Le Week-end

This past Saturday, (9/10), Michael had his first soccer game.

Michael's hunger/drive/determination for the ball has waned since last year. He's still one of the fastest (if not THE fastest) kid out there.

He can run from the back of the pack all the way to the front of the pack where the kid is kicking the ball - pass that kid and the ball - and take the ball and turn it around.

This year, he decided that running up there was all he had to do. And then he'd kind of piddle around the ball. And then just kind of look at it. Like he forgot that you're supposed to take the ball away, kick it all the way to the other end. And score.

To his very competitive parents - we're just sitting there and seething inside and trying our best not to say anything about anything and be "THOSE PARENTS."

Well, Michael had a great time. And like last year - after the first practice - Brian goes home and assesses the team's strengths and weaknesses and develops drills that help address what needs to improve.

Michael - and the rest of the kids for that matter - really like the snack part of the whole soccer bit:

After that, we went to Giant and busted our budget by buying fish.

I am a big proponent of "eating my money" because if I'm gonna spend my money on something, I'd rather spend it on items which will 1) nourish my body in a positive way and 2)be joyful to taste and eat. Life's too short to eat plasticized food. But that's just me and my family. You and yours can do whatever you like and it is no matter to me! I don't judge anyone on that and frankly, I fall off the wagon all the time (as I write this post I am stuffing myself with Barnum animal crackers).

Then, we decided to be "active" and headed to Milburn to pick apples!
Michael hammed it up for the camera for just a hair of a second:
All little boys should have pictures of them doing this with their dads:
These kind of apples were good, but not as good as the orange honey apples! Didn't even know that kind existed! I love Michael's face in this picture:
They did a lot of eating off of the tree:
And I caught Michael through the bushes. This isn't a spectacular shot, but I am practicing trying new things. I liked 1) The composition - like I am peering through a bush and the bush in front of me is fuzzy but what I am looking at is now 2) the post processing in photoshop - I do like that kind of vintage-y sharp look.

What I do not like: Michael's not doing anything terribly interesting and his eyes are shut. But it does capture the idea of a little boy - hunting around an orchard - and delighting on what he finds.
After that - more rest and relaxtion and enjoyment of Brian being back home. Brian traveled nearly 3 weeks out of the last 4. It was really hard on all of us. However, the break does make the heart grow fonder.

After many years of marriage - it is true what they say - that you can take each other for granted. At least Brian and I tend to. We get shorter with one another and take the stresses of our daily lives out on each other because we are there.

After Brian's little trip(s), we come back together - so thankful to be together and have each other forever. It is always a nice feeling to know that if you had to do it all again, you know you would because that person still fascinates you and makes you laugh.