Summer 2012: K & O Heading Off to Basketball Camp
We made a conscious point to hold off as long as possible on organized sports for Kyle and Owen — mainly because we knew that once we started, we’d be fully immersed for our entire foreseeable future. We waited until K & O were seven to begin. It felt like a huge deal to hold off for that long. They are both super athletically gifted (we’ve known that for a long time). And they both love sports (that becomes even clearer and clearer as each day goes by). By the time they were seven they were chomping at the bit to begin.
Tomorrow is their first soccer game of their 2nd year of playing soccer for their school team. It feels like the past year has, in many ways, been filled with (maybe even dominated by?) sports for K & O. As we expected, it has become a major part of our family life. Owen and Kyle are definitely driving this ship… but the rest of us are very much on board on this journey.
And now another year of it is officially beginning. I’m not complaining. It is incredibly fun to watch these two play. It brings us lots of joy to see them do so well and have so much fun. I could go on and on and on about how exceptionally gifted and talented Kyle and Owen are at every sport they’ve ever tried, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin to describe it. Suffice it to say: they are really amazing and have great potential. We will see what the future holds.
This post is a photo retrospective of Kyle and Owen’s First Official Year of Organized Sports.
SOCCER: Fall 2011 K & O played for their school team (as the first 1st graders to ever be allowed on the team)
* * *
BASKETBALL: Winter 2011-2012 K & O played for their school team (again, as the first 1st graders to ever be allowed on the team)
* * *
BASEBALL: Spring 2012 K & O played for our local Little League team– the Durham I-8s (Owen won the MVP award for the season as Pitcher, and Kyle led the team in hits)
* * *
SUMMER SOCCER: Summer 2012 Kyle and Owen played in our local youth league (leading their team in an undefeated season)
Meera has a routine of hanging out during her brothers’ games. K & O have a routine of eating cereal after their games (each and every time, regardless of the sport or season, and regardless of how large or small their dinner was prior to the game).
And that’s a wrap! Now… onto Year Two.
Great photography and i love the story they tell. Will be fun to look back on years from now too! Such talent!
There is no video needed. In the photos, I can see the intensity, focus, and hard work these boys put into sports. I love it!!
Awesome kiddos…I’m sure you’re not forgetting to teach lessons in humility and grace, though, right? đŸ˜‰
Awww. I bet they are amazing together. It must be a little hard at time to watch them play against older kids though.
They look like they are having a blast!! I love to see kids playing any kind of sports. We really see the difference in middle school when kids are exposed to organized sports (even if they are TERRIBLE haha) than kids who have not. Better at group work, better attention spans, and less time missed at school (generally healthier). I think sometimes parents go off the deep end with sports – either WAY to many things, or they are afraid their kid is going to be psychologically damaged by not winning.
Fantastic post, a great Scrapbook entry! I enjoyed reading all about Kyle and Owen’s year of sports and seeing glimpses of your family supporting them! All the best for year Two!
– Kate
Wow…I don’t know how you keep up. Our son only plays soccer and the season in Italy begins in August and runs through May…he has two practices a week and games on either Sat. or Sun. or sometimes both if the team is doing both championship games and a tournament. Our son also swims one day a week (but not on a team because he would have to give up soccer to be on the swim team).