Switching to Field Hockey

This week Emma made the move from Soccer to Field Hockey. She had been placed on a wait list for fall field hockey at the end of the school year but hadn't heard anything. Meanwhile we signed her and Rachael up for fall soccer and I was getting ready to send them to a soccer camp next week. Then Saturday I got an email that another coach volunteered and Emma was in. Skill assessment was on Tuesday for which she needed a mouth guard, stick and special shin guards. Luckily Emma's good friend Katie plays and had a stick she could borrow.



My dad had knee replacement surgery on Monday and when I got home after visiting the hospital, Emma was out front with Katie and our neighbor Molly practicing. Em and Molly have never played before and they wanted to walk in with a little experience. Jim ran out on Tuesday after he picked Emma up from Summer Stretch to get the rest of the gear.



Summer Stretch is a middle school program that I have had my eye on since I saw a flyer at the back of church years ago. St Will's offers a 6 day program stretched over the summer that is comprised of service and fun. I had mentioned it to Emma and she was immediately enthusiastic about it even though she didn't know if anyone she knew was attending. All things middle school have a mystique and draw for her. Jim dropped her off on the first day and he said she looked petrified. She was all happy stories at pick up and rattled off a big list of acquaintances that were there. This past week her group went to an assisted living home and played games with the residents then the youth went to the harbor for a scavenger hunt. I wish our Parrish offered something like this but I am grateful that the tiny Parrish of St. Will's put the time and energy into the youth of the church.



On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have off and I watch Becky's kids, Matthew, Sarah, and Ben. Truthfully these days at home with 7 kids are much harder and more tiring than the paying job. Our van is a 7 passenger so the 7 kids plus me puts us over capacity and the big girls have to share a seat belt. This is not ideal so we don't go anywhere unless necessary. Some days we have been lucky to carpool. and lucky to have Jim working from home and available for a ride every now and again.


This past Tuesday evening Jim said he would take Emma to the Field Hockey skills assessment much to my disappointment. I was hoping for some time away from the kids. But instead the Rae, Meg, Bridge and I had shrimp stir-fry and went for a walk after dinner. We were hoping for a visit from the ice cream truck but no such luck. Instead it was into the bath after a few Skittles.



Jim said Em did well at the skills assessment and was noticed by the coaches. I was a little surprised. Em was mediocre at soccer but she enjoyed playing. I asked Emma about how she did and she seems pleasantly surprised at how she preformed. I have a feeling that the stick gave her extra confidence.

The 4th with our 4

4th of July is such a big deal here. It is all about hanging out with family and friends and staying close to home for the Catonsville Parade and fireworks. A local realtor puts flags in every yard each year and it really puts me in a patriotic mood. Chairs get lined up along the parade route days in advance and you can see floats being put together in people's driveways throughout the neighborhoods.


This year Emma and Rachael were both asked to walk in the parade. Emma wasn't sure at first but then agreed to be a part of the Youth Soccer League float. Rachael and I helped put the float together for her school. It was the school's 10th birthday so we made a huge blue birthday cake.

On the morning of the 4th we relaxed and the girls helped me make red white and blue Popsicles out of jello and whipped cream. They like to watch the powder turn bright colors. So do I. With Popsicles on a tray, fireworks, and bags of sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottles and sweat shirts we headed out. We dropped Emma and Rachael off at their meeting places after we wove through local streets full of people. Then with melting Popsicles Jim found a route around many blocked off roads to get to Becky and Erik's house. They have hosted a 4th party for many years now and are with in walking distance of the parade route and fireworks. So we unloaded there, lathered up and went to find a spot to sit.



The parade started with the fire trucks sounding their sirens. Poor Bridget did not like the noise and covered her ears. We settled the wagon into a spot in the shade at the end of the route. Bridge and Megan enjoyed the bands and floats and occasional candy. Bridgey especially liked any of the mascots. Rachael's float was #45 in the parade and Megan spotted her coming in plenty of time for me to get pictures. Rae was obviously having a blast riding on the float with her friend.


After she went by Jim walked to pick her up. She came back with her water gun which she had used to spray people with along the route. On the way back Jim enjoyed using the water gun. We told Rachael she was only allowed to squirt people on floats that had water guns. Rachael was smart and waited until a float was by us before squirting. Rachael got a boy and man on one float with guns only to realize that he had a huge super soaker and great aim. She loved it!













Emma rode on the cover of a rear wheel of a 1928 truck and threw out little hackey sack balls for the soccer league. She rode in style with her new sunglasses on. Bridge and Meg enjoyed waving to her. Jim walked down to retrieve her from the #85 float. She came back with stories of seeing lots of people she knew along the parade route.


We headed back to the house and got ready for the cookout. Uncle Ed made a bottle launcher which was a huge hit. They took turns launching bottles and soaking themselves in the process. After dinner when all of the kids were distracted by other things Bridget tried her hand at the launcher. She had stayed away when the big kids were at it but she obviously had paid attention. She filled the bottle with water and put it on just as she had watched the others do. Then she pumped the bicycle pump. It was really cute. She got some cousin help and launched a bottle.

When it was darker but not too dark we pulled out the boxes and boxes of sparklers and a bucket of water. The cousins had a great time. Sarah did it for the first time and even after burning her hand a little wanted to continue holding sparklers. Bridget was not ready to give it a go but watched happily.


Rachael had gotten soaked from the bottle launcher so Emma, who brought a whole change of clothes along just in case she needed a different outfit, lent Rae clothes because by now the sun was going down and Rae was freezing. We all put on Sweat shirts and went to the nearby field to watch fire works. It was 9:30 and Bridget was asking to go home. I held her on my lap, helped her cover her ears and shortly she fell asleep. I realized it had been a very long time since any one of my girls fell asleep on me and it was really nice. All 4 of them fell asleep in the short car ride home. It was a great 4th of July.

Camps and VBS

We have eased into the fun of summer and have enjoyed weirdly comfortable weather. It is summer in Baltimore and even Jim is comfortable without the A/C on. We have a number of things on our calender but it is still a nice easy pace. In June Em, Rae and Matthew went to a morning art studio at the community college for a week. They really enjoyed it. Emma said she learned new things every day and especially liked sculpture. A week later at dinner she shared that she wanted to be an artist, she had held tight at writer since 3rd grade but she is leaning in a slightly different creative direction now. On the painting day they did a still life of fruit and Rachael showed me a very colorful abstract piece. the other students joined in to explain that she had spilled paint on her picture and she turned it into a puppy walking across her page. I was happy to see the spill not ruin her work but instead turn it into a whimsical story.

In June we also set up our new pool. It is a quick set 13 ft pool that is 3 1/2 feet deep. The non-stop rain delayed the set up for a while and then the fittings for our salt water chlorinator delayed it even longer. Megan was very anxious to get in but even after it was up our cooler than normal weather kept the water from getting to a good temperature. Still now in July Megan's gets out after 30 minutes shivering. Rae and Emma don't succumb to the cool temp very quickly. Bridget got in the 1st night with Jim but she did not enjoy the cold water or the splashing of her sisters. She does love to sit in our patio chairs with the towels. The salt water has been great and I am happy not to be combing out tanglely chlorine hair.

The week prior to the 4th Emma and Rachael went to girl scout day camp. It was a US theme and had lots of activities around the states. They love this camp and even though they don't know many girls since it isn't in our county they make friends easily. Our neighbor's attend too and Ms. Laura is the quarter master so they have been going for the past few years and have a built in ride. This is Emma's last year so she got to attend a special overnight with the rising 6th graders. She came home with gobs of stories and songs. Each night Rachael came home exhausted but took the time to read through our pack of US State cards before prayer time.

That same week was Vacation bible school and St. Will's the big girls were gone so this left Megan to go without her sisters. 5 of her cousins were there so I knew she would know plenty of people. I asked her how it went and she said that she was in a group with babies. Upon further explanation we discovered this meant 4 year olds and one 3 year old. She was upset and I asked her if she wanted me to talk to the leader. Immediately Megan relaxed, I got the feeling she trusted me to help her. The next morning when I did talk to the leader I found out that the group was mostly 5 year olds who were going into kindergarten, like Megan. Megan gave me a skeptical look when I told her but settled in just fine.

This week Megan is attending VBS at St. Mark's with Rachael and cousins. Meg and Rae were both excited to see kids they knew well. One of Megan's favorite pre-k friends, Charlie, asked her to sit next to him in the pew on the first day. At that point I knew the week would be a success. Rachael has been enjoying the creative snacks and crafts each day and can tell me what the themes are. Megan can't remember any of the themes but she can sing the songs.

Our evenings are low key, as the girls swim followed by bedtime routines and story time. We read the Meg and Bridget together, and then Em and Rae together. The big girls are excited each night to continue onto a new chapter of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, while Meg and Bridge pick books from our library bag.

Bridge is paying attention to all that swirls around her. One night in the van Jim reprimanded the big girls for being out of control and asked "Do you think I like repeating myself?". Bridget chimes in asking "Daddy, you peed yourself?" She makes me laugh.