The family went out to a Chinese buffet for dinner. I complained about my fortune cookie. Everybody else got compliments about their glowing futures, while I got the bossy fortune cookie that just wanted to tell me what to do.
"I'll tell you your future, Dad," Casey offered.
OK, kid, go for it.
"Your hair's never going to grow back again."
Thanks, Casey.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Stepping up his game
I should write here more, obviously, but it's been hard. For a long time. Life, man. But I gotta admit, Darby's doing his best to smoke me out.
Casey and Darby are both playing soccer this summer, but Darby gets special mention because it's his very first season. Also because, incredibly, he's one of the stars of his team. If you don't want to hear a father gush about his 4-year-old son trying soccer for the first time, bail out now. With my blessing. Because *puke*, who wants to listen to that? I totally understand. But I've got to write it down because Darby deserves it and because I want to remember this later.
From the beginning, Darby's brought excellent levels of focus and effort. Just another kid pounding ineffectually at the ball, though. Until a few practices ago, when the kids were in their customary scrimmage with one of the other teams to close out the night. Halfway through the game, Darby kicked the ball out of the scrum, jumped after it through a gap in the crowd, and just took off. He ran half the field with both teams trying to steal the ball away — 4-year-olds don't pass, so there's only one way to acquire the ball — but he shrugged it all off, kept his speed up, and carried it easily into the goal.
I was shocked. That play came out of nowhere. And then the thrill hit me — more excitement than a parent probably should feel from a pre-K soccer game. I played it cool 'cause I didn't want to be that guy, but inside I'm so proud. Because Darby did everything I asked: he worked hard, he listened to his coach, and he did his best every time out there. And suddenly the effort was paying off. What parent wouldn't be happy to see his kid succeed like that? I started thinking through treats we had at home that Darby might like. Something to let him know he'd done something special and his family noticed.
But Darby was just getting started. He dominated the rest of that game. It was like he'd suddenly stumbled on the winning formula — a ha, that's how you score! — and the rest of the night he just pushed that play as far as it would go. Which was pretty far. Tons of breakaways, at least one more goal, one mystery play that was either a goal or an assist — hard to say who gets the last touch when three teammates are kicking furiously from two feet out. It was only 3-0 at the end, and either he scored every goal or very close to it. He just took over that game.
I talked it up quite a bit, but he took it all in stride — "OK, Dad, can I go play on the swings now?" — but you have to reinforce the stuff he does right, and he's got such a terrific attitude. Funny, all those scoring plays, and all he wanted to brag about was how the other team got no goals.
Erika's been nervous, though, and worried about me overdoing it. We don't want to make Casey feel bad, and we want to make sure we're praising the right things, etc. She's got a point, absolutely. But she also doesn't understand soccer. This really is special! I told her. She's got to realize, scoring goals in soccer is hard. Everybody's working against you, and it takes a tremendous amount of perseverance and energy and luck. I don't want to overdo it either, but at the same time, I played soccer a bunch of years as a kid, and I remember scoring exactly one goal. And I treasure that memory. So, I continued, this really is a big deal. Those might be the only two goals he ever scores! And I want him to remember that I was there and that his family cared and was excited for him.
And of course, the punchline is that since then, Darby has recorded at least a hat trick in every outing.
Tonight his team won 5-3, and Darby had three goals. The kid's just persistent. It's super fun to watch. Lots of other kids out there are taller, and some are way faster. Darby loses lots of races for the ball. But he doesn't get discouraged, and he doesn't pout or give up. I admit, I thought that a strong possibility. But he surprised me. He's steady; he pays attention and pounces on opportunities, and he just keeps getting rewarded for it.
He's got a strong kick (favors his left foot for some reason), and he's good at driving the ball up the field and staying with it while everyone chases him. But what's most amazing to me is how he intuitively shifts his body to keep other players off the ball — and then he gets away with it. He gets caught from behind all the time, but he blocks everybody out and keeps his feet, and no one seems able to reach the ball. They just follow him helplessly, not sure how to get around him to where the ball is.
He looks so tiny out there! He should be getting steamrolled! But you know, he seems to eat continuously. I've wondered once or twice how I'm going to afford groceries when he's 14. So he's a pretty solid kid now. And in the past couple weeks I've seen challengers crash into him and bounce off. It's just silly. I've seen him emerge unharmed from packs of children determined to trip him. I've seen him skip through slide tackles like a pro. I've seen taller, faster kids collide with him on the run while he's got the ball, and when they fall down while he glides away, I cannot believe my eyes. Am I dreaming this? He's just a tank out there.
This should not happen. Delaneys are not built that way.
But he doesn't know that, and I'm not going to tell him. I doubt he'll ride that play style successfully forever, but for now he's doing great, having a ton of fun, and maintaining an excellent attitude. And for the past couple weeks he's had me looking forward to soccer nights, and that's a job very well done.
Casey and Darby are both playing soccer this summer, but Darby gets special mention because it's his very first season. Also because, incredibly, he's one of the stars of his team. If you don't want to hear a father gush about his 4-year-old son trying soccer for the first time, bail out now. With my blessing. Because *puke*, who wants to listen to that? I totally understand. But I've got to write it down because Darby deserves it and because I want to remember this later.
From the beginning, Darby's brought excellent levels of focus and effort. Just another kid pounding ineffectually at the ball, though. Until a few practices ago, when the kids were in their customary scrimmage with one of the other teams to close out the night. Halfway through the game, Darby kicked the ball out of the scrum, jumped after it through a gap in the crowd, and just took off. He ran half the field with both teams trying to steal the ball away — 4-year-olds don't pass, so there's only one way to acquire the ball — but he shrugged it all off, kept his speed up, and carried it easily into the goal.
I was shocked. That play came out of nowhere. And then the thrill hit me — more excitement than a parent probably should feel from a pre-K soccer game. I played it cool 'cause I didn't want to be that guy, but inside I'm so proud. Because Darby did everything I asked: he worked hard, he listened to his coach, and he did his best every time out there. And suddenly the effort was paying off. What parent wouldn't be happy to see his kid succeed like that? I started thinking through treats we had at home that Darby might like. Something to let him know he'd done something special and his family noticed.
But Darby was just getting started. He dominated the rest of that game. It was like he'd suddenly stumbled on the winning formula — a ha, that's how you score! — and the rest of the night he just pushed that play as far as it would go. Which was pretty far. Tons of breakaways, at least one more goal, one mystery play that was either a goal or an assist — hard to say who gets the last touch when three teammates are kicking furiously from two feet out. It was only 3-0 at the end, and either he scored every goal or very close to it. He just took over that game.
I talked it up quite a bit, but he took it all in stride — "OK, Dad, can I go play on the swings now?" — but you have to reinforce the stuff he does right, and he's got such a terrific attitude. Funny, all those scoring plays, and all he wanted to brag about was how the other team got no goals.
Erika's been nervous, though, and worried about me overdoing it. We don't want to make Casey feel bad, and we want to make sure we're praising the right things, etc. She's got a point, absolutely. But she also doesn't understand soccer. This really is special! I told her. She's got to realize, scoring goals in soccer is hard. Everybody's working against you, and it takes a tremendous amount of perseverance and energy and luck. I don't want to overdo it either, but at the same time, I played soccer a bunch of years as a kid, and I remember scoring exactly one goal. And I treasure that memory. So, I continued, this really is a big deal. Those might be the only two goals he ever scores! And I want him to remember that I was there and that his family cared and was excited for him.
And of course, the punchline is that since then, Darby has recorded at least a hat trick in every outing.
Tonight his team won 5-3, and Darby had three goals. The kid's just persistent. It's super fun to watch. Lots of other kids out there are taller, and some are way faster. Darby loses lots of races for the ball. But he doesn't get discouraged, and he doesn't pout or give up. I admit, I thought that a strong possibility. But he surprised me. He's steady; he pays attention and pounces on opportunities, and he just keeps getting rewarded for it.
He's got a strong kick (favors his left foot for some reason), and he's good at driving the ball up the field and staying with it while everyone chases him. But what's most amazing to me is how he intuitively shifts his body to keep other players off the ball — and then he gets away with it. He gets caught from behind all the time, but he blocks everybody out and keeps his feet, and no one seems able to reach the ball. They just follow him helplessly, not sure how to get around him to where the ball is.
He looks so tiny out there! He should be getting steamrolled! But you know, he seems to eat continuously. I've wondered once or twice how I'm going to afford groceries when he's 14. So he's a pretty solid kid now. And in the past couple weeks I've seen challengers crash into him and bounce off. It's just silly. I've seen him emerge unharmed from packs of children determined to trip him. I've seen him skip through slide tackles like a pro. I've seen taller, faster kids collide with him on the run while he's got the ball, and when they fall down while he glides away, I cannot believe my eyes. Am I dreaming this? He's just a tank out there.
This should not happen. Delaneys are not built that way.
But he doesn't know that, and I'm not going to tell him. I doubt he'll ride that play style successfully forever, but for now he's doing great, having a ton of fun, and maintaining an excellent attitude. And for the past couple weeks he's had me looking forward to soccer nights, and that's a job very well done.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
National Banana Split Day
Chris: "Tomorrow is apparently National Banana Split Day."
Erika: "What do you do on Banana Split Day?"
I'm serious. That's the question she asked me. *sigh* In her defense, she's been pretty sick all week.
Erika: "What do you do on Banana Split Day?"
I'm serious. That's the question she asked me. *sigh* In her defense, she's been pretty sick all week.
Friday, August 9, 2013
The four stages of trying to get a decent photo in front of a pretty waterfall
 |
| Okay, guys, try to hold still and look at the camera. You're too blurry if you move. No, really, stop jumping up and down. |
 |
| That's better. Now try to look a little less evil, Casey. Just smile, like a nice smile. Please? |
 |
| Aww, that's kind of nice. You look like you like each other. Now look up. |
 |
| And ... then it devolves into wrestling, and I give up. |
Darby's Soccer Debut
The Cross Plains summer soccer program starts at age 4, but try telling that to an over-eager toddler. For the past couple years, watching Casey play, it was hard to keep Darby off the field. While other players' parents got to relax on the sidelines, I'd end up having to play soccer with Darby in the grassy area next to the field. We'd have our own little "practice" to keep him happy. He wanted to play so badly!
Finally, this year, it's his turn! Look how excited he is in his giant shirt.
Warming up before practice.
Playing with his team.
Casey played with the first-graders, whose practice starts right after the 4-year-olds. This is his version of smiling for the camera.
Finally, this year, it's his turn! Look how excited he is in his giant shirt.
Casey played with the first-graders, whose practice starts right after the 4-year-olds. This is his version of smiling for the camera.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Darby tries on the hat
Behold, Darby as Indiana Jones:
Bonus photo! Casey's turn:
I love that one. We got lucky and caught the whip crack at a nice moment. He looks like he just stepped out of the poster.
Also lucky: Darby and I only took a light lashing. And that's how Casey learned to wait until his family is out of range before trying out the weapons.
Bonus photo! Casey's turn:
I love that one. We got lucky and caught the whip crack at a nice moment. He looks like he just stepped out of the poster.
Also lucky: Darby and I only took a light lashing. And that's how Casey learned to wait until his family is out of range before trying out the weapons.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Devil's Lake State Park
Yesterday we went to Devil's Lake State Park for the first time. It's only about 45 minutes from us, and I can't believe we haven't been before! It was absolutely beautiful ... and a little more perilous than expected.
That green speck you see on the beach is Chris. He made a joke about climbing that hill behind him someday, when the kids are older. There are trails that lead to the top, but it would be crazy to try to do that with a 6- and almost 4-year-old, right?
Here's a closeup of the hill in question.
Um, turns out we're crazy like that. It wasn't the plan. We had a list of trails, and we picked out one that was labeled "easy" and set out in search of that. What we didn't realize is that the "easy" trail is along the top of that hill, and the only way to reach it is to take one of the "difficult, steep, climbing" trails. Seems like we would have changed our plan when we found that out. But at that point, we were already at the base of the hill, and everyone really, really wanted to try to climb it. So up we went!
Oh, first we found this fairly impressive boulder, which had to be climbed. Casey didn't go to the top, explaining to us that he's six now, so he knows what's safe and what's not safe, and that didn't look safe. Darby's not that wise yet, so we let him do it, apparently.
Up we go for real this time! There were rocky steps that zig-zagged back and forth the whole way.
Partway up now. I think Casey's mad we made him stop for a photo.
Still a long way to go. Darby and Casey kept racing ahead, and Chris and I had to hustle to keep up. It was pretty hard work.
Pretty nice view up here! We're not done yet, though.
I can't tell you how much this sort of thing scared me. I was mostly okay with the heights myself, but I was not as much okay with my boys being that high up ... and that close to the edge.
Darby said at one point, "I'm not scared of anything!" That's what scared me the most!
Thank you, Chris, for holding on to Casey right here. Yikes.
Finally, we reached the Devil's Doorway, which is the rock formation at the top of the trail. Now that I know we all survived, and I can say it was worth it!
All these rocks to climb around in ... really a dream come true for these guys.
And for this guy.
This is Balanced Rock, another one of the rock formations this trail led us past. We missed it on the way up but found it on the way down.
Doesn't he look like he's about ready to slide right off a rocky cliff right now? I'm pretty sure it only looks that way in the photo. At least, I hope so, because otherwise it would seem really irresponsible of me to take this photo.
We made it! I think we'll be going back. There's a trail with "difficult creek crossings" that we didn't get to try yet.
That green speck you see on the beach is Chris. He made a joke about climbing that hill behind him someday, when the kids are older. There are trails that lead to the top, but it would be crazy to try to do that with a 6- and almost 4-year-old, right?
Here's a closeup of the hill in question.
Um, turns out we're crazy like that. It wasn't the plan. We had a list of trails, and we picked out one that was labeled "easy" and set out in search of that. What we didn't realize is that the "easy" trail is along the top of that hill, and the only way to reach it is to take one of the "difficult, steep, climbing" trails. Seems like we would have changed our plan when we found that out. But at that point, we were already at the base of the hill, and everyone really, really wanted to try to climb it. So up we went!
Oh, first we found this fairly impressive boulder, which had to be climbed. Casey didn't go to the top, explaining to us that he's six now, so he knows what's safe and what's not safe, and that didn't look safe. Darby's not that wise yet, so we let him do it, apparently.
Up we go for real this time! There were rocky steps that zig-zagged back and forth the whole way.
Partway up now. I think Casey's mad we made him stop for a photo.
Still a long way to go. Darby and Casey kept racing ahead, and Chris and I had to hustle to keep up. It was pretty hard work.
Pretty nice view up here! We're not done yet, though.
I can't tell you how much this sort of thing scared me. I was mostly okay with the heights myself, but I was not as much okay with my boys being that high up ... and that close to the edge.
Thank you, Chris, for holding on to Casey right here. Yikes.
Finally, we reached the Devil's Doorway, which is the rock formation at the top of the trail. Now that I know we all survived, and I can say it was worth it!
All these rocks to climb around in ... really a dream come true for these guys.
This is Balanced Rock, another one of the rock formations this trail led us past. We missed it on the way up but found it on the way down.
Doesn't he look like he's about ready to slide right off a rocky cliff right now? I'm pretty sure it only looks that way in the photo. At least, I hope so, because otherwise it would seem really irresponsible of me to take this photo.
We made it! I think we'll be going back. There's a trail with "difficult creek crossings" that we didn't get to try yet.
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