As Abby and her friends from daycare transitioned to Kindergarten, each heading to different elementary schools, there were a couple of dear, dear friends with whom we needed to maintain contact and see regularly.  Emory, Olivia, and Abby have been such constants in each others' lives up until now it seemed tragic to have to separate them.  So, we decided to sign the girls up for soccer and Emory's dad and aunt are coaching the team.

After two short weekday practices, the girls had their first 4 vs 4 game last Saturday.  I believe every photo I took of Abby showed her with a giant grin on her face.  All the girls had a blast.  I didn't think anyone even cared to pay attention to the scores as we all enjoyed just watching the teams play, but Abby told me yesterday that the final score was 9 to 2.  We knew they were on the losing team, but winning or losing didn't matter to them in the least.  In the end, every single player was treated as a winner and every kid got to run through the winners' tunnel created by parents and friends to congratulate the players.

Emory was out of town for the first game, but in watching Abby and Olivia find every opportunity throughout the game to catch-up, we know this was the best thing we could have done for these good friends.  Not only do they have each other still, they are expanding their circle and building friendships with the rest of the girls on their team.

A very happy child, pumped up for her first soccer game

Abby felt like she was flying

At this age, soccer is not very strategic.  No one is assigned a position to play.  Both teams more or less swarmed around the ball back and forth across the field.

First let's all run in this direction....

and now let's all run in THIS direction.

The ever-present grin on all the girls' faces throughout the game told us they LOVED it out there on the field

Blue team helps the white team score a goal, unfortunately.

Abby up against the entire white team!

Blue team zeroes in on the ball

"Oh, the ball's in front of me..."

Lining up for the kick-off

Half-time

The main reason we signed the girls up for soccer was to maintain this strong friendship they have built.

Coach Rob makes sure the girls understand which direction they're supposed to go

The funniest and sweetest thing about watching kids this age play was seeing how polite the girls are.  No one really seemed to understand the concept of taking the ball away from someone else.

Huddle or social break?