The 3rd Time's The Charm

For the first time ever, Loudoun County has started the school year BEFORE Labor Day. I don't like it, but I admit I have no good reason to feel this way. Its just not what I'm used to. It feels weird.

Notwithstanding that weirdness, it was great morning and a great first day of school. The boys looked smashing in their matching shirts and I love them both so much. Too think that last year on this day, Palmer was just a four month old...and now he's a mini-me of Connor.

Connor is growing into quite the young man. He's handsome, smart, and can be very charming when he wishes--which is usually when he wants something. I'm sure he'll be a success at whatever he chooses to do. And I hope that third grade is a total blast!

Check out the size of those feet!

How could they be any cuter?

This looks like a catalog shot for backpacks.

The Larchmont Gang--Blake's first day of Kindergarten, too!

Alone with my be-be!

Summer Road Trip-The Franklin Institute

Just trying to catch up on some backlogged posts.  Since we're stuck inside for Hurricaine Irene (which really means just some rain and wind) I figured I'd dig in a bit.

During our road trip stop in Philadelphia, we spent a day at The Franklin Institute.  Yes, its named after that Franklin.   Speaking of which, this is on the graveyard wall above his tomb.  I like it.

We had a great day at the Institute and got to see the Mummies of the World exhibition which is the largest exhibition of human mummies EVER.  Very creepy.  Very interesting.  Very gross.  But no, pictures.  They were not allowed.  The highpoint of this for Connor was most definitely the mummified remains of an Egyptial noble who had enough money for the embalmers/priests to pay extra special attention to his "manhood"..if you know what I mean.  It was out there for all of antiquity to enjoy.  There were many South American mummies--I'd never seen that before.  And an entire Dutch family from the 1700s who died of tuberculosis and naturally mummified. 


Connor got to ride the SkyBike and we got to explore the Giant Heart (which I remember from when I was a kid).   It was a great day to be inside because it was 100 degrees and we really enjoyed it. 

The First Blue Devil Game

Today was Connor's first official tackle football game. And of course, it was played in the first stages of Hurricane Irene's weather. It pelted a medium sized rain and blew some wind during most of the game. But unless there is lightning or the field is overly damaged, they play on. This ain't powder puff football.

The Bearcats were much bigger than our boys but the Devils played hard. According to Connor, he and his teammates were a little surprised and didn't quite know how to handle the trash-talking from the Bearcats. WHAT? Trashtalking at ages 8 - 9? Yeesh. We lost by one point and the boys took it kind of hard. The coach was great afterwards, though, and talked about how the sting of losing makes you concentrate more and play smarter next time. Good advice for many things in life.

Despite being a sub, Connor got lots of playing time today---and I was really glad about that. I don't want him to be bored standing on the sidelines too much. I know its his first season and don't expect him to be a star, but I want him to feel like a bit more than a bench-warmer...and he did. He had a good game. Nothing too exciting-one nice tackle. But no mistakes, either.

I'm enjoying this so far.  He's taking it very seriously...something he doesn't normally do.  Maybe he's just growing up.  Or maybe its just football.   Either way, its good to see him so committed to something.  Go Devils!

Ryan on the left, Connor on the right--mid play.

Tackle!

The Blue Devils QB, Bruiser, in a great play.   This boy has got game.

Somber team meeting after the loss

The Baird Boys

Connor went to tennis camp last week with the Baird boys. Ralph carted them back and forth from Alexandria every day and for two nights Connor stayed at their house. What great friends. And what great fun.

No $#!&! Sherlock!

During the second week of Fakespeare Theatre camp, Connor played Sherlock Jester--kind of a bumbling Sherlock Holmes. He was a smash! I have the whole thing on video but I can't upload it for some reason. What a performer!

New Desk

Connor got to check in on his new classroom yesterday. His teacher, Miss Fantaskey, seems pretty Fantastic. (I'm sure no one has ever said that before.). She was a sports broadcaster for 8 years. Pretty much a perfect match for my performing arts inclined athlete. Here's to a home run in 3rd grade!

The Party Is Almost Over

As I reminded the kids tonite, there are only a few weeks left to throw on your bathing suit and make a splashy mess in the driveway. Remarkably, they listened. Mike and Jen came down and we watched the shenanigans in the driveway for over an hour. Good old simple summer fun!

Mike and P watching Puck the puppy.

Pizza while roaming the wilds of the asphalt.

Blue eyes, anyone?

Snacking on some Manwich Meat

I will destroy you!

Now that's a real smile!

Chillin' with my pop.

Yet Another In The Long Line Of Tate Cheese Lovers

Scrimmages!

The first real scrimmages of the season were this morning and they were awesome.  Great teamwork and sportsmanship.  They're all getting the hang of how a game will flow with players coming in and out of the game.  Its alot for 8 and 9 year-old brains to take in but you can see that they're figuring it out.   Go Devils!

Bruised

Just noticed these while shopping at Target. Football war wounds.

Yes, Of Course I Do

Connor loves the show "Pawn Stars". ...A poor man's "Antiques Roadshow". And now tons of episodes are available streaming on Netflix. He was watching it this morning in the family room when this transpired:

C: Mom, were you alive in 1984?
D: Yes. I was a junior in high school.
C: So, do you remember seeing this boat?

Turns out, some guy had pulled into the pawn shop parking lot with a boat on a trailer. A boat that was made in 1984.

Takedown!

If football equated in any way to therapy, one could say that Connor had a bit of a "breakthrough" evening.  He's been struggling with tackling...more willing to stand up and take it and get knocked on his ass than willing to get low and give it out.  But tonite they did a different drill.  One that started with the thrill of the chase rather than from a standing position.  And boy, did things click.  He was flinging his teammates to the ground, left and right. He was VERY pumped at all of the positive feedback from his coaches.  And of course, from his football-crazy borderline nuts father.

That pat on the helmet meant an awful lot. Connor just saw this picture with me he was pretty darn proud.

Real Life Skills

"Clueless" is one of my favorite movies.   Its loosely based on Jane Austen's "Emma"--a great story.  It is loaded with funny lines and memorable quotes.  One scene, though, has always stuck with me.  Its a scene between Cher and her father, Mel, a high-powered attorney. They're discussing a grade on her report card.  Here it is:



Mel: You mean to tell me that you argued your way from a C+ to an A-?
Cher: Totally based on my powers of persuasion, you proud?
Mel: Honey, I couldn't be happier than if they were based on real grades.


My big son and I enacted this scene today in our kitchen.  This week's play at Fakespeare Theatre Camp is "Sherlock Jester".  Some kind of mash-up of Sherlock Holmes and some Elizabethan court jester.   Yesterday Connor said that he had the lead role of  "Sherlock" but that he had lost it because he was yelling too much and instead would now be playing a more minor role of "Tweedle-Dee".  He said it was a boring role but didn't seem concerned about the demotion.  Neither of us dwelt on it.

Today I asked him how rehearsal was and he advised me of the following:

I am the lead, now.  Sherlock.  I am the lead because I begged and begged and the kid that was doing it after it got taken away from me for screaming wasn't really liking it and he decided to do a VERY VERY VERY nice thing and give it back to me and now he is going to be the Narrator.  It will be written on the back of the "thing" (I think this means the Program) that he did a really nice thing.  Isn't that really nice?

I know my boy.  And so, I'll interpret this all to mean that he WORE THEM DOWN TO NUBS OF HUMAN FLESH with constant wheedling, whining, negotiation, and threats of walk-out.

That kid will be getting a present from Connor on Friday.  Of that you can be sure.

There are negative words you could apply to him in this situation:  Conniving.  Aggressive.  Spoiled.  
Certainly, depending on where you know his heart is, a stranger could use those words.   But his heart is in a different place and I would use the words:  Tenacious.  Convincing.  Confident.   Hopefully, all of this will come in handy some day.