Category: Family, Parenting

  • Some Lady Hates My Daughter

    Some Lady Hates My Daughter

    girl soccer

    The breakfast of champions is not cereal,

    it’s the opposition.

    -Nick Seitz

    Yesterday was the last day of this year’s soccer season. Due to a freak snow last weekend, we had to make up missed games, so Cass played a doubleheader (as did Jake. It was a long, cold day on the fields).

    The first game she played offense, ran hard. The other team was a well-oiled machine and they fell in the end, something like 3-1. Nobody minded. It’s impressive to watch really talented kids at this age, even when it’s your team’s collective butt they’re whooping.

    The second game she played defense. It’s not her favorite thing to do and she wasn’t really happy about it, especially since it was windy and cold and she wasn’t running around much. She took it out on the ball, charging it angrily every time it came anywhere near the net, disgruntled sneer on her face.

    As one kid zigged and zagged his way down the field for about the dozenth time to the enthusiastic cheers of his family, only to have Cass decisively kick it out of bounds again, his mom stomped her foot and howled, “Gawd! I hate that little girl!”

    It was a funny moment and a couple of people who know me kind of snuck glances to see if I was going to say anything. I didn’t, but if I were going to I simply would have thanked her.

    Frankly, I don’t know that I’ve ever been more proud.

    I hope she forever pisses people off with her stoic awesomeness.

    soccer portrait

     

  • The Next Day

    The Next Day

    halloween costumes

    Pixie, kobold, elf, and sprite,
    All are on their rounds tonight;
    In the wan moon’s silver ray,
    Thrives their helter-skelter play.
    ~Joel Benton

    Obligatory Halloween roundup 🙂

    Cass dressed as a farmer for Harvest Day for school.

    harvest day

    farmer costume

    And as Jessie from Toy Story for trick-or-treating. Yes, it’s Disney but at least not a princess, I’m not a total tyrant.

    toy story

     

    Jessie has scary big eyes. Details matter, yo.

    Maverick at 11 felt like he was too old for costumes… but when it came to zero hour he decided he wasn’t too old to beg for candy. So Jeff threw together a hazmat costume for him with a Tyvek suit, construction helmet and gas mask we had lying around. Halloween is when hoarding comes in handy.

     

    last minute halloween costumes

    Jacob escaped early to hang out with friends so I don’t have photos of him in his zombiefied state, but. You know. 13yo zombie, I’m sure you can picture it.

    Stuck in line at Hot Topic shopping for Jake’s back-to-school clothes, I gave in to the siren call of the Yellow Power Ranger (which in the inaugural season was an asian girl so I think I’m funny every time I wear it). Usually I pair it with jeans like a normal person, but yesterday Tshirt + leggings + boots = laziest Halloween costume ever.

    No one even looked twice, though, so I’ve now decided this isn’t a costume at all but actually a totally acceptable outfit for grocery shopping. Am I right or am I right?

    last minute easy costume

     

    Good times. Another Halloween for the books.

    Happy Day of the Dead, y’all.

    Nom on some tasty skulls for me.

     

    skull crossbones foam

     

  • Wordless Wednesday: The Crying Giant

    Wordless Wednesday: The Crying Giant

    tom otterness

    It is such a secret place, the land of tears.

    -Antoine de Saint-Exupery,
    The Little Prince

     

    For the record: I didn’t pose them. But I raised them, so I guess I’m still to blame.

    The Crying Giant by Tom Otterness, in the Delaware Art Museum outdoor sculpture garden.