Soccer Girl Ava!

Ava practicing ball her ball handling skills

Drink break!

Seriously considering her next move

Ava has been sitting on the sidelines watching Aiden play soccer for years!  She often would dribble the ball up and down the sidelines while he played.  When she was younger, she even ran out on the field as we chatted with other parents and then looked up to see Ava making a beeline for the ball in her brother's game.  Well, Ava has finally gotten to play on her own team.  They don't officially play games as Aiden had when he was 4, but they work on ball handling skills and fun.  She has been playing on Wednesday evenings and is LOVING it!  She is such a tough girl and gets right in there full force.  It's awesome to watch.  Last night, she was advising me what to cheer ("Go Ava, Go Ava, It's Your Birthday, Go Ava).  She's small and compact and has always good ball handling skills in keeping the ball close.  She's fun to watch complete with her twinkle toe shoes.  Last week, she even wore a dress! :)

On a side note, one of the boys from her pre-school class is on his time.  His mom and I were chatting, and she said, "Wow, Ava really looks like she has grown!"  She has no idea of the journey we are on in helping Ava to grow.  I smiled a tearful smile and said, "I think she has grown."