We’re on a new team this year.
We were hoping for a change for how things went last season (i.e., not winning a single game and drawing only once).
Sadly, it was more of the same: 0-2.
the boy
New Soccer Season
The sprint soccer season has begun — first practice was tonight. E is with a new team and a new coach. We’re playing on fields only 5 minutes away from our house rather than 20 minutes away.
E’s first impression: “The coach is good. And the kids are nice to me.”
I also had a good impression from what one of the parents said. Here’s hoping this season will be better than the last, which was not terrible, but certainly had some drawbacks.
Sleeping with the Sharks
E's Cub Scout pack had a special activity in Gatlinburg Tennessee this weekend: sleeping with the sharks at the aquarium. We went early Saturday afternoon and caught some amazing views on the way.
Once there, the Boy went go-carting, played some mini-golf, spent some time in an arcade, and tried mussels for the first time.
From there, we went to the aquarium. It was quite a unique opportunity for the kids, getting to spend a lot of time as the sole visitors in the whole complex.
This morning, we spent a little time in the aquarium before heading out for more mini-golf, some laser tag, and some lunch.
A busy weekend to say the least.
Playing Cards
K has been teaching the Boy how to play tysiąc. He’s getting the idea, but in the end, he still prefers a good game of war.
Just like he played with Babcia:
Pinewood Derby 2022
For this year's car, we decided to get a little silly.
"I can't believe we didn't make a single cut on the car this year!" was the Boy's refrain.
We drilled a couple of holes to put in some weight; we sanded a lot; and we painted a bit. However, not a single cut.
We haven't had a lot of success in the pinewood derby. I don't think the Boy has even placed in his den let alone the pack.
Still, we kept trying. Last year, we employed a number of tricks:
- polishing the axels;
- bending the axles to make the wheels point outward at the bottom to minimize friction;
- mounting one front wheel high so that it didn't touch the track;
- making sure we'd put the weight in the perfect location relative to the car's center of gravity.
None of that really helped.
I think this year we were both hopeful that if we didn't place in the actual race we might get some recognition for originality. After all, we entered a stick of butter.
"I can't believe we didn't make a single cut on the car this year!"
It did about as well as our fine-tuned, finely-balanced car from last year in the race. And in the superlatives?
The Boy's expression says it all.
"I was hoping to win something today," he said quietly afterward.
Building
Somehow, I didn't publish these pictures from a couple of months ago...
A Walk in the Park
Sevierville Volleyball
The girls spent the day in Tennessee playing volleyball — well, one playing, one watching.
The boys woke to the promised dusting of snow,
and ended the day with a dinner of chili, corn chips, and ice cream.
“That was a pretty good day,” the Boy concluded.
Snow Days 2022 — Day 6: No-Snow Snow Day
There was no snow on the ground to speak of where we live; no snow on the roads at all. Yet we had another e-learning day today.
The Boy took all the cushions from the couch and made a little study corner for his work. The Girl remained in her hobbit-hole room.
After lunch, the girls headed to Tennessee for a volleyball tournament; the boys began the countdown to a boys’-night-out dinner: Mexican.
As I was putting the Boy to bed tonight, I realized I hadn’t checked to see if the forecast had been correct — the cause for all the worry today, I guess. Sure enough, there was a dusting of fresh snow. If tomorrow weren’t Saturday, I’m sure it’d be another e-learning day…
Snow Days 2022 — Day 5: What We Thought Was Our Last Day
The snow is disappearing. We thought today would be the last e-learning day with everyone at home, but apparently, the threat of snow tonight was enough to make tomorrow another e-learning day. A whole week spent at home. That's a blessing in many ways, but tough on some kids, no doubt.
Not our kids, though.