Soccer-Blading-Scooter Jumping

We have been busy with family and just stuff this month. We visited the Smith family for a weekend and had a wonderful time. We watched Lanna and Maggie play in soccer games and then watched Oma and sister Carol play soccer against their high school varsity team in an annual alumni game. Way fun and funny. No oxygen was needed on the sidelines but there were many missed kicks with an “Oh Geez” to follow from said player. Sandy and I had some good laughs from the grandstands.

We didn’t take any photos that weekend but if you wanted to see a couple they are on the “Ruiz Family 4” website, the link is to the right here under "Other Sites".




Cole is playing soccer now too, the running is good for him and his coach likes the way he listens and follows directions. Cole says he also likes his coach, and is learning quite a lot. Did I mention that Oma was coaching his team? I didn’t? Well she is.The “Beaver Volcanoes” played their first two mini-games this past weekend and Cole had a very good time. The other teams seem to dominate the direction of the ball but we do have two or three boys that “get” the game enough to challenge them. Cole seems to understand the angles pretty well, running to those to cut off the ball or for an accidental pass from his team…or from the other team. He even made a goal, which made him turn and say “Yeah” with a fist and a smile.

Jo and Momma kicked the ball around a bit before Cole’s game and she had a very good time. I did ask her if she wanted to play soccer on an all girls team and her words were. “Please don’t make me play soccer again, Momma.” How could you force that? She might try it another time but not this season. This day like so many others, she played in the dirt and was very…very happy.
(fyi, she starts swimming again this week)

After almost a full year of owning roller blades Jo has finally pulled them out and started playing on them! (we have not pushed her) In just a few days she has gained much confidence on them and has even gone down our ‘hill’ at the end of the driveway. (if you have ever been at our home you know that it is barely a downgrade but it’s enough that she rolls without pushing) She is working hard, smiling and laughing the whole time! Oma and I are having a wonderful time watching her and helping her here and there.

Cole is becoming quite the hot dog on all things with wheels. Here he wanted to prove that he could jump a piece of sidewalk chalk. And he did. He has taught himself how to jump like this, along with doing a little wheelie, and now trying a nose wheelie. He has started racing his bike around the yard so fast that all vehicles have to be moved from the driveway. (A couple close calls with hitting them while riding very fast.) Anything we can do to help him keep the teeth he has left until they are ready to leave on their own.

That’s about it for now. Busy but all good.