lauren is on the left in the black.
this year it has gotten very exciting to watch.
really big difference from freshman or jr. high teams in the skill level…very cool.
it is fun seeing all those years pay off.
and it is obvious that she likes it and wants to win.
annie was ready for sean's game.
my friend and i thought she looked like a superhero.
Rainbow Girl!
she just needs a cape and some fun glasses.
she isn't in any sports but keeps telling me she is going to play JAM in the winter when she's 6.
JAM is basketball fundamentals on saturdays mornings.
in her mind she is already a basketball superstar. :)
we signed her up for soccer earlier this year and she bawled her eyes out and never played a game.
i try to give her rewards for being dragged all around to places that she'd rather not be….lots of waiting.
but she should get an award for being best dressed at today's game.
sean is number 65.
he is the first one squatting down on the line.
the best part of sean playing tackle football this year….he LOVES it.
i am so glad.
confession: i am a bad sports mom.
my ADD keeps me from paying too much attention.
i am there….but you won't hear me yelling at the ref or noticing if it was IN or OUT.
maybe with all the kids being older i will get better.
i am proud of them playing and trying.
i just have such a hard time really getting into it.
am i the only one?
i feel like it when i am there….like i am the only mom there that isn't INTO this game.
and i really can't handle coaches being hard on kids when they mess up.
even if it's "part of the game" or whatever.
i get really uncomfortable.
i think that's why i was a cheerleader.
no coaches and it's encouraging and happy.
labatterie - I have even missed a goal or two made by my kids at soccer, I think it has to do with the fact that I am chasing a toddler too.
marylea @ Pink and Green Mama - Love the photos of your kids — you must be such a proud mama.
I know those teenage years are right around the corner for me but I’m trying to slow things down and enjoy every day while they’re little (even though it’s FLYING by)
I think Annie’s Rainbow outfit is FANTASTIC!! She needs me to trick out her sneakers with my Rainbow Sharpies and she’d be rainbow from head to toe!! : )
xoxo
Pink and Green Mama,
MaryLea
www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawk8Q3ID1yApW0vXdkBw7Ohx0QYLs3o2K1s - My girls play VB too. The season is passing fast, as it is nearly time for basketball…our favorite season of the year!
Erin McCall - Every time I see Annie, I just smile! She is fearless with her wardrobe! Love it! Keep up the awesome and inspiring work!
the whyte house - oh, hs vball. miss it. she has great ups!! 🙂
i’m glad you have ADD at games..i LOATHED the sport parents and all of their yelling. my sister played varsity vball, basketball and softball several years ago for canton-galva and they had THE WORST and RUDEST parents ever. i couldn’t believe how they acted! i blame it on the super small town and how that was their main source of entertainment! 🙂
Christina - Fun! And Sean looks so big! Is he way bigger than other boys his age? Such a cute picture of him at the end there. 🙂
Chaos-Jamie - I’m sure in your bajillions of comments someone has already said this, but I’m too lazy to read them: Really, WHAT is the point of the super short tight volleyball shorts these days? I don’t remember my longer, looser shorts hampering me in any way. THOSE? I’m certain I’d be more worried about my butt hanging out than keeping the ball off the floor. Then again, I’m ancient. 🙂
Joanna Peck (Jodi) - Hi Meg, I have a rainbow “cape” for Annie. It may be a bit too big right now, but she will still love it. Can you send me your address? Thanks, Jodi
Michelle - You are not the only one. I have a hard time getting into my kids sports too. I have one in Karate and three who swim. I have been to some of my nephews baseballs games and the way parents freak out and act immature drive me nuts. I am so embarrassed to be around those type of parents…I think their kids are going to grow up resenting them for acting like a$$e$ at their games. And when the coaches start acting like total jerks to a bunch of 10 years old…don’t get me started. I know a lot of grownups whose parents acted like that at their games when they were young, and every single one is totally embarrassed by how their parents acted. Get a life, I say.
Lyndee - Has anyone ever told you that you look like the artsy crafty babe? I swear you two could be sisters 🙂 This is her blog link.. http://artsycraftybabe.typepad.com/artsycrafty_babe/
Courtney Walsh - Your new blog banner might be my favorite one so far. I love it. If I knew how to change mine (and knew it wouldn’t take me 3 hours to figure it out,) I’d change mine more often. My nearly 3 yr. old is 18 mos. in the photo in my banner. lol
Sean LOOKS like a football player!! How fun! And Lauren is rocking the v-ball! I am a bad sports mom. I haven’t put my kids in anything since we moved…BUT I fully intend to force my daughter into dance. 🙂
Lucylu ~ - Hi Meg I Would Like To Tell You Jakes Birthday Is TODAY!
Sugar Mama - My daughter loves playing volleyball! She’s only 7, but gave up dance because she enjoyed volleyball & basketball much more. And the rainbow outfit… adorable! And she’ll love to see that picture some day of her very creative outfit.
I was a cheerleader too… but our coach was almost as hardcore as the football coaches. That’s why I quit. I would cry when she yelled at me. I’m still that way. ;o)
Lynette - I am the same way at my kids sports, I have even missed a goal or two made by my kids at soccer, I think it has to do with the fact that I am chasing a toddler too. I love that they play, I am exciited for them, just not that great of a sports mom!
Phoenix_Rising - A lot of the parents from my Kiddo’s soccer team aren’t into watching the game. They socialize or drift off into daydream land. I on the other hand sit there and cheer and scream like crazy. I’m also a first year soccer mom 😉
I can’t help it. I love watching sports and yell and cheer the same way at my tv.
I don’t think you are the only parent who doesn’t get into the game.
Lisa - Oh those poor youngest kids…Dragged all over the place! 🙂 I have four kids and am at the beginning of the busy, multiple kids in sports, stage. It is crazy!
Anne Marie - *kids’
*ref
Anne Marie - As a woman who played sports for fun from K-12, parents who cheer for their kids achievements without getting mad or trying to red are the best. That’s not ADD, that’s a cool, easy-going mama!
Katie - Your confession totally made me giggle. I am Loser Mom when it comes to sports. All I can say is, Thank heavens for Daddy!
I make myself feel better by reminding myself that I make killer chocolate chip cookies for them to enjoy AFTER the game 😉
Holly - two of my girls cheer on the same squad for the local rec football team. We finished our regular season saturday night and start playoffs in 2 weeks. I have a hard time paying attention to the game also. I end up chatting with my mama friends.
adrienne - way to go lauren!!! great verticals!! sean is precious… i’ve been there too, uh well still am! enjoy…
april@gingerbreadgirlblog - Um….Annie looks like she grew a foot….lols….what are you feeding her?
Sandy - Totally agree with Kristen J…coaches can make or break a kid with a sport. When my daughter first played softball her coach was the county prosecutor…and he acted like it to the girls. Made me furious because otherwise she loved it. Never played again though. 🙁
angela - For years my life was consumed with my kids and sports….I miss it!
Charlene@Adventures-In-Mommy-Land - You are not alone! I go to my kids games and wrestling matches, etc and have absolutely no idea what is going on. I just try to cheer when they are up to bat or make a basket or be encouraging when they “pin” someone – have no idea what that means, other than I think they won.
But they enjoy doing their sports and I think they enjoy seeing me there watching them…I think that’s the important part anyway, the support. I go to their concerts and plays and try to support whatever they are in, but I don’t really get into it like other moms do…I don’t volunteer or sign up for committees, etc. It’s just too much work for me and I have enough stuff on my plate just by having 6 kids in so many different activities.
Love Annie’s outfit! She’ll find something she’ll want to do someday. My youngest is always dragged around to all of his older siblings stuff too. I don’t think he minds to much since he gets special treats and stuff when he there LOL!
Heather - Sean obviously loves playing – he’s glowing! What a great photo. A mom that goes to their games and takes pictures of them playing is involved in their kids’ lives and in making memories for them to remember. THAT’s what is important. Way to go!
Jen T. - When I bought my 15 year old her volleyball shorts, I about died. They’re SO SMALL!
My 14 year old son also plays tackle ball and has been since flag when he was a wee Kindergartner. He’ll be moving up to freshman football next year. I honestly don’t mind when the coaches yell at the boys AS LONG AS they have a good relationship with them. If they spend more time talking and praising them than they do yelling, that’s fine with me. However I won’t tolerate belittling a child. Luckily we’ve never had a coach that does that. They always have much respect for their players and the players for the coaches.
Anyhow ,I just had to delurk to leave a comment. Volleyball and football get me excited! I’ve been following you for a long time I don’t think I’ve been brave enough to leave a comment before. So, Hi!
carols - Great sports action shots, and your daughter has excellent middle form. My son plays high school volleyball and I LOVE it. I don’t miss a play or point if I can help it. I’m one of the strange ones that likes hanging around a fieldhouse all day at a tournament. He’s a junior, plays club, and it teaches him lots. Youngest son is football, basketball, and baseball…and basketball is by far is the best to watch. My parents come to lots of games, and are sporty, so I mostly talk with them and we usually are analyzing plays, lol. Fun family time. Love watching sports. Beautiful pictures, sweet Annie. Have a fun weekend.
Gemma - It’s nice to have your kids love sports so much!! It’s not such a huge thing here in the UK (apart from football).
Lauren looks great & Sean is looking so grown up!!
Love Gemma x
Julie - I’m with you on this one ~ I go to their activities and games and I try to watch and pay attention but I don’t always succeed. For my kids, they are just happy that I’m there and they like it when I bring my camera along and take a few pics for them to see later. I think it’s most important that they feel supported and frankly, the parents yelling and screaming on the sidelines are unnerving for me. I was a cheerleader too and I kinda feel like that’s the best thing to be for my kids ~ on the sidelines cheering and smiling, but not necessarily watching every moment of the game. 🙂
I LOVE rainbow girl!
Lisa - I am so w/ you on not paying too close attention…I spend most of my time talking to the parents, there’s always some there I know or haven’t seen in a while…after so many years of watching my kids play soccer and now tennis, it’s a little hard to stay enthused…but I love that they play and they appreciate that I am NOT one of the parents they can hear on the field!!
Jessie - Ha Ha, you’re so funny! Hope this makes you feel better….when I was younger I played sports year round. I NEVER remember hearing my parents during the game. EVER. They always cheered and yelled at the ref, but I was too into the game playing to notice. The post game ‘good job’ was all I remember 😉
jaz - You daughter gets some serious AIR! Wow!!
Dana@Bungalow'56 - My eldest plays goalie for her tier one soccer team. I watch… but only when the ball is in her end, then I’m dying inside. Having a goalie in the family is a totally different experience, you cannot help but watch their every move. Their mistakes make or break the game and it feels like its all on their shoulders. It is very intense. She also plays volleyball. I much prefer that, and yes unless she’s serving I often miss a lot of what’s going on.
Dana
Michelle - I’m not yet a sports mom, (my baby is only 1), but my husband coaches- 7th grade girls basketball. We faithfully go to all of his games- I watch maybe 20% of the game. Mostly I zone out. If I’m lucky there’re other mom’s there to talk to. I do care! I love him, his girls, the idea of the game. . .there are just so many games. . .
Love your blog. Read it daily. Encouraged that I’m not the only one 🙂
Lisa - I hated to going to games – BORING – worst sports mom ever. When she was younger, my daughter only cared about being picked for the team – when it came to actually playing and practicing, she was not remotely interested. Most of the time she’d end up crying with hurt feelings because someone on the other team was trash-talking. I was never sorry when she didn’t try out again the next year. 🙂
Sonia - My son plays Rec football. He’s the only one I keep up with. I sometimes feel bad thinking I should be cheering the whole team on, but mine is the tallest on his team and I have a hard enough time keeping up with him!! I’m like you though, I don’t like the harsh words to the kids. I tell mine to have fun and just do his best!
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Great action shots Meg. That’s hard to get. I wouldn’t be caught dead playing volleyball because of those shorts! Can you imagine?:0 I try really hard to pay attention at the girls soccer games. I like to cheer…maybe too much. You are keepin’ busy girl.
Julie Weaver - I love Rainbow Supergirl! So much so, that I want those pants/legging for my daughter. Are they new, if so where did you get them? I’ve been telling my daughter for weeks that we will make some tye die shirts. Maybe we can have a Rainbow Super family!!
I don’t think I’ll be a very good sports mom either. My kids are still little, but I can’t see myself getting into it.
Beth - Sean looks so happy! That’s awesome. And Annie the Rainbow Supergirl — I love it!
Beth - Yeah, I’ve never been diagnosed with ADD, but when I used to watch my hubby to be playing football in college . . .well, I really tried paying attention, and once in awhile I saw him do things and cheered for him even if they were bad things 🙂 I was too busy talking. Still true sometimes when I watch my kids play. So I get it!
Mindy Harris - sean is a hearthrob! i know you don’t want to hear that yet..i am not much of a sports fiend AT ALL…i graduated from k-state and get really embarrased when people ask me how their football is doing.
because i have no idea.
valerie @ chateau a la mode - Goodness me, I can relate…my poor kids when they played sports and danced…I’d always be visiting with other moms and my kid would do something spectacular and someone would have to tell me all about it so that I could let my kids know “Yes I saw that, wasnt’ that great”. Just a little mom fibbing! I totally get it and I hate coaches that take everything so serious too.
Julia - I love your rainbow super girl -I have a Strawberry Super hero.
Shann - I’m with you…I get very uncomfortable when coaches get mad at the kids. Annie is darling as ever. That little girl has made me smile so many times when I read your blog. And, I played volleyball in high school as well….some 25ish years ago…ahem. And, I am sooo thankful we did not have uniforms like Miss Lauren. I would of died. My legs did not look half as good as hers do. 🙂 Have a great night Meg!
Kirsten J - Heh! I’ve always got some story to tell the moms in the stands, I’m always yakking….and try to focus when my girl is up to bat. And…I played volleyball until my sophomore year – yay Lauren! And coaches can make or break a kid, especiall about age 12 or so….been there, done that.
Jen - My 3-y-o would freak over Annie’s outfit. Her rationale for getting dressed is this: “Momma, I (always) match because all of these colors are in the rainbow. I match the rainbow, so I match!”
Can’t argue with that.
Kids are great.
se7en - Annie is a darling!!! Your Rainbow Girl rocks!!! Love the pic!!!
edie - love annie’s style!
we had the same experience with emme when she was 5.
she came bawling off the field and screamed, “there’s a lot of people and they’re running fast and KICKING”
now she’s happily a dancer.
and lauren—-looks awesome!
🙂
edie
Melanie - Great pictures Meg. You crack me up with you and your ADD:) I can see you at the game visiting everyone while the game is going on. Mrs. Social!
Have a great weekend!
Amber - I’m like Annie! So not into it but always looking dapper. 😉
Dana Banana - Cheering was the perfect fit for those of us with ADD! Except for when we would totally be cheering for the wrong thing…..D E F E N S E (whoops, we are on the offense!)
Katy Stone - 1- made me miss my volleyball days. how fun.
2- i’m far from having kids, but i’m pretty sure i’ll be the same way. especially when it comes to coaches being too hard on kiddos. i’ll be the mom saying “it’s ok, he tried hard!”
Tere - Look at that sun! And the kids are getting so big! Sean towers over much of his team.
Thanks for sharing….fall sports has taken over our house much like yours. I love the physical activity for the kids and the bonding with classmates and friends.
My Lilia (5), this her first year in soccer. And she’s doing it because she is with her a cousin. Last year she was a dance and swimming drop out. Cried the whole time too.
Krista - Rainbow Annie! Gosh your kids are getting so tall, I’ve been following your blog for a while, and watching them grow — time passing before our eyes!
Sandy - Good luck to the fall sports teams! My daughter played volleyball…I loved watching her progress from 4th grade VB at the Y to HS & traveling Open tournament teams. Lauren gets some good height on her blocks…which always amazes me how they can do that! Sean looks bigger than most of the other boys…he must like that too. 🙂 Annie is Adorable As Always! My first thought was Rainbow Bright…do they still make those?
Lovely family!