Volleyball and Soccer

This was our first year for both volleyball for avery and soccer for ben.
I had some serious worries going into both because the last time avery played a sport she cried at every game and I have only known Ben's ability to focus on one thing for an entire hour to be on dinosaurs and fishing.  So, I was a little apprehensive.
Needless to say, every care or worry I had was completely unwarranted, as they both seriously rocked it.  Ben played every game and liked every practice.  He got so excited for both and only chased after a bunny he saw once and played with a blade of grass instead of the ball for one game out of 8.  So, I would say it was a success.  He wasn't the best player on the team, but not the worst and everyone was there to have a good time anyway.  His coach was fantastic and his team was so sweet.  Overall, fantastic experience.
Sawyer was signed up to play too, and I thought they were on the same team and took them to the same team practice (I found out later they were not), but she opted out.  She was too shy and was super happy just cheering them both on and keeping score from the side.  The day we got home from their first two games, she made these pins out of beads and safety pins in their team colors so they could pass them out to their team.  Love that little cheerleader.
And, Avery taught me more than I could have ever imagined this year.
She was never hesitant toward anything about volleyball at all.  When the season started, I hadn't gotten the emails, so we missed the first couple of practices. Then we found out we were teamed up with 3rd and 4th graders who had mostly all played before.  I was a wreck. She didnt miss a beat.  She showed up to that first game and laughed and talked with all the girls and cheered everyone on like she had known them her entire life.  Then, we quickly realized she was the worst player on the team, by kind of a lot.
I know exactly what this feels like.  I tried out for every sport available until I played soccer and ran cross country (because they didnt cut anyone) but I was the worst player by a mile and my JV team was not made up of college bound athletes.  It gets so draining knowing you are not as good as everyone around you, even when you are working hard to get better.
But, to tell you the truth, I have no idea if she was every aware of this.  She practiced all the time, kept serving over and over (even though not but three probably went over the net the entire season including practices) and ran across the court to get to the ball (even if she was afraid of it once she got there).  Her tenacity and attitude truly inspired me more than I can ever really say.  And her team was amazingly supportive and kind.  They never lost a game until the very end when avery was the last to serve and we knew it would be a point for the other team. But after the game, all the girls came up to avery to tell her good game- even though she had kind of allowed for their first loss ever.  They encouraged her and were so, so kind to her.  I truly had no idea that I would get this attached and love a little team like this so much.  It was so much fun to watch all of their games, cheer them all on and get to know such sweet families.
I hope I never forget how hard avery has worked and with a diligence and attitude that I strive for in my own life.  She makes me want to be a better person all the time, but particularly this year in volleyball.  I am so proud of how much stronger and braver she is than I will ever be.
So, cheers to fall sports 2013.
oh, and avery's team was the sour apples so sass and ben and I made them some cookies for their last game and they were so excited to hand them out.

And they were shortbread and no one ate them but the grown ups, but, you know.  Its the thought :)
Here's to the spring!