The Kickball Sisters

We signed the girls up for a spring kickball league expecting all sorts of fun things with friends...

But I didn't expect this. 

 That was spontaneous - did you catch that? - on their on, on the field together during their first game. MELT.ME.

Welcome to Northwest Area Kickball League (NWA) - but more importantly - welcome to the (Flying) Rainbow Unicorns. Why the Flying Rainbow Unicorns? Because the coaches realized there was already a Rainbow Unicorns team, a Mighty Unicorns Team and at least one more - probably the Crazy Ninja Unicorns Team or something - so we became the Flying Rainbow Unicorns. 

 Had a few momma-friends tell us about the league (thank you Leslie, Sally, etc.) but when it came down to teams theirs was full so while our girls were on a team together (yeah PeeWee division for 4-6 year olds) we didn't know anyone else on the team. All in all, that would have been super fun, but the girls really enjoyed it regardless - especially having each other (see first photo). 

The ump helping the girls recite the league pledge (yes, that's a thing).

 Getting them pumped up, or maybe reminding them of the rules.

 First season of kickball for most of our team - so the theme was REMINDING. Lots of coaches doing lots of reminding. Run to first, run to first! Throw it home, throw it home! Pick up the ball! Kick the ball! Right here! Over there! Run run run run! Tag her! Over here!!! Bring it to me!!! Good job!

The sweet ump giving Maggie some pointers (since she just picked up the first ball pitched to her, instead of trying to kick it) since its KICKball, after all. 

First few games were rough, but after some kicking practice at home (and discovering that she's a LEFTY at least with kicking) she got the hang of it!

One of the bigger reminders: Look up! Stop playing in the dirt girls! Watch the game! Watch for the ball!

 Maggie on first, getting congratulated by Coach Tom.

I think he's telling her to run to 2nd here.

(Good advice since after her first successful kick she didn't like the look of how many people (kids and coaches) were at first (including her little friend Eloise on the other team) running towards her with the ball to tag her so she just b-lined across the field straight to 2nd base, bypassing 1st all together.)

This must be a different kick because there's sweet Eloise w/ Maggie on 2nd - they're deep in trash-talk.

 And here's Eloise - apparently she can fly.

 Role reversal.

Stop playing with your hair Maggie.

Run it home Maggie!

 Coach Tom would draw little Xs in the outfield to help the girls know where to stand. Doesn't mean they always faces the right way.

 Coach time.

 Who knows what's going on here.

 Outfield time = playing in the dirt.

 Rebecca making it home!

Rebecca on first - SAFE!

 High five.

 Spit on your hands. Then rub some dirt on them. Just because.

 Good job. Good job. Good job. Good job. Good job.

Team meeting.

 Goooooooo Flying Rainbow Unicorns!

We almost skipped the end of season tourney for NWA kickbal - so glad we didn't. The girls LOVED getting their name called by Coach Tom and getting their trophies. (Yes, everyone's a winner - at least in the PeeWee Division.)

Plus - I am officially a mom with kids on buttons. Bam!

Lime green, second row - waiting their turn.

Coach Tom - who remembered everyone's name!

Coach Tom, Rebecca, and Maggie.

 Sisters + trophies

The official pics

Go Flying Rainbow Unicorns 2016!

Note: While we have some of the funniest videos I can imagine of their first game, by the end of the season they pretty much knew what to do and their kicking and passing had improved so much. This was really fun to see. Maggie was by far the happiest player on the team - just happy to be nominated. She would come up to me after each game and say I did so good mommy! And Rebecca was easily the most intense player on the team - when it was her time to kick her fists would be clenched and every muscle in her body would tighten - she'd have almost an angry look on her face - then, BAM! BIG KICKER. 

Also, and I'm especially proud of this. All parents are required to volunteer in some capacity for the team. I signed up to be a Field Marker because it didn't sound horrible. But after the Saturday AM 1-hour training at the beginning of the season which I can only liken to GEOMETRY HELL, I managed to never actually be needed to mark the field - which included things like: bifurcate the line with the giant compass...blah bah...words I don't understand...blah blah. I did, however work the concession stand selling candy to kids which I am very good at. Yea me.