Go Patriots!

It happened.  My little man is growing up.  It was a big day around these parts...Bodie's first football practice. 

From the day we found out we were having a boy, I dreamed of he and Daddy running out the door to practice. Football is such a big part of our lives, and its now apart of the next generation.

I remember my parents attending every game, race or meet.  They sat in the stands and cheered us on.  Until you become a parent you don't realize how cool it is to see your offspring doing things.  Cool things.  Grown up things.  I'm not sure who is more excited about this new venture...me or Bodie.  Probably a close tie. 

And while I used to laugh at moms who made insanely big deals out of the this kind of stuff, I made an insanely big deal out of the first practice.  "For God's sake its just practice", Rob said...easy for him to say he's been to a million.  I wasn't invited.  "Just Daddy is going 'cause he's my coach".  Thanks Dude...Mommy's crying inside.  Truth is Bodie needs this.  Last week he was amazing.  He explodes with compassion and love for his little brother.  He's the "middle child"...my little mama-loving, cupcake-baking, monster truck driving, memory-making, comedic homebody and he needs something just for him. To build his confidence, to express himself, to move, to laugh, to meet new friends. He needs this.

So we went on a special shopping trip for cleats and compression shirts.  Yeah, t-shirts would have worked, but he had to have them and I couldn't say no.  He's seen so much football...the kids knows what gear is required.  We have talked endlessly about the fact that this is flag football not tackle football.  He couldn't wait...I couldn't wait. 

He woke up ready to go.  Try telling a four year old he has to wait 7 hours until practice.  Not fun...but he decided that he would help do some cleaning so Daddy wouldn't have to when he got home and they could dash away to practice.  I do feel a twinge of guilt that I didn't tell him that Daddy wouldn't have vacuumed when he got home from work...just a twinge :)

So off they dashed...I begged Rob for pictures...but he didn't comply.  "You try getting pictures while coaching ten 4-6 year olds.  It was chaos and I couldn't swear," coach Rob informed me.  You better believe I'll go paparazzi on him come game time :)

Long story short...he had a blast a practice.  He did jumping jacks, "cause that's what guys who play football do."  His body was sore this morning, but he informed me that he "felt like a million bucks!"

So games start March 10th at Settler's Park in Meridian.  You can bet plenty of pictures will be supplied in the weeks to come.  Go Patriots!