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.

Weekend Roundup: Spring Edition

This photo makes me laugh so hard that I was tempted to just post it and leave it at that. Maybe host a "submit your own caption" contest.

I would like to explain what's happening here, but I honestly have no recollection. He's fine, though.

Here's a photo immediately afterward:

See? He's fine.

The occasion was Fridays on the Front Porch at the Carolina Inn. This was the first one of the season, and we invited our neighbors to go with us. They have a four-year-old little girl, Savannah, with whom Sam likes to play, even though she's a bit sophisticated for him.


Sam thinks she's a rock star.


Moving to the music.


But mostly Sam wanted to dance with his Dad because he would pick him up and swing him around in the air.

After illnesses and rain disrupted much of Sam's soccer season, we are proud to announce his return to the fields.


Here's a little live-action footage of Sam and his soccer team:

Sam is the little one in yellow. He also appears to be cheering the other team's goal at the end of the clip.

On Sunday we made a quick trip to the outlets in Mebane, where Sam enjoyed posing with some of the "rescuers."



That's him spraying his web out of his hand, a la Spiderman. Still working on that technique.

Sam also had two play dates over the weekend, thanks in part to my poor planning. He had one Saturday and one Sunday. Honestly, two in one weekend is one too many. Bruce took the fun one Saturday at the park (in the sunny, 75 degree weather), and I took the rainy one, stuck inside someone else's home.


Meet Sam's pal Luke, who is reaching over to steal Sam's snack, while looking me dead in the eye. He's a tricky one.

Further Dispatches from Preschool

Dear Sam,

I love you and think you have many talents. However, you may want to step it up in the art department. For an example of the level of work being produced by your peers, please see the lovely picture created by the young lady across the table from you. Also, please note, it would seem the rest of the children find it more relaxing to sit (rather than stand) at the table while they draw.

All joking aside, please do continue to color outside the lines (and in earth tones only). Your father and I totally see your vision and celebrate your work.

Love,
Mom

P.S.  Ignore that drawing you might find in the recycling bin today -- that was a mistake. Your father's mistake.