Applelicious

We made our annual trip to the apple orchard and this time took Grandma Julie.  I just love to see how much they grow and change every year, and this year the kids all remembered being there before, the sign and the tradition of taking the picture. They stretched up tall and like to see how much bigger they are this year than last year.  AJ is closing in on that 5' mark, and with the way he is eating these days, it will not be long now.  David is covering up the scarecrow's face this year and Julia is just a stair step behind.  Just two years ago she had a pacifier, and how she carries a purse.  Time flies!

Cheese + Coach

Check out that kid in the middle of the front row...have you ever seen a bigger smile?  This picture captures the sunny aspect of Davey's personality so well.  As we are deep into a fall sports season on which both boys are playing two sports, I also have been thinking about how nice it is to have the sense of community that comes through kids' sports.  Joe knew fewer than 10 people when we moved here almost three years ago, and it has taken some time to get adjusted, but he commented to me the other day that he is really beginning to know quite a few of the parents and players on our kids' teams through repeat contact over multiple sports. Joe has stepped up and volunteered to coach or assistant coach the kids in baseball and basketball, and that has been a great way for him to get to know more people as well.

In terms of the kids' skills, we are beginning to see them build gross motor and other physical skills like throwing and catching over the years, and that is rewarding to see as well.  AJ's running is much smoother and more efficient than it was a few years ago and Davey is starting to make good contact in hitting.  These health and friendship benefits are the things that I want all of my kids to take away from youth sports.  That and good sportsmanship skills, which we are definitely still working on.  Davey is such an enthusiastic player, and this is great when it comes to cheering (loudly!) for his teammates, but gives him some challenges when it comes to dealing with a recreational league loss in the 6 and under division.  Last week he refused to shake hands with the other team after his soccer game because he was so upset about the loss, and we took away his post-game snack that one kid on the team hands out as a consequence (this was a huge deal to him, as it usually is some kind of junky-ish treat that he loves, this time a favorite fruit-by-the-foot, basically a long fruit roll-up.)  Our hope is that he retains his enthusiasm but learns how to graciously handle the inevitable losses and setbacks in life.

Here's to the small-but-mighty Giants who were so much fun to watch this summer.

Jump!

How awesome is this picture?  Grandma Julie on the trampoline at the apple orchard.  Makes me smile every time I look at it.