Delaney and United '04

Delaney's team wrapped up their outdoor soccer season this past weekend with a 2nd place finish in their State Cup bracket.  We started this year by making a decision of where she would play based strictly on our own ideals, not her choices.  If she wanted to play soccer, we'd choose where.  It's what Mark and I were comfortable with as parents, and we repeated the mantra "Delaney will be fine" over and over again.  First and foremost, soccer was soccer, and life was life, we'd have time for both.  New friends were made, old friends were enjoyed, and she went head to head with plenty of challenges on the field.   She won some, lost some, and came to understand that there were plenty of games to play.  She found the loses aren't so hard when you know you played your hardest, and you'll play again soon.  With only a few hiccups along the way, it's been great for her.  

She has demonstrated to us why we value team sports for our kids and put our time and energies into making it possible for them to play.  She loves to compete, enjoys her teammates, understands life isn't always fair, and is a pretty great kid to be around.  As a bonus, she carries her confidence into the class room and onto other teams as well.  In the world of parenting, we are thankful to be able to ask our kids to spread their own wings.  Remembering that they are capable and having confidence in them has served us well.  It doesn't always work, and is difficult to trust in at times, but this time, we were right;

Delaney is absolutely fine!

I love to win; but I love to lose almost as much. I love the

thrill of victory, and I also love the challenge of defeat.

Lou Gehrig

- not sure she's quite there with a love to lose, but we'll give her some extra credit for accepting the challenges!

Back to School

I should probably write an end of summer post but today is all about back to school.  Kids are back with great classes and teachers and our days of "no screens from 9-5" and "find something to do or clean the house" are over.  Between homework and practices, hopefully Mason will keep helping with the cooking and dishes and Delaney with the laundry, but I'll probably have to pick up some slack.  Sigh.  Yes, they were bored by the end of summer and yes, they were ready to go back to school, and yes, I was ready for some peace and quiet.  But I'll miss having 3 little people around to help me out and keep me entertained.  Too bad the homeschool sales pitch hasn't worked yet.

Moving forward!

7th grade for Mason - new school, new teachers and new friends.  Off to a great start with many classes with friends from the last 3 years at Parkview and his first years at Shasta as well.  He's excited for the bigger school and freedoms junior high can bring.  Best part of his first day was learning that although Computers wasn't his choice elective, the teacher is chill and there is NO HOMEWORK.  He'll take it.

5th grade for this girl - she desperately wanted Ms. Granicher and she got her.  Her fabulous group of friends from last year's class were split between 3 classes, but they know where to meet for lunch and there are new friends to make.  And a couple from last year are in her class as well.  Best part of her first day was playing dodgeball and basketball and learning that they will do PE at least 3 times a week, and maybe even 5 days a week.  

3rd Grade for this one - After a year in a 2/3 Combo class, she's back with her 3rd grade friends and ready to take it all in.  Thinking about it, I'm not sure what her favorite part of the day was, or what she's excited about - but I know she's ready to roll!  I'll have to come back and edit this once I figure it out.  Sounds like there is a good rewards system set up in class that she has bought in to, and lots of personal responsibility which is perfect for the organized 3rd child.  How she puts up with me, I'm not sure!

Happy Back to School Week!

Oh Brother!

"When you deal with your brother, be pleasant, but get a witness."

Hesiod

Words to live by around here!

Off goes Kendal

And off goes Delaney

Two girls in the water, one boy screaming "Keep going!"; all with my favorite view in the background.  This is LIFE.

Memories to be made

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.

Diane Ackerman

We decided to scratch our traditional summer road trip for some extra time in Almanor this summer.  I'm considering Mark "lake drunk" he's so happy on the water and he's smart, because what could be better????

This picture makes me laugh, every time I look at it.  Love these kids!

We made Mason get on with them the following trip out.  Took some pictures of all 3 that I will put into another post.  Oh the dynamics of siblings!

Comfort

Delaney needed some encouragement and some firm "Yes, you are doing it" talk to work up the courage for softball All Stars this summer.  She didn't know anyone playing, she didn't know what to expect, and it seemed to her like a lot of pressure to perform.  3 weeks later, her team made it to the championship and was eliminated by the other Chico team, and she wants nothing more than to keep practicing and playing. Often times, Mark and I make parenting choices that we question all along the way.  We all do.  But we are finding again and again, that when we choose to encourage our kids to push themselves and work out of their comfort zone, it is absolutely worthwhile.  She gained softball skills that she won't lose and didn't have the opportunity for in the regular season.  Yet even more importantly, she learned the fun of being on a competitive team, working hard together and enjoying the company of girls with a common goal.  

Laying down a bunt for a single.

Safe.

We would know her run anywhere, feet off the ground, every single time.  Someday soon she's going to figure out she's quicker if her feet touch the ground some more, but not yet!

Lucky #2

This kid.

I was the youngest child and got a lot more freedom than my brother and sister. I used to wander, doing my own thing under the radar, but I didn't get in bad, bad trouble.

Paul Giamatti

Kendal.  Kendal.  Kendal.  This kid just slays us.  It is such fun to watch her grow up and change - she fights being the "baby" of the family by taking care of all of us and over organizing every moment that we give her.  She is a true gem hidden in a young girl's frame - she will be a very effective adult, we are sure of that!  A couple of months ago she insisted that she wanted to do gymnastics again.  In the past, gymnastics has entertained her for a few weeks or months, and then she was ready to move on.  Something switched in her brain, and she is loving it.  She is tumbling all over our house and insisting that she "needs" a beam and a bar.  She'll save her money, it's all she'll ever wants, we've heard every bargaining chip out there.  She's not getting the beam or bar anytime soon, but it's fun to watch her focus in on something she is enjoying for the moment!  I'm sure it will change in the next few months, but she's loving it now.

Love her eyeballs on this one

Repeating Success

Delaney played in a couple of soccer tournaments in June and it's always fun to flip through the images Mark gets of her playing.  Early this spring I noted that she had added a pull back move to her skill set - in fact we laughed as we watched her try it in the sand tournament in April with very little success, since sand isn't made for dribbling so much - but we knew we'd be seeing it a lot this year.  Sure enough Mark captured her using it twice in a row against different defenders with the same success.

Focus

Settle

Nope, #21, you're can't have it yet.

Turn

Pass

Repeat, 5 images later against #24.  Pull back

Turn

Pass

"There is no harm in repeating a good thing."

Plato