Been Awhile

It's been quite a while since we've (I've) posted a story. It's not that we haven't had new and funny things happen; It's just that I haven't been very religious about documenting them in key strokes.

Since the last post, we've been going in all different directions. Carson was playing league soccer with several Yugoslavian and Spanish kids for several weeks. They take their soccer seriously so this was the first time Carson played using goalies and referees calling everything. He really excelled at this.....the coaches put Carson at forward however he HATES when the other team scores so he would naturally migrate back a little far to protect the goal. That means that Carson was tired after each game, which is good for him.

Carson is now playing on a YMCA soccer team with a few of his friends from Adams School. They played their first two games in late March/early April so they could rank the teams and make the games more competitive. Carson scored two goals in his first game and 4 goals in the second game. They played their third game last week where he scored two goals; One was an outstanding kick from the right corner where he only had a small window to get it in. He is really doing well.

Carson also plays flag football and is attending a football clinic where they teach him different parts of the game and get the kids ready for the fall. He is signed up for baseball already (back in February) but hasn't had a practice or game yet.....that is the next thing to look forward to.

Hannah is feisty as ever. We call her our 'project manager' and that is an understatement. She has a great memory and likes to point out all the things that we need to do or forgot to do. Case in point: Carson went through his homework a little fast last week. Tara mentioned to Carson that if his homework isn't up to snuff, his teacher will have a problem with it. Hannah made an obvious mental note of this because when Tara picked Carson up that day, Hannah was in the back seat asking her brother, 'Carson, what did your teacher say about your homework?'

Hannah is currently doing a program called 'Dance, Dance, Dance' through her daycare. She looks forward to her Dance day and LOVES music. She also LOVES to annoy her brother so breaking up scrums in the living room over some dumb toy that neither child would ever really want to play with is a daily occurrence.

Tara and I are still doing the same thing.....work, cleaning the house, trying to talk the kids into taking baths and going to bed at a reasonable hour, getting them to their birthday parties, practices, games, etc.

It's been busy around here..........

Past Due For a Post

Well.....we had a great Christmas and new years and things have been busy around our house. Between scooping snow, running kids to activities, keeping up with work, taking care of house projects and hanging out with friends, I've been slacking on writing anything on this blog. Life happens!!

Hannah is in gymnastics class now at the YMCA and loves it. Last Wednesday was her first day and we were worried that she wouldn't want to participate. Any of you that know Hannah knows that she is 'all talk' before any activity then turns into a clingy shy girl when it come 'game time.' I took her to class and she seemed excited but when the instructors called all the kids to stretch out before getting into the activities, she became clingy again....'uh oh' I thought. But soon thereafter, she was out there doing what she was supposed to do and listening to the instructors like a champ. I'm glad she found something that she likes to keep her busy.

Today, the whole family ran Carson to indoor soccer...this is about the 3rd or 4th Saturday of the winter session. Up until today, I've been taking Carson by myself and giving feedback to Tara about how he was doing but it doesn't really do it justice. She had to see for herself.

Today, the kids practiced for the first 40 minutes (like usual) and then the head coach split the kids up for 5 on 5 games lasting the last 20 minutes. After the coach made the selections, Tara asked why Marty (the coach) handpicks the teams. 'You'll see,' I told her.

For the next 20 minutes, Tara was a proud mother. Carson did great and it was a battle out there between all 10 players. It's amazing to see the progress from the first time he touched a soccer ball and now. Towards the end of the game, a guy sitting next to Tara struck up a conversation about having Carson play on his YMCA team. He was impressed with how Carson handled the ball and his hustle on the field. The man's wife joked around about giving Tara recruiting paperwork. As a parent, I'm sure Tara was beaming with pride to have someone ask her son to play on their team.

As soon as the game ended, the mother of two boys that Carson had just played against came over to Tara and asked if Carson would play on their Capital Soccer select team. Her husband was a soccer player in Yugoslavia and is now an international referee. They too were impressed with Carson's play and believe that good players should play with other good players to continue to excel. I was proud but probably not as much as Tara. Tara and Carson have a special bond and I could see that today was an extremely proud moment for her.

As a parent, you're always proud of your kids' accomplishments and usually their biggest fans. And you usually have a biased view about how they do in sports or school or whatever. It's always nice for others to ratify what you believe in your kids.....

Go Carson! Keep working hard and, for gosh sakes, please get a scholarship so I don't have to pay for college!

Automatic Prayer

Tara and Hannah were in the office the other night looking at pictures. Hannah was asking questions and Tara was doing her best to answer them and keep up.

At one point, Tara pointed out that the woman in one picture was her grandma Ruth who passed away. Tara said, 'this is my grandma and she's in heaven.'

Hannah followed that up with, 'hallowed be thy name.'

Obviously, Hannah is listening in church because she filled in the gap from a prayer called the 'Our Father'. We say it every week in church and it's amazing what they pick up when you think they are coloring or just plain not paying attention. At this point, Carson and Hannah know most of their prayers and even ask to say night time and before-meals prayers.....pretty wild.

Some Things Remain The Same

On the way home from Hannah's school yesterday, we drove by The Landing which is a retirement community that the kids go to and play games with the retirees. Hannah noticed this and decided to remind me that she goes to The Landing sometimes with her friends.

So, I asked her what she does there..........

'Well, we can't play puzzles,' Hannah says.

'Why not?' I ask.

'They keep forgetting how to play,' Hannah quips.

'Who forgets how to play?'

'The Landing people,' she says. Well, bless their hearts. I would imagine that the elderly living at The Landing appreciate the company but probably do forget a few things.

This reminded me of story Carson told us about a year or so ago when he mentioned going to The Landing too. He said that he played with 'Henry,' one of the retirees. According to Carson, playing at The Landing was fun but Henry was forgetful.

Carson was apparently showing Henry how he could write his name on a piece of paper and at one time asked Henry to do the same.....however, Henry would keep asking Carson if he wanted him to write his name, even after doing so. Carson would have to remind Henry that he already wrote his name and keeps forgetting.

The kids really enjoy The Landing but it's funny listening to them talk about their experiences there.

Ready for Next Season

As you all know, Carson turned 7 this month. One of the gifts he received (from Grandma and Grandpa in Elmwood) was a new baseball mitt. I oiled the mitt up for him under the guidance of Grandpa (who has probably broken in his fair share of mitts over the years) but I really didn't think Carson would take much of an interest in the process. I was wrong.

Starting that evening, he'd put the glove on, toss the ball in the glove several dozen times, stuff a ball in the pocket when he was done, then wrap the rubber band back around the glove and ball combination to keep it formed up. This continued on for the next few days, almost religiously.

A few days after getting the glove, I was talking to a friend of mine that played baseball in college. His trick was to place the glove (with baseball in the pocket) under his mattress when he slept to get the glove broken in. I told Carson about this 'trick' and he started going the same thing.

It's funny. Now Carson digs under his mattress, throws the ball into the glove a few dozen times, plays catch in the air, and stuffs the glove back between the mattresses. Although he's in mourning that the baseball season has come to a close and he can't fall asleep watching the game he loves, it looks like the new birthday present has him turning toward next season already.

The Best Daddy of All

Two days ago, Hannah brings me a book that she's checked out from the local library. She wanted me to read it to her so I take the book and she slides onto the couch next to me ready to listen.

I always start by reading the title of the book so this time isn't any different.....

So I begin, "The Best Daddy of All"

Hannah chimes in, "That's just like you, daddy."

WOW. This about brings me to tears.....Hannah scored BIG points with me. And Tara says that Hannah is wrapping me around her finger.

She's probably right.

Happy Birthday Carson

Carson is the big 7 today. He spent the day playing with his buddy Braedon, rolling around on his motorized scooter, and playing hard. Here is a picture of him in front of his cake. We invited the family down to celebrate and have some treats:

Happy Birthday Carson. The past 7 years have flown by. I'm sure the next 7 will as well.