Soccer vs. Train

He was so proud every time he touched the ball and would look back asking if we saw him.

I could not stop laughing at his determined face.
He was not so happy about having 2 people fall on him. The coach was so sweet...picked him up in the air which kept him from crying.

Well, Michael David started soccer last week. His anticipation was building all week. Monday we bought shin gaurds, soccer shoes and socks. Of course, he thought it was the coolest thing that you could hit his legs with no subsequent injury. On Thursday I told him that tomorrow he'd finally get to play. His response, "Is today tomorrow?!" Friday we arrived at the field very enthusiastic about soccer. Little did we know there would be a competing factor for his attention. The field is right across the street from train tracks and during practice 2 trains zoomed by. MD: "Mommmy, TRAIIINNNN! Can we pleeassee go over and see it?!" This was all during his coach's instructions. All the other kids looked at him like he was a little crazy...he is just a little crazy about trains! The train definitely won his attention during practice. "Mommy, I don't want to be a soccer player, I want to be a train engineer."

He had his first game Saturday morning. Friends and family woke up early to see our buddy "play." On the way there MD kept saying, "Mommy, even when I get really tired I won't give up. I'm going to drink this water and it's going to give me super energy!" He was pretty enthusiastic the first half, his fierce running made me giggle. The second half, there were a lot of heavy sighs, walking and scratching (due to his eczema). He was so proud whenever he kicked or touched the ball (and yes, he touched the ball with his hands). Thankfully the train that raced past us did so during a period when he was on the sidelines. I would have to say that soccer won over the train on Saturday. Only time will tell which will be the true winner. I have a sneaking suspicion nothing will ever touch the beloved train. The child is a fanatic.