The difference this year?
The coaching!
After a lot of coaxing and cajoling on my part, Mike finally agreed to coach Jonathan's soccer team. He appears to be enjoying the experience. He is definitely doing a fabulous job. The players are learning important soccer skills while having fun at the same time.
It's been a great season so far. No rain to deal with. And a three win - zero loss record to be proud of.
Our team, officially named FC Dallas, prefers to be known as the Gators. They are easily identified not only by their bright yellow t-shirts, but by their enthusiastic celebrations following every successful goal scored against the opposing team. They run around clapping their hands in a "gator-mouth-like" motion yelling in complete abandon until they find a fellow player to high-five or "belly-bump". What is especially great about this group of kids is their sense of team spirit and inclusiveness. No one yells or says mean things - even when a "mistake" is made.
The team consists of eleven players. Eight boys and three girls. All nuts!
The picture above was taken the same night the professional photographer came to take pictures of all the teams. They cooperated (mostly) with the photographer and looked like a typical group of soccer players. For me, however, they showed their true selves. I love it!
The son wanted desperately to ride some of the big roller coasters, but the daughter was afraid. The mother and the son decided to ride The Legend (the 7th best roller coaster on the planet - although no one really knows who rates these things anyway). The picture below depicts the son after riding this coaster which travels at speeds close to 60 mph! (Note: The hairstyle is NOT due entirely to the wind. Jonathan works hard each morning to create a unique style for himself!)
After the roller coaster, the family decided to ride The Frightful Falls (a log ride guaranteed to get you wet) together. While waiting in line, the mother embarrassed the father by forcing him to pose for a picture while some of his coworkers were nearby. (What was she thinking?!? Notice the lovely, cheerful look on his face!)
As the family neared the front of the line, the children convinced their father to ride in the very front of the log (hee hee) so they could get extra wet, although they didn't tell him that. (Gee, I wonder where they got that idea from? Perhaps their mother, who opted out of the ride at the last minute?)
After returning appropriately drenched and very happy, the children insisted on riding a few more rides as a family before lunch. The father chose to sit out (to avoid any nasty accidents involving the contents of his stomach) on the following ride. Also known as The Scrambler during the mother's younger years, this was one of the family's favorites. The children loved squishing together as the ride spun them around!
After lunch, the family had a blast riding the various GIANT water slides at the water park. One hour before the park was scheduled to close, the family decided to split up again so that the mother and son could ride another big roller coaster. Although they were scheduled to meet outside the glassblowing shop at 5:30 pm, the father and daughter got stuck in a long line for the bumper cars leaving the mother and son with nothing to do but amuse themselves by taking silly pictures.
Not to worry, the father had his chance to pose as well (albeit not entirely by choice).
All in all, it was a successful day resulting in only a few minor meltdowns. The daughter summed it up the best when she said it was "TOTALLY AWESOME!"