St. Paddy's Day Shennanigans

Daylight savings week we had our first early game of the season at 9 AM and 35 F weather. 

Things I would not have appreciated when I was a kid. Shane's an early riser, at least.

It was Orange vs Orange. Our kids flipped jerseys inside out and kept on coats to make it less confusing.

I was really impressed with the first period of play. There was PASSING. Shane literally passed the ball to help set up a shot! 

Shane's still not a 'try hard,' but an actual pass!? That shows a growing understanding of the game. Even if it was just to dump the ball and the risk on to someone else it was tactical.

I filmed part of the 2nd quarter of play, but several texts from Samuel's mom made me switch off the camera. She wanted to know when the game was this week ("Right now." The coaches had forgotten to send out a reminder email). I ended up talking as I watched and never resumed filming.

The one thing I didn't like was when Shane started to tackle Coach Jeanluc.

It's not that I mind wrestling. It's that my kid won't stop. Then other kids join in.

Shane didn't listen to Coach Jeanluc when he kept telling the kids to stop either. Shane didn't seem to hear my sideline half-yells either (I didn't really want to project). I marched halfway up and partway onto the field before he saw me. Shane righted himself right away then. I let him know there wouldn't be any electronics the rest of the day if he couldn't respect his coach.

Normal play resumed from there.

It was a good game.

Shane connected with Samuel for a play-date later. There was a zip line!

I talked to Samuel's mom, Kate, for a few moments on the porch and watched the kids play. Samuel's dad, Paul, was sequestered away to watch Rugby (His UK was showing!).

I left them playing outside and returned home. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded staying and talking and getting to know the family better. I had the feeling they expected me to move on, though. So far most of our play dates have involved either Shane staying with them or Samuel going with Shane and I to Jump. It's different than what I've normally done with Shane, but not wrong. Kids need time away from their parents (and parents need time away from their kids).

I returned home to my beautiful wife who agreed to play a board game with me. We pulled out Pandemic Iberia for the second time, threw in an extra epidemic, and lost by the skin of our teeth (There was a large clump of yellow cards at the bottom that we couldn't organize in time for the final cure).

I was happy to have some time alone with her. That doesn't happen often.

Carrie's project for the weekend has been to take care of the horses and get the trailer ready to sell. We got it back from the body shop. There was a scare where they quoted us almost double what we'd told them our maximum budget was. However, the shop owner was honest and agreed to stick to the agreed upon limit when we went to speak with him. Carrie and I agreed we should make a donation to a mission his church supports in South America when the trailer sells to acknowledge that.

Meanwhile, Shane had a blast at Samuel's. They went to a local park and played Pokemon Go. Paul was happy Wales had won when I picked Shane up.

We had an American-Irish dinner for St. Patrick's day: Corned beef, carrots, and cabbage.

Carrie and Shane were really excited about a berry pie for dessert.

Disaster struck. Carrie used a glass, Pyrex bowl to cook the pie in. It shattered the moment it came out of the oven and was set on the stove top.

Carrie was worried about the exploding glass fragments, so we had to throw the pie away. I drank a silent toast for the fallen carbs.

My one regret: No leprechaun pranks. Like the kilt, they totally escaped from my mind. I was texting with Patrick and realized my mistake. Work has taken a lot out of my lately. Next year, I'll have to make sure the pranks and kilt come out to play.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

Pokemon Night Trio

Dick and I traded texts, so Shane and I made sure to go to Pokemon night this week. Samuel was there, too! His baseball practice was cancelled due to the rain.

The kids didn't play much Pokemon. They ran around the store with Dick's phone playing Pokemon Go, played the free NBA Jam, joked, bounced, and watched Pokemon XY on the TV.

I was glad they had a place that they could play with like-minded kids, but I felt bad enough they were loud I made sure to buy something (as I always say, you have to support the stores you like or they may not be around one day).

Shane's cooled on the Pokemon card game, but he's begun to look forward to seeing the other kids. Hopefully, we'll meet up at a playground the next time the kids have lots of energy.

Fast Food Meet Up

I know a local celebrity. Andrew may not think he fits the bill, but his connections got our sons behind the counter at Chic-Fil-A.

They got to make their own ice dream cones!

How's that for making a Monday night special!?

I'd have taken more pictures, but the boys were around a corner. Andrew and I both felt awkward about stepping into the employee's domain (especially when they were doing us an amazing favor with the kids!).

It's been a while, so I'll forgive any regular readers who don't remember Samuel and Andrew.

We were in the same small group. Andrew and Jenna hosted the meetings and Shane always played in the basement with Samuel. Samuel's younger than Shane, but they got along fine.

Sadly, life got busy, the small group disbanded, and we've been trying to get the boys together for longer than I care to admit.

Monday night, we met up at Chic-Fil-A. They boys ate and played, while Andrew and I caught up.

It would have been nice if they were in the play area longer, but we resorted to phones.

It's social, right?

I'd love to get the boys again sometime soon (which to an adult, could mean "in a month"). Everybody wins with healthy friendships. You never know if the bond is meant to last a season or a lifetime, so it's good to start early, too.

Last Small Group of the School Year

Samuel's family is going to the Dominican Republic for the first month of summer, so we won't seem them for a little. 

They gave each other a "bro hug" before we left.

Samuel's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Party, Samuel! He didn't turn three yet, but we sure celebrated it. Samuel's mom arranged for everyone to tour the Fontaine Street Fire Station: The first new station in Charlottesville in the last 50 years.

Shane was too excited to let me take a picture.

When we stepped through the front door, we walked into a small memorial.

There was a girder from New York, concrete from the Pentagon, and a rock from Stonycreek Township.

The little ones were too young to understand the significance, but they enjoyed looking at the memorabilia.

I found some fliers shaped like fire trucks. Instant toys.

There were real toy fire trucks when we went inside, but we couldn't touch those!

When the rest of the party arrived, the captain started the tour.

We walked through the kitchen, dining room,...

...and into the lounge.

Once there, the firefighters talked to us about fire safety plans. The captain asked, "Who has talked to their kids about a safe fire evacuation route?"

No one raised a hand. 

I remedied that later! I'm sure many others did, too!

When continued on the tour by going up to the third floor. We got to look down into the entry hall,..

...and see the training room. The station acted as the region's fire college. It could also be used as a command center to coordinate during extreme weather or taken over by the secret service if the president visited.

Behind the training room, were the dorms. Firefighters work 24 hour shifts, so they have rooms where they can sleep. Four firefighters lived in the station full time.

Each fighter gets a small room with a twin bed. There are red lights and a speaker on the wall to wake them up if needed.

If they are called, the fighters need a way to get downstairs in a hurry.

We got a demonstration later. I wish I could have slid down, too.

I'm glad Shane didn't get a chance, though.

The stairs between levels were long and straight to run down in case of a backlog at the polls.

Next, we peeked at the offices on the second floor, but the engine bay was the real exciting part.

The captain let everyone take turns in his seat.

The kids explored the office of the haz-mat engine, too. Shane tried to crawl on the desk.

Another firefighter geared up for the kids to see.

Firefighting has always held an allure to me. I briefly thought about as a career, but never was serious. I ended up where I'm supposed to be, but it's fun to think about in retrospect. My sisters started training to be volunteer fighters once upon a time, as well.

Shane and I are none to wander (like my thoughts). We found a map of all the fire stations and their service areas while everyone else was still checking out the engines.

After the tour, everyone rendezvoused back at Samuel's house for cake and pizza.

The kids were hungry.

Then they got to take out their energy on Darth Vader.

A pinata seems like the perfect way to get rid of excess Halloween candy (If Shane's candy lasts until his birthday....hmmm)

I took a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday.

Last but not least: Presents.

We wanted Shane's gift to be heartfelt, so he picked out one of his garbage trucks to give to Samuel (he only had one). Now Shane and Samuel can both play with garbage trucks on community group nights! Carrie stuck an amazon gift card in the truck to make it heartfelt from us, as well.

My wrapping....was a little rushed. 

Carrie's the artistic one. She's limited. We didn't know the details about the party until Tuesday night, either. Wrestling is in full swing, SOCA hit in the morning.....I'm lucky I found a grocery bag.

Samuel liked the truck. I'm glad we're down one (until the next time Nana visits, at least).

I was wiped by the end of the party. Shane didn't want to go! Happy Birthday, Samuel!