26 Things #6 - Pair

Erin started playing soccer in the fall of 2008, when she was in 3rd grade. She had never even touched a soccer ball before their first game, and that first season she seemed to spend more time avoiding contact with the ball than making it. She had fun, but one of her favorite parts was shopping for her first set of cleats. She really really wanted the black and pink ones - very girly. And for a few years after that, each time she needed new cleats (which, with a kid whose feet grow as fast as Erin's, seemed to be just about every season), she gravitated towards the girly pink ones. I didn't care. She really enjoyed the game and was definitely improving skill-wise, so she could get whatever color made her happy. Last fall, though, we saw a change. When it was time to get new cleats, she specifically said she wanted more "serious-looking" cleats, and said no to the pink ones. It seemed like everything about her playing got more serious, too. She was more determined on the field, and we saw her game skills improve markedly. She was even nominated for her league's all-star team. These days, her "serious-looking" cleats are seriously dirty and worn, but she loves them. And with the spring season getting underway now (she had her first team practice last night, in fact), we know they'll be getting a lot dirtier in the coming months. And that's a good thing!