Simi Valley

 It turned out that I did get to go.  We were getting ready this morning to get everyone out the door and Hannah volunteered to go pick up Grace and hang out with her in the afternoon.  So I quickly grabbed my stuff and went with the boys.

It ended up being a really fun day.  The team was good, Cal Elite, and Ethan played the whole time for both games. 

 They actually didn't win either game.  They lost one and tied one.

 After the second game, which was a nail biter, a fight broke out.  The other team got a penalty kick at the last minute, literally.  The kicker had a clear shot at the goal, the goalie prepared.  He shot.  The goalie dove and he deflected the ball.  It was an amazing save.  (After I was talking to Logan and he said it was his second best goalie moment ever.)
Then the teams went for the ball.
Then the whistle blew and the game was over.
Then out of nowhere one of their guys came unglued and fists went flying.  It took a second before everyone was joining in the melee. Some of the more ghetto moms hopped in shouting and screaming.  Refs and boys held other boys back.  Coaches ran to the field as well as several officers.

Then things settled down.

It was crazy.  Ethan grabbed Carlos in a bear hold and wrestled him away from the dog pile.

So it was a long, hot day, with a lot of drama, and a lot of good soccer.  Ethan got blisters on both heels and pounded in the chest with the ball which resulted in a hurting breathing for game 2 but he didn't complain or stop.

Then at the end, to Ethan's delight, they told him they'd like him to play with them.  It's a travel team but they are willing to have him only on Saturday's and practice days.  It's not a done deal but we are hoping it will work out.

Soccer is very serious business, probably everywhere, but really in SoCal.  Those latino boys are really good.  I was laughing (to myself) because there was a team waiting to play after us and they were warming up near where we were sitting so I was reading the names on the backs of their jerseys: Lopez, Ramirez, Santos, Perez, Sanchez, Torres, Flores....etc. 

Anyway, not playing travel has been a real sacrifice for our boy and I hope this works out. He is a good athlete and a good leader on and off the field...and his Spanish is pretty good too :)