After almost two weeks of having no interaction with anyone but Evelyn and Theo as Matt and the rest of the team were away on their first leg of pre-season, I really thought I just might lose it. I was starting to wonder if the kids and I should’ve waited until pre-season and the rainy, dreary days of February had passed, for us to join Matt. Just when I wasn’t sure how many more lonely days I could get through on my own, Krista emailed me with Rachael and Marisa’s contact info. Meet the WAGS.

 At that point, I still hadn’t even met Krista, only through email had we communicated. She was in sunny CA while her husband, and one of Matt’s teammates, was in pre-season, but luckily for me, Rachael and Marisa had stayed in Vancouver despite the men’s long pre-season schedule. I’m not normally one to go to a super bowl party with strangers, but I was desperate. Almost an hour late due to my failed attempt at bringing something to the gathering (I think I ended up with two chocolate donuts. Go me), I rang the doorbell and met my new friends. I was immediately struck by Marisa’s height, and Rachael’s shoes. Marisa’s height would’ve been great for volleyball, if only I was blessed with her genes! And I was just so impressed with a mommy’s dedication to her heels, despite having a 15 month old beauty to run around after. In all honesty, and I think the girls might find this funny now, but I felt a little bit out of my league. They were so…put together. And I felt so…disheveled. I mean, Marisa and Joe had matching furniture. We showed up to Vancouver with 6 bags of clothes in hopes that we could make it work. I was starting to wonder if I was really MLS wife material…

Now, a little more than 2 months later, all of these women have become my friends and support system. I am so, so grateful for each and every one of them, and for being so welcoming and kind and willing to open up their lives to me and my family. It’s truly made the transition so smooth, and so enjoyable. I’ve never felt out of place (well, except for a little that first night, but that was all on my own), or that I couldn’t be myself around these ladies. We were all kind of forced into this tight knit group due to soccer—all of us are away from family and friends and what is familiar. So we really have no choice but to bond. But what’s amazing about this group is that it really is so genuine. Soccer or not, these ladies are my friends.

As pre-season wore on, another 2 week stretch lay ahead of us, but this time around we had friends to keep us daily company since Rachael, like me, is home with her little one. Evelyn would ask when we were going to see Laila that day, and Theo was thrilled to have a new friend his size. As we hung out more and more, I saw what a sweet baby girl little L is. Luckily for me, she took a liking to me and would come over to be held by me when my two rug rats were off playing. I love how content she is, and calm! It would, and still does, amaze me how long this girl will sit still for. But don’t let that make you think she’s got no personality, far from it. She’s definitely feisty when she wants to be, and I love that about her!

Two weeks ago, on Easter, we went outside to snap a few pics of Laila, dressed to the T in her Sunday best. The guys were away, we weren’t near family, so we thought this would be something fun to do. Introducing little Miss L. Enjoy…

And, she’s done