On the 10th day of December, we have a reservation to go to the North Pole to see Santa. It was this seasonal thing at an outdoors mall in Yonkers that we'd heard about and decided to give it a try. We like to do some sort of family Christmas thing each year, and have done the Rockettes and other various things in previous years. This sounded OK so we piled into the car on a cold and blustery December afternoon to go.
In the car the kids asked questions. What is it? What will it be like? Where are we going? Etc. We only had a vague sense ourselves so we gave vague answers. But it will be fun, we said. Hopefully.
We parked in a parking garage and walked over to where it was. The kids saw a LegoLand sign which I think they were more excited about. But we got the Christmas village, waited in line, went inside. Emily and I noticed how small the whole structure was and said to each other, well, this could be quick.
But it ended up being great. Most notably, it included a 3-D, Disney-type ride where we felt like we were on a magical sleigh traveling at high speeds through the sky on our way to the North Pole. Escorted by Shrek and Donkey, no less! So that was cool, fun for the kids and a reminder for us of our great Disneyworld trip at the beginning of the year.
Once there (it's possible we didn't actually travel to the North Pole, but it seemed like it!), we got to go in as a family to see Santa. He was sitting on a comfortable couch in a room packed with letters from kids and toys and books and things. He had kindly eyes and a great beard, and though I can't be sure it really might have been Santa. The kids sat down on either side of him, Kate on his lap and Jack next to him. Jack, maybe, didn't think it was really Santa, but was polite and respectful. When Santa asked what he wanted, he said an XBox, whew! Kate was shy, when Santa asked her what she wanted, she drew a blank, just sort of smiled in a daze. She believed. Santa said her present would be a surprise, which works well for us.
They smiled nicely for pictures, I shook Santa's hand and wished him a Merry Christmas, and we were whisked back to Yonkers. (After buying the pictures in the gift shop, naturally, that's how they get you!) Happy and full of good cheer, we had a nice dinner at a burger/comfort food place. Kate and I played Tic Tac Toe and did a crossword. We all filled up on food and drink. And then happily skipped over to LegoLand to spend too much not enough just the right amount of money.
We drove home, listening to Christmas music. Heard a James Taylor song, about which Kate asked, "Why is he singing like he's dying?" We laughed much of the way home, and went to bed with visions of sugar plums and Lego Santas in our heads. Nice night.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Fifth Day of December
On the fifth day of December, I had volunteered to chaperone Kate's class trip to see The Grinch in New York City. I did the same with Jack's class two years ago.
Kate was very excited about both the trip and me being a chaperone. The night before she wrote me a note. "I can't wait to see the Grinch tomorrow!" She wrote. "With you!"
I showed up at school and collected Kate and her three little friends. She was all smiles and held my hand. "Can I sit next to you on the bus?" she asked. I said, well, we'll see, we'll all be close to each other. On the way down, she and her friends ended up sitting in the row right in front of me. They chattered away and occasionally she leaned around the edge of the seat to look back at me, but was fine.
We arrived, and clambered out of the bus to stand on the sidewalk. It was mildly nerve-wracking, so many people and little kids milling about. I did head counts over and over -- 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all -- to make sure we had them.
We headed inside and all sat in our row. Kate wanted to be next to me; I made sure I was. We pulled out our peanut butter sandwiches (yum!) and ate lunch. It was only 10:30, but it felt later and everyone was hungry. One girl said she had to go to the bathroom, the others didn't, so I took her. Got back 10 minutes later, the other three had to go. Of course. We trundled off again. 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all.
During the show, I was a little bit sympathetic to The Grinch. I mean, those Whos were kind of loud. Kate got a little scared at the scene of the Grinch riding his sleigh, because the lights were lowered and the music was roaring and the wind and fake snow were whipping around. Kind of cool! But Kate was nervous so I hugged her and reminded her of the cartoon version where the dog was riding the sleigh and stuff. She cheered up.
Kids and adults alike sang along to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." We all made it back to the bus, and this time Kate grabbed a seat and saved me a spot next to her. Tallest person on the bus, me, ended up sitting over the wheel. Sigh. But it was OK, and we talked about the show all the way home.
As we got off the bus, she hugged me and held my hand as we said goodbye. Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp.
Kate was very excited about both the trip and me being a chaperone. The night before she wrote me a note. "I can't wait to see the Grinch tomorrow!" She wrote. "With you!"
I showed up at school and collected Kate and her three little friends. She was all smiles and held my hand. "Can I sit next to you on the bus?" she asked. I said, well, we'll see, we'll all be close to each other. On the way down, she and her friends ended up sitting in the row right in front of me. They chattered away and occasionally she leaned around the edge of the seat to look back at me, but was fine.
We arrived, and clambered out of the bus to stand on the sidewalk. It was mildly nerve-wracking, so many people and little kids milling about. I did head counts over and over -- 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all -- to make sure we had them.
We headed inside and all sat in our row. Kate wanted to be next to me; I made sure I was. We pulled out our peanut butter sandwiches (yum!) and ate lunch. It was only 10:30, but it felt later and everyone was hungry. One girl said she had to go to the bathroom, the others didn't, so I took her. Got back 10 minutes later, the other three had to go. Of course. We trundled off again. 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all.
During the show, I was a little bit sympathetic to The Grinch. I mean, those Whos were kind of loud. Kate got a little scared at the scene of the Grinch riding his sleigh, because the lights were lowered and the music was roaring and the wind and fake snow were whipping around. Kind of cool! But Kate was nervous so I hugged her and reminded her of the cartoon version where the dog was riding the sleigh and stuff. She cheered up.
Kids and adults alike sang along to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." We all made it back to the bus, and this time Kate grabbed a seat and saved me a spot next to her. Tallest person on the bus, me, ended up sitting over the wheel. Sigh. But it was OK, and we talked about the show all the way home.
As we got off the bus, she hugged me and held my hand as we said goodbye. Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp.
Friday, December 05, 2014
Fourth day of December
On the fourth day of December, Kate had gymnastics in the afternoon. I brought Jack with me; he hasn't had to go much lately because Kate has a friend in the class whose older brother is friends with Jack, so we trade off hosting playdates and giving the kids rides. That friend was away, so Jack came, not too thrilled about it. Yes, he conveniently overlooks how many of his baseball games and swim meets Kate has had to go to.
Anyway. We dropped Kate off and I had brought along the Nerf football so we could throw it around a nearby park together. The park also had a baseball field which Jack refers to as Magic Field, because he's had a couple of the best games of his young career (it sounds weird to say that) at that field.
So we got there with the Nerf football, but there was a basketball court. And a few basketballs left behind. No one was there, we had the place to ourselves. We played Around the World and Horse and Jack beat me when I said I had to make all my shots as hook shots. I can't make hook shots. He showed me different dribbles he had learned in an afterschool basketballs skills class/program he'd done. We tried half court shots, talked about possible versus impossible shots, passed the ball back and forth. One of us might even have made a hook shot.
After a while, cold but refreshed and happy, we picked up the football from the side of the court, got back in the car, went to collect Kate at gymnastics.
Anyway. We dropped Kate off and I had brought along the Nerf football so we could throw it around a nearby park together. The park also had a baseball field which Jack refers to as Magic Field, because he's had a couple of the best games of his young career (it sounds weird to say that) at that field.
So we got there with the Nerf football, but there was a basketball court. And a few basketballs left behind. No one was there, we had the place to ourselves. We played Around the World and Horse and Jack beat me when I said I had to make all my shots as hook shots. I can't make hook shots. He showed me different dribbles he had learned in an afterschool basketballs skills class/program he'd done. We tried half court shots, talked about possible versus impossible shots, passed the ball back and forth. One of us might even have made a hook shot.
After a while, cold but refreshed and happy, we picked up the football from the side of the court, got back in the car, went to collect Kate at gymnastics.
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
First Day of December
On the first day of December, the kids set up their Lego advent calendars, gifts from Nana and Baba. Jack cleared off all the stuff on his nightstand and laid out a nice, open space for the calendar to sit. He knelt there taking care to have plenty of room for it to open up, and for all the little Lego pieces to go.
Kate did the same in her room, clearing off the top of her dresser for the Lego Friends calendar to sit. She opened up the front door and seemed pleased with her work.
After opening each door, they brought the Legos down to show us. Jack showed how he had turned his little Mailbox into something else, already; a snowplow. Kate showed us the little girl she'd received.
What do you like best about your calendar, Jack? I asked. "That it gives us Legos every day," he said. "And it's fun." Kate? "Playing with them!" she said.
That was the first day.
Kate did the same in her room, clearing off the top of her dresser for the Lego Friends calendar to sit. She opened up the front door and seemed pleased with her work.
After opening each door, they brought the Legos down to show us. Jack showed how he had turned his little Mailbox into something else, already; a snowplow. Kate showed us the little girl she'd received.
What do you like best about your calendar, Jack? I asked. "That it gives us Legos every day," he said. "And it's fun." Kate? "Playing with them!" she said.
That was the first day.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Been a while
It is hard to maintain a regular blog. Regular anything, really. You get new things you have to do, and other stuff gets pushed aside. Push anything aside for long enough, and it is hard to bring it back.
Halloween was great. Jack was a zombie football player, and most of his friends were also zombie athletes. I don't know why or who started it, might have been Jack. But they all looked fantastic and were in character for all pictures.
Kate was a monkey. She walked, acted, and looked very monkey like throughout th holiday. Many of her friends were princesses or Devils or Angels or I don't know. But she was a monkey and she owned it.
Probably the most recurring thing over the past month are the evening dog walks, with Jack, Kate, and Riley. I do most of the walking, but Kate and Jack each take a turn. And they bring Kate's scooter, and take turns on that, too. They have a whole system worked out where he does a half block, followed by her, etc. sometimes the system breaks down and I look up and they are half a block behind me, arguing about whose turn it is. But eventually it gets worked out.
The schedule was kind of insane in October. Baseball, an after school basketball thing, gymnastics and swimming for Kate, and 2-3 times a week swimming for Jack. It was probably too much. So right now, sitting on the couch on a Saturday evening, fire going, kids watching TV and perusing holiday catalogs, and writing my blog, is kind of nice. Hasn't been enough of it lately. Will try to have it more often. All of it.
Halloween was great. Jack was a zombie football player, and most of his friends were also zombie athletes. I don't know why or who started it, might have been Jack. But they all looked fantastic and were in character for all pictures.
Kate was a monkey. She walked, acted, and looked very monkey like throughout th holiday. Many of her friends were princesses or Devils or Angels or I don't know. But she was a monkey and she owned it.
Probably the most recurring thing over the past month are the evening dog walks, with Jack, Kate, and Riley. I do most of the walking, but Kate and Jack each take a turn. And they bring Kate's scooter, and take turns on that, too. They have a whole system worked out where he does a half block, followed by her, etc. sometimes the system breaks down and I look up and they are half a block behind me, arguing about whose turn it is. But eventually it gets worked out.
The schedule was kind of insane in October. Baseball, an after school basketball thing, gymnastics and swimming for Kate, and 2-3 times a week swimming for Jack. It was probably too much. So right now, sitting on the couch on a Saturday evening, fire going, kids watching TV and perusing holiday catalogs, and writing my blog, is kind of nice. Hasn't been enough of it lately. Will try to have it more often. All of it.
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
October
Went to Sam Bridge Greenhouse last week with the kids. We go on the eve of October every year, and have since I think 2009. There is a big pumpkin patch, hay stacks to jump around on, scarecrows resembling movie and Disney characters, and all sorts of classic Halloween fare.
We park, get a red wagon, and head through the various scarecrow exhibits to the pumpkin patch. We stop for pictures at all of them. Jack pulls Kate in the wagon, as he did three years ago. I pull them both, for a few seconds, until we stop, because Jack says he's going to fall out. He is too big, they're too big.
But they're laughing, and we continue on. At each exhibit, they pose, and I'm impressed by their ideas. At the Curious George scarecrow, they strike thoughtful, inquisitive poses. At the Frozen display, they make goofy faces like the reindeer, happy ones like Olaf. They mimic the sisters. On and on, until we finally reach the pumpkin patch.
I choose the pumpkins, walking around and around until I find good ones. They climb on the tractor, the hay bale maze, the various cutout displays where you poke your head through a cutout. We do this for a good half hour before heading back, our wagon loaded with pumpkins.
We pick out small pumpkins, gourds, Halloween decorations and toys. Spend way too much money. Kate is determined to find a small enough pumpkin to be the student in some classroom play she has invented in her mind. Jack looks for scary things, but not too scary.
We pay, load up the car, and are about to leave, but then they see the swings they went on years ago. And go on again. I watch them, look at my pictures, think how much I love the place.
Am I already nostalgic for stuff I can still do with them? Maybe. I know there will be years when maybe we don't make it, or they don't care as much, or it's not the same. But I hope those are far in the future.
Tonight we unpacked all the Halloween stuff. Lots of oohs and Aahs, mostly from Kate, but one or two from Jack. Kate is thrilled to see Halloween stuffed toys and books. Jack likes the decorations, and enjoys the Halloween music I put on. (Sort of; I mean, some of it is pushing it. Thriller sure, but Abracadabra? The song from Beetlejuice?)
Anyway. It's October again, Halloween again. I hope to celebrate until we are all too old. But that we never are.
We park, get a red wagon, and head through the various scarecrow exhibits to the pumpkin patch. We stop for pictures at all of them. Jack pulls Kate in the wagon, as he did three years ago. I pull them both, for a few seconds, until we stop, because Jack says he's going to fall out. He is too big, they're too big.
But they're laughing, and we continue on. At each exhibit, they pose, and I'm impressed by their ideas. At the Curious George scarecrow, they strike thoughtful, inquisitive poses. At the Frozen display, they make goofy faces like the reindeer, happy ones like Olaf. They mimic the sisters. On and on, until we finally reach the pumpkin patch.
I choose the pumpkins, walking around and around until I find good ones. They climb on the tractor, the hay bale maze, the various cutout displays where you poke your head through a cutout. We do this for a good half hour before heading back, our wagon loaded with pumpkins.
We pick out small pumpkins, gourds, Halloween decorations and toys. Spend way too much money. Kate is determined to find a small enough pumpkin to be the student in some classroom play she has invented in her mind. Jack looks for scary things, but not too scary.
We pay, load up the car, and are about to leave, but then they see the swings they went on years ago. And go on again. I watch them, look at my pictures, think how much I love the place.
Am I already nostalgic for stuff I can still do with them? Maybe. I know there will be years when maybe we don't make it, or they don't care as much, or it's not the same. But I hope those are far in the future.
Tonight we unpacked all the Halloween stuff. Lots of oohs and Aahs, mostly from Kate, but one or two from Jack. Kate is thrilled to see Halloween stuffed toys and books. Jack likes the decorations, and enjoys the Halloween music I put on. (Sort of; I mean, some of it is pushing it. Thriller sure, but Abracadabra? The song from Beetlejuice?)
Anyway. It's October again, Halloween again. I hope to celebrate until we are all too old. But that we never are.
Wednesday, September 03, 2014
Goodbye Summer
It was kind of a crazy summer. It started late, and quickly zoomed into baseball season. We blinked, and July was over. Various family members were sick. Every evening and weekend seemed to be spoken for. Didn't play golf, didn't get up to Vermont, didn't go camping.
Sometimes I think about the things I didn't do, because I wish I had. I know why they didn't happen and I know there wasn't much we could have done differently, but I still think about them.
I guess I come to grips with it by thinking about the things we did do, and feeling better.
- Jack got started learning to play the trombone and made up his own tune.
- Kate mastered riding her bike, starting on her own and riding on streets and steep hills
- We got a dog, and there were plenty of challenges but also some nice family moments with her
- Kate got a scooter and man did she rock that thing
- Jack caught his first couple of fly balls in the outfield, caught some games, and pitched 3 innings of 1-run ball
- They did some indoor rock climbing
- Aunt Robin visited and got to see Jack play baseball
- Kate became a really good reader; lots of chapter books
- Jack became an origami whiz, making dinosaurs, monkeys and Star Wars characters
- Jack played baseball and had a great time at Rehoboth, including getting a key hit, despite a nasty flu
- Kate went down the slide at the pool for the first (and four hundredth by the end of the summer) time
- then Kate jumped off the diving board, a lot, and basically learned to tread water on her own
- we went to Playland, as a family and with friends for birthday parties, and went on Dragon Coasters and other fun and harrowing rides
- we went to Cape Cod and went on a whale watch, well OK they did, I was sick in bed that day
- we hosted a small dinner party with friends and their kids and everyone had fun
- we went to Muscoot Farm and saw some crazy chickens
- we went to a Mets game and both Jack and Kate got to run the bases afterward.
- Jack and I went to see a great movie. Kate and I and Jack saw some movie which they enjoyed and I can't even remember the name, probably something with a 2 or 3 at the end of it.
- we went to the pool, and Kate played with Kelly and Jack played with Hinzes and Pascales, and then we did it all over again a few days later
- we went to famous Mystic Pizza and had the best pizza ever, maybe
- we had a blackout and the kids used a flashlight to make shadows on the wall. Then we ordered pizza and got root beer with it.
- Jack and I went to a Transformer movie and it was really violent and I kind of regretted it, but Jack had fun.
- at the Cape we went to the beach and spent 8 hours there. Then we went to another beach and spent 6 hours there.
- we built sand castles and rode waves and buried each other in the sand.
- we played more whiffle ball than I would have ever thought possible.
- we rode bikes around the neighborhood and to the park, and the kids set aside their bikes in order to climb trees.
- Jack and Kate drew some awesome pictures, capped today by Jack drawing a cover for the new issue of Fantasy Index Weekly. Just awesome.
- today we did probably our last beach trip of the summer, and played in the warm water and let the waves rock us gently to shore. I asked Kate what her favorite part was and she said, "chasing the seagulls," which I tried to stop them from doing but realize now, eh, whatever, harmless and they had fun.
- we ate good steaks and burgers, drank good juice boxes and chocolate milk, and ate a lot of ice cream.
- then we ate more ice cream.
See, George, you really had a wonderful Summer.
Sometimes I think about the things I didn't do, because I wish I had. I know why they didn't happen and I know there wasn't much we could have done differently, but I still think about them.
I guess I come to grips with it by thinking about the things we did do, and feeling better.
- Jack got started learning to play the trombone and made up his own tune.
- Kate mastered riding her bike, starting on her own and riding on streets and steep hills
- We got a dog, and there were plenty of challenges but also some nice family moments with her
- Kate got a scooter and man did she rock that thing
- Jack caught his first couple of fly balls in the outfield, caught some games, and pitched 3 innings of 1-run ball
- They did some indoor rock climbing
- Aunt Robin visited and got to see Jack play baseball
- Kate became a really good reader; lots of chapter books
- Jack became an origami whiz, making dinosaurs, monkeys and Star Wars characters
- Jack played baseball and had a great time at Rehoboth, including getting a key hit, despite a nasty flu
- Kate went down the slide at the pool for the first (and four hundredth by the end of the summer) time
- then Kate jumped off the diving board, a lot, and basically learned to tread water on her own
- we went to Playland, as a family and with friends for birthday parties, and went on Dragon Coasters and other fun and harrowing rides
- we went to Cape Cod and went on a whale watch, well OK they did, I was sick in bed that day
- we hosted a small dinner party with friends and their kids and everyone had fun
- we went to Muscoot Farm and saw some crazy chickens
- we went to a Mets game and both Jack and Kate got to run the bases afterward.
- Jack and I went to see a great movie. Kate and I and Jack saw some movie which they enjoyed and I can't even remember the name, probably something with a 2 or 3 at the end of it.
- we went to the pool, and Kate played with Kelly and Jack played with Hinzes and Pascales, and then we did it all over again a few days later
- we went to famous Mystic Pizza and had the best pizza ever, maybe
- we had a blackout and the kids used a flashlight to make shadows on the wall. Then we ordered pizza and got root beer with it.
- Jack and I went to a Transformer movie and it was really violent and I kind of regretted it, but Jack had fun.
- at the Cape we went to the beach and spent 8 hours there. Then we went to another beach and spent 6 hours there.
- we built sand castles and rode waves and buried each other in the sand.
- we played more whiffle ball than I would have ever thought possible.
- we rode bikes around the neighborhood and to the park, and the kids set aside their bikes in order to climb trees.
- Jack and Kate drew some awesome pictures, capped today by Jack drawing a cover for the new issue of Fantasy Index Weekly. Just awesome.
- today we did probably our last beach trip of the summer, and played in the warm water and let the waves rock us gently to shore. I asked Kate what her favorite part was and she said, "chasing the seagulls," which I tried to stop them from doing but realize now, eh, whatever, harmless and they had fun.
- we ate good steaks and burgers, drank good juice boxes and chocolate milk, and ate a lot of ice cream.
- then we ate more ice cream.
See, George, you really had a wonderful Summer.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Rehoboth
The Rehoboth Mass baseball tournament was coming up, so we were all trying to get ready. We had a great time at this tournament a year ago. But the morning we were supposed to leave, Jack felt like crap. There had been some flu and stuff going around, and as he was huddled in the car with fever and chills, we figured he had it.
But for everyone else it had been a 24 hours thing, and we had a hotel reservation. So Emily and I won Parents of the Year by packing Jack into the car and heading out on the 4 hour drive.
An hour in, Emily climbed into the back seat so Jack could put his head in her lap.
Two hours in, Jack tried eating some applesauce. And threw up. We got off the highway and pulled into a park and ride. Jack sat on the curb with his head in his hands while we cleaned up the car, and him.
After that, he was much better! He found a penny on the ground, which he happily called his lucky penny. He actually started singing in the car, I don't recall what.
We arrived, checked into our hotel, the rest of us ate, Jack seemed OK, we gave him some medicine. Suited up and headed to the game. It was clear, though, during warmups, that there was no chance. H tried to throw and chad no strength. Tried to move and looked pained. Approached us and one of the other coaches shook his head. He looks green, he said. Yeah.
After, at the hotel pool, his whole team was playing, and we were going to keep him out, but geez, he seemed OK and we just couldn't do it to him, make him sit and watch. Go get changed, I said, and he ran off, ran back, and had fun for the next couple hours. That's a large part of what Rehoboth is, and you know, he was fine.
Shared a bed that night, though, and he was awake a lot. Fever. Hot. So I kicked myself some.
But he got through the night, took more medicine the next day, and got through a game. First ball of the game hit to him in left, he didn't catch it, 2 runs ended up scoring. But then his first at-bat, down 3-0 with 2 on and 2 outs, he had a base hit that scored 2 runs and sparked us to tying it up. We won that game, won the next in dramatic fashion, ended up having a great tournament. And Jack was fine.
And slept a lot in the car on the way home.
But for everyone else it had been a 24 hours thing, and we had a hotel reservation. So Emily and I won Parents of the Year by packing Jack into the car and heading out on the 4 hour drive.
An hour in, Emily climbed into the back seat so Jack could put his head in her lap.
Two hours in, Jack tried eating some applesauce. And threw up. We got off the highway and pulled into a park and ride. Jack sat on the curb with his head in his hands while we cleaned up the car, and him.
After that, he was much better! He found a penny on the ground, which he happily called his lucky penny. He actually started singing in the car, I don't recall what.
We arrived, checked into our hotel, the rest of us ate, Jack seemed OK, we gave him some medicine. Suited up and headed to the game. It was clear, though, during warmups, that there was no chance. H tried to throw and chad no strength. Tried to move and looked pained. Approached us and one of the other coaches shook his head. He looks green, he said. Yeah.
After, at the hotel pool, his whole team was playing, and we were going to keep him out, but geez, he seemed OK and we just couldn't do it to him, make him sit and watch. Go get changed, I said, and he ran off, ran back, and had fun for the next couple hours. That's a large part of what Rehoboth is, and you know, he was fine.
Shared a bed that night, though, and he was awake a lot. Fever. Hot. So I kicked myself some.
But he got through the night, took more medicine the next day, and got through a game. First ball of the game hit to him in left, he didn't catch it, 2 runs ended up scoring. But then his first at-bat, down 3-0 with 2 on and 2 outs, he had a base hit that scored 2 runs and sparked us to tying it up. We won that game, won the next in dramatic fashion, ended up having a great tournament. And Jack was fine.
And slept a lot in the car on the way home.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Vacation
On Day 1 we drove 7 hours, with everyone grumpy because of the slowness and the traffic non stop, and then we stopped at McDonalds, ate and gassed up, and were relatively merry the final 3 hours, arriving just 10 minutes before the office where we had to pick up our rental keys closed for the day. Ten minutes later and we'd have had to find a hotel.
Day 2 the beach was just awesome. I got a little work done in the morning, felt a little better (have been battling something), and hit the beach. It was high tide, so there was very little beach, and the water was chilly. But we stuck it out, the water went down and got warmer, there was more beach. After lunch, suddenly, it was beautiful and we played in the water, found shells and rocks, and Kate spent I believe an hour and a half digging a hole in the beach so she would have a little pond to sit in. It was her thing, and I let her have it. Helped her some,,but I can only dig a pond next to the ocean for so long. She didn't mind. We ate fish tacos at Guapos and they were great. Jack ate a taco, Kate had some quesadilla. We got ice cream.
Day 3 we went to a bigger beach, arrived earlier, stayed much later, and had a great time. Jack met up with some other boys and a massive game of whiffle ball broke out. It was 2 on 2 when I left for lunch. It was probably 8 on 8 a couple hours later. When I pulled Jack away to eat his lunch, and we went out and rode some waves for a while, just bobbing like tops, I realized fully that all Jack needs to be happy is playing a game with a group of kids -- it's one of the things that makes him go.
"Wasn't that great, Dad? We were playing ball, and then they invited us over, and we were all playing ball!" I was still happy from the bobbing up and down in the waves, where it's just so peaceful,,and the waves so massive, that it was like we were alone in the world for those 5-10 minutes. But I said yeah, Jack, I know.
When Jack went back to finish his game, Kate and I took her boogie board out. I held it and she clambered on, then rode the waves out and back again, over and over. She's a little water bug; Jack likes the ocean but is plenty happy playing on the beach. Kate liked running back and forth into the waves, laughing and shrieking at the big ones.
We made a big sandcastle. They both helped, Kate amusingly bringing water even though every fifth wave reached us anyway. At one point she was about to pour the bucket when a wave washed over everything. We laughed and built again.
We met up with a college friend of Emily's and his kids, all 3 who were there were close in age. Kate happily played with one, digging holes together. Jack fidgeted until he could rejoin his game, but once that ended, he returned to make these new friends. They played in the frigid water together and ran around. After 7 hours on the beach we staggered home, ordered a pizza, and it was fantastic.
Day 2 the beach was just awesome. I got a little work done in the morning, felt a little better (have been battling something), and hit the beach. It was high tide, so there was very little beach, and the water was chilly. But we stuck it out, the water went down and got warmer, there was more beach. After lunch, suddenly, it was beautiful and we played in the water, found shells and rocks, and Kate spent I believe an hour and a half digging a hole in the beach so she would have a little pond to sit in. It was her thing, and I let her have it. Helped her some,,but I can only dig a pond next to the ocean for so long. She didn't mind. We ate fish tacos at Guapos and they were great. Jack ate a taco, Kate had some quesadilla. We got ice cream.
Day 3 we went to a bigger beach, arrived earlier, stayed much later, and had a great time. Jack met up with some other boys and a massive game of whiffle ball broke out. It was 2 on 2 when I left for lunch. It was probably 8 on 8 a couple hours later. When I pulled Jack away to eat his lunch, and we went out and rode some waves for a while, just bobbing like tops, I realized fully that all Jack needs to be happy is playing a game with a group of kids -- it's one of the things that makes him go.
"Wasn't that great, Dad? We were playing ball, and then they invited us over, and we were all playing ball!" I was still happy from the bobbing up and down in the waves, where it's just so peaceful,,and the waves so massive, that it was like we were alone in the world for those 5-10 minutes. But I said yeah, Jack, I know.
When Jack went back to finish his game, Kate and I took her boogie board out. I held it and she clambered on, then rode the waves out and back again, over and over. She's a little water bug; Jack likes the ocean but is plenty happy playing on the beach. Kate liked running back and forth into the waves, laughing and shrieking at the big ones.
We made a big sandcastle. They both helped, Kate amusingly bringing water even though every fifth wave reached us anyway. At one point she was about to pour the bucket when a wave washed over everything. We laughed and built again.
We met up with a college friend of Emily's and his kids, all 3 who were there were close in age. Kate happily played with one, digging holes together. Jack fidgeted until he could rejoin his game, but once that ended, he returned to make these new friends. They played in the frigid water together and ran around. After 7 hours on the beach we staggered home, ordered a pizza, and it was fantastic.
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
Birthday blog
Woke up at a reasonable hour, which was nice. Had coffee and pie for breakfast accompanied by great homemade cards.
Jack and I spent half an hour playing with his Snap Circuits electronics set. Saw something I'd written earlier about how much he liked that gift and wanted to get it back in rotation. Satisfying and fun.
Took the kids for a bike ride; I walked Riley alongside. It was nice; Kate has finally sort of mastered it, perhaps since she's so good riding her scooter these days, and Jack is very smooth. We went to the little playground and they rode around the tennis court while Riley ran around the baseball field. I watched, relaxed.
We came back, had lunch, turned on AC, watched a silly baseball movie. Kate at first wanted to watch something else, then got hooked. Our dog slept, we drank water and stayed cool on a hot day.
Dinner was eggs and toast, followed by a baseball game. Playoffs! Last year on my birthday, we lost our first playoff game. This was better. We won 7-3, Jack had a hit and a walk, there was little drama.
Afterward we got pizza and drank beer (not the kids), watched the Mets, ate ice cream. Kids sand happy birthday, hugged me good night. Wrote this blog. A nice day.
Jack and I spent half an hour playing with his Snap Circuits electronics set. Saw something I'd written earlier about how much he liked that gift and wanted to get it back in rotation. Satisfying and fun.
Took the kids for a bike ride; I walked Riley alongside. It was nice; Kate has finally sort of mastered it, perhaps since she's so good riding her scooter these days, and Jack is very smooth. We went to the little playground and they rode around the tennis court while Riley ran around the baseball field. I watched, relaxed.
We came back, had lunch, turned on AC, watched a silly baseball movie. Kate at first wanted to watch something else, then got hooked. Our dog slept, we drank water and stayed cool on a hot day.
Dinner was eggs and toast, followed by a baseball game. Playoffs! Last year on my birthday, we lost our first playoff game. This was better. We won 7-3, Jack had a hit and a walk, there was little drama.
Afterward we got pizza and drank beer (not the kids), watched the Mets, ate ice cream. Kids sand happy birthday, hugged me good night. Wrote this blog. A nice day.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Baseball and Playland
Putting Jack to bed last night, he just wanted to talk, which is always fun. Sometimes he wants to name favorite things, which for him is typically "family, baseball, (and whatever he happens to be into at that specific time, so, baseball cards, rainbow loom bracelets, Skylanders, whatever)." This time he said, "What are your three favorite things about baseball?"
So I said, memories of going to games with my Dad as a kid, going to games with my family now, and coaching you and watching you play. That seemed to satisfy him, and he went to sleep.
Today we had a morning practice, which was kind of low key and fun. He hit OK, played some infield, smiled a lot. Always nice to see.
The family went to Playland in the afternoon. I think what I like most about Playland is that it's old, it's simple, it's a little hokey, and you don't have to make a ton of decisions once you're inside. This ride or this ride? Both? Ok. This one again? Ok. We go up high on the Ferris Wheel, get wet on the Log Plume ride (our first time -- it was awesome! I don't know how hwe hadn't previously noticed it). Jack took me on a ride that typically makes me feel sick. Kate takes me on a ride that destroys my back. They both love them so it's worth it.
Kate babbled along through and to and from her favorite rides. Jack ran from ride to ride. Kate got cotton candy as large as her torso. Jack took me on the Sky Skater and laughed and told me what to do while I grimaced.
We all laughed through the Log Plume ride a second time, again getting soaked. Then we weaved over to the Pier Restaurant and Tiki Bar, ate fish and chips, and a weary Kate slept in Emily's lap. Jack ate most of Emily's shrimp instead of his own fish, and I carried Kate back to the car.
At home, Emily said Jack talked to her at bedtime. Said he actually doesn't like the roller coasters that much, he prefers the centrifugal force ones (don't think he actually said centrifugal force) but went on them because we enjoyed them. Kid is 9 years old.
So I said, memories of going to games with my Dad as a kid, going to games with my family now, and coaching you and watching you play. That seemed to satisfy him, and he went to sleep.
Today we had a morning practice, which was kind of low key and fun. He hit OK, played some infield, smiled a lot. Always nice to see.
The family went to Playland in the afternoon. I think what I like most about Playland is that it's old, it's simple, it's a little hokey, and you don't have to make a ton of decisions once you're inside. This ride or this ride? Both? Ok. This one again? Ok. We go up high on the Ferris Wheel, get wet on the Log Plume ride (our first time -- it was awesome! I don't know how hwe hadn't previously noticed it). Jack took me on a ride that typically makes me feel sick. Kate takes me on a ride that destroys my back. They both love them so it's worth it.
Kate babbled along through and to and from her favorite rides. Jack ran from ride to ride. Kate got cotton candy as large as her torso. Jack took me on the Sky Skater and laughed and told me what to do while I grimaced.
We all laughed through the Log Plume ride a second time, again getting soaked. Then we weaved over to the Pier Restaurant and Tiki Bar, ate fish and chips, and a weary Kate slept in Emily's lap. Jack ate most of Emily's shrimp instead of his own fish, and I carried Kate back to the car.
At home, Emily said Jack talked to her at bedtime. Said he actually doesn't like the roller coasters that much, he prefers the centrifugal force ones (don't think he actually said centrifugal force) but went on them because we enjoyed them. Kid is 9 years old.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Riley
So we got a new dog. Riley is a year-old mix of hound and lab and pointer, I guess, or a pointer is a hound? Whatever. Anyway. She's really sweet and a little shy and mostly gentle,,though there is some rambunctious puppy there too. And three weeks in, it's pretty much love all the way around.
Jack has wanted a dog for years, lamenting the fact that numerous friends have dogs and that we don't have one largely because Kate is afraid of dogs. Not entirely true, but whatever. Anyway, he loves hugging and petting and playing with her. He's pretty much thrilled to have a dog, wanting all his friends to meet her and so forth.
Kate, in the space of a day, went from being afraid of dogs to being a dominant dog trainer. Maybe she likes having someone in the house lower on the totem pole of authority than her? Anyway, she hugs and plays with Riley but also feeds her, lets her in and out of her crate, tells her what to do, and takes her by the collar to lead her where she wants her to go. She's not the Dog Whisperer as much as the Dog Bosser.
In the mornings Riley wants to greet us all in our beds. (We put a gate at the bottom of the stairs now.) Then she runs big Figure 8s in the backyard at high speeds. Her tail doesn't wag as much as it turns in circles like a crank.
She's a happy dog and we are too.
Jack has wanted a dog for years, lamenting the fact that numerous friends have dogs and that we don't have one largely because Kate is afraid of dogs. Not entirely true, but whatever. Anyway, he loves hugging and petting and playing with her. He's pretty much thrilled to have a dog, wanting all his friends to meet her and so forth.
Kate, in the space of a day, went from being afraid of dogs to being a dominant dog trainer. Maybe she likes having someone in the house lower on the totem pole of authority than her? Anyway, she hugs and plays with Riley but also feeds her, lets her in and out of her crate, tells her what to do, and takes her by the collar to lead her where she wants her to go. She's not the Dog Whisperer as much as the Dog Bosser.
In the mornings Riley wants to greet us all in our beds. (We put a gate at the bottom of the stairs now.) Then she runs big Figure 8s in the backyard at high speeds. Her tail doesn't wag as much as it turns in circles like a crank.
She's a happy dog and we are too.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Game ball
Jack's not the best player on his summer travel team. But every once in a while, he plays the best. This was one of those times.
On Saturday, we played a home game in pretty high heat. Jack caught three innings, a position he only just started playing a week or so ago. He loves it; the thing is, he typically plays in the outfield, where he might get 2 balls hit his way all game. As catcher, he handles up to 20 pitches an inning, throws them all back to the pitcher, and takes a shot at throwing out a base runner every few batters. One day he'll throw somebody out, although it's worth noting that the stolen base success rate with 9 year olds is probably about 90 percent. One day! Anyway, he did a nice job catching some off-target throws and fielding the position, and after the game got a game ball for his efforts.
Afterward he said to me, "you know, Harrison would have probably got it if he hadn't just got one the other day." I said -- and I'm sensitive to this because I tend to shrug off or downplay praise -- Jack, don't ever think like that. You got it because you deserved it. You did a nice job. Be proud of yourself.
On Sunday, we played a doubleheader. I kind of had an idea that Jack would make his pitching debut, since the head coach had done some extra work with him in practice last week, and said to me he'd try to get Jack an inning this weekend. So after the starter had worked his 3 innings (the most 9 year olds can pitch), and we had a big lead, Coach said Jack would pitch next.
Pitching is something special, because the ball starts with you on every play. It's basically quarterback in baseball, moreso I think at this level, and it's a far cry from outfield.
Jack had pitched an inning on two occasions last year, at least one of which I think was a favor to me because we had worked hard at practicing it. Both outings he kind of survived, gave up 2-3 runs, got through them. But he's improved. He threw a lot of strikes, struck out 3-4 in three innings of work (he remembered it at 6 Ks), threw fairly hard and was around the plate. Little fist pumps after strikeouts. Moreover, he fielded the position very well, jumping off the mound on a slow roller out in front and nearly getting the guy at first, and finishing his outing and the game by catching a popup off to the third-base side. How great was that? It was pretty great.
His teammates and coaches rooted for him throughout, calling him Jackster and whatnot, and when he finished up he flipped the ball to the coach. Who gave it back to him a few minutes later, his second straight game ball. Didn't matter that he'd just got one.
Good as it gets, right? Well, in the first inning of Game 2, he was in left field with two outs and a runner at 2nd. Guy at the plate had a base hit to left, Coach yelled "Home!" And Jack fielded the ball and threw a one-hop rainbow to the catcher to nail the runner. I'll tell you how often that happens with 9 year olds, or at least I would if I'd ever seen it before. As he jogged off the field with a big grin, teammates and coaches surrounded him and clapped him on the back like he'd hit a home run. Usually stoic coaches gave big smiles, one saying, Jack, that was a GREAT throw.
Jack also hit pretty well over the weekend, an important point because he'd been struggling, and we had been working in the backyard a lot with a tee, trying to iron out flaws. So we made progress. And that was something rewarding to see. Though in a weekend where he pitched 3 innings and threw a guy out at the plate from left field, well, it was still secondary.
Jack sometimes talks like he doesn't care about game balls, and I try to say they're not a huge deal. It's a team game, and everyone contributes. But it was pretty cool that on getting home, Jack wrote the date on his game balls, and built a little trophy case in his room, with game balls, tournament trophies from last year, and other awards and mementos. It's important to him, even if he doesn't always say it.
I remember the bad moments. Striking out a couple times one game last year and coming into the dugout saying, "I stink at baseball!" Lamenting that one of his friends did better than him "and he doesn't even care that much about baseball...I do!" Getting caught stealing in a playoff game and blaming himself for the loss.
And it really is those moments that make the good ones all the sweeter.
Like I said. Jack's not the best player on the team. It's not always this good. But this weekend, it was. It's rewarding to see the hard work pay off. It's rewarding to see the respect and happiness from his coaches, teammates, and other parents. Almost, but not quite, as rewarding as the big grin in his face when he came off the field.
On Saturday, we played a home game in pretty high heat. Jack caught three innings, a position he only just started playing a week or so ago. He loves it; the thing is, he typically plays in the outfield, where he might get 2 balls hit his way all game. As catcher, he handles up to 20 pitches an inning, throws them all back to the pitcher, and takes a shot at throwing out a base runner every few batters. One day he'll throw somebody out, although it's worth noting that the stolen base success rate with 9 year olds is probably about 90 percent. One day! Anyway, he did a nice job catching some off-target throws and fielding the position, and after the game got a game ball for his efforts.
Afterward he said to me, "you know, Harrison would have probably got it if he hadn't just got one the other day." I said -- and I'm sensitive to this because I tend to shrug off or downplay praise -- Jack, don't ever think like that. You got it because you deserved it. You did a nice job. Be proud of yourself.
On Sunday, we played a doubleheader. I kind of had an idea that Jack would make his pitching debut, since the head coach had done some extra work with him in practice last week, and said to me he'd try to get Jack an inning this weekend. So after the starter had worked his 3 innings (the most 9 year olds can pitch), and we had a big lead, Coach said Jack would pitch next.
Pitching is something special, because the ball starts with you on every play. It's basically quarterback in baseball, moreso I think at this level, and it's a far cry from outfield.
Jack had pitched an inning on two occasions last year, at least one of which I think was a favor to me because we had worked hard at practicing it. Both outings he kind of survived, gave up 2-3 runs, got through them. But he's improved. He threw a lot of strikes, struck out 3-4 in three innings of work (he remembered it at 6 Ks), threw fairly hard and was around the plate. Little fist pumps after strikeouts. Moreover, he fielded the position very well, jumping off the mound on a slow roller out in front and nearly getting the guy at first, and finishing his outing and the game by catching a popup off to the third-base side. How great was that? It was pretty great.
His teammates and coaches rooted for him throughout, calling him Jackster and whatnot, and when he finished up he flipped the ball to the coach. Who gave it back to him a few minutes later, his second straight game ball. Didn't matter that he'd just got one.
Good as it gets, right? Well, in the first inning of Game 2, he was in left field with two outs and a runner at 2nd. Guy at the plate had a base hit to left, Coach yelled "Home!" And Jack fielded the ball and threw a one-hop rainbow to the catcher to nail the runner. I'll tell you how often that happens with 9 year olds, or at least I would if I'd ever seen it before. As he jogged off the field with a big grin, teammates and coaches surrounded him and clapped him on the back like he'd hit a home run. Usually stoic coaches gave big smiles, one saying, Jack, that was a GREAT throw.
Jack also hit pretty well over the weekend, an important point because he'd been struggling, and we had been working in the backyard a lot with a tee, trying to iron out flaws. So we made progress. And that was something rewarding to see. Though in a weekend where he pitched 3 innings and threw a guy out at the plate from left field, well, it was still secondary.
Jack sometimes talks like he doesn't care about game balls, and I try to say they're not a huge deal. It's a team game, and everyone contributes. But it was pretty cool that on getting home, Jack wrote the date on his game balls, and built a little trophy case in his room, with game balls, tournament trophies from last year, and other awards and mementos. It's important to him, even if he doesn't always say it.
I remember the bad moments. Striking out a couple times one game last year and coming into the dugout saying, "I stink at baseball!" Lamenting that one of his friends did better than him "and he doesn't even care that much about baseball...I do!" Getting caught stealing in a playoff game and blaming himself for the loss.
And it really is those moments that make the good ones all the sweeter.
Like I said. Jack's not the best player on the team. It's not always this good. But this weekend, it was. It's rewarding to see the hard work pay off. It's rewarding to see the respect and happiness from his coaches, teammates, and other parents. Almost, but not quite, as rewarding as the big grin in his face when he came off the field.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Aunt Robin
It's always nice when Aunt Robin visits. The kids might only see her once or twice a year, but it's immediately like she's never been away. We got home from the airport, they flitted around her telling stories of their days and their summers and their favorite toys and books. And then she brought out the new toys and books she always brings and they oohed and aahed over those. She read them both stories before bed, much to their delight.
First day there was a baseball game, and Robin got to see Jack hit the ball well a couple of times, single and an error, and his team get a win. After the game, Jack ran around with his friends and teammates, Kate ran around with her friends (little siblings of teammates). Next morning, we got Dunkin Donuts, so the pictures of kids posing with donuts and grinning sugary, powdery donut grins abounded.
After a visit to Vermont, she was back in town for a dinner at MaryAnn's, where the kids of course ate too many chips, too little actual dinner, and sat on either side of her. We got home and had big bowls of ice cream, and she cracked them up by telling stories about her dogs, including Bruce, who apparently is not the brightest bulb on the tree.
Next morning, we sat around having coffee and cereal, with Jack and Kate again falling all over her, enjoying stories about her dogs and their cousins. Kate sat on her lap, and then Jack sat on her lap, hard, and she made him laugh by saying she thought she wet herself a little.
We said our goodbyes and I drove Robin down to the airport, talking about kids, parents, life. I saw her off to her plane and we started thinking about the next time we'd all see Aunt Robin, hopefully soon.
First day there was a baseball game, and Robin got to see Jack hit the ball well a couple of times, single and an error, and his team get a win. After the game, Jack ran around with his friends and teammates, Kate ran around with her friends (little siblings of teammates). Next morning, we got Dunkin Donuts, so the pictures of kids posing with donuts and grinning sugary, powdery donut grins abounded.
After a visit to Vermont, she was back in town for a dinner at MaryAnn's, where the kids of course ate too many chips, too little actual dinner, and sat on either side of her. We got home and had big bowls of ice cream, and she cracked them up by telling stories about her dogs, including Bruce, who apparently is not the brightest bulb on the tree.
Next morning, we sat around having coffee and cereal, with Jack and Kate again falling all over her, enjoying stories about her dogs and their cousins. Kate sat on her lap, and then Jack sat on her lap, hard, and she made him laugh by saying she thought she wet herself a little.
We said our goodbyes and I drove Robin down to the airport, talking about kids, parents, life. I saw her off to her plane and we started thinking about the next time we'd all see Aunt Robin, hopefully soon.
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Swimming Pool
Took the kids swimming yesterday. Sometimes we have plans afterward, sometimes Jack is looking around for friends who might be there or making new ones, sometimes somebody is too tired or whatever, and it's more of a scattered experience.
But this time, it was a really hot day, there was nowhere we had to be afterward, and nobody else we knew was there. And so we jumped in the pool and swam. Kids tried to dunk me, we tossed a squishy ball around, we all went down the slide. The kids did little races swimming across the pool, and then we went into the deep end and they jumped off the edge of the pool as I tossed them the ball and they tried to catch them in midair. And THEN, they practiced leaps into the pool for each other, saying, "Kate, look, this is the Zombie dive," and "No, Jack, watch THIS one!" They did this for about 20 minutes, over and over.
And then we got ice cream. And they played shuffleboard. And hopscotch. And we swam more. And then it was time to go home. In the car, Jack said, "I think that was the best pool trip ever." And I was thinking, you guys swam, you played together the whole time, you jumped in the water over and over again. It may have been the best, after all.
But this time, it was a really hot day, there was nowhere we had to be afterward, and nobody else we knew was there. And so we jumped in the pool and swam. Kids tried to dunk me, we tossed a squishy ball around, we all went down the slide. The kids did little races swimming across the pool, and then we went into the deep end and they jumped off the edge of the pool as I tossed them the ball and they tried to catch them in midair. And THEN, they practiced leaps into the pool for each other, saying, "Kate, look, this is the Zombie dive," and "No, Jack, watch THIS one!" They did this for about 20 minutes, over and over.
And then we got ice cream. And they played shuffleboard. And hopscotch. And we swam more. And then it was time to go home. In the car, Jack said, "I think that was the best pool trip ever." And I was thinking, you guys swam, you played together the whole time, you jumped in the water over and over again. It may have been the best, after all.
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Summer day
Kate and I went to the pool again today. It was really hot and after hauling our air conditioner out of the attic I really needed to cool off. Jack went swimming to a friend's house.
Kate went from slide to diving board to slide to ice cream man.
Bought Jack a tee today. He hasn't been hitting well of late and the extra swings should help. On his first swing he ripped a line drive that screamed across our yard and hit our dog in the foot. She was confused and alarmed, I was dumbfounded, Jack felt terrible. Fortunately she seems to be OK, but it was rough for a moment. Once she'd been relocated we hit a few more until he caught one and it cleared our back fence by a wide margin. And that was that.
Kate wrote a nice letter to her teacher, mr. hickey, who had written her from summer camp. She talked about swimming and Arts Camp.
The kids did the songs they are learning at camp. That was fun. It's no "Somewhere," but they were pretty cute anyway.
Jack had his first trombone lesson, from the 16-year-old son of a friend. Seemed a nice kid and Jack was very serious and respectful. Plans to practice every day, which would be impressive. Also already plans to save his money for a new trombone, he is currently using the school's. I have no idea how much they are, but said, Sounds great Jack.
Made what appears to be their favorite pasta for dinner and put them to bed. My turn now.
Kate went from slide to diving board to slide to ice cream man.
Bought Jack a tee today. He hasn't been hitting well of late and the extra swings should help. On his first swing he ripped a line drive that screamed across our yard and hit our dog in the foot. She was confused and alarmed, I was dumbfounded, Jack felt terrible. Fortunately she seems to be OK, but it was rough for a moment. Once she'd been relocated we hit a few more until he caught one and it cleared our back fence by a wide margin. And that was that.
Kate wrote a nice letter to her teacher, mr. hickey, who had written her from summer camp. She talked about swimming and Arts Camp.
The kids did the songs they are learning at camp. That was fun. It's no "Somewhere," but they were pretty cute anyway.
Jack had his first trombone lesson, from the 16-year-old son of a friend. Seemed a nice kid and Jack was very serious and respectful. Plans to practice every day, which would be impressive. Also already plans to save his money for a new trombone, he is currently using the school's. I have no idea how much they are, but said, Sounds great Jack.
Made what appears to be their favorite pasta for dinner and put them to bed. My turn now.
Monday, June 30, 2014
First Summer Weekend
Thursday was the last day of school. So on Friday, we made our lists of what we wanted to do this summer, and then went to the pool. Jack seemingly made five new friends (apparently he knew one boy from a camp he attended for 2 weeks last summer...I can't remember people I met last week) and they threw a ball around the pool for two hours. Kate swam and jumped and turned somersaults in the water, like a little fish. I bought them both ice cream.
Saturday, Jack had a baseball game. He made a great catch of a fly ball in left field, potentially saving two runs. Jogging off the field he got a fist bump from the pitcher and a high five or back pat from the coach...I don't remember, I was too happy about the catch. Truth is you don't see a ton of fly balls to the outfield at this level, and not many of those get caught. I wrote a big F-7 in the score book and congratulated him as he came into the dugout. He was actually pretty cool about the whole thing. Later he put a couple of balls in play (one hit and one an error) that drove in four runs in an 8-1 win. We walked home happy, him talking about driving in four runs (which were really less impressive than the catch, but whatever, as long as he's happy).
Afterward, Kate wanted to go back to the pool while Jack wanted to hang out and watch the soccer, so she and I went to the pool for a couple of hours, she again a little fish, us again getting ice cream. Back home that evening, we grilled a steak and played soccer in the backyard with our new dog.
Sunday, Jack had a baseball practice, Emily and Kate went to the pool AGAIN, and Jack had a video game birthday party at a classmate's house in the afternoon. We cooked out, played running bases in the backyard with our dog, and at night I caught a firefly, which Jack and I analyzed and I thought of his great third grade teacher, talking about his enthusiasm for learning.
Good start to the summer.
Saturday, Jack had a baseball game. He made a great catch of a fly ball in left field, potentially saving two runs. Jogging off the field he got a fist bump from the pitcher and a high five or back pat from the coach...I don't remember, I was too happy about the catch. Truth is you don't see a ton of fly balls to the outfield at this level, and not many of those get caught. I wrote a big F-7 in the score book and congratulated him as he came into the dugout. He was actually pretty cool about the whole thing. Later he put a couple of balls in play (one hit and one an error) that drove in four runs in an 8-1 win. We walked home happy, him talking about driving in four runs (which were really less impressive than the catch, but whatever, as long as he's happy).
Afterward, Kate wanted to go back to the pool while Jack wanted to hang out and watch the soccer, so she and I went to the pool for a couple of hours, she again a little fish, us again getting ice cream. Back home that evening, we grilled a steak and played soccer in the backyard with our new dog.
Sunday, Jack had a baseball practice, Emily and Kate went to the pool AGAIN, and Jack had a video game birthday party at a classmate's house in the afternoon. We cooked out, played running bases in the backyard with our dog, and at night I caught a firefly, which Jack and I analyzed and I thought of his great third grade teacher, talking about his enthusiasm for learning.
Good start to the summer.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Last day of school
It's a tough competition with the teacher they both had in kindergarten, but Jack and Kate had probably their teachers we most liked this year, two awesome ladies who were admittedly smitten with our kids. Kate's teacher, at our first parent-teacher conference, I recall her pausing, taking a breath, and saying, "I LOVE Kate. She is so sweet and helpful, both to me and the other students, and she's very encouraging." It was a great year and I think Kate became happier, friendlier, and a better person this year. Plus she learned to read and did this ridiculous new math that I barely understood myself. But it was a great year, and today, after saying goodbye to basically every teacher she recognized, she went to a play date at a friends house and ate pizza and ice cream.
Jack, meanwhile, had probably the best teacher I've ever even heard of this year. Ms Gullotta was a wonderful teacher who was both sweet and kind and old school, the only one who kept the kids until 3:00 p.m. before opening her door. And most of them still didn't leave.
Some of the stuff she said to me today she had told us before, but it still really hit home. She said Jack was an extraordinary student, smart and talented and always eager and anxious to learn. "He inspired me...he inspired the other kids, I think to be better students. He inspired me to be a better teacher. He is an amazing kid." What do you say to that? I think I sputtered something about how great she was and how much he loved having her, all true, but I didn't put it into words as well. He had been in a reading group with her class the previous year -- he's currently reading at a sixth-grade level -- and she said she hoped she would get him in her class, and when she got the list, she immediately went down it to see if his name was there. I hugged her and she said "I've got my fingers crossed for Kate," and I said we do, too.
Then Jack and I went home and bought tickets for the New York Comic Convention in October, went out to a bar, er, restaurant, to have wings and watch the World Cup, and got some swings in at the batting cages, since some bad habits have crept into his swing. And then came home and played with our new dog. What's that, I haven't blogged about her yet? Ok, next time.
Jack, meanwhile, had probably the best teacher I've ever even heard of this year. Ms Gullotta was a wonderful teacher who was both sweet and kind and old school, the only one who kept the kids until 3:00 p.m. before opening her door. And most of them still didn't leave.
Some of the stuff she said to me today she had told us before, but it still really hit home. She said Jack was an extraordinary student, smart and talented and always eager and anxious to learn. "He inspired me...he inspired the other kids, I think to be better students. He inspired me to be a better teacher. He is an amazing kid." What do you say to that? I think I sputtered something about how great she was and how much he loved having her, all true, but I didn't put it into words as well. He had been in a reading group with her class the previous year -- he's currently reading at a sixth-grade level -- and she said she hoped she would get him in her class, and when she got the list, she immediately went down it to see if his name was there. I hugged her and she said "I've got my fingers crossed for Kate," and I said we do, too.
Then Jack and I went home and bought tickets for the New York Comic Convention in October, went out to a bar, er, restaurant, to have wings and watch the World Cup, and got some swings in at the batting cages, since some bad habits have crept into his swing. And then came home and played with our new dog. What's that, I haven't blogged about her yet? Ok, next time.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Happy
It's almost summer, and the kids are feeling it. Today, Jack had a baseball practice, and then we came home and made a steak on the grill. I don't even know exactly what started them off, but they started singing a commercial for goldfish crackers and just, uh, cracking each other up. They took turns singing and posing, posing and singing. And laughing at each other's poses and songs.
And then we all played the running bases game in our backyard, laughed, and went to bed.
And then we all played the running bases game in our backyard, laughed, and went to bed.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Best Father's Day ever
Woke up to coffee, plus a smiling Jack proudly bringing me toast and a hard boiled egg he had made (well, the toast, anyway). Kate was very sad she had slept in, but I said I really needed orange juice. So she was happy.
Kids brought me cards they had made. In Jacks's, he and I wore our Port Chester Pirates gear, him his uniform and glove, me my coaches' shirt. In Kate's, we were smiling, and birds and butterflies flew about our heads. Their cards said really sweet things, too.
We went to the Mets game, and a Met led off the first with a long home run. We ate burgers and hotdogs, then finished with ice cream for all. Jack kept score for the first time. The kids posed cheerily for pictures. After the game they ran the bases. In most of the pictures, one of them gave the other rabbit ears, a goofy tradition that some days I would expect them to be too tired or cranky to do. (Late night last night.) And they were tired, but not cranky. Sweet and funny all day.
Way too long drive home, pizza, a catch with Jack in the backyard, kiss goodnight for Kate. Finally bed and not a peep from either kid. Great day.
Kids brought me cards they had made. In Jacks's, he and I wore our Port Chester Pirates gear, him his uniform and glove, me my coaches' shirt. In Kate's, we were smiling, and birds and butterflies flew about our heads. Their cards said really sweet things, too.
We went to the Mets game, and a Met led off the first with a long home run. We ate burgers and hotdogs, then finished with ice cream for all. Jack kept score for the first time. The kids posed cheerily for pictures. After the game they ran the bases. In most of the pictures, one of them gave the other rabbit ears, a goofy tradition that some days I would expect them to be too tired or cranky to do. (Late night last night.) And they were tired, but not cranky. Sweet and funny all day.
Way too long drive home, pizza, a catch with Jack in the backyard, kiss goodnight for Kate. Finally bed and not a peep from either kid. Great day.
Friday, June 06, 2014
Lot of random
Jack has been really into playing catch lately. Every night. Sometimes we play catch, sometimes he pitches to me. This afternoon we played half an hour of wiffle ball. This morning, he walked into the backyard on his own with his glove and ball to toss it up into the air a bit. To be honest he's kind of wearing me out. But I'll take it.
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Kate loves this scooter we got her. It was her present for Jack making the Summer Travel team. If she has to go to the park all the time for his games, she may as well have a scooter. She's pretty impressive on it, zipping all over the place like she's the Silver Surfer or something.
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Emily went out with friends tonight, so it was just me and the kids. I made a pizza which Jack inhaled and Kate half ate, half picked around the edges, because at some point recently she decided she didn't like tomato sauce. Kind of cuts down on the dinner options. But she ate some, and they both had watermelon for dessert.
They got into their pajamas, and we watched an episode of Gilligan's Island, me sitting between them on the couch. I brushed teeth and washed faces, then read a Magic Kitten chapter with Kate and some Calvin and Hobbes strips with Jack. Turned out lights, told them I loved them, hugged them, put them to bed. Then I came downstairs and wrote this quick blog.
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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Summer travel
Jack had a baseball tournament in New Jersey over Memorial Day weekend. Expectations were relatively modest, I think partly because of the way our players got clobbered in the Spring Travel season. But we showed up ready t o play the first day, and indeed it felt a little like Spring -- rainy and cold.
Our first game was against a pretty decent team, but we played OK and ended up scoring 4 runs in the final inning to tie it up. Jack, who struck out, I think, his first time up, and had a slow roller ground single his 2nd, drew a walk during the rally and made it all the way around to third on a couple of steals with what would have been the winning run. But we didn't get the hit and it ended in a tie.
It was muddy and wet, and the kids were a mess, but they were pretty happy after a loss turned into a tie. We had a second game to play, and that one was ruder -- they clobbered our pitching, we didn't play well in the field, I am pretty sure Jack was too far from the plate and didn't get any hits. Didn't handle a catchable fly ball, either. We all left in a sour, tired, and wet and muddy mood, what with being rained on for half the night.
And after Jack's second strikeout, I said to him, you weren't too far from the plate that time...your feet might have been too far apart. And he gave me a pained, frustrated look and said, "It's always something."
In the car going back to the hotel (team dinner cancelled due to muddieness) we were all pretty glum. Well, not Kate, who had run around playing with other little sisters. We thought, is this what the travel season will be like? Is there a point to this if Jack's not having fun? How can I help get him back on track?
But then we had dinner out with the other coaches and their kids and a couple of wives, and for the most part the game was forgotten -- especially by the kids, who laughed and joked and ate chicken fingers and ice cream. We rolled back to the hotel, went to bed, and would wake up into a new day.
And on Sunday, I said to Jack, I am not going to give you any more advice during the game. I know it's hard getting 5 different people telling you what to do. Get comfortable at the plate and do your best. In the field, be ready. Have fun.
Before the game, they had a batting practice. Jack came back from his turn in the cages and said, "Coach said I did everything perfect!" I said, Great! Bring that to the game.
In Jack's first at-bat, a couple of pitches in, there was a loud crack (metal bats, but crack is all I can think of) as he hit a line drive single up the middle that was as hard and as well as he's ever hit the ball. It started a rally that took us from 3-2 down to 8-2 ahead. In his next at bat, another crack, as he roped the ball to left field for a double. Probably his 2nd best hit. Knocked in a run. We ended up winning 15-5, and the kid was all smiles, happy as I've seen him in a baseball game since last year. Relieved, probably, too.
First, it was great to see him happy. Smiling on the bases, a little fist pump after he made a nice play to get an out while filling in one inning at second base.
He played the whole spring without getting any moments like that (we didn't play many games and lost all of them). So this was a big change.
Second, it was great to see him do well, and hear the talk from coaches and teammates. Way to go, Jack! Stay hot, Jack! Teammates clapping him on the helmet and back when he came in. Just a couple of beautiful, glorious hits. Talking to the coach later, admitting I was afraid he'd be dropped in the lineup after the rough game, saying, I almost said to you, I know Jack is struggling right now, but don't give up on him. So I'm glad you didn't.
And third, it was nice after the game, with one coach kind of absently giving him a smile and a pat on the head, and the other, in post game comments, saying, "I want to mention Jack Richardson, who really swung the bat well. Nice job, Jack." Sometimes Jack might make a goofball face, but this time he just kind of smiled proudly, quietly. Kids: "Jack-ie!"
Afterward, I spoke to the coach who had praised him after the game, just saying, thanks. And he said, "Well, I know how hard he's working."
I realized then that that's what made me happiest, too. I know how hard he's been working. I know how much advice he's had to take in, how much frustration he's had a times, and how tough it probably was in the spring. How he wasn't having much fun playing something he actually loves to do.
I know how hard he'd been working, and it's always pretty great when that pays off.
Our first game was against a pretty decent team, but we played OK and ended up scoring 4 runs in the final inning to tie it up. Jack, who struck out, I think, his first time up, and had a slow roller ground single his 2nd, drew a walk during the rally and made it all the way around to third on a couple of steals with what would have been the winning run. But we didn't get the hit and it ended in a tie.
It was muddy and wet, and the kids were a mess, but they were pretty happy after a loss turned into a tie. We had a second game to play, and that one was ruder -- they clobbered our pitching, we didn't play well in the field, I am pretty sure Jack was too far from the plate and didn't get any hits. Didn't handle a catchable fly ball, either. We all left in a sour, tired, and wet and muddy mood, what with being rained on for half the night.
And after Jack's second strikeout, I said to him, you weren't too far from the plate that time...your feet might have been too far apart. And he gave me a pained, frustrated look and said, "It's always something."
In the car going back to the hotel (team dinner cancelled due to muddieness) we were all pretty glum. Well, not Kate, who had run around playing with other little sisters. We thought, is this what the travel season will be like? Is there a point to this if Jack's not having fun? How can I help get him back on track?
But then we had dinner out with the other coaches and their kids and a couple of wives, and for the most part the game was forgotten -- especially by the kids, who laughed and joked and ate chicken fingers and ice cream. We rolled back to the hotel, went to bed, and would wake up into a new day.
And on Sunday, I said to Jack, I am not going to give you any more advice during the game. I know it's hard getting 5 different people telling you what to do. Get comfortable at the plate and do your best. In the field, be ready. Have fun.
Before the game, they had a batting practice. Jack came back from his turn in the cages and said, "Coach said I did everything perfect!" I said, Great! Bring that to the game.
In Jack's first at-bat, a couple of pitches in, there was a loud crack (metal bats, but crack is all I can think of) as he hit a line drive single up the middle that was as hard and as well as he's ever hit the ball. It started a rally that took us from 3-2 down to 8-2 ahead. In his next at bat, another crack, as he roped the ball to left field for a double. Probably his 2nd best hit. Knocked in a run. We ended up winning 15-5, and the kid was all smiles, happy as I've seen him in a baseball game since last year. Relieved, probably, too.
First, it was great to see him happy. Smiling on the bases, a little fist pump after he made a nice play to get an out while filling in one inning at second base.
He played the whole spring without getting any moments like that (we didn't play many games and lost all of them). So this was a big change.
Second, it was great to see him do well, and hear the talk from coaches and teammates. Way to go, Jack! Stay hot, Jack! Teammates clapping him on the helmet and back when he came in. Just a couple of beautiful, glorious hits. Talking to the coach later, admitting I was afraid he'd be dropped in the lineup after the rough game, saying, I almost said to you, I know Jack is struggling right now, but don't give up on him. So I'm glad you didn't.
And third, it was nice after the game, with one coach kind of absently giving him a smile and a pat on the head, and the other, in post game comments, saying, "I want to mention Jack Richardson, who really swung the bat well. Nice job, Jack." Sometimes Jack might make a goofball face, but this time he just kind of smiled proudly, quietly. Kids: "Jack-ie!"
Afterward, I spoke to the coach who had praised him after the game, just saying, thanks. And he said, "Well, I know how hard he's working."
I realized then that that's what made me happiest, too. I know how hard he's been working. I know how much advice he's had to take in, how much frustration he's had a times, and how tough it probably was in the spring. How he wasn't having much fun playing something he actually loves to do.
I know how hard he'd been working, and it's always pretty great when that pays off.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
All-Stars
Today was All-Star Day for Jack and Kate. It's an annual thing for their baseball leagues where all the teams gather at Lyons Park and get their individual and team pictures taken, compete in tug of war and sack races, eat hotdogs and ice cream, participate in skills competitions, and play an All-Star Game. In the past it was just the competing and the eating, but now Jack is in Minors Division, and he was an All-Star. So he got to eat free food all day, get a special All-Star jersey, and then play in the game with all the other All-Stars.
Kate did the tug of war and sack races. And she was really into it. It was kind of crazy. Before it started she said, "I don't want to do the sack race." We told her she had to, and she did and did it well. Then she not only did the tug of war, which her size-challenged team actually won somehow, but she joined in on a bunch of other teams short a player or two and helped them out.
And then she got ice cream and sat near the baseball field with a few other little girls and played with Barbies for two hours.
Jack finished 2nd in the pitching competition. It was this thing in the batting cages where you had to hit a target I presume some 45 feet away. He advanced through to the finals losing only at the very end, according to him after about 6 rounds. I don't know if that's correct, but I do know they called his name at the awards ceremony and he got this cool little trophy. Pretty awesome.
They had pregame warmups, introduced each player, lined them up on the baselines. They stood silently while somebody sung the National Anthem. It was crazy, like watching a real All-Star Game. Just one of those moments you feel lucky, not to have an All-Star Game but the whole baseball league. Another coach commented to me on how respectful the kids were. Pretty cool.
Jack went 2 for 3, handled his one infield chance cleanly and got a putout at second, couldn't make a play on a well hit ball to the outfield. His team lost 15-13 but it's an All-Star Game and it doesn't matter. They're all winners.
After the game we walked home -- another great thing, we can walk home after a day at the ballpark -- and Jack asked if I wanted to throw the football around. The football? I said. He said, yeah. So we put his pitching trophy inside and went out in the backyard with a ratty old Nerf football and had a catch.
Kate did the tug of war and sack races. And she was really into it. It was kind of crazy. Before it started she said, "I don't want to do the sack race." We told her she had to, and she did and did it well. Then she not only did the tug of war, which her size-challenged team actually won somehow, but she joined in on a bunch of other teams short a player or two and helped them out.
And then she got ice cream and sat near the baseball field with a few other little girls and played with Barbies for two hours.
Jack finished 2nd in the pitching competition. It was this thing in the batting cages where you had to hit a target I presume some 45 feet away. He advanced through to the finals losing only at the very end, according to him after about 6 rounds. I don't know if that's correct, but I do know they called his name at the awards ceremony and he got this cool little trophy. Pretty awesome.
They had pregame warmups, introduced each player, lined them up on the baselines. They stood silently while somebody sung the National Anthem. It was crazy, like watching a real All-Star Game. Just one of those moments you feel lucky, not to have an All-Star Game but the whole baseball league. Another coach commented to me on how respectful the kids were. Pretty cool.
Jack went 2 for 3, handled his one infield chance cleanly and got a putout at second, couldn't make a play on a well hit ball to the outfield. His team lost 15-13 but it's an All-Star Game and it doesn't matter. They're all winners.
After the game we walked home -- another great thing, we can walk home after a day at the ballpark -- and Jack asked if I wanted to throw the football around. The football? I said. He said, yeah. So we put his pitching trophy inside and went out in the backyard with a ratty old Nerf football and had a catch.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Field trip
Kate's first grade class went to the Aquarium today, and I offered to chaperone. This was a huge treat for Kate, which is kind of cool; I don't always think about how much kids enjoy having their parents chaperone. She was excited about it all week and talked about it all last night. She was happy.
My charges were Kate, Her friend Hannah, and a couple of quiet, well-behaved boys. Miss Naselli assured me they wouldn't give me any trouble; indeed, Kate was the only one inclined to run off ahead.
The Aquarium was the Aquarium. We saw seals and sharks, the latter of which scared Kate a little. We saw jellyfish ("Where's the jelly?" Kate asked), Finding Nemo types of fish, sting rays and sea turtles. We took pictures of smiling kids with sharks and turtles in the background. We touched rays, saw Meerkats, and watched an IMAX movie about baby elephants and orangutans being raised by people after their Moms were poached, then returned to the wild. Sad and touching and cute. Kate loved it, loves baby animals.
Strangely, I think I most enjoyed eating lunch with my little group of smiling girls and peaceable boys. Hannah's Mom wrote her a note on her napkin; that was really sweet. She and Kate had two of the same snacks. The boys had deli sandwiches. I dunno. I guess I like seeing what other parents do, how kids interact with each other when they're just sitting together (as opposed to looking at a shark or a movie).
End of the day, we got on the bus, and I cracked the kids up with a goofy dance to a song the bus driver was playing. Kate gave me a big smile. Me going on her class trip was the favorite part of her day. Mine too.
My charges were Kate, Her friend Hannah, and a couple of quiet, well-behaved boys. Miss Naselli assured me they wouldn't give me any trouble; indeed, Kate was the only one inclined to run off ahead.
The Aquarium was the Aquarium. We saw seals and sharks, the latter of which scared Kate a little. We saw jellyfish ("Where's the jelly?" Kate asked), Finding Nemo types of fish, sting rays and sea turtles. We took pictures of smiling kids with sharks and turtles in the background. We touched rays, saw Meerkats, and watched an IMAX movie about baby elephants and orangutans being raised by people after their Moms were poached, then returned to the wild. Sad and touching and cute. Kate loved it, loves baby animals.
Strangely, I think I most enjoyed eating lunch with my little group of smiling girls and peaceable boys. Hannah's Mom wrote her a note on her napkin; that was really sweet. She and Kate had two of the same snacks. The boys had deli sandwiches. I dunno. I guess I like seeing what other parents do, how kids interact with each other when they're just sitting together (as opposed to looking at a shark or a movie).
End of the day, we got on the bus, and I cracked the kids up with a goofy dance to a song the bus driver was playing. Kate gave me a big smile. Me going on her class trip was the favorite part of her day. Mine too.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Baseball
Today was the opening Saturday of the baseball season, with Jack playing at 9 and Kate playing at 11:30. Just last night, and indeed when we woke up this morning and it was raining, we didn't think it would happen. But the rain stopped, the tarp came off the field, and Jack and I headed over at 8:45 for his 9:30 game. On the way we saw a bunny on a neighbor's side lawn. We stopped and watched it for a few minutes.
Jack's game was against A team coached and well represented by his travel team coaches. Didn't expect to win, but in fact it was very competitive, with us trailing 7-4 entering the final inning. Jack hit the ball pretty well and was solid in the field, making a couple of plays at shortstop and playing a solid inning behind the plate. This was impressive because he was shakier in his first game, the previous night, and it was nice to see him step it up. Turned a nice putout with a school friend and nearly a great one with another teammate. We lost the game, but he and the team had every reason to feel proud of their effort. For my part, even though I at one point sent Jack into an out on the basepaths, it was nice to be coaching...in the summer, I mostly just kept score and assisted at practices.
It was like Jack himself said later, when I asked him if he was enjoying Minors. He said he was, enthusiastically; that, "you know, I had fun doing Summer Travel, but now I'm getting to DO more." (E.g., playing shortstop, leading off the batting order, etc.) On the travel team he wasn't one of the best players; now he is.
Kate's T Ball game was a nice little interlude, three innings of little kids knocking the ball off a tee, converging on it in the field, maybe throwing it to first. The games are kind of a hoot, but the kids had fun and most of the same coaches and friends from Jack's game were there -- one guy wore three different shirts while coaching three different teams in the space of four hours. Kate played with a smile on her face, which is about all you want to see.
Afterward we got lunch at the fields, chatted with other kids and parents from other teams, said hi to former players and teammates ("Hey weren't you my coach on Perrone Bros.?" Yup, hi Joseph). Just a really nice day.
For a couple hours or so, I talked to other coaches and watched other games. Jack played running bases, this baseballish game that all the kids play. Jack describing it later: "running bases is great because you never get tired of it. Until maybe after an hour, when you get bored. But then you take about half an hour off, and come back to it, and there are new catchers, and it's fun again."
We ate dinner out, watched Gilligan's Island, put the kids to bed early. Then I sat down to write about a great day of baseball.
Jack's game was against A team coached and well represented by his travel team coaches. Didn't expect to win, but in fact it was very competitive, with us trailing 7-4 entering the final inning. Jack hit the ball pretty well and was solid in the field, making a couple of plays at shortstop and playing a solid inning behind the plate. This was impressive because he was shakier in his first game, the previous night, and it was nice to see him step it up. Turned a nice putout with a school friend and nearly a great one with another teammate. We lost the game, but he and the team had every reason to feel proud of their effort. For my part, even though I at one point sent Jack into an out on the basepaths, it was nice to be coaching...in the summer, I mostly just kept score and assisted at practices.
It was like Jack himself said later, when I asked him if he was enjoying Minors. He said he was, enthusiastically; that, "you know, I had fun doing Summer Travel, but now I'm getting to DO more." (E.g., playing shortstop, leading off the batting order, etc.) On the travel team he wasn't one of the best players; now he is.
Kate's T Ball game was a nice little interlude, three innings of little kids knocking the ball off a tee, converging on it in the field, maybe throwing it to first. The games are kind of a hoot, but the kids had fun and most of the same coaches and friends from Jack's game were there -- one guy wore three different shirts while coaching three different teams in the space of four hours. Kate played with a smile on her face, which is about all you want to see.
Afterward we got lunch at the fields, chatted with other kids and parents from other teams, said hi to former players and teammates ("Hey weren't you my coach on Perrone Bros.?" Yup, hi Joseph). Just a really nice day.
For a couple hours or so, I talked to other coaches and watched other games. Jack played running bases, this baseballish game that all the kids play. Jack describing it later: "running bases is great because you never get tired of it. Until maybe after an hour, when you get bored. But then you take about half an hour off, and come back to it, and there are new catchers, and it's fun again."
We ate dinner out, watched Gilligan's Island, put the kids to bed early. Then I sat down to write about a great day of baseball.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Random stuff
- yesterday, while waiting for Jack to get back from a field trip, Kate walked into the classroom next door to his. She's friendly with the teacher, I think maybe partly because he used to have her cousins in his class. She spent the next 15 minutes creating art on his overhead projector/smart board/whatever thingy. Big smiles. The teacher didn't mind; Kate is very charming and cute. Loves teachers and they love her.
- picked up Jack from a play date at his friend's house today. I talked with the friend's Dad while Jack and the friend drew and Kate got the tour of the house from the younger brother, plus they all talked Skylanders. Nice family, pleasant time.
- Jack hadn't been swinging the bat well in practice, so a friend (and one of his summer coaches) said a e could come over and he'd give him some tips. So we did that for like an hour after dinner. The guy has four kids of his own and it was pretty cool he was willing to take some time to help Jack out. After the hitting session, Jack pitched a little off a makeshift mound he built recently. At the end he just messed around, using an exaggerated, Fernando Valenzuela delivery. Funny.
- Jack and I walked home and it was cold but pretty out. Kate and I read her Magic Kitten book before bed, the book she was allowed to take out as a second one because she couldn't choose between two series -- one she reads with Emily, one with me. So her teacher signed out the second one for her.
People are OK sometimes.
- picked up Jack from a play date at his friend's house today. I talked with the friend's Dad while Jack and the friend drew and Kate got the tour of the house from the younger brother, plus they all talked Skylanders. Nice family, pleasant time.
- Jack hadn't been swinging the bat well in practice, so a friend (and one of his summer coaches) said a e could come over and he'd give him some tips. So we did that for like an hour after dinner. The guy has four kids of his own and it was pretty cool he was willing to take some time to help Jack out. After the hitting session, Jack pitched a little off a makeshift mound he built recently. At the end he just messed around, using an exaggerated, Fernando Valenzuela delivery. Funny.
- Jack and I walked home and it was cold but pretty out. Kate and I read her Magic Kitten book before bed, the book she was allowed to take out as a second one because she couldn't choose between two series -- one she reads with Emily, one with me. So her teacher signed out the second one for her.
People are OK sometimes.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Spring Vacation, Day 4
The day began with an hour and a half worth of dentist appointments. This is the worlds best kids dentist office, since it has video games, a popcorn box shaped movie theatre showing "Frozen," and a life size suit of Iron Man armor. Anyway, the kids were great and I got some great selfies with Iron Man, and then we zipped home so Kate could go do gymnastics for 3 hours and I could host a couple of Kate's friends' brothers. It was 4 p.m. before it was just Jack and Kate again.
Kate and I played baseball in the yard. The girl can throw! She hit some too. Jack came out and we discovered he was a fiercer taskmaster than I was, giving Kate all the tips I give him...hmm, maybe I am a fierce taskmaster. Anyway. We had fun, and then I took Jack to his two-hour baseball practice. And I am really tired now, so, good night.
Kate and I played baseball in the yard. The girl can throw! She hit some too. Jack came out and we discovered he was a fiercer taskmaster than I was, giving Kate all the tips I give him...hmm, maybe I am a fierce taskmaster. Anyway. We had fun, and then I took Jack to his two-hour baseball practice. And I am really tired now, so, good night.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Spring Vacation, Day 3
A play date plan fell through, so I pulled out a Plan B. We hopped in the car and went to the Science Museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I remembered going there with Jack a few years back and not being overly impressed, but I wanted to try something different from staples like the Aquarium or Stepping Stones which frankly we've kind of worn out over the years.
And it was awesome. The kids were fascinated by the microscope and magnetic exhibits, thrilled by the energy show where the teacher showed us experiments with flame, liquid nitrogen, and electricity. When she asked for possible answers to "what would happen if..." Both Jack and Kate raised their hands enthusiastically. After Kate gave her answer, she smiled at me proudly. When the racquetball immersed in liquid nitrogen no longer bounced but shattered on the floor with a bang,,Jack turned to look at me with a huge,,wide-eyed grin. Yes, science is pretty cool.
We took in the planetarium show about the moon, shot hoops at the basketball exhibit, used solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy to move things. It was really a pretty great couple of hours, in part perhaps because my expectations were kind of low going in.
We literally closed the place down; they had to kick us out at 5. We walked back to the car talking about all the different things we'd seen and done. It's funny; we've been watching the show Cosmos on TV, so I thought of this place because of the Planetarium. And that was probably the least interesting part of the trip; it was the more traditional science exhibits they most enjoyed. Anyway, good day.
And it was awesome. The kids were fascinated by the microscope and magnetic exhibits, thrilled by the energy show where the teacher showed us experiments with flame, liquid nitrogen, and electricity. When she asked for possible answers to "what would happen if..." Both Jack and Kate raised their hands enthusiastically. After Kate gave her answer, she smiled at me proudly. When the racquetball immersed in liquid nitrogen no longer bounced but shattered on the floor with a bang,,Jack turned to look at me with a huge,,wide-eyed grin. Yes, science is pretty cool.
We took in the planetarium show about the moon, shot hoops at the basketball exhibit, used solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy to move things. It was really a pretty great couple of hours, in part perhaps because my expectations were kind of low going in.
We literally closed the place down; they had to kick us out at 5. We walked back to the car talking about all the different things we'd seen and done. It's funny; we've been watching the show Cosmos on TV, so I thought of this place because of the Planetarium. And that was probably the least interesting part of the trip; it was the more traditional science exhibits they most enjoyed. Anyway, good day.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Spring Vacation, Day 2
Rained all day,,so good thing we went outside a lot yesterday. Got some work done in the morning, while the kids had another stuffed animal rodeo, made birthday cards for cousins and Babas, and built things with long forgotten construction toys. Jack made some kind of great bird/TRex character. Kate made a birdhouse thing.
Afternoon we ran errands. Orthodontist for Jack. Library for both; Kate got a bunch of Rainbow Fairy books, Jack got a variety of different books that I'm sure he will fly through. Kate finished one of hers this afternoon. Voracious readers, it's nice.
Went to the grocery store and post office, came home to read, make a fire (cold and rainy out), and watched a couple of Gilligan's Islands. Basically all the humor involving Ginger goes well over their heads, which is fortunate.
At dinner I made Jack laugh by theorizing an Easter Bunny that threw eggs at people, conking them in the head. This totally cracked him up, which I don't often do; very satisfying. Ate cake for dessert and watched Cosmos, which I have to say kind of went over Emily's and my heads but Jack termed one of his favorites. OK then.
Put Kate to bed, reading one of her kitten books. She sang me a song about the little black bug that was pretty cute. We listened to the rain as she fell asleep.
Afternoon we ran errands. Orthodontist for Jack. Library for both; Kate got a bunch of Rainbow Fairy books, Jack got a variety of different books that I'm sure he will fly through. Kate finished one of hers this afternoon. Voracious readers, it's nice.
Went to the grocery store and post office, came home to read, make a fire (cold and rainy out), and watched a couple of Gilligan's Islands. Basically all the humor involving Ginger goes well over their heads, which is fortunate.
At dinner I made Jack laugh by theorizing an Easter Bunny that threw eggs at people, conking them in the head. This totally cracked him up, which I don't often do; very satisfying. Ate cake for dessert and watched Cosmos, which I have to say kind of went over Emily's and my heads but Jack termed one of his favorites. OK then.
Put Kate to bed, reading one of her kitten books. She sang me a song about the little black bug that was pretty cute. We listened to the rain as she fell asleep.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Spring Vacation, Day 1
It's Spring Break, so I'm going to try to blog every day. Today was a good day. Weather indicated this would be the nicest day of the week, so I knew the plan would be to be outside.
First thing in the morning, I had both kids make a list of everything they wanted to do this week. They collaborated on it, which was nice; no need to read "McDonald's" and "Dunkin' Donuts" on multiple lists. Their list was pretty good, including the expected (TV) and unexpected (Easter projects). Looked good; I am sure we will end up doing many of them.
While I did some work, they played together quite nicely. This morning's game was "Stuffed Animal Rodeo," during which their various stuffed toys were timed riding on Zoomer, the battery-operated robot dog. No, I am not making this up. The monkey won. Of course.
Today we started at Bruce Park. It's a nice playground in Greenwich which we used to go to semi-regularly (when we lived in Connecticut) and I think have gone to every spring break since Jack started school. It's a tradition, and we like those around here. They immediately climbed the rock wall, and the climbing tower, and the hoopy thing -- I believe that is the official name -- and stuff that was difficult for Jack a year ago wasn't, and stuff that Kate couldn't do a year ago she did with effort. Stuff she didn't try then, she managed to do now. They had a blast on the swing chairs, and the slides, and the rock walls, smiling genuine proud,happy smiles for the camera.
When they tired of that, or couldn't put off their McDonald's craving any longer, we went there. We sat and ate their unhealthy food with lots of ketchup. Some little girl stood up and shouted instructions to her Dad across the restaurant. I evidently cringed because Kate looked at me and said, "She must have never been in a restaurant before!"
Jack had an afternoon play date at a friend's house,,so Kate and I took her bike out for a spin, which ended at yet another playground. Pushed her on the swing, helped her ride, watched her climb trees. Just a nice sunny afternoon.
Back at home, Emmy came back from work and we/they played baseball in the yard. Kate is working on her skills, Jack just likes to play. And that was our day.
First thing in the morning, I had both kids make a list of everything they wanted to do this week. They collaborated on it, which was nice; no need to read "McDonald's" and "Dunkin' Donuts" on multiple lists. Their list was pretty good, including the expected (TV) and unexpected (Easter projects). Looked good; I am sure we will end up doing many of them.
While I did some work, they played together quite nicely. This morning's game was "Stuffed Animal Rodeo," during which their various stuffed toys were timed riding on Zoomer, the battery-operated robot dog. No, I am not making this up. The monkey won. Of course.
Today we started at Bruce Park. It's a nice playground in Greenwich which we used to go to semi-regularly (when we lived in Connecticut) and I think have gone to every spring break since Jack started school. It's a tradition, and we like those around here. They immediately climbed the rock wall, and the climbing tower, and the hoopy thing -- I believe that is the official name -- and stuff that was difficult for Jack a year ago wasn't, and stuff that Kate couldn't do a year ago she did with effort. Stuff she didn't try then, she managed to do now. They had a blast on the swing chairs, and the slides, and the rock walls, smiling genuine proud,happy smiles for the camera.
When they tired of that, or couldn't put off their McDonald's craving any longer, we went there. We sat and ate their unhealthy food with lots of ketchup. Some little girl stood up and shouted instructions to her Dad across the restaurant. I evidently cringed because Kate looked at me and said, "She must have never been in a restaurant before!"
Jack had an afternoon play date at a friend's house,,so Kate and I took her bike out for a spin, which ended at yet another playground. Pushed her on the swing, helped her ride, watched her climb trees. Just a nice sunny afternoon.
Back at home, Emmy came back from work and we/they played baseball in the yard. Kate is working on her skills, Jack just likes to play. And that was our day.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Having a catch
So Jack's team got clobbered this evening, and Jack was pretty morose afterward. It was bad enough -- pretty much the worst pounding I'd ever seen -- that the game ended after 3 innings, and Jack got only one inning in the field and no at-bats.
We trudged home from the field and I (after telling Jack at the field to keep his cool) told Jack to go ahead and say anything he wanted to say. I said, you know, losses like that happen every once in a while.
And he said, exasperatedly, "It's not that we lost, it's that I didn't get to DO anything about it. I didn't bat, and I only played one inning!" And I said, yeah, well, it's tough, there are 15 kids on the team, and most of them are older than you, and we only played 3 innings, etc. And he continued: "And (friend who got yelled at by coach for goofing around on bench) doesn't even care! It's optional for him. And I actually DO care!"
So I told him I understood. And that we are going to have a great time in Minors this season (new season starting, as his Spring Travel season is ending), since the kids are all his age (true) and he's one of the best players on the team (also true). And he'd get to hit plenty, field plenty, and have some fun. Win or lose.
By this time we had reached home, and I said, Jack, you want to go play catch in the back yard? And to my relief, he nodded.
So we had a catch, and it only took a handful of throws before he was grinning again. Me too.
We trudged home from the field and I (after telling Jack at the field to keep his cool) told Jack to go ahead and say anything he wanted to say. I said, you know, losses like that happen every once in a while.
And he said, exasperatedly, "It's not that we lost, it's that I didn't get to DO anything about it. I didn't bat, and I only played one inning!" And I said, yeah, well, it's tough, there are 15 kids on the team, and most of them are older than you, and we only played 3 innings, etc. And he continued: "And (friend who got yelled at by coach for goofing around on bench) doesn't even care! It's optional for him. And I actually DO care!"
So I told him I understood. And that we are going to have a great time in Minors this season (new season starting, as his Spring Travel season is ending), since the kids are all his age (true) and he's one of the best players on the team (also true). And he'd get to hit plenty, field plenty, and have some fun. Win or lose.
By this time we had reached home, and I said, Jack, you want to go play catch in the back yard? And to my relief, he nodded.
So we had a catch, and it only took a handful of throws before he was grinning again. Me too.
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Artwork
I have a real fondness for the art the kids created when they were younger. Jack drew pictures of monkeys with big eyes, goofy grins and gangly fingers and toes, and his "Rainbow Man" -- pictures of happy people where every line was a different color -- still make me smile. Kate drew pictures of people that were basically big circles with stick figure arms and legs, with dots for eyes and noses and big smiles. She drew them over and over and labeled them "Mommy" "Daddy" "Jack" and "Kate," the females usually distinguishable from the males because they had a piece of hair over each ear, while the males had just one squiggly hair on top.
At one point she'd made four such pictures, one for each family member, and we framed them in four separate plastic frames and hung them together in the playroom. I probably walked by them every day without noticing them, until I noticed that while the kids were cleaning up and redesigning their house area yesterday, they'd removed three of the pictures in favor of different ones they'd made. Two I found scrunched up in the trash, the third was on the floor.
I brought the kids down to the playroom and gave them the riot act, about how the frames are ours and they're not supposed to touch them or change them, and that I was sad Kate's old pictures were damaged, because they gave me a lot of great memories. Both were sad and apologetic, genuinely, and I felt bad and all that.
After that I saw Kate going back and forth from one art area to another. Turned out she was trying to re-create the same pictures that had been crumpled, with the same-colored marker and her same choppy, charming style. She didn't quite get them, but it was pretty sweet.
Jack created a drawing of his own, a note that said "I'm Sorry!" and then this cartoon character he created recently, Marty Mushroom, making a joke about it.
I thanked Kate for her pictures and took them, but I later found her huddled in my desk chair crying. What's wrong, I asked. She was sad because I hadn't immediately put the pictures into the frames. I explained that I was trying to flatten out the original ones and use them again, which cheered her right up.
I get nostalgic, Kate is very sensitive, and Jack is kind of a mixture of both -- not quite as sensitive, but thoughtful and anxious to make amends, as is Kate. Basically they're both great kids. And, I think I'll need to get more frames soon.
At one point she'd made four such pictures, one for each family member, and we framed them in four separate plastic frames and hung them together in the playroom. I probably walked by them every day without noticing them, until I noticed that while the kids were cleaning up and redesigning their house area yesterday, they'd removed three of the pictures in favor of different ones they'd made. Two I found scrunched up in the trash, the third was on the floor.
I brought the kids down to the playroom and gave them the riot act, about how the frames are ours and they're not supposed to touch them or change them, and that I was sad Kate's old pictures were damaged, because they gave me a lot of great memories. Both were sad and apologetic, genuinely, and I felt bad and all that.
After that I saw Kate going back and forth from one art area to another. Turned out she was trying to re-create the same pictures that had been crumpled, with the same-colored marker and her same choppy, charming style. She didn't quite get them, but it was pretty sweet.
Jack created a drawing of his own, a note that said "I'm Sorry!" and then this cartoon character he created recently, Marty Mushroom, making a joke about it.
I thanked Kate for her pictures and took them, but I later found her huddled in my desk chair crying. What's wrong, I asked. She was sad because I hadn't immediately put the pictures into the frames. I explained that I was trying to flatten out the original ones and use them again, which cheered her right up.
I get nostalgic, Kate is very sensitive, and Jack is kind of a mixture of both -- not quite as sensitive, but thoughtful and anxious to make amends, as is Kate. Basically they're both great kids. And, I think I'll need to get more frames soon.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Family TV
Today was our first nice day in a while, and we went to the playground. Kate rode her bike around the tennis court, did a good job riding, got frustrated when she couldn't start on her own, got excited when she got going. Jack met a friend and his brother and they played basketball, then all four of them played on the slide and the rings. Kate is a little monkey on the rings. On the slide, they did this treasure hunt game they invented where they went slowly down head first to collect wood chips. Silly but fun, clever.
But what I'm going to write about instead is family TV, because with all the rain and cold, there's been a decent amount of that lately. Whereas in the past we'd send them off to watch their kids shows, we've been doing more family things in evenings.
The first, which started at Disney, is Gilligan's Island. TV land has started airing them in blocks, and they've become our regular weekend evening viewing. They both love it, probably as much as I did as a kid, watching it with Robin, some, and Scott. I feel like we might have done skits, too, though I am not sure. I know we loved it, and I suspect I enjoy it now for both the humor and the nostalgia, and watching it as a family. Uh, I am not watching them on my own.
The second is Cosmos, a science series that's fascinating and incredible and lots of it is tough for even me to keep up with, so I am sure it loses Jack and Kate here and there. But Jack is fascinated and Kate is entertained, and so we snuggle up together on the couch and watch it with rapt attention.
It's weird, because I have always wanted to be careful that they don't watch too much TV, and I forgot how good it can be when it's, you know, good. We watch it and talk about it during, and after, and the next day, and look forward to the next one. Will Gilligan get off the island? Will we get off Planet Earth?
It's not the playground, but it's a lot of fun sometimes.
But what I'm going to write about instead is family TV, because with all the rain and cold, there's been a decent amount of that lately. Whereas in the past we'd send them off to watch their kids shows, we've been doing more family things in evenings.
The first, which started at Disney, is Gilligan's Island. TV land has started airing them in blocks, and they've become our regular weekend evening viewing. They both love it, probably as much as I did as a kid, watching it with Robin, some, and Scott. I feel like we might have done skits, too, though I am not sure. I know we loved it, and I suspect I enjoy it now for both the humor and the nostalgia, and watching it as a family. Uh, I am not watching them on my own.
The second is Cosmos, a science series that's fascinating and incredible and lots of it is tough for even me to keep up with, so I am sure it loses Jack and Kate here and there. But Jack is fascinated and Kate is entertained, and so we snuggle up together on the couch and watch it with rapt attention.
It's weird, because I have always wanted to be careful that they don't watch too much TV, and I forgot how good it can be when it's, you know, good. We watch it and talk about it during, and after, and the next day, and look forward to the next one. Will Gilligan get off the island? Will we get off Planet Earth?
It's not the playground, but it's a lot of fun sometimes.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Disney World, Day 7
On Friday, the one place we hadn't been, ironically, was Animal Kingdom, where our lodge was. So we took the shuttle over to the park area. My notes are thin and this was a few weeks ago now, so I will do my best to recall what we did. (Emily reminds me I already missed one of our favorite rides from the previous day, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a roller coaster that Kate did NOT want to go on, but at the end was like, Wheeeeeeeee!!!!" This also reminds me of the DoleWhip, which was a pineapple flavored ice cream snack that was fantastic. But I digress.)
Perhaps the coolest thing about it was this massive Tree of Life, a huge structure which looked real but had all these animals etched/carved into its trunk. Really cool. Then it was off to DinoLand, USA, where we did a couple of rides and blew some money on Carnival games. Eh.
But the day really picked up with the animal safari, where we rode a bus through a whole bunch of different animal areas, and lunch at Flametree Barbecue, where I ate some fantastic ribs (sorry, animals!) and had one of the week's better lunches. Then we did "Everest," a ride which was supposed to be scary and I figured, no big deal if Kate can't do it, I will let Emily go with Jack. Instead we both did it, and good thing because it was one of the best rides of the vacation. You felt a chilling wind in your, uh, hair, and seemed to be attacked by a Yeti that destroyed the track in front of you, forcing you to go backward. Great fun.
The safari was cool for the gorilla, and the climbing monkeys, and the elephants, and the giraffe that walked up about 5 feet away from us. And then we finished up there and went BACK to Hollywood Studios, so we could do the Toy Story and Star Wars rides again. And finally, done with all that, we had dinner at the 50s prime time cafe, where all the tables were like being in your grandmas kitchen or an old TV show, the waitress called you hon and cracked wise to you and your kids (Jack didn't know what to make of her; couldn't tell if she was serious or kidding when she took away his toy at the table and lectured him about his elbows). The menu, of course, had meatloaf, fried chicken, and chicken pot pie, or a sampler with some of each -- my choice.
We enjoyed colorful drinks, huge desserts which you ordered from a menu on slides in a old time Viewfinder, and the kitschy decor, which felt entirely authentic. I don't remember if we squeezed in one more ride...think we thought about Toy Story, but the wait was too long, and bed was calling. What do you know, I remember more about that last full day at Disney than I thought.
Perhaps the coolest thing about it was this massive Tree of Life, a huge structure which looked real but had all these animals etched/carved into its trunk. Really cool. Then it was off to DinoLand, USA, where we did a couple of rides and blew some money on Carnival games. Eh.
But the day really picked up with the animal safari, where we rode a bus through a whole bunch of different animal areas, and lunch at Flametree Barbecue, where I ate some fantastic ribs (sorry, animals!) and had one of the week's better lunches. Then we did "Everest," a ride which was supposed to be scary and I figured, no big deal if Kate can't do it, I will let Emily go with Jack. Instead we both did it, and good thing because it was one of the best rides of the vacation. You felt a chilling wind in your, uh, hair, and seemed to be attacked by a Yeti that destroyed the track in front of you, forcing you to go backward. Great fun.
The safari was cool for the gorilla, and the climbing monkeys, and the elephants, and the giraffe that walked up about 5 feet away from us. And then we finished up there and went BACK to Hollywood Studios, so we could do the Toy Story and Star Wars rides again. And finally, done with all that, we had dinner at the 50s prime time cafe, where all the tables were like being in your grandmas kitchen or an old TV show, the waitress called you hon and cracked wise to you and your kids (Jack didn't know what to make of her; couldn't tell if she was serious or kidding when she took away his toy at the table and lectured him about his elbows). The menu, of course, had meatloaf, fried chicken, and chicken pot pie, or a sampler with some of each -- my choice.
We enjoyed colorful drinks, huge desserts which you ordered from a menu on slides in a old time Viewfinder, and the kitschy decor, which felt entirely authentic. I don't remember if we squeezed in one more ride...think we thought about Toy Story, but the wait was too long, and bed was calling. What do you know, I remember more about that last full day at Disney than I thought.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Swim!
Drove to Ithaca, New York this past weekend for the State swimming championships. Jack had qualified in one event, the breast stroke, and so we drove four hours, stayed in a hotel, and fought through the masses of people at Ithaca College to watch our son swim for 25 seconds, after which we'd get back in the car and drive another 4 hours back home.
The first day felt like a huge waste of time. Directions were poor and our 4-hour drive ended up being 5 hours. We got to the college to watch Jack's team finish up its Saturday events, only to find they'd already ended and there was a 2-hour break before the next session. Skipped the team dinner because it was going to be late and we didn't want to keep Jack up. (Plus there was a Pizza Hut directly across the parking lot from our hotel!) We ate pizza, watched a TV Land Gilligan's Island marathon, and wondered why we were there. Throw in a really bad night's sleep (Jack and Kate, who had shared a Queen bed without so much as a cross look for a week at Disney World, bickered over who got to sleep on which side, fought over the middle pillow, and tossed and turned for enough of the night that we finally gave up and separated them around 3 a.m., with me moving over to Jack's bed and Kate moving into ours.
(They slept better after that, but we didn't. At one point I woke up to find Jack sleeping on top of my HEAD -- yes, he was using my skull as a pillow. C'mon, man!)
But the next morning we were starting to feel the enthusiasm, which continued and increased when we arrived at the college. We watched Jack do warm-up laps and dives with his team, both of which were shaky -- his dives are always shaky, and on the laps he seemed to have trouble staying in a lane, frequently drifting over to collide with people coming back the other way.
Half an hour before he was scheduled to swim, he was calling to us from across the pool, so I went to meet him, only to find he'd made his way up to where we were sitting. He was hungry, and had to go to the bathroom, and evidently didn't want to wait on one and couldn't find his way to take care of the other. We gave him a handful of Fritos, I took him to the bathroom, and said oh by the way Jack, good luck, you're swimming in 20 minutes!
As his event approached, Emily was getting more nervous. Me too, worrying about him missing it entirely by getting stuck in a bathroom or falling off the block and being disqualified or somesuch. But no; when it came time, he was there on the block, and started at the right time and everything. We were just hoping he wouldn't finish last...
And he won!
Afterward, we caught his eye across the pool. He raised both arms in the air in excitement and triumph. He ended up finishing 7th overall (he won his heat; there were three in total) out of 30 swimmers; safe to say dramatically better than we dared hope.
We drove home with an extra energy; the four hours seemed like a lot less. We were still excited about his performance; he I think was still excited about the cool new-fangled Soda machine at the restaurant we stopped at for dinner. I got 3 hours of great classic and alternative rock on upstate New York radio. Jack and Kate got a couple of hours of sleep. And we had a state champion (well, 7th) swimmer.
The first day felt like a huge waste of time. Directions were poor and our 4-hour drive ended up being 5 hours. We got to the college to watch Jack's team finish up its Saturday events, only to find they'd already ended and there was a 2-hour break before the next session. Skipped the team dinner because it was going to be late and we didn't want to keep Jack up. (Plus there was a Pizza Hut directly across the parking lot from our hotel!) We ate pizza, watched a TV Land Gilligan's Island marathon, and wondered why we were there. Throw in a really bad night's sleep (Jack and Kate, who had shared a Queen bed without so much as a cross look for a week at Disney World, bickered over who got to sleep on which side, fought over the middle pillow, and tossed and turned for enough of the night that we finally gave up and separated them around 3 a.m., with me moving over to Jack's bed and Kate moving into ours.
(They slept better after that, but we didn't. At one point I woke up to find Jack sleeping on top of my HEAD -- yes, he was using my skull as a pillow. C'mon, man!)
But the next morning we were starting to feel the enthusiasm, which continued and increased when we arrived at the college. We watched Jack do warm-up laps and dives with his team, both of which were shaky -- his dives are always shaky, and on the laps he seemed to have trouble staying in a lane, frequently drifting over to collide with people coming back the other way.
Half an hour before he was scheduled to swim, he was calling to us from across the pool, so I went to meet him, only to find he'd made his way up to where we were sitting. He was hungry, and had to go to the bathroom, and evidently didn't want to wait on one and couldn't find his way to take care of the other. We gave him a handful of Fritos, I took him to the bathroom, and said oh by the way Jack, good luck, you're swimming in 20 minutes!
As his event approached, Emily was getting more nervous. Me too, worrying about him missing it entirely by getting stuck in a bathroom or falling off the block and being disqualified or somesuch. But no; when it came time, he was there on the block, and started at the right time and everything. We were just hoping he wouldn't finish last...
And he won!
We drove home with an extra energy; the four hours seemed like a lot less. We were still excited about his performance; he I think was still excited about the cool new-fangled Soda machine at the restaurant we stopped at for dinner. I got 3 hours of great classic and alternative rock on upstate New York radio. Jack and Kate got a couple of hours of sleep. And we had a state champion (well, 7th) swimmer.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Disney World, Day 6
You wouldn't think we could top the Universal day, but Day 6 was pretty great, too. I woke up to the sound of Jack cracking up from the balcony, because he and Emily had just seen an ostrich poop outside our window. High comedy!
We had breakfast at "Cinderella's Table," which meant we dined at Cinderella's castle at Magic Kingdom, and were treated to visits from all the different princesses. Kate had a blast and it was fun for me, too! They were all pretty awesome and friendly, I guess that's probably more important when hiring than being the spitting image or anything, although that doesn't hurt. Jack didn't want to get his picture taken with any of the princesses, understandably, but he ate OK.
Edit: OK, Emily has requested more color from the breakfast. Well, the truth is that one of the Princesses, Ariel, was kind of flirting with me! Oh, she hid it in her innocent questions about my t-shirt, which had a bizarre dodge ball logo on it, but clearly she liked the Richardsons a little more than everyone else in the room. But eventually we had to leave and she had to return to the ocean, so this Disney fairy tale would not have a storybook ending.
Spent the day doing rides, mostly ones we'd done on our first trip to Magic Kingdom. Nothing made the notes but I'm pretty sure we had fun.
We powered through the day but stuck it out even when we got tired, because this was the day we were going to take in the parade and fireworks that happen at Magic Kingdom every night. We lined up on the street at a good spot (Emily had researched it) to see everything, then chose another spot when about 200 cheerleaders (there was a competition in town) crowded up against us. But apart from the jostling and crowding, it was by and large a happy, excited atmosphere. A Disney character skit was going on on the castle steps. Fun.
And then as it got dark, the parade began. Slow moving vehicles covered with lights, marching soldiers and dancers, characters - Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, Mickey, Minnie. Then a light show on the castle itself, and fireworks above it. Awesome. Kids loved it, we loved it.
Late night, long day, but a good one. We took the shuttle home with kids sleeping in our laps. It was a day of princesses, rides, parade floats, light shows, and fireworks.
And ostrich poop.
We had breakfast at "Cinderella's Table," which meant we dined at Cinderella's castle at Magic Kingdom, and were treated to visits from all the different princesses. Kate had a blast and it was fun for me, too! They were all pretty awesome and friendly, I guess that's probably more important when hiring than being the spitting image or anything, although that doesn't hurt. Jack didn't want to get his picture taken with any of the princesses, understandably, but he ate OK.
Edit: OK, Emily has requested more color from the breakfast. Well, the truth is that one of the Princesses, Ariel, was kind of flirting with me! Oh, she hid it in her innocent questions about my t-shirt, which had a bizarre dodge ball logo on it, but clearly she liked the Richardsons a little more than everyone else in the room. But eventually we had to leave and she had to return to the ocean, so this Disney fairy tale would not have a storybook ending.
Spent the day doing rides, mostly ones we'd done on our first trip to Magic Kingdom. Nothing made the notes but I'm pretty sure we had fun.
We powered through the day but stuck it out even when we got tired, because this was the day we were going to take in the parade and fireworks that happen at Magic Kingdom every night. We lined up on the street at a good spot (Emily had researched it) to see everything, then chose another spot when about 200 cheerleaders (there was a competition in town) crowded up against us. But apart from the jostling and crowding, it was by and large a happy, excited atmosphere. A Disney character skit was going on on the castle steps. Fun.
And then as it got dark, the parade began. Slow moving vehicles covered with lights, marching soldiers and dancers, characters - Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, Mickey, Minnie. Then a light show on the castle itself, and fireworks above it. Awesome. Kids loved it, we loved it.
Late night, long day, but a good one. We took the shuttle home with kids sleeping in our laps. It was a day of princesses, rides, parade floats, light shows, and fireworks.
And ostrich poop.
School interlude
I went into the school today to make some copies for an upcoming after-school course. While I was in the office (I was there for a couple of hours), I saw both kids, and their teachers.
I saw Kate's class lining up for recess. She waved happily to me, and I waved back. Later she told me she wanted to come and give me a hug. So I gave her a hug.
I saw her teacher, Ms. Naselli, who has told us before that she loves Kate. (Kate loves her, too.) I asked how Kate's day was going. Ms. Naselli told me how they have a reading group, and Kate, after the group was over, was excitedly telling about how well a new kid had done with the reading. Ms. Naselli said to her, Kate, that's really nice of you to be so happy for him. Kate kind of gave her a strange look, like it was no big deal for her to feel that way. "Well, he did a REALLY GREAT job!" So, Kate's really nice.
I saw Jack lining up with his classmates for lunch. As usual, he was talking and laughing with a couple of them about something or another. I waved to him, he waved back.
A few minutes later I saw his teacher, Ms. Gullotta. Asked how he was doing, if she liked his new haircut (he got a buzzcut yesterday). She said it looked great, but apparently Jack got teased by a couple of older kids, 4th and 5th graders, that morning about it. She said he was a little sad then. That the other kids in her class weren't giving him any problems, they all liked it. That it was just older kids teasing, like seniors do to freshman. I told her to tell Jack he could come talk to me if he wanted. He did, and I asked how he was doing, what the kids were saying, so on and so forth. He said they were saying he was bald.
I said, No, I'm bald. You're beautiful. And he nodded and smiled and was OK, and went back to lunch. Later I saw him running around happily with his friends at recess. Kids tease. I remember.
Later, driving home with Jack after dropping Kate off, I said, so Jack, you're not too sad about the haircut, are you?
And he smiled and said, "No, we're twins!"
I love those kids.
I saw Kate's class lining up for recess. She waved happily to me, and I waved back. Later she told me she wanted to come and give me a hug. So I gave her a hug.
I saw her teacher, Ms. Naselli, who has told us before that she loves Kate. (Kate loves her, too.) I asked how Kate's day was going. Ms. Naselli told me how they have a reading group, and Kate, after the group was over, was excitedly telling about how well a new kid had done with the reading. Ms. Naselli said to her, Kate, that's really nice of you to be so happy for him. Kate kind of gave her a strange look, like it was no big deal for her to feel that way. "Well, he did a REALLY GREAT job!" So, Kate's really nice.
I saw Jack lining up with his classmates for lunch. As usual, he was talking and laughing with a couple of them about something or another. I waved to him, he waved back.
A few minutes later I saw his teacher, Ms. Gullotta. Asked how he was doing, if she liked his new haircut (he got a buzzcut yesterday). She said it looked great, but apparently Jack got teased by a couple of older kids, 4th and 5th graders, that morning about it. She said he was a little sad then. That the other kids in her class weren't giving him any problems, they all liked it. That it was just older kids teasing, like seniors do to freshman. I told her to tell Jack he could come talk to me if he wanted. He did, and I asked how he was doing, what the kids were saying, so on and so forth. He said they were saying he was bald.
I said, No, I'm bald. You're beautiful. And he nodded and smiled and was OK, and went back to lunch. Later I saw him running around happily with his friends at recess. Kids tease. I remember.
Later, driving home with Jack after dropping Kate off, I said, so Jack, you're not too sad about the haircut, are you?
And he smiled and said, "No, we're twins!"
I love those kids.
Saturday, March 08, 2014
Disney World, Day 5 Universal Studios
Let me say up front that it's no knock on Disney World that this was our favorite day of vacation. Some of it because we were really excited about Harry Potter, some of it was because our meals were so awesome, some of it was just chance and good timing and luck. And we had a really awesome week at Disney. But I'm convinced that if you go to Disney and DON'T do a day trip to Universal, you're missing out. (And even Disney might realize this, since they did in fact run shuttles or busses from Animal Kingdom Lodge, although we opted for a taxi to get there quicker.)
We were lined up at the gates about half an hour early, so that we could be the first ones in and race to the Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure. (Which was naturally way in the back, like the milk at the supermarket.) Of course, once the gates were open, our line was the only one that seemed to have a problem reading tickets in the front, and we stood there steaming quietly (most of us) while the other lines happily moved forward. We finally got in and Jack and I raced for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As we got closer, and saw the castle tops looming ahead, Jack got more excited. I snapped a couple of pictures of him in front of things -- Hogwarts Express, the gates to Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle -- and in all he was standing with kind of a goofy, cheerful grin, since I think he'd been thinking about this day for several months.
We wound our way in line through Hogwarts Castle, eventually going on a ride which pretty much blew away every other ride to this point. You were strapped into a seat like in Soarin' and seemed to be gliding over all of Hogwarts on a broomstick, but not only were you soaring but swooping up and down and sideways, evading dragons, Dementors, and other Potter staples. All along, the comforting and encouraging presence of Daniel Radcliffe on his own broom reassured you. Kate was too small for the ride (oddly; it was no tougher than some she'd been allowed on), so Jack got to do it twice -- once with Emily, once with me.
After that one, we did the Flight of the Hippogriff, which was a rollercoaster similar in design to many we'd been on, also awesome. You began with a steep ascent, then felt your stomach turn over as you rocketed down and around the loops. Kate loved this ride; we ended up doing it twice. After going through various shops (Jack got a stuffed three-headed dog, which I frankly couldn't believe they had, that he'd been talking about as his planned purchase for several weeks, and various other Potter-swag: chocolate frog, Sneakoscope, chocolate wand, every-flavor beans), we briefly left to go to Seuss Landing (Dr. Seuss land), which was skewed younger, but also a lot of fun. Kids got pictures taken with the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and I believe the character from Oh the Places You'll Go! Really had fun there.
Then it was back to the Wizarding World for lunch at the Three Broomsticks. I got a Butterbeer which was fantastic and fish and chips, everyone else got, I dunno, probably the standard: chicken fingers, fries, whatever. A nice tavern-style meal in a somewhat dark but comfy and homey tavern that seemed like it belonged.
Two more things to do in Islands of Adventure: Jurassic Park, and Marvel Super Hero Island. Kate wanted no part of the Jurassic Park ride, which involved getting onto a rollercoaster-like ride that warned you you might get wet. But Emily had brought rain ponchos for the kids, so they slipped into them and we clambered onto the ride. At the slow parts you drifted past scenes of dinosaurs, which was kind of cool. But at the very end, a huge T-Rex seemed to be about to eat you, when you suddenly dropped straight down over a waterfall and got soaked. Possibly the biggest surprise of all the rides on our vacation and thus the most thrilling, although Kate carped about it for a little while afterward. But even she was in good humor about it, probably because Emily and I got more of the brunt of the experience.
The Spider-Man ride was OK, but it was pretty loud and garrish; more of a 3-D experience with explosions and stuff than a ride. We steered clear of Dr. Doom's fearfall and a Hulk roller coaster that the kids were probably too young for (and I was too old for).
Once we'd finally done all we wanted to there, we headed over to the other half of Universal, primarily devoted to movie and other entertainment type properties. Stood in a way-too-long line for a Despicable Me 2 themed ride that in no way lived up to the effort. Next did the E.T. ride, which we had to do since the kids had just seen the movie, which was probably way more fun 10 years ago. But you felt like you were riding a bike in the sky, so the kids enjoyed it. The rides concluded at Simpsons World, which had a fun rollercoaster, lots of neat visuals, and an all around happy and fun vibe -- walking down the street you really felt like everyone was just enjoying themselves. That was also the case at Harry Potter, but not everywhere (some places you could feel the angst of the lines and whatnot). Really had a good time. The actual Simpsons ride, a fairly new one that had great effects, also yielded the best Kate moment of vacation. At one point you seemed to be swallowed by a giant Maggie (the baby). Kate's post-ride reaction: "I loved that ride. Except for when I got wet. And was inside someone's mouth!" Later, Kate would impress me by winning a stuffed Maggie at a carnival game -- nice work!
We sat outside and had a drink, and then the day was ending, and we decided to get dinner. Various ideas occurred to us, but we decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe on the outskirts. Turned out to be basically one of our best meals -- we were all happy, the food and beer were great, the waiter was this friendly old rocker dude who charmed both kids and us while looking and acting like he'd stepped out of a '70s rock movie. Sometimes we have bad luck at restaurants -- slow service, cranky kids, distracted waiters, whatever. This was like the opposite of all that.
While we were eating, the skies outside opened up. It rained pretty hard, so we clambered into what we had for rain gear and headed for the exits. Got lucky with a cab, made it home, fell into our beds, wet, tired. Happy.
Sometimes we get sidetracked. Looking at our phones. Planning some future activity. Reviewing some past activity.
On this day, from start to finish, we just kind of lived the day and enjoyed it.
That's probably a large part of why it was so good. I am going to try to do it more often, whether on vacation, or not.
We were lined up at the gates about half an hour early, so that we could be the first ones in and race to the Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure. (Which was naturally way in the back, like the milk at the supermarket.) Of course, once the gates were open, our line was the only one that seemed to have a problem reading tickets in the front, and we stood there steaming quietly (most of us) while the other lines happily moved forward. We finally got in and Jack and I raced for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As we got closer, and saw the castle tops looming ahead, Jack got more excited. I snapped a couple of pictures of him in front of things -- Hogwarts Express, the gates to Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle -- and in all he was standing with kind of a goofy, cheerful grin, since I think he'd been thinking about this day for several months.
We wound our way in line through Hogwarts Castle, eventually going on a ride which pretty much blew away every other ride to this point. You were strapped into a seat like in Soarin' and seemed to be gliding over all of Hogwarts on a broomstick, but not only were you soaring but swooping up and down and sideways, evading dragons, Dementors, and other Potter staples. All along, the comforting and encouraging presence of Daniel Radcliffe on his own broom reassured you. Kate was too small for the ride (oddly; it was no tougher than some she'd been allowed on), so Jack got to do it twice -- once with Emily, once with me.
After that one, we did the Flight of the Hippogriff, which was a rollercoaster similar in design to many we'd been on, also awesome. You began with a steep ascent, then felt your stomach turn over as you rocketed down and around the loops. Kate loved this ride; we ended up doing it twice. After going through various shops (Jack got a stuffed three-headed dog, which I frankly couldn't believe they had, that he'd been talking about as his planned purchase for several weeks, and various other Potter-swag: chocolate frog, Sneakoscope, chocolate wand, every-flavor beans), we briefly left to go to Seuss Landing (Dr. Seuss land), which was skewed younger, but also a lot of fun. Kids got pictures taken with the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and I believe the character from Oh the Places You'll Go! Really had fun there.
Then it was back to the Wizarding World for lunch at the Three Broomsticks. I got a Butterbeer which was fantastic and fish and chips, everyone else got, I dunno, probably the standard: chicken fingers, fries, whatever. A nice tavern-style meal in a somewhat dark but comfy and homey tavern that seemed like it belonged.
Two more things to do in Islands of Adventure: Jurassic Park, and Marvel Super Hero Island. Kate wanted no part of the Jurassic Park ride, which involved getting onto a rollercoaster-like ride that warned you you might get wet. But Emily had brought rain ponchos for the kids, so they slipped into them and we clambered onto the ride. At the slow parts you drifted past scenes of dinosaurs, which was kind of cool. But at the very end, a huge T-Rex seemed to be about to eat you, when you suddenly dropped straight down over a waterfall and got soaked. Possibly the biggest surprise of all the rides on our vacation and thus the most thrilling, although Kate carped about it for a little while afterward. But even she was in good humor about it, probably because Emily and I got more of the brunt of the experience.
The Spider-Man ride was OK, but it was pretty loud and garrish; more of a 3-D experience with explosions and stuff than a ride. We steered clear of Dr. Doom's fearfall and a Hulk roller coaster that the kids were probably too young for (and I was too old for).
Once we'd finally done all we wanted to there, we headed over to the other half of Universal, primarily devoted to movie and other entertainment type properties. Stood in a way-too-long line for a Despicable Me 2 themed ride that in no way lived up to the effort. Next did the E.T. ride, which we had to do since the kids had just seen the movie, which was probably way more fun 10 years ago. But you felt like you were riding a bike in the sky, so the kids enjoyed it. The rides concluded at Simpsons World, which had a fun rollercoaster, lots of neat visuals, and an all around happy and fun vibe -- walking down the street you really felt like everyone was just enjoying themselves. That was also the case at Harry Potter, but not everywhere (some places you could feel the angst of the lines and whatnot). Really had a good time. The actual Simpsons ride, a fairly new one that had great effects, also yielded the best Kate moment of vacation. At one point you seemed to be swallowed by a giant Maggie (the baby). Kate's post-ride reaction: "I loved that ride. Except for when I got wet. And was inside someone's mouth!" Later, Kate would impress me by winning a stuffed Maggie at a carnival game -- nice work!
We sat outside and had a drink, and then the day was ending, and we decided to get dinner. Various ideas occurred to us, but we decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe on the outskirts. Turned out to be basically one of our best meals -- we were all happy, the food and beer were great, the waiter was this friendly old rocker dude who charmed both kids and us while looking and acting like he'd stepped out of a '70s rock movie. Sometimes we have bad luck at restaurants -- slow service, cranky kids, distracted waiters, whatever. This was like the opposite of all that.
While we were eating, the skies outside opened up. It rained pretty hard, so we clambered into what we had for rain gear and headed for the exits. Got lucky with a cab, made it home, fell into our beds, wet, tired. Happy.
Sometimes we get sidetracked. Looking at our phones. Planning some future activity. Reviewing some past activity.
On this day, from start to finish, we just kind of lived the day and enjoyed it.
That's probably a large part of why it was so good. I am going to try to do it more often, whether on vacation, or not.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Disney World, Day 4
Day 4 was an interesting one. We had planned our big, day-long trip to Universal Studios for Day 5, and knew that was going to be an early morning and probably late night (since we had to take a cab both ways, and didn't have FastPass options to avoid lines, so we had to be there when the park opened to get to popular things -- Harry Potter -- early). So we scheduled all of our Day 4 activities in the morning and early afternoon, and (since it was supposed to be a nice day) figured we'd go to the lodge pool in the late afternoon.
We went to Epcot, which according to the literature "Celebrates the Human Spirit." It had two main areas: Future World, which showcases technological innovations over the years, and World Showcase, which partitions the park into different areas celebrating the culture (and food) of different countries: Canada, Mexico, Japan, Italy, etc. We had a lunch reservation at Via Napoli in Italy, so there was a lot of Future World to get out of the way first.
Two rides stand out (there were others, no doubt, but these ones made the notes). First was Space Mission, which was like you were going into outer space as an astronaut. It was pretty funky and all looked real; you watched an introductory video narrated by Apollo 13's Gary Sinise and then strapped yourself into a shuttle which seemed to rocket you off into space. There was a lot of pressure -- very intense -- and I wasn't really sure how much I was actually moving. It recommended that younger kids do a less intense version of the ride, which Emily and Kate did while Jack and I were in the high-intensity one. I got through it fine and Jack loved it. Future astronaut? Who knows.
The second ride was one basically everyone had recommended, Soarin'. You strapped yourself into a chair and seemed to fly across the globe, over fields and mountains and oceans. Pretty fantastic. I'm really not sure exactly how much you move and how much you only seem to move, but it was very cool.
Noteworthy rides completed (Jack and I did another one that was only so-so, spinning out promises of future developments and technological advances that probably seemed pretty cool a number of years ago, although I should mention that Jack thought it was awesome, so good show), we headed to lunch. To get there we walked through a bunch of other areas devoted to different countries, being tempted by Mexican food (and margaritas), Oktoberfest style dancers, and various music, dancing, and comedy acts (including mimes!). By this point we were kind of hungry and had a reservation to catch. Food was fantastic and we all liked it; pasta for Kate, pizza for Jack, something delicious for us and awesome desserts. After that we didn't mind walking around just a little bit more (debating doing Soarin' again but the line was pretty long...) and heading back to the lodge.
It was a nice swimming day, so we all went in the pool. Best thing about this was I managed, finally, to convince Kate to go down a slide she did not want to go down. And she finally did, LOVED it, and went down again and again and again. Laughing each time. We also went in a hot tub, their first time in an outdoor hot tub, and both giggled wildly at the jacuzzi jets. Then back in the pool for more swimming and more going down the slide. Jack and Emily knocked off before we did. Kate had to get one more run in for the day. Thrill seeker.
Dinner was a wretched experience as some sort of mishap in the kitchen resulted in our order getting lost. Not gonna dwell on it but after that we didn't eat in the cafeteria anymore. Fortunately the whole experience was magically washed away by Day 5, The Best Day of Vacation. Oops, I'm out of time for now.
We went to Epcot, which according to the literature "Celebrates the Human Spirit." It had two main areas: Future World, which showcases technological innovations over the years, and World Showcase, which partitions the park into different areas celebrating the culture (and food) of different countries: Canada, Mexico, Japan, Italy, etc. We had a lunch reservation at Via Napoli in Italy, so there was a lot of Future World to get out of the way first.
Two rides stand out (there were others, no doubt, but these ones made the notes). First was Space Mission, which was like you were going into outer space as an astronaut. It was pretty funky and all looked real; you watched an introductory video narrated by Apollo 13's Gary Sinise and then strapped yourself into a shuttle which seemed to rocket you off into space. There was a lot of pressure -- very intense -- and I wasn't really sure how much I was actually moving. It recommended that younger kids do a less intense version of the ride, which Emily and Kate did while Jack and I were in the high-intensity one. I got through it fine and Jack loved it. Future astronaut? Who knows.
The second ride was one basically everyone had recommended, Soarin'. You strapped yourself into a chair and seemed to fly across the globe, over fields and mountains and oceans. Pretty fantastic. I'm really not sure exactly how much you move and how much you only seem to move, but it was very cool.
Noteworthy rides completed (Jack and I did another one that was only so-so, spinning out promises of future developments and technological advances that probably seemed pretty cool a number of years ago, although I should mention that Jack thought it was awesome, so good show), we headed to lunch. To get there we walked through a bunch of other areas devoted to different countries, being tempted by Mexican food (and margaritas), Oktoberfest style dancers, and various music, dancing, and comedy acts (including mimes!). By this point we were kind of hungry and had a reservation to catch. Food was fantastic and we all liked it; pasta for Kate, pizza for Jack, something delicious for us and awesome desserts. After that we didn't mind walking around just a little bit more (debating doing Soarin' again but the line was pretty long...) and heading back to the lodge.
It was a nice swimming day, so we all went in the pool. Best thing about this was I managed, finally, to convince Kate to go down a slide she did not want to go down. And she finally did, LOVED it, and went down again and again and again. Laughing each time. We also went in a hot tub, their first time in an outdoor hot tub, and both giggled wildly at the jacuzzi jets. Then back in the pool for more swimming and more going down the slide. Jack and Emily knocked off before we did. Kate had to get one more run in for the day. Thrill seeker.
Dinner was a wretched experience as some sort of mishap in the kitchen resulted in our order getting lost. Not gonna dwell on it but after that we didn't eat in the cafeteria anymore. Fortunately the whole experience was magically washed away by Day 5, The Best Day of Vacation. Oops, I'm out of time for now.
Monday, March 03, 2014
Disney World, Day 3
On our third day, Monday, we had a very ride-heavy day lined up at Hollywood Studios. As I'm reminded, "Fast Pass" enabled us to skip long lines at 3 rides per day (saved the day at Space Mountain, let me tell you!). So we used ours at Star Tours, the Star Wars ride, the Toy Story ride, and the Little Mermaid show. Star Tours was pretty awesome; we sat in a shuttle which appeared to whisk us all over the galaxy, into light speed and through battles with Darth Vader, pod races with Ewoks, and other things (the ride was different each time we did it, which ended up being 3 times over the course of the week). Again it was one that Kate didn't want to do but ended up thinking was pretty cool. Third time we did it the "Rebel fighter stowed away on board" turned out to be Emily. I KNEW there was something suspicious about her!
The Toy Story ride was also awesome. You were sitting in a car which spun around as it traveled along a roller coaster track, and every so often it would stop and you would shoot at targets. We'd end up doing this ride twice more (Kate REALLY wanted to do it again), once waiting in an absurdly long line, but it was a lot of fun. The Little Mermaid show was fun, though I actually don't remember it all that well. A cool effect at the end where Ariel's tail transformed into legs, and a scary evil Octopus woman. Liked Sebastian too. I think Kate enjoyed it (it was mostly for her benefit) though she didn't like the Octopus lady any more than when she saw the movie (although she wasn't quite as scared this go around, I remember her hollering woefully as a 3-year-old).
We did a Muppets 3D show that was OK, with some good jokes but I think it went on too long. A big highlight was meeting characters, including Chip and Dale for the kids, and Woody and Buzz and Sully and Mike (from Monsters Inc.) for all of us. Got some great pictures and Woody and Buzz were particularly friendly. Emily seemed to enjoy her hug with Woody a little too much. I also got to hug him; it was kind of awkward. Not used to hugging people two feet taller than me.
After the Star Tours ride we hit the gift shop, where the highlight was assembling little R2D2 action figures. You picked your own colors and features (including, amusingly, Mickey Mouse ears or a Goofy Hat) and they bound it up into a plastic package just like in a store. Kind of neat.
Can't forget to mention the Great Movie Ride, basically a big riding tour through movie history, which Emily and I thought would be fun and the kids wanted no part of. Indeed, it was the kind of thing that was fun for adults who have seen a lot of movies, and most of it went right by the kids. Lots of gangster interaction and gunplay that didn't fly with Jack and Kate at all. Then there was an Indiana Jones bit where a gangster who tried to steal a golden idol was seemingly turned into a skeleton. I'd like to believe Kate isn't having nightmares about it, but...
At some points during the day the kids were talking about Harry Potter land, which we'd be going to on Wednesday at Universal. Maybe Emily mentioned being concerned about possible rain in the forecast. Jack said, "It's Harry Potter land. It's fine if it rains." Kate responded matter-of-factly, "Okay, if that's how it is."
That evening we had dinner at the Sci-Fi Diner. I guess the big deal about this was that you sat in a car while you ate your meal, in low lights while 50s movies trailers and cartoons played on the big drive-in screen at the front. All of the car-tables faced the screen; Emily and I sat in the back seat and the kids sat in front and colored and half-watched the trailers and cartoons. But the main thing in my notes is that they had our favorite beer from Colorado, Fat Tire, which we can't get in the Northeast. So, yay! Dinner was fine but lights were kind of low and the kids were beat. Kate slept on my lap on the bus ride home.
The Toy Story ride was also awesome. You were sitting in a car which spun around as it traveled along a roller coaster track, and every so often it would stop and you would shoot at targets. We'd end up doing this ride twice more (Kate REALLY wanted to do it again), once waiting in an absurdly long line, but it was a lot of fun. The Little Mermaid show was fun, though I actually don't remember it all that well. A cool effect at the end where Ariel's tail transformed into legs, and a scary evil Octopus woman. Liked Sebastian too. I think Kate enjoyed it (it was mostly for her benefit) though she didn't like the Octopus lady any more than when she saw the movie (although she wasn't quite as scared this go around, I remember her hollering woefully as a 3-year-old).
We did a Muppets 3D show that was OK, with some good jokes but I think it went on too long. A big highlight was meeting characters, including Chip and Dale for the kids, and Woody and Buzz and Sully and Mike (from Monsters Inc.) for all of us. Got some great pictures and Woody and Buzz were particularly friendly. Emily seemed to enjoy her hug with Woody a little too much. I also got to hug him; it was kind of awkward. Not used to hugging people two feet taller than me.
After the Star Tours ride we hit the gift shop, where the highlight was assembling little R2D2 action figures. You picked your own colors and features (including, amusingly, Mickey Mouse ears or a Goofy Hat) and they bound it up into a plastic package just like in a store. Kind of neat.
Can't forget to mention the Great Movie Ride, basically a big riding tour through movie history, which Emily and I thought would be fun and the kids wanted no part of. Indeed, it was the kind of thing that was fun for adults who have seen a lot of movies, and most of it went right by the kids. Lots of gangster interaction and gunplay that didn't fly with Jack and Kate at all. Then there was an Indiana Jones bit where a gangster who tried to steal a golden idol was seemingly turned into a skeleton. I'd like to believe Kate isn't having nightmares about it, but...
At some points during the day the kids were talking about Harry Potter land, which we'd be going to on Wednesday at Universal. Maybe Emily mentioned being concerned about possible rain in the forecast. Jack said, "It's Harry Potter land. It's fine if it rains." Kate responded matter-of-factly, "Okay, if that's how it is."
That evening we had dinner at the Sci-Fi Diner. I guess the big deal about this was that you sat in a car while you ate your meal, in low lights while 50s movies trailers and cartoons played on the big drive-in screen at the front. All of the car-tables faced the screen; Emily and I sat in the back seat and the kids sat in front and colored and half-watched the trailers and cartoons. But the main thing in my notes is that they had our favorite beer from Colorado, Fat Tire, which we can't get in the Northeast. So, yay! Dinner was fine but lights were kind of low and the kids were beat. Kate slept on my lap on the bus ride home.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Disney World, Day 2
We had an early reservation at Chef Mickey, so it was early to rise, quick snack in the room, and off to the restaurant, where all your favorite Disney characters would be frying eggs and sizzling bacon. Or wearing Chefs hats and aprons and walking around slapping high fives with the kids and signing autographs, whichever. Jack and Kate suited up with their Goofy hat and Minnie Mouse ears, grabbed their autograph books, and we were off.
The experience began with riding a Monorail to the restaurant, which was kind of fun, and then we lined up for a pre-breakfast picture with a statue of Chef Mickey. Amusingly, when they went to sell us the picture during our meal, they showcased one with Jack frowning -- even though we later found that the two other pictures they'd snapped were perfect. Anyway, the kids ate very little, star-struck as they were by the characters, and Pluto cracked us all up by signing autographs by holding the book on his giant nose. And then it was off to Magic Kingdom for our first round of Disney rides.
We got to the Tomorrowland section of the park early enough that there wasn't much of a line for the oft-mentioned "Space Mountain" ride, so we all clambered into that one. It was a ripping, wrenching, peaks and valleys up-and-down rollercoaster in nearly total darkness. So you couldn't see what was coming, just had to react to it. I took notes about their post-ride reactions.
Kate: "I will NEVER do that ride again. I did NOT like that." Jack: "THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!" We then did the Astro Orbiter ride, which we eventually discovered followed a similar template to many other rides: you sit in a vehicle of some shape (in this case, a spacecraft) and travel in circles around a central post. This ended up being one of our favorites because you were really high up. Kate loved this one (and we would soon find that she loved most rollercoasters, just not Space Mountain. And I'm with her; that thing was not great on my back, and because it was dark I had to fret that maybe I was too tall and I'd end up getting the top of my cranium lopped off. Where was I?), and we ended up doing it a couple more times.
After lunch (strangely the kids were hungry; they didn't eat enough at the all-you-can-eat buffet at Chef Mickey's, sigh), we took in an "Enchanted Tales with Belle" show, featuring an actress playing Belle from Beauty and the Beast (all the kids were invited up to meet her; Kate didn't want to go), and some cool effects with a talking cupboard and candlestick and whatnot. Good show, I said, eh, Jack? as I woke him up before he fell off his seat.
Then it was on to more rides. We stood in a ridiculously long line for the Dumbo ride, because you have to do it once, and discovered it was essentially the same ride as Astro Orbiter, only not as high, not as cool, and way, way more of a line. Sorry, Dumbo. We then did the Buzz Lightyear ride, which was a lot better. We'd read the description about how you'd be shooting things, and Kate wanted NO part of it. All through the line, she groused about it and said she was afraid and wanted no part of it. Who ended up loving it? That's right, Kate. Actually we all did, so much so that a few days later we stood in like a 70-minute line to go on it, and didn't regret it.
Our best ride of the day, by far, and surprisingly, was the spinning Teacup ride, which Jack groaned about beforehand ("Teacups? Oh yeah, THAT sounds cool" -- and at this point he hadn't even read any Calvin and Hobbes) -- but in fact, it was awesome, partly because it was one of the few rides were we could all four sit in the same vehicle/cup, and we spun and laughed and discovered clearly why Disney is such a wonderful place. Because we all had fun and were all happy and for a little while it was just us in a ride grinning at each other like idiots and laughing it up.
When our day finally ended, we went back to the lodge and the kids wanted to go swimming. I went with them, while Emily sat in a deck chair taking pictures while wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Because it was COLD. Not zero degree cold, but maybe 60 (maybe). All of us were shivering and our teeth were chattering afterward, but we did swim.
Back in the room, Kate found something of hers (my notes fail me) in a place she didn't want it, like near a wet towel or something. She complained to Jack, who responded "I didn't put it there, the Mousekeepers did!" (Housekeepers = Mousekeepers, naturally.) Kate, in a funny voice, lamented "Ooh, the Mousekeepers keep making me touch nasty things." I guess you probably had to be there. Also to see the Mousekeepers folding our towels into funny animal shapes, like this one.
Finally -- yup, day not over yet -- we went out to an overlook where they provided night vision goggles to see animals. That was pretty cool. Though I think we were still kind of chilled from the pool. Slept hard that night.
The experience began with riding a Monorail to the restaurant, which was kind of fun, and then we lined up for a pre-breakfast picture with a statue of Chef Mickey. Amusingly, when they went to sell us the picture during our meal, they showcased one with Jack frowning -- even though we later found that the two other pictures they'd snapped were perfect. Anyway, the kids ate very little, star-struck as they were by the characters, and Pluto cracked us all up by signing autographs by holding the book on his giant nose. And then it was off to Magic Kingdom for our first round of Disney rides.
We got to the Tomorrowland section of the park early enough that there wasn't much of a line for the oft-mentioned "Space Mountain" ride, so we all clambered into that one. It was a ripping, wrenching, peaks and valleys up-and-down rollercoaster in nearly total darkness. So you couldn't see what was coming, just had to react to it. I took notes about their post-ride reactions.
Kate: "I will NEVER do that ride again. I did NOT like that." Jack: "THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!" We then did the Astro Orbiter ride, which we eventually discovered followed a similar template to many other rides: you sit in a vehicle of some shape (in this case, a spacecraft) and travel in circles around a central post. This ended up being one of our favorites because you were really high up. Kate loved this one (and we would soon find that she loved most rollercoasters, just not Space Mountain. And I'm with her; that thing was not great on my back, and because it was dark I had to fret that maybe I was too tall and I'd end up getting the top of my cranium lopped off. Where was I?), and we ended up doing it a couple more times.
After lunch (strangely the kids were hungry; they didn't eat enough at the all-you-can-eat buffet at Chef Mickey's, sigh), we took in an "Enchanted Tales with Belle" show, featuring an actress playing Belle from Beauty and the Beast (all the kids were invited up to meet her; Kate didn't want to go), and some cool effects with a talking cupboard and candlestick and whatnot. Good show, I said, eh, Jack? as I woke him up before he fell off his seat.
Then it was on to more rides. We stood in a ridiculously long line for the Dumbo ride, because you have to do it once, and discovered it was essentially the same ride as Astro Orbiter, only not as high, not as cool, and way, way more of a line. Sorry, Dumbo. We then did the Buzz Lightyear ride, which was a lot better. We'd read the description about how you'd be shooting things, and Kate wanted NO part of it. All through the line, she groused about it and said she was afraid and wanted no part of it. Who ended up loving it? That's right, Kate. Actually we all did, so much so that a few days later we stood in like a 70-minute line to go on it, and didn't regret it.
Our best ride of the day, by far, and surprisingly, was the spinning Teacup ride, which Jack groaned about beforehand ("Teacups? Oh yeah, THAT sounds cool" -- and at this point he hadn't even read any Calvin and Hobbes) -- but in fact, it was awesome, partly because it was one of the few rides were we could all four sit in the same vehicle/cup, and we spun and laughed and discovered clearly why Disney is such a wonderful place. Because we all had fun and were all happy and for a little while it was just us in a ride grinning at each other like idiots and laughing it up.
When our day finally ended, we went back to the lodge and the kids wanted to go swimming. I went with them, while Emily sat in a deck chair taking pictures while wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Because it was COLD. Not zero degree cold, but maybe 60 (maybe). All of us were shivering and our teeth were chattering afterward, but we did swim.
Back in the room, Kate found something of hers (my notes fail me) in a place she didn't want it, like near a wet towel or something. She complained to Jack, who responded "I didn't put it there, the Mousekeepers did!" (Housekeepers = Mousekeepers, naturally.) Kate, in a funny voice, lamented "Ooh, the Mousekeepers keep making me touch nasty things." I guess you probably had to be there. Also to see the Mousekeepers folding our towels into funny animal shapes, like this one.
Finally -- yup, day not over yet -- we went out to an overlook where they provided night vision goggles to see animals. That was pretty cool. Though I think we were still kind of chilled from the pool. Slept hard that night.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Disney World, Day 1
We went to Disney world last week. We'd never been, and there was a lot of advance planning that went into it. Almost all of it by Emily. I took notes all week, and I think the best way to try to recap it is a day by day sort of blog. So here goes.
Day 1
We got a Disney Shuttle from the airport. It played old Mickey Mouse cartoons on a screen, which the kids watched with rapt attention. At the end of each one, Kate clapped her hands happily.
Checked into our room at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We picked one with a view which enabled us to see actual animals from our balcony -- giraffes, gazelles, ostriches, etc. It also provided arguably the funniest (uh, but unfortunate) moment of the trip, with Kate running toward the balcony to see and smashing flat into the glass door. Anxious moment where we checked to see if she was OK followed by an awkward moment where Emily and I tried not to laugh and Jack guffawed heartily. Kate was in good humor about it after she stopped crying, which was good because Jack recreated the moment frequently the rest of the week. "Kate, remember when you went like this -- Wham! -- into the glass?"
It was too late to do much so we grabbed the shuttle into downtown Disney and walked around. It was also cold (for Florida) and rainy. First thing we saw, outside the Lego store, was a giant, life size Loch Ness monster in the water. Jack has been obsessed by Nessie for the past two months, so that was great. Then inside we saw a Lego Hulk, also life size, and I've been fond of the Hulk for about 35 years, so that was great too. We can go home now!!!
Had dinner at the T-Rex cafe. Totally awesome restaurant with huge, animatronic dinosaurs throughout. We were seated in I guess the Ice Age room (maybe had a fancier name), which had blue lighting and icy walls all around us, with huge dinosaur skeletons frozen into the ice! Had a steak and a giant drink or two, both of which were fantastic. Unfortunately both kids were half asleep from the long day and low lights, and we ended up trundling them out of there, taking dessert with us, and making our way back to the room. In the shuttle home, they slept on our laps; don't know the last time either of them did that.
When I put Kate to bed (Jack: "Watch out for the glass, Kate! Guffaw, guffaw), she sleepily said, "I'm lucky to have you as my Daddy..." Not sure what prompted it. I took her Minnie Ears off and turned out the light.
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