Ava's favo(u)rite sport has long been football, er soccer - the one where you use your feet - and has been fortunate enough to see our beloved club, Chelsea, on two trips to Stamford Bridge (three if you count the time when she was still in utero). This summer, Chelsea made the trip to our own back yard to take on Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour, so Ava had to partake in all the fun. Before the match we hung out at the Chelsea in America tailgate with friends and with former Chelsea midfielder Gary Stanley.
At the match, Ava sat right above the tunnel where the players entered and screamed for the boys in blue throughout the match.
Despite the late hour, we stuck around after the match and Man of the Match, Gary Cahill, walked up to Ava and handed her his sweaty jersey.
Ava's main summer (and fall, winter, and spring) activity is continuing to play soccer with her Slammers team. After just a few months, the girls have quickly bonded both on and off the field, and they love their coach.
After 22 years, the other football (aka throwball, hand-egg, gridiron) is back in LA. LA apparently includes Orange County as the Rams have been holding training camp at UC Irvine. This has given Ava a chance for free peek at the area's newest (and oldest) professional sports team. The Rams had a great set up for kids with an enormous slide, and obstacle course.
They even had combine activities for kids including a broad jump, vertical jump, and shuttle run.
No event would be complete without some junk food. Don't worry. Ava didn't eat that funnel cake topped with strawberries and chocolate sauce on her own. Chris helped her and they still couldn't finish it.
While not all the kids in the crowd paid attention to the practice on the field, Ava enjoyed watching the quarterback battle between incumbent Case Keenum, and #1 draft pick Jared Goff.
After practice the kids had the chance to meet some of the players and get some autographs.
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