Teeny Tiny Tennis Anyone???
Emma played tennis today. OK, this was so cute it shudda been illegal. Pictures will be posted and you'll see what I mean. And I don't gush (well not THAT much) at just anything. But the little sneakers, and the little tennis type skirt and the tiny racket. And she just wandered about on the court a bit unsure of why she was even there. Poor thing only hit the ball once but she looked good doing it. More on our tennis adventures later in the week. Luke's lesson is tomorrow and I think he'll have more success getting the racket to actually make contact with the ball.
Take me out to the Ballgame
Our first family trip to Major League Baseball
We decided to take Troy to a baseball game on Father's Day. What better way to celebrate?? The time was right, since this was Luke's first year of Little League, and Troy has been one of the 1st base coaches most games. So, there's lots of interest, bonding and the like. The Giants were playing a home game on Father's Day and playing none other than the A's. It was the Battle of the Bay series. And we were able to get seats just a couple days ahead of time. It seemed meant to be.I did all the required pre-planning, picking the right seats, finding out about parking, etc. We arrived in SF right at game time, so of course we didn't get to our seats til about the 2nd inning. But like a nice gal said in the parking lot: you get 9 innings of baseball!
The Giants, well, they just aren't very good this year. And Luke says he's an A's fan, so that worked out. Our seats were acceptable. View Reserve. I have to say the view is pretty outstanding. You're looking at the TransAmerica pyramid, the Bay Bridge and to our right, the bay. Lots of guys in little crafts out there trying to catch a foul or home run ball. We could see but we were def. in nose bleed territory. You took a couple escalators and climbed a bunch of steps to get to our prime location. But still, we were close to home plate and could see. No matter that for an almost 40 something the ball looked like the blur of a tiny ant.
Luke watched the game intently with Troy. Emma did a lot of dancing around and looking cute in her hoodie while using her pink binoculars to see better. But for the kids, the game was not about the seats, who was on first, or who struck out. Guess what: it was all about the gi-normous Cotton Candy, licorice ropes and assorted other sugary, sticky, yummy treats they could muster before feeling like they'd throw up. And luckily we never got to that stage. But they'd have kept eating if we'd let them. It seemed like there was someone going up and down those steps hawking yet another taste tempting treat every 5 minutes or so.
The Giants lost, the kids got a sugar high, there was oodles of cute adorable father/kid bonding and we made it home with no melt-downs, still smiling and determined to go again. It was that much fun.
We decided to take Troy to a baseball game on Father's Day. What better way to celebrate?? The time was right, since this was Luke's first year of Little League, and Troy has been one of the 1st base coaches most games. So, there's lots of interest, bonding and the like. The Giants were playing a home game on Father's Day and playing none other than the A's. It was the Battle of the Bay series. And we were able to get seats just a couple days ahead of time. It seemed meant to be.I did all the required pre-planning, picking the right seats, finding out about parking, etc. We arrived in SF right at game time, so of course we didn't get to our seats til about the 2nd inning. But like a nice gal said in the parking lot: you get 9 innings of baseball!
The Giants, well, they just aren't very good this year. And Luke says he's an A's fan, so that worked out. Our seats were acceptable. View Reserve. I have to say the view is pretty outstanding. You're looking at the TransAmerica pyramid, the Bay Bridge and to our right, the bay. Lots of guys in little crafts out there trying to catch a foul or home run ball. We could see but we were def. in nose bleed territory. You took a couple escalators and climbed a bunch of steps to get to our prime location. But still, we were close to home plate and could see. No matter that for an almost 40 something the ball looked like the blur of a tiny ant.
Luke watched the game intently with Troy. Emma did a lot of dancing around and looking cute in her hoodie while using her pink binoculars to see better. But for the kids, the game was not about the seats, who was on first, or who struck out. Guess what: it was all about the gi-normous Cotton Candy, licorice ropes and assorted other sugary, sticky, yummy treats they could muster before feeling like they'd throw up. And luckily we never got to that stage. But they'd have kept eating if we'd let them. It seemed like there was someone going up and down those steps hawking yet another taste tempting treat every 5 minutes or so.
The Giants lost, the kids got a sugar high, there was oodles of cute adorable father/kid bonding and we made it home with no melt-downs, still smiling and determined to go again. It was that much fun.
Conversations with a 4 year old
Tonight, just before she went to sleep, Emma asked me a few simple questions:
"Why is God invisible?"
"Is him a person or tv?"
"What does him look like?"
She also asked me how God made her.
Just a few easy questions from my technically not yet 4 year old!
I needed to jot these down before I forget!
Something new to the blog: Book Notes
So, I'm in this book club, and on an entirely other note, this week we talked about "On Chesil Beach," by Ian McEwan. I had a few more thoughts that I just needed to get out and express, and just didn't get a chance to fit them all in over dinner and wine. Most of the other women held a certain degree of hostility towards the female main character but I didn't. I thought it was ok that she did not do what was expected of her. She broke out of a role and went for her own happiness. PLOT TWIST: at the expense of her husband. (Thus, the hostility, me thinks). To say I liked the book is not to say I agreed with or even liked the story, but the message was there, bigger than the two characters and their happiness or unhappiness. Leave it to a former English major to make that statement--we live in shades of gray. At the end of the book the husband says: "This is how the entire course of a life can be changed--by doing nothing." A statement I agree with profoundly.
Other recent book club reads that I recommend: "Three Cups of Tea," by Greg Mortenson. I was inspired and learned so much and when I opened the book, I thought I would NEVER like it, because it's non-fiction, which isn't my genre. You can find out more at threecupsoftea.com or ikat.org. As I read, I kept thinking: look at what one person can do if they stop watching TV, get up off the couch and just live. I think you'll be inspired, too. It's the opposite of Doing Nothing.
"Why is God invisible?"
"Is him a person or tv?"
"What does him look like?"
She also asked me how God made her.
Just a few easy questions from my technically not yet 4 year old!
I needed to jot these down before I forget!
Something new to the blog: Book Notes
So, I'm in this book club, and on an entirely other note, this week we talked about "On Chesil Beach," by Ian McEwan. I had a few more thoughts that I just needed to get out and express, and just didn't get a chance to fit them all in over dinner and wine. Most of the other women held a certain degree of hostility towards the female main character but I didn't. I thought it was ok that she did not do what was expected of her. She broke out of a role and went for her own happiness. PLOT TWIST: at the expense of her husband. (Thus, the hostility, me thinks). To say I liked the book is not to say I agreed with or even liked the story, but the message was there, bigger than the two characters and their happiness or unhappiness. Leave it to a former English major to make that statement--we live in shades of gray. At the end of the book the husband says: "This is how the entire course of a life can be changed--by doing nothing." A statement I agree with profoundly.
Other recent book club reads that I recommend: "Three Cups of Tea," by Greg Mortenson. I was inspired and learned so much and when I opened the book, I thought I would NEVER like it, because it's non-fiction, which isn't my genre. You can find out more at threecupsoftea.com or ikat.org. As I read, I kept thinking: look at what one person can do if they stop watching TV, get up off the couch and just live. I think you'll be inspired, too. It's the opposite of Doing Nothing.
The Purr-fect 4th Birthday
Emma had a kitty cat themed 4th birthday party. A girl kitty of course. With as much pink and purple as we could manage. Her friends were here to help celebrate and it was lots of fun. Mr. Rick, who does gymnastics classes at Emma's preschool, came and entertained the kids in our backyard, with lots of silly games and even a water battle at the end. My baby is growing up. I wish my mom was still here to share this day. She sure loved birthday parties. She would have been as touched as I was to see Emma surrounded by love and laughter and friends. Here is a slideshow from the special day:
Why I Smile . . .
Mother's Day and what I always ask for--a picture with my two angels. These two keep me going when I think I'm done and when I've had a tough day they know just what to do or say or how to giggle to bring out the smile in me.
Summer, Swimming & Turning Four . . .
Turning Four
This is my birthday wish for Emma; it's a song by Yusuf Islam, or Cat Stevens. Since I started this blog as a type of journal for my kids, I'll post this here and hope that one day down the road when she needs to hear this message, she'll find it. Right now at almost 4 she seems to get this, but there's going to come a day, when she needs to be reminded of it. Like when her bestfriend won't talk to her, or she breaks up with a boyfriend, or if, try as we might as parents to prevent it, that she doubts herself. So here it is, a wish in a song.
To Emma:
Love is better than a song
Love is where all of us belong
Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
just lift your head and let your feelings out instead
Summer
We are officially on summer break. We just finished the first full week of vacation for Luke, its been 2 wks for Emma. We spent most of it at our swim club, aka, "The Pool." We joined a pool club here and to us, it's like living the high life. And it helps that we know a lot of the other families there, so it has a block party feel much of the time. We were there 4 hours one day, 5 hours the next and it was really relaxing. The other day we were sitting on some lounge chairs in the shade, eating the lunch we had packed, as a breeze came in and it felt so great to be able to be in that moment with my kids. No running to baseball practice or camp or even the park or a playdate but to just sit at the pool and eat lunch in the shade with no stress. Just enjoy my children. We are very fortunate. Poor Troy was working but he comes when he can. He's like a rock star when he is there because the kids love swimming with him.
Swimming
And now Luke can swim. He was swimming last summer but his confidence level just took off earlier last month after our 1st week back at the pool. He's diving in, doing cannon balls and working on perfecting his strokes. Next, we need to get Miss Emma past her fear--or is it just dislike ?--of putting her head under water. She too is getting there. She had 2 weeks of lessons and made some progress. The big thing is they are enjoying it. And so am I. I wasn't sure really if I could manage it--watching 2 kids at 2 different ability levels, sometimes even in 2 different pools, but I can and I am and we are having lots of fun!
Comments feature: Not just there to take up space. I'd love to get a comment or two on the blog. Just to know someone is out there. So, if you visit, post a comment and let me know. This means you K.A.
Random notes mostly to self: Wishing I could learn how to do a few things on this blog faster. But I'm the student here and need to keep patience in mind and remember that I'll get it sooner or later.
This is my birthday wish for Emma; it's a song by Yusuf Islam, or Cat Stevens. Since I started this blog as a type of journal for my kids, I'll post this here and hope that one day down the road when she needs to hear this message, she'll find it. Right now at almost 4 she seems to get this, but there's going to come a day, when she needs to be reminded of it. Like when her bestfriend won't talk to her, or she breaks up with a boyfriend, or if, try as we might as parents to prevent it, that she doubts herself. So here it is, a wish in a song.
To Emma:
Love is better than a song
Love is where all of us belong
Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
just lift your head and let your feelings out instead
Summer
We are officially on summer break. We just finished the first full week of vacation for Luke, its been 2 wks for Emma. We spent most of it at our swim club, aka, "The Pool." We joined a pool club here and to us, it's like living the high life. And it helps that we know a lot of the other families there, so it has a block party feel much of the time. We were there 4 hours one day, 5 hours the next and it was really relaxing. The other day we were sitting on some lounge chairs in the shade, eating the lunch we had packed, as a breeze came in and it felt so great to be able to be in that moment with my kids. No running to baseball practice or camp or even the park or a playdate but to just sit at the pool and eat lunch in the shade with no stress. Just enjoy my children. We are very fortunate. Poor Troy was working but he comes when he can. He's like a rock star when he is there because the kids love swimming with him.
Swimming
And now Luke can swim. He was swimming last summer but his confidence level just took off earlier last month after our 1st week back at the pool. He's diving in, doing cannon balls and working on perfecting his strokes. Next, we need to get Miss Emma past her fear--or is it just dislike ?--of putting her head under water. She too is getting there. She had 2 weeks of lessons and made some progress. The big thing is they are enjoying it. And so am I. I wasn't sure really if I could manage it--watching 2 kids at 2 different ability levels, sometimes even in 2 different pools, but I can and I am and we are having lots of fun!
Comments feature: Not just there to take up space. I'd love to get a comment or two on the blog. Just to know someone is out there. So, if you visit, post a comment and let me know. This means you K.A.
Random notes mostly to self: Wishing I could learn how to do a few things on this blog faster. But I'm the student here and need to keep patience in mind and remember that I'll get it sooner or later.
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