Boys and their Sports

Everyone knows by now how athletic Ben is and has always been...
We have just started the new soccer season with the Kimberly Area Soccer Association for both boys. Ben has been playing for almost 2 years now, if you count the 7 week season starting on his 3rd birthday, but even if you don't count that, he's been playing for the past year almost consistently. He's gotten amazingly good! He loves soccer now, because he knows he's good at it, and it shows. We had to take him out of his last scrimmage just to give the other kids a chance to get to the ball. He's fast and agile and scores when he gets the ball and defends the net when he doesn't. I'm in awe every time I watch him. Ryan gets frustrated while watching Ben and trying to keep up, which is difficult for him, but we keep reminding him that Ben has practiced for a year longer. I love that he has found a sport that he thoroughly enjoys.
Ben also plays flag football on Saturdays through the YMCA. I'm not going to say that he's the best football player out there (that would be a definite lie) but he is fast and last week scored a touch down and snagged an opponent's flag, so he was happy.
Ryan isn't the most graceful child (he falls off chairs regularly without an warning), but he does try sports when he's able. This fall he'll be able to start playing football, which he's looking forward to; but right now he is my fish. We have had the kids in swimming lessons for months now. It's just one half hour class each week at the YMCA. I've started taking them to play in the water on Fridays for an hour to practice and get comfortable in the water as well, then we got goggles... Ryan is under the water now more than out. At 4 years old he is quite a good swimmer! He dog paddles with his head under the water and makes forward progress. He dives for rings, he's doing great! Ben likes to swim and they are close to the same skill level, but Ben doesn't have the love of the water that Ryan does. Ben doesn't like the water in his ears and he gets annoyed with the goggles. He won't even jump into the pool on his own. But I'm happy that they seem to enjoy different sports, maybe the competition won't be so extreme as they grow older. We'll see. For now it's been fun to see them both develop into great kids.
I must say that I love the many opportunities for the kids out here in cheese country! No matter what sport you want to try your hand at- archery? sure! hockey? you got it! t-ball? duh! wrestling? yep. karate for 3 year olds? we got that too! The list goes on, and I am grateful my kids get to experience so much, if they have the desire.