Puddle Jumper

Tropical rains mean fun times for the boy.

99 Days of Summer Fun

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is touting 99 Days of Summer Fun, and I'm here to confirm that Sam packed 99 days of fun into one at Busch Gardens on Friday. And Bruce would add that it felt like it lasted about 99 Summer Days.

First stop: Grover's Alpine Express, a sort of "my first roller coaster." (Or in Sam's case, "my last roller coaster.")

These are the BEFORE photos.

Waiting in line.


Grandma and Dad riding in front.


So excited!


Self portrait!

Don't you just feel his excitement?!!

Annnnd ... the are no AFTER photos because Sam immediately burst into loud tears after the ride was over, and instead of photographing him I just spirited him away so as not to scare the other kids. Let's just say it was a little intense.

Everything else went perfectly smoothly.


Here we are on the considerably more tame air chariot, or whatever they called this.


And, the carousel. He's not really as nervous as he looks, that's just his interpretation of "cheese."


Ropes course with dad.


Tram with Grandma.


Driving the ladybug cars.


Cap'n Sam. After this, he informed us it was time for a popsicle. I sadly did not capture this monstrosity on film, but it was about three feet tall and cost $15. Thank goodness he let Bruce share it with him.




Splashy fun!


Our last ride was on the train.

This Just Happened

From the preschool daily newsletter:

#Idon'tknowwhy #hewearsitwell

Happy Monday!

From our best boy.

Sam's First Medal

Soccer season is over! Don't worry, it will be back this fall, so you won't go but just a few months without my riveting sports action photography.

For Sam's leadership on and off the field, for his unwavering commitment to excellence, for all the ball-handling skills he learned, Sam was awarded a Rainbow Soccer Medal of Excellence Completion. When we got home, Sam pointed to Bruce's medal from the Boston Marathon and said, now we both have medals, Dad! Apparently, all you have to do is show up to about 1/10 of all the soccer practices and limp through the games solely for the post-game juice box to win a medal these days.


And a Tar Heel cookie.


The boys of spring.


Sam and his soccer coach share a love of Carolina.


Congratulations on a great season, Cracker Jacks!

Dino Love

We named him Grapey.



How big is the dinosaur, Sam? THIS BIG.


Posing with Grapey.

Coach Dad

Bruce helped out last Saturday with the Cracker Jack soccer game, offering strategic plays, encouragement and leadership. Mainly that just means that he retrieved the ball when it inevitably got kicked onto the adjacent field and, more than once, physically placed one player (not Sam, believe it or not) into the correct field position. The grandmother of the player in question happened to be standing beside me during Bruce's "coaching," and commented, "He is really good with little *Johnny!" Heh.

*Names have been changed to protect players' privacy.


Watch out! Here come the Cracker Jacks! The child in the light blue was a donation from the other team so that we were evenly matched. He made all the Cracker Jack's goals. Go Cracker Jacks!


Note in the background (right), the opposing team appears to be examining the grass/bugs on the field.


Coach and Sam in action.