Still Kicking

Another Saturday, another soccer practice. It's work to be consistent! Everyone else must have felt that way, too, because there were only six kids when we arrived. 

A couple more showed up late, but the team looked undermanned to start.

The skill of the day: Passing. Coach Cory and Coach Dave asked everyone to work on their L-kicks (you use the side of your foot). Coach Dave pointed out "Most of you have stripes on the side of your shoe. Kick with those!'

I saw what he meant immediately. Shane did to for the first few kicks. Then he started to think outside of the box.

After all, there were strips on both sides of his shoes.

Backward kicks were next.

Which his partner thought was hilarious.

They had a great time. Their L-kicks didn't improve much, but they ruled out several other styles of footwork as ineffective.

Less important than the kicking was that Shane was able to practice with a partner on something the coaches assigned. I want him to learn how to be a team player and group minded more than I want him to be a soccer star. If he does get a professional contract and take care of Carrie and I in our old age it'd be a bonus, though.

Discovery Museum

Museum membership is only worth it if you go. 

Shane and I went.

Aerobed Fun

"There was a gleam in his eye when you told him not to jump on the bed." I said.

Nana replied, "Mike, that was no gleam. The boy was manic!"

Protests fuel the fun! This gets Shane in trouble sometimes. He either inherited it or learned it from me.

Whoops.

Pop enjoyed it!

Welcome Home, Carrie!

Carrie returned from market. Snuggles ensued. Maybe too many - Carrie passed out on the couch!

A Nice Fall Day

"Let's go check the mail" is code for "Let's go outside and see if there are any other people out." 

Shane hasn't figured it out yet. He protests. I push him out the door. 

Then something like this happens (if we're lucky):

Sometimes we're the first ones out, sometimes not. We hang around and amuse ourselves either way. We'd never meet anyone if we sat inside all day. I'm glad some of our neighbors like to poke their heads out, too.

Recently, Shane tried to shoot a few hoops on our next door neighbor's hoop. He couldn't shoot high enough. Today, I improvised.

Charlie liked the table, too. She likes to follow Shane around and greet Max on our porch. Her baby brother is due tomorrow.

Raheem came by later and thought the table was great for dunking.

We had to move the table quickly, so Courtney (our neighbor) could park, but then we were right back at it. Sidewalk chalk at Charlie's followed.

Shane and I stayed out until the sun went down. Then I had to shove Shane back through the door inside. I'm hoping he figures out the code one of these days!

"Can you keep your tongue in and smile for a moment?"

The struggle to take a selfie with Shane is real.

Backlog

Started to fill the backlog. Still a few big stories to break and drafts to finish. It was great to get a dent out of it

UPDATE: I've filled most of it in, but I've got one big photo dump and story left of Charles and Jenn's visit the other weekend left to do. I started a draft of a 'thought piece' a while back, but who knows when I'll get to that one. Those are harder to right than the anecdotals.

Wait...What?

Eat your fish sticks. Paper Towel Daddy is watching.

Watching...

Big Decision

Shane found Rocket. Rocket's batteries were dead.

Lesson time.

Shane wanted new batteries. We didn't have any. He asked if we could take the batteries out of something else. 

I told him there were rechargeable batteries in his leapfrog game and Turtle. 

He choose to pillage Turtle.

There won't be a night-light tonight.

If Shane learns either to weigh the present gain versus the future loss or that he doesn't need a night-light I'll count it as a win.

I made sure to stick Turtle in his bed, though. It didn't seem right otherwise.

Run to Roanoke

Shane and I drove to Roanoke to visit my cousin Kyle (who was dubbed 'Uncle Kyle' to Shane). If the stripes and skates don't make it obvious, Kyle is a professional referee. He works the college scene on weekends.

Shane and I met Kyle at his hotel. He'd reffed two games the day before. We ate breakfast and Shane showed off how hyper he could be after 90+ minutes in the car.

The wall at breakfast looked good to climb.

The trees in the courtyard were delightful, as well.

I wouldn't let him run across the covered swimming pool, but we found an elevator.

Kyle and I finally got to sit and talk some when Shane discovered a rock garden. He built an asteroid belt.

None of the staff seemed to mind. Kyle and I made Shane clean up before we moved on. It was less disruptive than some of the games the cousins and my family used to play...

Afterwards, we went to Kyle's room to collect his gear. Shane loved it all. He wanted Kyle to make his helmet fit him.

He wasn't sure what to do with the "knee guard."

"Is it a hat?"

"Nope."

It's hard to keep a straight face when a four-year old waves around a nut cup and can't figure out it's purpose.

Then Shane grabbed a bunch of hangars to build with. In his eyes, the day got better and better.

Kyle gave him an official NHL hockey puck as a gift. Shane rolled it behind Kyle all the way to the parking lot.

Shane and I followed Kyle to the Berglund Center.

Shane chased after Kyle wherever he went.

It wasn't hard to guess where Kyle wanted to go. There was hockey afoot. 

You don't become a ref unless you like a sport or you're crazy. Kyle's crazy for hockey.

Shane's not there yet, but the zamboni caught his eye (they are awesome).

Kyle told Shane some of the basics, but he wasn't around to spectate. He had to get to work at some point.

I ended up going up many, many stairs.

The numbers changed, but Shane's goal remained the same: Get to the top.

Over....

...and over...

....and over.

I got a small break when the zamboni came out.

Shane was pumped for hockey when Kyle came out suited up. He loved everything he'd seen.

The excitement had taken it's toll, though. Shane was hungry and tired (not that he'd admit it). We only stayed for the very beginning of the game.

Shane got to see his Uncle Kyle drop puck and skate on.

When we left, Shane said, "I'm going to miss Uncle Kyle. I love him," and "I like hockey."

I told Kyle that if Shane ends up a hockey fan, this is where it will have started.

Shane tried to explain some of the rules to Carrie later. He called the sticks clubs, and the puck "the black thing you hit," but he remembered who the goalies were and how you score.

Speaking of Carrie: She had no idea of the shenanigans we were up to.

Shane and I sent her a selfie to start the conversation.