This is Sc out’s first official year of real deal soccer. He is a “Breaker”, and has a few buddies on the team. Last week was his first game, and I forgot my camera, and the game was kind of a bust. I had high expectations, and poor Scout just seemed timid on the field. Quite honestly, he has always been one to observe first, and then jump into the mix, so this should have been expected. (But from the time he was little, we would go to a playground, and he would observe everyone and what they were doing for a while, and then he would join in.)
So our lesson throughout the week was all about being aggressive. And I gave him the incentive of 31 Flavors (anything he wanted including a triple scoop) if he made a goal. I really wanted him to get his first goal to build his confidence.
So in ridiculous heat, we made it out to game two.
There was a mini practice beforehand. Notice Icka walking directly through the path of least resistance. That is, until a ball hits her.
After practice, he was boiling hot and sweaty. So we doused him with water, and I gave him an icy rag to cool down with. (Thanks for the tip B.)
From the beginning, there was a major improvement from the previous week.
Look at him going for the high ball.
Hallelujah!
By the time he was in for a water break, he was so wiped. Look at him — it looks like he is in la la land.
In the meantime, Navy was babysitting Dash with goldfish. I’ll admit, she did a fine job.
The game was coming to a close, and I kept reminding Scout of 31 Flavors. I told him that all he had to do was get the ball in the goal. And then with about 30 seconds left, he was with a group of kids, then he got the ball, and took a kick and….
GOAL!
I was right there snapping pictures. As soon as he shot the goal, he looked at me and I grabbed his little cheeks and yelled, “You did it! You made a goal!” Then I smacked a big kiss right on his lips. He was SO excited, and then said…”Remember 31 Flavors?”
I said I did, and we were going to go that night.
And the game ended.
I know he is five, but I was beyond excited. Not because I cared if he made a goal, but I knew that a goal would give him propelling confidence. And what more could a mother want for her son?
So it was snack time, then a BBQ at Grandma’s house, and then we were off to Yogurtland. His pick as an alternative treat that was closer to where we were. And a $6.00 yogurt later, it was worth it for everyone!
I learned early on that I didn’t need to spend a dime baby proofing my house with Scout. I just needed gasp and to say “No No”, and he caught on. Originally I thought Scout was just really smart and good, but when Navy came along — it worked well with her also. And now Dash is at that age, and my gasping and “No No” is working like a charm. Not one Lladro or expensive little knick knack has ever been harmed by one of these three. (Minus the huge vase that Navy tried to climb and crushed to pieces — but I didn’t see her to tell her not to.)
Here’s Dash at the top of the stairs crying for me. I was down fixing lunches, and he already knows not to go down, so he just sits up top and waits and cries.
Baby gate — no need.
Look at his little hurt feelings when I told him “No No” another time.
Like I said — a charm.
You should just hear this boy rip off counting to ten in Mandarin!
It is priceless.
And he loves to do it because it gets the cousins to laugh every time!
Can you get over the hand in the pocket?!
It is Friday, so he isn’t forgetting his bottles and cans to turn in.
And the most important thing he remembers each morning — the “brother kiss”.
So the second day of school, Scout left without kissing Icka goodbye, and she was devastated. So when he heard the story, he felt bad. So each morning, he finds her to give her a “brother kiss”. Well, too bad for Scout that this girl has a sour personality at times, and decided that she didn’t really want a brother kiss this morning. And the sweet Scout is trying to convince her that she does.
That about sums my two kids up!
Sweet and Sour.
Some morning I go in to find all three kids of mine in Dash’s crib. Most of the time, I’m into the sibling love. But there are days when I wonder how much longer Dash would have slept if he didn’t have the tweedles waking him up.
Navy…is Navy. She is one in a million. At times, I ask where she came from. But then Trilby and Megan always remind me that she is just like the little Lindsey from back in the day. No wonder I am always a step ahead of her.
So lately:
One night as we pulled into home pretty late, I had her say her prayers from her seat. That way the kids just went straight to bed once we were inside. We couldn’t hear her very well, so as she mentioned “Jesus Christ” in the middle of her prayers, Micah and I thought she was closing her prayer and in unison said “Amen”. When she realized what had happened, she laughed, and I knew — I could have predicted — I DID predict that we would revisit this little scenario.
So for the following few weeks — wouldn’t you know it. Navy is always mentioning “Jesus Christ” by his full name in the middle of her prayer at some point. And it is classic. She says it, then pauses and peaks out of one eye to see if she caught anyone. This happened night after night. I thought it was hilarious. So just to give her creativity kudos, one night I acted like I messed up. She laughed so hard, and literally went to sleep with a smile on her face.
I love my little trickster, and HOPE that I am still one step ahead of her when she is 16!
I LOVE THIS BOY!
He is just getting better after a week of not feeling great. He whined unless I was standing up and holding him. It was a bit of a long week, but who could complain? I think it is teeth — the vampire ones. But it could have been a cold. Whatever it was, there was a whole lot of nasty diapers that came with it. I’m glad we are on the upswing, and especially glad that even sick — this boy is perfect.
Dash has some favorite things at 10 1/2 months.
He loves to be thrown up in the air.
He loves when I kiss and nuzzle into his neck.
He loves to kiss.
(Although he is getting stingier and stingier with giving them out.)
And he loves to do his tricks.
In totality, his tricks are:
-Waving bye bye
-Giving kisses
-Doing the Indian Call with the back of his hand
-Giving me five
-Nodding ‘no no’
-Clicking his tongue
and last but not least — his latest trick….
-giving zerberts
I give my arm one, and then he gives his own arm one.
It is kind of to die for!
Navy found quite the hiding spot when I called her to come help clean.
I only include this, because I like to depict all sides of my children.
And lately, one side I need to depict is the how one of my kids is neat and tidy, and another is disgusting.
Look below:
(In black and white to take the edge off.)
Do you know how many talks I have had with Miss Priss?
Wouldn’t you think this is a boy problem?
Not in my house.
My boy has the bottom pair of underpants.
But after a little investigation, I finally figured out the problem.
Micah told me that he always knows who didn’t flush the toilet.
(Another problem in and of itself.)
If it is full of tons of toilet paper, it is Scout.
If it is without any toilet paper at all, it is Navy.
So apparently, when I told her that she is going to be at preschool, and she needs to learn how to wipe her own bottom, she petitioned.
I tried to teach her, I watched her, I have talked with her over and over.
But when I finally told her that the next time I found a pair of skidded up undies — they were going on her pillow that night, she magically learned to wipe like a pro.
I guess tough love, and a little threatening is the secret sauce with Icka.
Scout very first day of Kindergarten was an hour orientation where we went with them and got a rundown of how everything works. Scout meshed really well, and when Miss Shih started calling out things to do in Mandarin, he looked around and followed suit. My biggest regret is that I didn’t have their bow ceremony (I call it that, but it’s not really named that) on videotape. Some of the kids come from Mandarin homes, so they were right on cue, but Scout was right there with them, and I was really impressed! So, we got the basic overview of everything. I also got a feeling for Miss Shih. She is intense. She has a reward system where you earn Chinese dollars. She told us the first day that just like in real life, if we lose money, we can’t go to the bank to get it replaced. So parent, “don’t call to tell me you accidentally washed the dollars because there will be no replacing them.” I LOVED it! I know it is intense, but it is definitely my style. She also told us that she is grateful to have four hours a day with our kids, so she will make the hours worth leaving them. Amen!
(Although, it is all well and good in theory — let’s see how it unfolds.)
SO the second day, was his official first day alone. I was nervous for him, but Scout has a knack for making friends. From the time he was little, he would always come to me at the park and tell me of the new friends he made. But I was still nervous.
Here is our big kindergartener with treats for the teacher on his first day!
Notice the orange backpack “to remember Jake while he is on his mission.”
Here is Miss Shih helping him remove his backpack before he lines up.
He seemed a tiny bit uncertain, but he played it pretty cool.
Navy was dying to leave him there.
(And I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of them together.)
Are you dying at his expression when the teacher started giving them instructions in Mandarin!
But just as my heart was being torn from me, he looked out at me and gave me back the “I Love You” sign.
Somehow, I didn’t cry.
Not because I wasn’t sad, or nervous, but probably because I was in utter shock.
-
I counted down the second until I got to pick him up. I was SO anxious to hear his response to his day. So when he walked to the gate, I waved excitedly at him. When he came through, I said, “Scout!!! How was it? How was your day?” He said, “Mom, that was fun!”
EXHALE!
I was so glad.
Thank goodness.
Halle-stinking-lujiah!
But just in case that wasn’t his response, I had a plan.
An afternoon at RoRo’s beach.
With best friend Royal.
And Grey.
And of course this innocent monster.
I have never seen Scout braver at the beach.
Maybe kindergarten put a little bravado in his step.
I have never seen Navy nastier at the beach.
She handmade this “toilet” so she could go potty in the sand.
Yes…she really did.
The hit was the otter pops.
Aren’t they always the hit.
Meanwhile, Dash was inside Brit’s house making his latest funny face.
All I have to say is that no matter how his day went, Scout was in heaven at the beach with his best friends.
I am just SO glad that the beach (with baths at the end) was just an added perk — not a way to make him feel better.
Long live school!
(For now.)
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