Just a typical Saturday

OK, maybe not "typical" - and it was a first.  Hopefully the first of many!

We got up Saturday bright and EARLY.  Eric took Stefan to participate in his first Sprint Triathlon and I took Dougie off to the swim meet.

Stefan did the biking portion of the race and Matthew swam while Jack anchored the run.  Jack and his family just PCS'd over.  They are a really neat family and we have enjoyed getting to know them.  These three boys acted like they have always known each other.  They seem to be a really great fit!

For those that are uber-observant (no, I am not one...) I did reverse the picture (numbers and Jerseys are backwards) so the boys were in the "right order" for the event - starts with a swim, then bike and then run...

Mr. Social rode it on a too-small mountain bike.  As we have contemplated what bike to upgrade him to, we started to question if a mountain bike was the right answer...  But then again, Stefan spent most of his time hollering to people in the houses that he knew ("HI JACOB!!!!") and jumping off the curbs.  To say he could have gone faster would be true - but he would have had much less fun :)  Jacob did, in fact, notice him and I got some long distance updates from his mom!  Super fun!

It was all three boys first experience participating in a triathlon and are determined to do it on their own next summer.  We are all for it!

Dougie decided to show up at this swim meet.  He was in the lane next to Thor and his competitive streak kicked in.  He was bound and determined to beat Thor.  And he did, by a touch, in breaststroke.  Freestyle he missed, but only by a touch.  It was great to see him actually APPLY HIMSELF!

The best part - he was smiling THE. ENTIRE. TIME!  Most kids look like this while taking a breath while doing breaststroke:

Dougie, looked more like this:

In spite of the fact that Dougie looks like he is a cat that has been thrown into the water against his will, the kid is all smiles - even when he pops out of the water for a breath.

When he is not in an event, you can usually find him doing this:

The relay he was in went from a 100 meter (each kids swims 25 meters, or, one length of the pool) to a 200 meter (each kid has to swim down and back).  He, of course, protested this fact when I was telling him.  So, I bribed him.  Yup.  Whatever he wanted at Starbucks - but he had to NOT STOP until he got back to the wall at this end...  And he did.  Like a drowning cat (where was Thor when we NEEDED him?!?).  But he did it.  And he got:

A giant Mocha Chip Frap.  He asked for a TALL - we ordered a Venti.  Then we could share it guilt free ;)

What about Ian? Well, he came with me.  He and Grant (the Swim Coach's youngest son) are the most faithful spectators.  And, perhaps, the cutest!

Swimming Upstream

We signed Dougie up for summer swim team this year. To say he likes to work hard or push himself to be better would be a bald-faced lie...

But, he was pretty excited to get these:


Coach Kelsey accidentally gave his relay team first place ribbons - and we were all good with that. None of us are informing the kids of the slip! There were only two teams 😉.

Stefan also competed - in 6 events! He just aged up, so he is literally the youngest kid in his group. He did not come in last in all of his events, so that was exciting! He definitely looks like he is on summer break - like he should be wearing an aloha shirt and sporting a pool floatie 😄. He is taking his own sweet time. But he is enjoying it.

They both are.

And that is the heart of the matter!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Out with the Old, In with the New

Instead of celebrating Stefan's birthday with cake and friends, we held a funeral of sorts.  With pie.  Mud Pie.  And Grasshopper Pie.  I even hi-jacked the Mintling's kitchen & freezer for the pies!

It was good I made two!  (I also learned that ganache freezes, no matter what.  Oh, Mrs. Richard's, how I do miss thee!)

And lasagna.  Stefan's choice.  He is really his father's child!  The Sicilian in him is strong...

On Saturday, the Paluszek's came over and bid adieu to Stefan's first decade of life.  The end of single digit ages.  Never to go back.  He would no longer be considered an incompetent child by the US government, but, instead, one that is trustworthy and capable enough to have an I.D. card.  To walk on base.  ALONE!  To go to the pool.  ALONE!!!  To stay at home (in base housing).  ALONE!!!!!   To come onto base - without an ADULT!  Not to be confused with riding the trains alone - with only your parent to judge if they deem you capable.  Or staying at home alone (off base) - again, only by your parents' judgment.

So, we held a funeral.  To pay condolences to the "oppression" of government childhood.  We lit the funeral pyre:

Of course, I used the re-lighting variety.  Stefan had to blow five-times his age to get the candles out all at the same time.  Only to have them relight again.  He was an incredible sport - especially since we were all laughing at him.  And making personal jabs about his old lungs.

Except for Ian.  He was bawling - afraid the candles would melt the pie.

Priorities.

The Paluszek's gave him a distraction gift.  To cover for the "pee your pants" gift...

A Pokemon game with a super pack (did I get that right?!?).  He peed.

Matthew stayed the night and we headed up to the Pokemon Center for a birthday soiree to ring in the new decade.  They had a blast - I had a pretty great time being their chaperone :)

The party favors were enough ¥en to cover a new pack of Pokemon favors!  They proceeded to sort, trade, ogle, admire, swap, beg, brag, and so on for the remainder of the day.  Even at Bubby's, where we had huge burgers, pink lemonade and more pie!

After we checked out the drydock at the base of the Landmark Tower (who knew?!?) and the Roller Coaster that was on the afternoon's agenda.  Instead we walked through the amusement park only to discover the ominous clouds shut the ride down...

So, instead, they played skeeball!  Auntie Leah - I finally found skeeball!  It has taken me four and a half years, but I have finally found SKEEBALL!!!

I think they would have preferred the roller coaster - it will have to wait for another day.  Maybe next birthday!

Happy Birthday Stefan!  I had a very enjoyable day letting one 10-year old and his buddy have a Pokemon Adventure.  It makes me more than just a little nostalgic looking back at the past decade and seeing the beautiful first born son growing into an amazing young gentleman.  I pray the next decade passes more slowly....

What a Decade Looks Like

This is what a decade will do to you...

Happy 10th Birthday Stefan!  The past decade has been unforgettable and fast!  You have become a delightful young man.  I look forward to the next decade (but it could go more slowly, thankyouverymuch...)

We love you!!!!