Oh so soft and cuddle ley. With the thumb in the mouth its really neat. Love to play with the little feet. yah. yah. yah!
It is not a "Pre-school day" today, but it is a "soccer day". So we were at soccer "lessons" at mid day. Rileigh let us know that it is not her favorite sport, while we were attempting to clean up from mid day snack. She mentioned that maybe swimming is a better sport. And the good news in the end is that Rileigh did in fact get on the field today. We were not late this time, but I would have preferred to have arrived with a little more time to "warm up".
All actions and evidence pointed toward a replay of the last game. Ethan was excited to get out there. Rileigh was not. Definitely not. We started out on the sidelines, and I was rolling the ball to Ethan, and he would kick it back. Sometimes too hard, sometimes into the field next to us. Soon he was called up to play; starting out between the cones, or "tending the net". I missed much of his initial action as I was distracted doing the warm up thing with Riles, but I heard he did well. Rileigh chased down the ball once or twice on the field next to us during our warm up. And then we moved to the open space where we were more free to be less precise.
In the game, Ethan did a lot of running around, and kicking, and falling, and bumping -he had a good time. Sarah could not sit back, and got right up to the edge of the field- as close as one can get without getting on the field. Riles was content (for the moment) to have the one on one time with me. At the end of the game both kids participated in the hand shaking. It is kinda funny how much Rileigh likes that part of the sport.
The next game Riles was ready to play. She was on the field and a part of the action in the opening minutes. She got a few good kicks in, and was part of the stampede toward the goal. She also participated in the stampede in defense of our goal. And then she evaluated her performance and had to get off the field. No notification, just to the sidelines, and "Mom, I .....mumble" (head down) etc. We answered to the coach for her that it was time for a sub. Ethan was up to his normal performance and was in all the running around. He would do well as a palomino, or maybe a litter mate of labs. We got DQ after the game as a reward, and chicken at Grammies. Ethan was all set for a pull of Guinness ("I want that soda"), after all the activity earlier in the day, but it was a brief pull, and a grimace (pshh! got some learnin to do!).
I have to relate how frustrated I am. I have to try to teach these guys how to use their feet, when I have very limited ability to use mine. I try to roll the ball to them so they can trap with their feet, but when they see me catch it with my hands, they mimic that. And I cannot chase them down. Rileigh wanted me to chase her down, as she dribbled. She also wanted me to race her to the ball. All very frustrating that I cannot participate at the level which I would like. Forcing me to grow in the areas where I am most deficient, and neglect the areas where I am strongest. That is: I can't show them how, or play with them. I have to verbalize what they should be doing. Which takes a lot more patience than I like to deal with. Not to mention I have to have better verbalization skills.
Today's game was not as warm as last. The breeze came from somewhere near Fairbanks AK or maybe SoDak. Can you guys keep that cold air to yourselves? thanks all the same. Still, the sun was out in between the clouds providing a rather pleasant environment.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Grover
Ethan: "Daddy? where did you got this?" (holds up the memento the Swedish officials gave all the athletes that participated in Solleftea)
Dad: "Sweden"
Rileigh: "Whatsa Sweden?"
-As I was wrestling with them-
Rileigh: "You are choking me on my Belly! It might kill me. Or make me choke." (It is nice to know that she values dieing in the same context as choking.
They now say R2-D2, instead of Rtoo BEEtoo.
"Scared after death" (Instead of: scared half to death)
The kids have started their soccer games. So far the "soccer lessons" are a good time. They seem to like running around, which is a good thing. We just need to instill that they are not running without a purpose. So far, they look a lot like a herd of horses, or maybe a pack of puppies chasing a ball. -That is why it is dubbed maggot ball after all- After two games, Riles has yet to get on the field. Ethan does not like to be substituted out, he likes to stay on the field. It is nice to see that they are in fact learning the whole purpose of the ball, the lines on the field, and the other kids running around in the same color shirts, as well as those strangers in shirts which have a different color than theirs.
Both want the training wheels off their bikes. (Which were bought recently from Wally World). I am not real sure if they are ready for that move. It is not a balance issue as much as the bikes still have a size or two advantage on them. Riles is perturbed by the noise caused by the training wheels. I think Ethan is just following her lead, though I am not sure he is sure of what he is asking for. And that the kids have not mastered the coaster brakes, or that they should trust their feet on the pedals more, has caused be to delay taking off the training wheels. It might just be something that we just do, and stop "analyzing".
One day the pond was frozen the next it had thawed. And the fish were jumping. They have scheduled jumping times, and rest (I suppose) otherwise. The same thing with the lake. Only, the ice melted a little from the shore, and then the next thing you knew, it was gone. Someone must have taken the ice during the night.
I have been across the state a few times in the past week. It was good to see that the propellers for the Earth's rotation were going strong. I knew they were working because the days have been getting longer. It is good to know that such an internationally important job has been entrusted to the state of Washington. It must be the abundant hydro power we have. Or maybe it is just geologically sound. I must say it is an awesome sight to behold as you descend into the Gorge at Vantage. The importance is underlined by the security measures implanted in I-90 nearby. I knew there was a reason "we" implanted all those demolition charges in the concrete sections of road. I just had to mention, as I have been traversing that area a lot recently.
Dad: "Sweden"
Rileigh: "Whatsa Sweden?"
-As I was wrestling with them-
Rileigh: "You are choking me on my Belly! It might kill me. Or make me choke." (It is nice to know that she values dieing in the same context as choking.
They now say R2-D2, instead of Rtoo BEEtoo.
"Scared after death" (Instead of: scared half to death)
The kids have started their soccer games. So far the "soccer lessons" are a good time. They seem to like running around, which is a good thing. We just need to instill that they are not running without a purpose. So far, they look a lot like a herd of horses, or maybe a pack of puppies chasing a ball. -That is why it is dubbed maggot ball after all- After two games, Riles has yet to get on the field. Ethan does not like to be substituted out, he likes to stay on the field. It is nice to see that they are in fact learning the whole purpose of the ball, the lines on the field, and the other kids running around in the same color shirts, as well as those strangers in shirts which have a different color than theirs.
Both want the training wheels off their bikes. (Which were bought recently from Wally World). I am not real sure if they are ready for that move. It is not a balance issue as much as the bikes still have a size or two advantage on them. Riles is perturbed by the noise caused by the training wheels. I think Ethan is just following her lead, though I am not sure he is sure of what he is asking for. And that the kids have not mastered the coaster brakes, or that they should trust their feet on the pedals more, has caused be to delay taking off the training wheels. It might just be something that we just do, and stop "analyzing".
One day the pond was frozen the next it had thawed. And the fish were jumping. They have scheduled jumping times, and rest (I suppose) otherwise. The same thing with the lake. Only, the ice melted a little from the shore, and then the next thing you knew, it was gone. Someone must have taken the ice during the night.
I have been across the state a few times in the past week. It was good to see that the propellers for the Earth's rotation were going strong. I knew they were working because the days have been getting longer. It is good to know that such an internationally important job has been entrusted to the state of Washington. It must be the abundant hydro power we have. Or maybe it is just geologically sound. I must say it is an awesome sight to behold as you descend into the Gorge at Vantage. The importance is underlined by the security measures implanted in I-90 nearby. I knew there was a reason "we" implanted all those demolition charges in the concrete sections of road. I just had to mention, as I have been traversing that area a lot recently.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Dolphins'
I would like to take pictures every day to show how quickly the snow is melting. It is interesting to me how the snow changes the scene, and how used to it we get. Then it is gone, and it is like it were never here. I would like to do the time lapse photography thing, but will I? no not really. I guess I don't really want to in the end. ....or want to bad enough.
Twin Lakes is still frozen over. "Our" pond (15th hole) is still frozen over as well. -I wonder if the trout made it?- But Hayden is navigable. Only some of the bays in Hayden lake are frozen. I find that interesting.
Twin Lakes is still frozen over. "Our" pond (15th hole) is still frozen over as well. -I wonder if the trout made it?- But Hayden is navigable. Only some of the bays in Hayden lake are frozen. I find that interesting.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Fishk
It has been a bugger trying to post lately. Mostly it has to do with my motivation. It also has to do with Internet connection. There has been a fair bit of travelling, on my part, which usually leads to plentiful fodder for writing, but who wants to read about me? It is just that I have not been in the proper location, and proper frame of mind. The timing was off for writing.
Every year I go to the DAV Winter Sports Clinic, I think that the next year, I will bring the family. There is a lot of potential there. But there is also a danger there. The Clinic is set up for the newly injured veterans, not vets and families. Still, just because it is geared that way, does not mean that it cannot be worked. The kids would have fun there, it would just be a little more independent of me than some of our other vacations.
On my way home from the Clinic, my initial flight was cancelled due to weather. I was able to get to Denver by 11am or so, and somehow there were no other flights available for another FOUR days! The closest I could get was standby on the flight at 9:40 pm(apparently). And just to add a little spice to my life, that flight was delayed until 1130pm. I am now familiar with the Denver airport even more than I have ever been. There was plenty of time there to write, just not the resources.
The kids now have bicycles. For now, they are too small for the bicycle, so we have left the training wheels on. This allows them to learn the ins and outs of coaster brakes and pedaling without having to deal with balance. They are chomping at the bit to get the annoying training wheels off, it is just that they have such a long way to fall presently. Watching them fall is like watching a tree get cut down.
The kids have started soccer. I think they called it soccer school. and it was only one practice, and one meeting to see what team they were on. Bottom line: the kids have a long way to go. They have a lot to learn: Not the star in this movie, mistakes are OK, the rules of the game, how to interact with peers, etc. I'm glad we and the other parents on the sidelines can chuckle with each other over our little one's juvenile behavior. We are not the parents that are belittling other parents for their child's lack of sport knowledge. At least not yet. So far, we can find a source of camaraderie in our little ones' naivety.
Every year I go to the DAV Winter Sports Clinic, I think that the next year, I will bring the family. There is a lot of potential there. But there is also a danger there. The Clinic is set up for the newly injured veterans, not vets and families. Still, just because it is geared that way, does not mean that it cannot be worked. The kids would have fun there, it would just be a little more independent of me than some of our other vacations.
On my way home from the Clinic, my initial flight was cancelled due to weather. I was able to get to Denver by 11am or so, and somehow there were no other flights available for another FOUR days! The closest I could get was standby on the flight at 9:40 pm(apparently). And just to add a little spice to my life, that flight was delayed until 1130pm. I am now familiar with the Denver airport even more than I have ever been. There was plenty of time there to write, just not the resources.
The kids now have bicycles. For now, they are too small for the bicycle, so we have left the training wheels on. This allows them to learn the ins and outs of coaster brakes and pedaling without having to deal with balance. They are chomping at the bit to get the annoying training wheels off, it is just that they have such a long way to fall presently. Watching them fall is like watching a tree get cut down.
The kids have started soccer. I think they called it soccer school. and it was only one practice, and one meeting to see what team they were on. Bottom line: the kids have a long way to go. They have a lot to learn: Not the star in this movie, mistakes are OK, the rules of the game, how to interact with peers, etc. I'm glad we and the other parents on the sidelines can chuckle with each other over our little one's juvenile behavior. We are not the parents that are belittling other parents for their child's lack of sport knowledge. At least not yet. So far, we can find a source of camaraderie in our little ones' naivety.
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