Hummingbird Soccer

Because we have so much free time these days, I decided to sign Morgan up for a 6-week soccer stint at the Tallmadge Rec.  It's run by Jump Start sports and only an hour a week on Sundays so it really wasn't so bad.  She was in the Hummingbird division on the Royal Blue team. I'm not sure if Morgan will be a big fan of soccer much to Uncle Corey's dismay.  She's not exactly real aggressive when it comes to doing the drills or when they play actual games.  She will get in the mix for a little bit, then get bored and find something else to do.  She really likes the water breaks, and playing her favorite game, What Time is it Mr. Fox?.  I don't think she's the next Mia Hamm quite yet though. 

Enjoying one of those water breaks!

Squishing the bug.

She got to be a fox during the Mr. Fox game.

Again, another water break.

Waiting for her medal.

Finding it to be utter bullshit that she can't participate in any of Morgan's sports.

Cheering for the yellow team!

Showing off her medal.

Last team huddle.

Officially a soccer player!

A Lesson in Last Names

A lesson in my last name of course! Well actually, my husband's last name. For those of you who don't know how to pronounce it here ya go: Stoy-coy.  If anyone with this last name tries to tell you it's Japanese, Asian, French, etc. they are lying because they are tired of being asked this question.  So here is fun fact #2: Stoicoiu is Romanian.  Paul is one of two boys on his Dad's side of the family that can carry on the name.  So far? Paul and Tommy are a combined 0 for 4.  Yup, 4 girls. It's possible this name could die with them. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Even weirder, of all the girls they could pick to marry they pick a Kristy and a Krista.  One letter different.  That's as close as I'm going to get to having someone with the exact same name as me.  Stoicoiu isn't really a Smith (or Graham or Kennedy ;)) type of last name.  My poor, poor children.

Recently one of Paul's uncles passed away and all the cousins got to see each other at the funeral.  We had all been talking about getting together for a while so shortly after the funeral we talked and actually found a weekend day where everyone could get together. I'd never even actually met a couple of Paul's cousins and it had been a while since I had seen the ones I had met.  Lucky for us FB keeps us in touch. There are 6 kids between all of us so it was nice to see all of them...especially the newbies, Tenley and Bentley!

The boys, having a moment..

Peyton! Or "the big kid" as Morgan refers to her.

Dee and Miss Bentley

Tenley's new BFF.

Aunt Calli and T.

All of us!

Stoicoiu cousins

Peyton is working it. Love it.

Cousins, identical cousins.

If this doesn't scare you, I'm not sure what will.  

Rolling down the hill.

We had a nice Saturday of cooking out, cornhole, ketchup eating, wedding video watching, massive baby blowouts, drinking, and hanging out.  So much so, that we've decided to do this every other month or so! Can't wait to see everyone in August, if not sooner!

TBall it is!

Paul and I will debated this for probably the next 20 years.  Paul would love the girls to run track.  That was his sport and he claims he was pretty good at it. ;) I on the other hand have been playing softball since I was like 5.  I would prefer the girls to play softball if they are going to do any spring sports.  Lucky for me I can brainwash these kids at a young age since there are a lot more options for them to play TBall as opposed to running track.  This year we signed Morgan up for her first year. Let me start off by saying how hilarious it is to watch 4-5 year olds play TBall.  When we first got the call from the coach, he mentioned one other parent was going to help him but I volunteered Paul's services as well.  During the first practice our neighbor Keith joined the coaching crew.  By the time the first game came around I think they all looked at each other and wondered how they would have done it with any less than 4 coaches.

TBall for this age is fairly low key.  They don't keep score, you run one base per batter, everyone bats, etc.  It's really more about the kids A) learning some of the basics and B) having some fun. Also maybe C) playing in the dirt...because there is a lot of that going on.  Morgan does a pretty good job but as most 4 year olds her and the rest of her team get easily distracted.  My favorite moment? She wanted to field the ball and another kid got it.  She had attempted to run up but stopped midway once she realized she wasn't going to get it, turned around, looked at Paul and threw her glove off and said "I wanted it!".  Watching that from afar was hilarious.

Practicing before the game:

 

Coach Stoicoiu manning 3rd base.

 

Nothing keeps her hair back.

Getting some help from Dad.

 

Look at that form!

The difference between me and Paul? I say nice form about the picture above and he says it about the picture below.  He literally did say that.

Posing - future Field Falcon softball standout there..lol.