Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Birthdays
The last few days have been very full.
On Saturday morning Pierce had his first basketball game. The team he’s been practicing with was split into Red and Blue teams and they played an official 5-period game. The scoreboard was used, whistles were blown, and the buzzer marked out the periods. It was hilarious. The coaches guided the play from the court and they would pause play if they wanted to illustrate a point or discuss a learning opportunity. Each kid was assigned one person from the opposite team they were responsible for guarding and they weren’t allowed to take the ball away from anyone else.
Most of the kids were terrible, with Pierce probably being one of the worst (I say this with a smile on my face). Pierce is playing in a higher age bracket session and he lacks the focus of most of the other kids. At any given time he was usually facing in the wrong direction or on the wrong side of the court. It didn’t matter, he had a blast. He had an opportunity to shoot a couple of times and catch and throw some passes, so he was doing his best. Coincidentally, Pierce’s red team had the much stronger players and they ended up winning 13-0. Everyone playing had a good time and we parents clapped for everyone and everything. If a kid caught a pass or attempted a shot he got applause. Next week is the last week of the session and another game is scheduled. We’ll definitely plan on taking pictures and video.
My Mom got into town Saturday afternoon and Pierce and Anna came to the airport with me to pick her up. They gave her a very nice welcome with lots of hugs and kisses. They then accompanied her to the restroom before we headed out to the car (don’t ask me why that was necessary). After a couple of hours of visiting Mom treated us to dinner at old Chicago’s (mmmmmmm).
Sunday was Pierce and Anna’s birthday party. We spent the morning getting ready, with Nora putting up decorations while I ran to the store to pick up the cake and some supplies for dinner that night (Nora’s folks and her brother’s family stayed for a cookout). The first part of the birthday party was held at the local fire station. All the birthday attendees got a tour of the station, helped “wash” the fire engines (with dry towels), learned about fire safety, and ultimately got to stand in the basket at the top of the engine’s ladder (a firefighter extended the ladder then lowered it to the ground).
When we got back to our house each kid got to make their own fire engine picture frame and decorate it while I printed pictures we took of each kid at the fire station. We then assembled picture with frame and each attendee got to take home a customized picture in its frame (everyone seemed to like it). Their take home gift bag also included a Nora-made chocolate fire engine on a stick and some other goodies.
Most of the kids stayed at our house for several hours to play. Pierce and Anna unwrapped lots of gifts (they got quite the haul), and of course we had cake and birthday singing. We finished the day up with a BBQ for the family. It was very much a family affair, with Nora and her sister-in-law making stuffed peppers, me cooking chicken and ribs on the grill –with my father-in-law holding a flashlight so I could see, and my Mom, Joann and Nicole making a fresh salad. Mmmmmmm.
Yesterday, Monday, we went to the portrait studio after work to take some group pictures with my Mom. Pierce and Anna were both pretty fidgety, so this probably wasn’t our best effort. But the pictures aren’t bad and we’re glad to have them. We went to dinner in the same mall, at the Rain Forrest Café. Its decorated like a rainforest including animatronic animals and passing thunderstorms. Its one of Pierce and Anna’s favorite restaurants. They got to feed the full size crocodile pennies on the way out.
The last event of the evening was a trip to Toys ‘R Us. Mom had given each kid a gift card and this was their opportunity to do some shopping. Nora and I laid some ground rules ahead of time: Pierce wasn’t allowed to buy a car and Anna wasn’t allowed to buy a princess (no dresses, Barbies, etc.). Both kids were great shoppers and seemed to enjoy looking around. Anna ultimately picked a large Lightning McQueen car (from the movie “Cars”) that talks and makes engine and racing noises. Pierce picked an X-Man’s fighter plane complete with Wolverine action figure (Pierce doesn’t know who the X-Men are). The plane makes lots of noises (of course), shoots missiles, and lights up.
Mom’s going home today (Tuesday). She attending a local tax class, so her goodbyes to the family were this morning. I can’t believe how quickly the visit’s passed. I’ll get to squeeze in a lunch with her before I take her to the airport and should be back in time to start handing out treats to the trick-or-treaters.
-Eric (Dad)
On Saturday morning Pierce had his first basketball game. The team he’s been practicing with was split into Red and Blue teams and they played an official 5-period game. The scoreboard was used, whistles were blown, and the buzzer marked out the periods. It was hilarious. The coaches guided the play from the court and they would pause play if they wanted to illustrate a point or discuss a learning opportunity. Each kid was assigned one person from the opposite team they were responsible for guarding and they weren’t allowed to take the ball away from anyone else.
Most of the kids were terrible, with Pierce probably being one of the worst (I say this with a smile on my face). Pierce is playing in a higher age bracket session and he lacks the focus of most of the other kids. At any given time he was usually facing in the wrong direction or on the wrong side of the court. It didn’t matter, he had a blast. He had an opportunity to shoot a couple of times and catch and throw some passes, so he was doing his best. Coincidentally, Pierce’s red team had the much stronger players and they ended up winning 13-0. Everyone playing had a good time and we parents clapped for everyone and everything. If a kid caught a pass or attempted a shot he got applause. Next week is the last week of the session and another game is scheduled. We’ll definitely plan on taking pictures and video.
My Mom got into town Saturday afternoon and Pierce and Anna came to the airport with me to pick her up. They gave her a very nice welcome with lots of hugs and kisses. They then accompanied her to the restroom before we headed out to the car (don’t ask me why that was necessary). After a couple of hours of visiting Mom treated us to dinner at old Chicago’s (mmmmmmm).
Sunday was Pierce and Anna’s birthday party. We spent the morning getting ready, with Nora putting up decorations while I ran to the store to pick up the cake and some supplies for dinner that night (Nora’s folks and her brother’s family stayed for a cookout). The first part of the birthday party was held at the local fire station. All the birthday attendees got a tour of the station, helped “wash” the fire engines (with dry towels), learned about fire safety, and ultimately got to stand in the basket at the top of the engine’s ladder (a firefighter extended the ladder then lowered it to the ground).
When we got back to our house each kid got to make their own fire engine picture frame and decorate it while I printed pictures we took of each kid at the fire station. We then assembled picture with frame and each attendee got to take home a customized picture in its frame (everyone seemed to like it). Their take home gift bag also included a Nora-made chocolate fire engine on a stick and some other goodies.
Most of the kids stayed at our house for several hours to play. Pierce and Anna unwrapped lots of gifts (they got quite the haul), and of course we had cake and birthday singing. We finished the day up with a BBQ for the family. It was very much a family affair, with Nora and her sister-in-law making stuffed peppers, me cooking chicken and ribs on the grill –with my father-in-law holding a flashlight so I could see, and my Mom, Joann and Nicole making a fresh salad. Mmmmmmm.
Yesterday, Monday, we went to the portrait studio after work to take some group pictures with my Mom. Pierce and Anna were both pretty fidgety, so this probably wasn’t our best effort. But the pictures aren’t bad and we’re glad to have them. We went to dinner in the same mall, at the Rain Forrest Café. Its decorated like a rainforest including animatronic animals and passing thunderstorms. Its one of Pierce and Anna’s favorite restaurants. They got to feed the full size crocodile pennies on the way out.
The last event of the evening was a trip to Toys ‘R Us. Mom had given each kid a gift card and this was their opportunity to do some shopping. Nora and I laid some ground rules ahead of time: Pierce wasn’t allowed to buy a car and Anna wasn’t allowed to buy a princess (no dresses, Barbies, etc.). Both kids were great shoppers and seemed to enjoy looking around. Anna ultimately picked a large Lightning McQueen car (from the movie “Cars”) that talks and makes engine and racing noises. Pierce picked an X-Man’s fighter plane complete with Wolverine action figure (Pierce doesn’t know who the X-Men are). The plane makes lots of noises (of course), shoots missiles, and lights up.
Mom’s going home today (Tuesday). She attending a local tax class, so her goodbyes to the family were this morning. I can’t believe how quickly the visit’s passed. I’ll get to squeeze in a lunch with her before I take her to the airport and should be back in time to start handing out treats to the trick-or-treaters.
-Eric (Dad)
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