasters.. Our cool banner was made by one of our moms.. Isn't it great? I think we should win for best use of the soccer ball..Just saying..

Martin and Steve are strategizing like no other coaches I have seen. They are calculating every rotation and even spreadsheets of the line up card are being managed..The U8 division is a whole new level of crazy. The intensity is giving us ulcers.. those girls are trying to figure out their defense from the offense..So far so good!

Even those who have never played before are getting in the game..

The girls have to manuver around more opponents and earn every goal.. Look at these girls getting in there..

It's a big field and they have to RUN!

These girls were having a good game..look at those smiles..

Their faces are priceless... Intense..

High Fives all around.. a great game!

Looking forward to another fun season!
GO Bubblegum Blasters!
Team Mom (1 of 2),
Alex

Soccer memories...

Our last game was Saturday and the girls were on fire..

The season was a hit not because of how many games we won, but because of how much effort the girls put into the game..

Our girls all scored goals.. That is a big achievement at this age... Our girls played like a team..

Thanks to a great co-coach in Steve..our girls perfected swooping the ball and defending with their body.. Thanks Steve for helping me grow as a coach..
The hard part is that now we are done and we could be playing against our friends next season.. No worries since we are all good sports..See you on the field!
We made some great memories this season..

Each girl brought her own special gift to the team..

Katelyn was completely new to soccer and was full of energy and fearless despite her petite size.. A true red head! I feel priveledged to have been her first coach..

Maya was determined to make her way on the field.. She powered through the season with more enthusiasm and thicker skin than past seasons.. Its so great to see a player grow..(especially when she's my own)

Alexandra is a natural.. She knows what to do with the ball and no player I have ever coached is as determined to play, score and win as Alexandra.. She is a sight to watch and has an amazing heart..

Rylee is our silent star.. She is a sweet and shy little girl but very determined on the field.. Once the game started her game face was on and she was all business.

Taylor was worried about the ball when the season started but once she figured out she was stroner than the ball, it was game on! Jessica has great energy and a strong leg.. Thankfully that leg was on our team.. She kicked her way to some awesome goals..

To all my girls, THANK YOU for an AWESOME season..

You rock Sock-er Monkeys!

Coach Alex

GO Sock-er Monkeys!

After missing last Saturday's game I was bummed to hear that our girls were missing their spark.. I struggled all week to try to figure out how I would put the excitement back in soccer.. I started Thursday's practice asking the girls to share what they liked about playing soccer.. I made it a point to make sure we had fun and us coaches all spent extra time working with them and cheering them on. After practice I was still stumped but by Saturday morning, I had a good feeling.. and a fun idea....
I went out with Maya and got some PINK GLITTER HAIR SPRAY and some temporary tattoos.. (at first the prude in me was against the tattoos but I figured, they were like stickers and I knew the girls would enjoy them). The girls laughed and giggled as their lovely locks went PINK.. Their smiles sparkled even brighter with the glittery crown...

After a fun round of warm up with coach Steve (OUR ROCK) the girls were pumped.. We coaches were ready to cheer them on..

Maya's cheering section was full courtesy of a surprise visit from grandpa, grandma Galvan, auntie KENYA and the Hernandez family with noise maker!

The game was intense, the score was all over and the girls pushed harder, faster and stronger.. Once again, my heart swelled with pride. I saw them trying so hard. I wanted to run around the fields and tell others families that they needed to watch these girls. Our opponents were pushing us and we were with them every step.. We didn't let them take an inch..

Look at the determination and the effort..these girls were in the game!

It was everything a soccer game should be.. It was exciting. It was energetic. It was fun to watch.. Thank you to all my Sock-er Monkeys for the memories.. The season is not done and I know we will finish it with flare..keep up the good work! I am so privledged to be on the sidelines watching these little girls play, cheer, learn, cry and take soccer to the next level. I am not coaching them, they are teaching me about what sports can be. Inspiration and Fun..

Coach Alex

Teamwork!

This week our girls worked hard!

Taylor took charge and SCORED!

Jessica must have heard me saying "Let no goal go unfinished" because she finished a goal that was almost lost after her two players went down..

Maya ran a ball from one end to another on a fast break..

Alexandra kept the other team on their toes with her power shots..

It was clear this week that the girls gelled as a team and just about everyone scored a goal..

It was amazing to see those girls spring into action this week.. We spent our last practice focused on a skill per girl.. On Satuday they showed us the pay off..

Look at Katelyn taking command and Jessica and Alexandra blocking..

They each stepped up, kept the pressure on the other team and ran that ball! The coverage was spot on...

Here's a shot of Rylee going in for a goal.. She is determined.. Awesome!

Those are the moments that make coaching worth every minute..

Thank you to my girls for their hard work..
Coach Alex

Spring Monkeys...

Spring Soccer started and so far our girls are having a blast.. We are wearing pink proudly and being silly like our mascot, the monkey.. A big "Thank You" to uncle Arthur for the art skills..

Maya has some wonderful teammates in Alexandra, Jessica, Rylee, Taylor and Katelyn..

This season I have a fabulous assistant coach in Steve...

This season I even convinced Martin to be our permanent ref! Wahoo!

We are off to a fun start!
Coach Alex

Soccer!

Maya was on fire today! She had an audience today and she delivered..

The whole team was motivated by the bright sun and great weather..

Those girls were awesome today!

We won our soccer game and are still undefeated.. Hard to believe.. Those girls worked so hard out there.. It just makes us smile from the inside out at their determination..

Go FireFlies! Team #3

Buzz,

Alex

A busy bee weekend!

October is beyond crazy and that was what this weekend was for us.. It was soccer and 3 bday parties.. It's too funny when even Maya wants a break.. Somehow we made it.. Now we just have Halloween.. What is not to like? Candy, costumes and general corniness... Love it.. Love the fantasy of it all..

Here is a sneak peek at our weekend..

Soccer!

Maya had to play the entire soccer game! Those of you who know Maya, know that a full game is too much.. She has little legs.. or something like that.. she plays when she wants, sits and subs herself when she wants.. That girl knows what she will and will not put up with on the soccer field.. We only had 3 players.. They were exhausted and hot.. They survived and won 5-3 (yes, we do keep score)...

Maya and Mateo,
Friends forever!

Mateo's party was a bouncing blast at Pump It up.. Yes, that girl loves to Jump and Slide.. Hold your ears.. Its all about noise at Pump It up.. we got to see so many old playgroup pals.. it was good.


Next it was off to the Izguerra's for Abelito's 25th.. I can't believe he is 25! I used to nanny for him. I made him mini-pancakes and chaned his diapers.. Now he and Maya even share a bday!

Mama Mona even showed up as the Money Lady!. Love it..Desiree is perfect as a Vamp Girl.. Lala struts her deadly stuff..

All of that in one Saturday.. Not to mention the house cleaning, Target run, work out, picture taking.. you name it we were in it and ate it.. There was food! We needed fuel..

Buzzz.
Alex