Activities

Post 374: Shake it off

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This past season of Little League this year I watched many times as Luke struck out and would walk away form the plate with a smile or a shrug.

He also hit plenty of singles, doubles, triples and home runs, but the strike outs were of specific interest, why?

Many of the kids have really strong reactions to striking out, throwing helmets and crying with the most anguished looks on their faces. I totally get it, but was always interested in Luke’s laissez-faire attitude.

After the last game I made a comment about one of his team mates and how frustrated and mad he was over a strike out.

Luke said:

“I feel like crying sometimes after striking out”

pause

“But I decided it was better to go back to the dug out, take a deep breath and put myself back together again”

I told him I thought that was a good plan.

In a nutshell this may be the best part of what makes Luke such a confident person. He can cray all he wants, that is totally fine and supported by us, but what I love hearing was that he really thought about the feelings and found a way that works better for him, and in my opinion better for everyone.

Post 373: Our first time capsule

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We got these great 300 piece puzzles around Christmas of 2017. We enjoyed the first one so much that we got a second one.

When we finished the first one there was one piece missing, never found it

UNTIL…

We started packing to move to and we found the last piece of the first puzzle,

but our story does not end there.

While packing up the green room (our play room) in his haste, Daddy is not sure which of the puzzle boxes he put the missing piece in. Therefore, when you uncover this note some rainy day in Maine when it is time to build the puzzles again, I would advise being ware of this interesting development.

Till then,

Daddy

Post 342: Adventureland Redux

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Back at Post: 305 I mentioned the Adventureland park that exist here and abroad, It is a “park” where kids can play with hammers, nails, fire and splintery wood.

Yesterday we finally went to the one in California, in Huntington Beach and I must say, I was so happy and encouraged to be there. There is no fire play at this particular Adventureland, but there is so much confidence building activity going on and it is run so simply and respectfully. These days I am used to there being a form to fill out to gain entry to a kids place and a line to wait in and a costly ticket to purchase. There was none of that at Adventureland.  We were greeted by someone who specifically told the rules to Luke ands Lily. I paid my $3 in cash and away we went.

Kind of a super bonus is that the Huntington Beach Adventureland shares a parking lot with one if the largest, happiest libraries I have ever seen.

What a great day!

Post 335: Luke’s 7th Birthday

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We have been somewhat unconventional in our birthday parties over the years, garbage trucks, real buried treasures, pinewood derby extravaganza, pretty much anything imaginative and fun that keeps us away from the horrifying spectacle of having a birthday party at an “event” place where grouchy teenagers serve you unpleasant food in a generic, fluorescent lit room.

As my sister said a few years ago, “someday your gonna run out of ideas and there will be heck to pay!”

This year we came close, but at the last minute genius once again motivated our path.

What was the plan?

To buy a bunch, like 100, geodes, and hammers and eye protection. Hide the geodes in one of our favorite places to go rock climbing. Invite Luke friends, give them the tools and let chaos ensue.

Did it work out, yes, was it really fun, YES. Was there a flash flood warning storm that blew in to let us know it was time to go YES! YES! YES!

Was there an amazing, one of a kind, Geode, Lego Chocolate and vanilla swirl cake, OOOOOHHHH YESSSSSS.

Was fun had, I certainly hope so.

Post 324: Yellow salamander rides again!

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Previously on Luke and Lily.

The other day we went on a great hike in between some of the year late El Niño storms that have been raging Los Angeles the last month or so.

We went to a place called “Froggy Pond“.  Due to the copious amounts of rain it was more like the white water rapids of Santa Ynez Canyon. So cool and so much fun to be there.

Part of our plan was to look for frogs (of course) and possibly even a salamander. Now, just to be clear I personally have never seen a salamander in the Los Angeles environs even though many books claim they are around AND I have looked quite a bit.

But Luke on the other hand has a long history with salamanders as you can see from post #92.

Original salamander hunt

So…, while walking our walk and exploring the river as much as possible I at one point declared (and I cannot tell you why, honestly)

“I am now going to find a salamander!” out loud. To which Luke casually replied a split second later:

“Oh, there is one now!”

People, I tell you my jaw dropped and my heart soared when I looked at where he was pointing and low and behold a large, red California salamander was hanging out on the river bank.

Luke then proceeded to pick him up as if they were old friends, I mean the Salamander did not mind it at all, though when he was transferred to my hand he got a bit nervous and feisty.

New salamander hunt

I snapped a few photos and immediately I knew that the look on Luke’s face was exactly like the look on Luke face way back at post #92. AND, that it is a very salamander-ish look if you ask me.

It was beyond a perfect moment.