The benefits of having an older brother...

Levi played soccer for a couple of years before football called his name, but he had a great coach.  The coach has two sons, one Levi's age and one that is Kiara's age.  Several years ago, he invited Kiara to play on his younger son's team b/c they needed extra players one spring.  Kiara held her own surprisingly well at that age and has played with his team ever since.  This last year, however, he decided to consolidate and just coach his 12 year old's team and let his 9 year old play on the team.  We were disappointed b/c the coach is really that great, but as luck would have it the 12 year old boy team was short a player and he invited Kiara again to be on the team.  Kiara loves it!

You can't really tell from the picture, but she just scored.  The best part about it was that she had scored in the game the week before and a boy on the team bet she'd not ever score again...he bet in pushups and he had to do them mid game (and ended up with a yellow card from the ref who thought it was poor sportsmanship).  The smile never left Kiara's face the rest of the game.  

So despite the teasing, the endless fighting, and the tears caused from constantly being bested by an older brother...it has its benefits on the soccer field!