weekend

The girls left us boys alone this weekend…so its time for shenanigans stories.

I’m the assistant coach for MrCuddles soccer team. (Because he asked, and then pointed out that I had coached MsS and MrG two seasons each…sigh, kids with their memories and sense of fair.)  We showed up to our practice and… hundreds of people were there for another scheduled event. So, we had less space, and I was more stressed about being in the way, and the boys, were boys, and kicking the balls all over, and not really listening, and the head coach got to hear me mumble swear words under my breath.

Back home, dinner and a movie!  They watched “Zootopia” again. I like the movie, it’s well crafted.

Saturday… MrCuddles first soccer game of the season. And, I’m happy to say our team did alright. Nobody got cleats in the face, because that’s what our boys do, handstands…just because, usually when people are close to them, or during a scrimmage. We did get plenty of handballs called against us. Srsly, I tell them in practice, do not touch the ball with your hands, the soccer ball is radioactive. MrCuddles, he was sorta engaged, and actually a couple of times was paying attention and playing. (Huge improvement over two years ago when he just refused.)  He even got the ball on a breakaway, and dribbled down towards the goal, solo, and took a shot.

Saturday afternoon, we did a few chores, then went to see “Kubo and the two strings”. I enjoy listening to MrC and MrG play with each other, usually they don’t, usually it’s MrC and MsS. MrC’s BFF came over, and all three played.

“Kubo and the two strings”. Great movie. It’s beautiful. Well told story. Good music. Go see it. I hope to see it again soon.

Note: MrG has been helping out at MrC practices. We have him ref-ing the scrimmages. He helps with drills. He asked during a drill, “should we run from the other side, so they get practice shooting with their left foot?” YES, absolutely, so glad you thought of that.  I think he’s gauging his defense on the players by their skill level. Because we, like every team have a large variety.

Church…it’s funny, because MrG didn’t want to go, as usual because “I don’t have any friends are there”. AND, I’m told by her mother, that MsS BFF didn’t want to go because MsS wouldn’t be there. And yet, two hours after worship was over, all the kids were still happily playing together. Yeah, we were there two hours after, because I was chatting with other parents…good to know my kids are normal. Good to know of what challenges are on the way.

MrG had his first games of the season…three short games. He always seems to look for the pass. He has good footskills. It was a nice day for soccer, and the parents, most of who we have known for a couple years, are a good bunch to hangout with. I guess we start keeping score now, (although the kids have been keeping score since we taught them how to count). First game we did well, second game was even, third game we didn’t do so well. But all three were close-ish. So that’s good.

Oh yeah…MyBetterHalf and MsS…they went to a GirlScout leader-daughter camp. Slept in a chilly open air cabin, and were back home Sunday afternoon. MsS was tired.

 

 

Judaism: A very short introduction

From the first paragraph, I loved Normon Solomon’s “Judaism: A Very Short Introduction”

“You are reading a book written in the English language. The English language is not neutral. It evolved in a Chrisitian civilization; it comes ready loaded with a cargo of Christian concepts and assumptions.”

Once again, I really enjoy the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press.

 

How to Live on Mars

Finally got around to reading Robert Zubrin’s “How to Live on Mars” that MyBetterHalf got me for Xmas…I dunno …a few years ago. (Yup, she’s the one who does most of the driving when we va-cay.)

It was alright fun.

Fruit of the Spirit

(…and forgive me any mistakes, I was trying to pay attention, whilst some of my childrens were being distracting…)

Evidently it is Fruit of the Spirit. Singular. You can’t pick and choose which ones you like.

The list of Fruit of the Spirit is a collection of discriptions of God.

There is a part of us, that is trying to be more like this, the Spirit guiding us, and if we get out of the way, if we cultivate ways to encourage the growth …

And, since all humans have the yearning for God, then we Christians do not have a monopoly on the Fruit of the Spirit.

 

 

whale of a time

today, after a blustery drive north, we went whale watching. ’twas a beautiful day on Puget Sound. Saw some orcas playing.

The biggest emotions, and happy ones at that, came from the childrens when we were home, and they were tired from a long day, but still had energy because they sat for long parts of the day (car, boat, car)… they were playing some pillow fight game, and were laughing loudly, trying to explain it to MyBetterHalf and I … “MrC, <LOL> he had a pillow <LOL> and he tried to hit MrG <LOL><LOL!!!> and the pillow came out !!!”  I guess you had to be there.

 

caterpillars

As a small child, growin’ up in Missouri, a common summer sight was the webs of caterpillars covering entire trees. Don’t see that much up in Seattle area.

I saw a bit caterpillar webbing in Oregon on a few branches.

 

Wednesday

Wednesday fav things:

MyBetterHalf at Multnomah Falls.

MsS taking photos of waterfalls as we drive past.

MrG singing along with pop songs.

MrC scampering along the rocks and roots on a hillside by Horsetail Falls.

Today

Tuesday

I worry …my childrens played hide and seek in a one room hotel room, many times today. There’s not that many places to hide! But they laughed lots.

This morning we went tithe beach. MyBetterHalf went to sit by the ocean and read. The childrens played: Salt factory, they set up stations, with shells, sand, charred wood…”American salt is very hot…I sold five big, two medium and four small salt…
…Everything is closed now, we are going to lunch…”

Late afternoon back to hotel to rest, they are making up card games for each other. They’re being quiet, nice, thoughtful, kind…it’s great to watch.

Now, they’re sitting on steps of hotel eating seaweed.

We went swimming. They had lots of fun shooting baskets in the pool.

Happy Anniversary

Monday

On the road again. We stopped in Lincoln City, the childrens bought things, MsS got a gem tower, MrG a ball of copper, MrC a shark tooth necklace.

In the car MsS and MrC were playing with stuffed animals, MrG asked if he could play too. They’re talking aboot what jobs they do, MrC “I get a lot of money because I have two jobs”. MrG “I do track and field.” MsS is a tai kwon do teacher.

…and, hundred miles later, we are at a park and they are racing each other down a pair of toddler slides.

Happy Anniversary to MyBetterHalf.

Sunday

Yaquina Bay State Park

The childrens invented a game…involved running into the surf, waiting for a wave, running backwards to shore, jumping over the wave, then sprinting to beach. They are a team. They are the Tsunami. They have a cheer: “The T is silent, TSUNAMI !!!”

“It was so funny when MrG fell down” MrC said. MsS added, “mommy I wish you saw it!” MrG agreed, “yeah and I got so wet”

At the last beach we visited, I told them to stay out of the water. They presented the following:
MrG: We want to exercise not relax.
MsS:You’re supposed to get sandy and wet at the beach.
MrC:We want to have fun.

So, I let them, they got soaked and were freezing at dinner in the air conditioned restaurant.