May I present the latest photos of a little boy who so badly wants to be a Big Kid that he can taste it? (Hmmm. Tastes like chicken!)

Seth started playing soccer this fall. Actually, “playing soccer” is a bit of a stretch. He goes to practices all suited up only to spend 5 minutes listening, 30 minutes running after his team mates and the rest of the time playing in the dirt. Its quite fun to watch — especially when you can sit back in your lawn chair and laugh with the other moms.

The games are just as much fun. But at this age, it should be called, “cluster ball” as all of the kids cluster together while chasing the ball.

During the first game, Seth would run a few steps, lose interest and start talking to the other team’s goalie or a fellow teammates with waning attention spans. But the past few games he’s been running with the herd. Actually? He’s usually about seven steps behind the herd. But still, we consider this a small personal victory.

Last week we bribed him. If he kicked the ball three times (during the game) he’d get a Matchbox car. It didn’t matter if it was a kick in the wrong direction. We just wanted him to make some contact with the ball. The bribe proved to be a big motivator. After his first kick, he ran to the sidelines where we were sitting to make sure we saw him. Then he regaled his coach, teammates and anyone who’d listen about his kick.

At one point he was standing by his team’s goalie gabbing with one of his teammates. He ended up blocking the other team’s kick. He had no idea the ball was even in his area until it hit him in back of the leg. Then he argued that should count toward his reward. In the end, he made his kick quota and is now the proud owner of a new blue Dodge Charger Matchbox car.

Right now soccer is all about running around with new friends, acting silly and eating yummy slushies afterward — just the way things should be at this age — fun.