Some friends told us about a free soccer camp that a local Lutheran church puts on for the community. It was every day for 5 days, and all the participants were given a really cool sports water bottle, shin guards, a t-shirt and a soccer ball. I repeat - IT WAS FREE!!! Wow! Max, Harry and Bennett all participated in their respective age groups. It was a long and exhausting week, but the boys really had fun.
We had many friends participating also. It was fun for the kids to have friends there, but maybe more fun for me, or at least more easily endured, because I also had friends there.
Bennett and his friend Jonah from church.
One night, right before soccer camp started, Bennett and I were reading a book together. He suddenly became so excited because he saw his friend Jonah IN THE BOOK!!!
Maybe if Jonah was an African American he would look like this.
Harrison had a great time! He loves soccer, and is getting better and better.
Bennett loved it at first. He was thrilled to be given a water bottle, ball, shin guards and a shirt. The excitement of it lasted for just a little while. After that I had to beg, bribe and plead with him to participate.
Because it was a Lutheran soccer camp all the kids had to attend a 15 minute "lambs" lesson. It consisted of a short bible lesson, and some songs. The first day, when Harrison realized what was happening, he made the most hilarious/angry face at me. He stood up and loudly whispered at me, "You tricked me! This is not a church day!" In his mind soccer and church shouldn't mix, apparently.
Can you see him right in the center? He's actually smiling!
Bennett's friends, who are brother's, were not so into listening to the lamb's lesson either. They are our Bishop's sons which just makes this extra funny.
By the second day Bennett was done with soccer. He picked a lot of flowers instead.
And cute little Theo had a fun time too.
I helped my friends out one day, and had her girls over, so they joined in the fun. The organizers of the camp were so nice and let the girls play for one day, and still get all the free stuff! It was AWESOME! I was really happy for the girls. They loved it!
Amelia and Harrison
Bennett and Peryn
(I love their fake cheesy grins!)
Here is a better smile from Peryn.
The youngest, Greta is kind of a monkey, and I was happy that she was content sitting in the stroller and watching all the soccer going on.
Peryn and Bennett at the Lambs Lesson singing songs together.
They were SO cute!
Amelia during a scrimmage. She seriously stopped to smile for the camera.
Max is considered an older kid, and his group played in the afternoon. I was literally at the field all day long!
It's hard to smile for the camera when the sun is so bright.
Max and Harrison
Brothers and friends.
On the last day I could not find Bennett's shirt anywhere! He was pretty much done with the week, but I convinced him to at least participate in the stretches.
It took Lily to sit and keep him focused.
I got these two videos of Bennett doing his best during warm-ups on the last day.
It is harder to bunny hop than you think. Is it OK that I was laughing at my son's inability to hop like a bunny? Is it OK that I was bribing him with cookies to participate in a free soccer camp?
After stretching he needed a chair and some water. He was done for the day. He was ready to pick more flowers, and play with his friends.
What a surprise...or not. Bennett refusing to stand and participate.
And of course he has a flower in his hand.
His flower needed a drink.
One of the little boys started to pile soccer balls, one by one, on my friend Emily. Two of the little boys are hers. You can tell she is a mom of 5 kids. She was really good at holding on to and managing all those balls.
On the last day there was barbecue lunch for FREE sponsored by the fire department. Fire fighters came out and grilled for all the soccer players and their parents. It was awesome!
