Soccer ends

G's first soccer season ended on a cold, rainy weeknight. And despite the nasty weather, their toughest opponent yet and the knowledge that this was their last game until next year (which I'm sure feels like dog years to them)...just look at the grins:

G's first author signing

Something to share with Mom--a passion for reading and the excitement of meeting a great book's author face-to-face. In this case, the book was Racoon Tune and the author, Nancy Shaw.

When I told G that I planned to take him and J (who was already scheduled for an after-school playdate at our house) to meet the author of Racoon Tune, he freaked out (his words). Eyes popping out of his head, he went on and on about how someone had read this book to his kindergarten class just this week. "I get to meet the author?! I know that book!"

We added one more friend (K) to the mix and I arranged to pick them all up from school. They were ALL equally excited. Our library did a wonderful job of setting up the presentation room and Nancy Shaw was engaging and informative. The kids loved her. Later, she signed each of their books.

Still halfway surprised at the level of their enthusiasm over meeting this author, it occurs to me that this is yet another example of the connections they are making in a world growing exponentially for them right now. Kindergarten rocks.

CCC Vintage Ride

This year's Vintage ride was held on the bluffs overlooking Black Lake. As fall colors were nearing 50%, the scenery was breathtaking. The weather was perfect and the company of Mark and Todd easy and enjoyable.

G and his Dad rode the kids loop several times throughout the weekend, including a sweep ride Saturday afternoon. G was proud to be a sweep rider and later, honored to draw the names of the grand prize winners. He was the youngest rider in attendance and left with a cool camo sleeping bag.

In one of those small world moments, G overheard his Dad talking with a couple of riders, who not only knew an old childhood friend of Paul's, but a new one as well--the father of G's school friend Jordan. G came running, arms waving madly to tell me "THAT guy know's Jordan's Dad!" A connection for him.

G's friend Chase, from the Kids' ride and the Mio-Hunt Creek ride, was there as well. Though he is nearly twice G's age, he enjoys spending time with him. Another connection that gives G his own place at these annual events.

Old enough to squirrel hunt

Finally, G gets to don his camo and go hunting with his Dad. Another passion to share. Another example of how much your Dad wants to show you, teach you, pass on to you.

And of how much he wants to simply spend this time with you.

Pitting for Dad in Wolverine

This was the only enduro weekend we attended this year that did not include a family enduro on Saturday. As the adults-only race was scheduled for Sunday, we started the weekend off with a Saturday morning soccer game for G before heading to the Wolverine race site.

By Sunday morning, all of the riders in our camp had arrived and G and A were buddied up for a day of fun in the rain. After we filmed each of our riders' starts, we moved on to the spectator points and finally the gas stop. All the while, G and A entertained with goofy stories, sound effects and songs. And they rode their bicycles in the mud and the rain at every opportunity.

When we returned to camp, I sent them into the heated camper while I unloaded the truck. When I poked my head in to tell them it was time to go watch the race finish, they were both huddled in front of the heat vent, holding their wet socks up to dry. And neither wanted to move from that spot. Hence no finish line pictures--only video from the trails.

To end the day, we enjoyed Oreo Cookie cheesecake in honor of Uncle Brad's 50th birthday.


It may have been wet and not altogether warm, but the day was fun and neither myself nor the boys wanted to be anywhere else.

Leaving home...for Kindergarten

This is G's journal, narrated by his Mom. And while I try to offer his perspective with each experience, it is my own perspective that resonates most. As he grows older, I'll switch to letting him dictate the words here, so when he looks back, he'll not only see our love for him, but get a sense of who he was when he was just little. For now however, and especially with this post, it is my voice you'll hear.

Kindergarten. Somehow I discounted the impact of this milestone, thinking we got the separation anxiety out of the way with preschool last year. My separation anxiety. Not G's. He was thrilled to start preschool and did so without tears. Ditto for kindergarten. He was very, very excited.

And brave. Starting with his school's openhouse, an opportunity for him to meet his teacher and get acquainted with his classroom. I say he was brave because this first step did not go well. His assigned teacher spent less than a minute with him despite our loitering there for quite a long time. Finally, G looked up at me and said "It's ok. It will be better when all the kids are here and we're sitting at the tables." Those were his words verbatum. Brave.

After I had him assigned to another teacher, we had her home visit to look forward to. It was wonderful and G was on to counting the sleeps until his first day of school. His Dad and I? Well were were simply back to sleeping nights now that this concern was alleviated.

We accompanied him to school on Monday, day one and, despite his excitement, he was nervous. As were his best friends K and J. See how they are all twisting their hands?

When I picked G up this first day, the first words out of his mouth were "Why can't I ride the school bus?" When I hesitated, he burst into tears, insisting he wanted to ride the bus. So...after another sleepless night, I contacted the bus garage and set him up to ride the bus home every afternoon. Starting the very next day, Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon, I resisted the impulse to sneak behind his school, witness him climb on the bus and then follow it home. (And in a sweet aside, I learned from my Mom that she did follow my bus around, spying on me when I first started school. I hadn't known that and it warmed me from the inside out.) I arrived at the bus stop at least 30 minutes ahead of schedule and had to laugh when it pulled in. There was G in the window, huge grin on his face. He loved the bus; Mom and Dad were sleeping again.

The next 'first' came on the first full day of school, Wednesday. G opted for me to drop him off in front of the school each morning, in lieu of me parking and walking him in. Remember the movie Mr. Mom? When Michael Keaton has to drop the kids in that long, slowly moving line in front of their school? This is exactly like that. Hilarious. I inched up until we hit the drop off zone. He climbed out--which took a bit of maneuvering on his part, climbing down out of the Jeep. I handed him his huge backpack with lunchbox attached and he wrestled into it. I handed him a note for his teacher and he slammed the door as hard as he could and headed towards the front door. ALL the while he has this silly grin on his face--like he's eating all of this freedom/independence stuff up. The grin makes his Dad and I smile, but still, it is tinged with that little bit of sadness at the fact that he is growing up and away.

The next day, I had to run G to his six month cleaning at the dentist. The dentist happily announced that G's first adult mollars were already coming in and I should expect him to start losing his baby teeth any day now. In a week filled with 'growing up' moments, this was my last straw.

Arguably one of the toughest weeks as a Mom I've experienced to date. And for his Dad as well. We probably trusted his care and well-being to more strangers in this one week than we have in his entire 5 years. It was also an example--one of many, many instances to come--where our comfort zone will not perfectly align with G's comfort zone. Where G will be the one assuring us instead of the other way around.

Edited to add: After a week of dropping G off to make his own way into the building, we've returned to parking and walking in together. He asked and I happily agreed. It was like getting a little piece of him back. Sadly, he asked for this change in routine after viewing some 9/11 anniversary footage on television. After which he asked, could that ever happen here and, if it did, how would he find me with all those people walking around.

Giving Back - Au Sable River Clean-up

In September, our family joined the Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association (ASBWPA) in an organized clean up of the river near Mio. Paul, G and I participated as did our good friend Mike. As neither G or I had waders, we were assigned a riverside campground and Mike and Paul waded the river nearby. Armed with bright orange garbage bags, G and I trudged about in rubber boots finding all kinds of garbage and discussing all the reasons you should not litter. In this, as with so many other activities, he did not grow bored or complain. A point of pride for me and a source of my wonder for him. A good boy he is.

We all met up to clean a trail running along the river. And when the trail ended, Mike and I forged ahead on deer trails. Not the best choice, as we had to crawl through brush, wade the river--Paul carrying G and me just plain getting wet--and pretty much pioneer our own way to the next river access point. No complaining from G on this either, but he did ask if we were going to make it out. He accepted our assurances and forged ahead. And man, you wouldn't believe the trash we found in the hard to reach places. Beer cans dating back decades.

Clean up was followed by an ASBWPA-hosted BBQ. Very nice group of folks, led by Tom--Paul's cousin. Some of these folks are featured in the pics below:



At day's end, Mike returned home and we completed the weekend by setting up camp in a nearby rustic campground. G and his Dad fished, I cooked dinner and we all settled in around a campfire. Well, Paul and I settled. G rode his bicycle until it was too dark for him to see.