First Soccer Game!

Grace played her first soccer game today (April 13, 2013)! I absolutely have to document this game! I was shocked at Grace, who is usually a go-getter and not very afraid of anything! But today, she was! When we got to the soccer fields and the game was about to begin, Grace ran to me and told me that she was very nervous. Of course I assured her that she was going to have fun and she didn't need to be nervous.
Finally the time came for Grace to take the field and put all that she had practiced and learned to the test. Well, she must have forgotten everything she learned, because she just didn't know what to do! She kind of slowly ran after all the kids and when the ball came anywhere near her she froze with this scared little look on her face!
There was one point in the game when a little boy from Grace's team ran onto the field and made it so there were to many players on the field. Grace just happened to be running by her coach and he reached out and grabbed her off the field. She thought this meant that he was mad at her and that she wasn't doing a good job. She cried! She was so embarrassed! It broke my heart. But we were able to explain the situation to her and she was able to get back on the field. This will take us to half time.
At half time, Debbi (my sister) and her family showed up to watch the game. Grace was thrilled, but when it was time for her to take the field, as she was running after the ball, we all began to cheer very loud (which she requested we do earlier in the week), she stopped midstep with this horrified look on her face! She ran to me immediately and began to cry! WHAT? I was so baffled by this behavior! Grace does not usually act like this. So we gave her a pep talk and sent her back onto the field where she ran without chasing the ball and never kicked it, even if came near her! It was quite silly!

 Little soccer player!

 Grace's team, The Munchkins

 Getting a little pep talk from Daddy. We were so glad he got to come, he was at work, but took an early lunch to come see his little girl play her first game! (I can't wait until he's a teacher and he has his Saturdays off!)

 Pre-game instructions. Grace is number 1. She thinks that is pretty cool!

 These girls are so cute, they were chatting and playing until the coach told them to go play! It was so darn cute!

Grace in action...kind of!
One of the other mothers reassured me that the first game and even the first year usually goes like this, but next year she would be one of the pros chasing the ball and scoring points....We'll see.