Reality of feeding small kids

Sigh.

Would this work?!

 

Truths in Medicine

As soccer season is upon us...

On burnout in family medicine: 

 

Field & Fair Play

It's soccer season (again!). Iver is on a team with some familiar faces from his last year's team (the Ice Dragons), with some newer faces.

buds Hudson, Peyton, Earl, Iver

Brian and Miles are coaching again

Their first game was on Saturday, and they had a strong effort, being tied 2-2 at half-time and going on to win 7-2 (Hudson scored about five goals-- a "mega hat trick?!"). Iver had two good shots on goal, but missed just slightly high (we joked he's been playing too much recreational kickball!). He was amazing on defense (the kids rotate positions).

Kelvin and I enjoyed watching; Niall enjoyed deconstructing our camp chairs and whining about snacks.

It was fun to see baby Evan.

In the afternoon, we went to the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale.

We visited the barn...

... and promptly got animal poop all over our shoes.

There were treats, of course.

Iver and Niall got wristbands which allowed them unlimited trips on rides (there was a height requirement so N could only do the fun-house/maze type things and a slide).

Gleeful Iver with Hudson & Peyton 

I rode "The Zipper" with a random stranger who needed a "cage" buddy. This ride spins you forward/backward in cages revolving around an up/down diagonal axis, and was pretty fun!  (Iver wouldn't ride it with me, though!).  I do love roller coasters and this was the closest I'd come (besides the water park rides) in decades! 

Bungee!

Kelvin, Niall, and  I retired shortly after 8 pm but Iver stayed out later with Shannon and kids, bull-riding until late (and he actually slept in until 7 am)!

Fun times on the field and at the fair! 

End of Summer, Start of School

We now have a second child into Kindergarten!   Preschool graduation was last week (although Niall continued this week) and school started Wednesday! 

Kelvin had some flex time and was able to do one special outing with each of the boys in the afternoon of their last days of summer, which they really enjoyed.

Iver and he went mini-golfing...

... and each got a hole in one! 

Niall finished preK on Tuesday.

First/last day.

He opted to go to a local park with BF Grant.

They came home for an early dinner and milk. Cheers!

There was a KG orientation night that Kelvin and he attended (Iver, now a "big kid" in school, also wanted to come along!)

Checking out the classroom

Froyo!

Reading The Night Before Kindergarten on the night before kindergarten...

Iver woke up bright and early ready to start the day/year. 

Niall was less excited about his new school; he's been waking up at night lately, saying "I'm scared," and I'm not sure if it's internalized anxiety about change or something else. But I think he'll adjust just fine.  He didn't really want to cooperate for photos, though.

Finally a few good ones

Walking to before-care (as our work starts at 8 a.m., we were the first ones at drop-off at 7:45. Kelvin and I were able to both be there for their first day!).

No tears here! It feels great to have two school-aged kids!

Here's a flashback to Iver's first day of KG (during COVID), something I never wish to repeat. 

On Wheels

Niall (5.5) is about to start KG and hasn't really been a big fan of physical exertion or sporty things. While I think Iver (who started with a pedal-less "balance bike" around age 2) had mastered bike-riding without training wheels by age four (and we saw a 3-year-old German kid whipping around our Brazilian lodge without a problem!), Niall is a bit slower. We have been making a point on weekend afternoons this summer to have him complete at least 5 laps (up and back) of our driveway with pedaling his own weight on his bike, with hopes that the training wheels can come off.  It's always a leap, but I think he can do it soon!

Complaining about forced bike riding!

Iver has scored a pair of second-hand roller blades that fit, and has spent a lot of time this summer (at Blue Lake Camp, which has a roller rink) rollerblading. Kelvin just bought some rollerblades so that they could blade around together. Unfortunately, in going down a hill near our house a wee too quickly, Kelvin wiped out, scraping his backside and ripping his clothes in the process, which has required some time to heal (including wound/dressing changes!), but now is a slower (and more humble) skater. They always wear helmets.

There is a nice paved trail between Arcata and Eureka and K took Iver, Sophia, and Olivia there on Sunday afternoon.

Niall wanted to go with them but I told him, "You aren't quite there yet to be able to keep up. Once the training wheels are off, you'll be fast enough!" (Motivation?)