Halifax, soccer and more...

We are back from warm and sunny Halifax (and no I am not being ironic – we endured the curse of being too warm most of the week!). We had a great week, with many highlights. Jason said that going to the park with everybody (at various times) was the highlight for him. He is also still talking about the tire swing high in the tree on Hwy 102 and the “enormous” pumpkins at Howard Dill’s pumpkin patch.

Some of Jason’s best moments over the week…

- Saying “at last at last we are at the pumpkin patch” when we were really just lost and turning around.
- Then asking if the local Windsor restaurant would “have tofu? I like tofu.” No, my dear this is the land that tofu forgot. He however consoled himself with homemade turkey soup. And a couple of my French fries: “At last at last, my French fries!”
- Trying out Gran’s Nordic walking sticks at Point Pleasant Park.
- Hanging out with me in Halifax’s North End, including storytime at the North end library, coffee at the café, and a visit to the Mic Mac Child Development Centre.
- In Thursday’s wind and rain, he was quite concerned that it was “raining in my eyes”. He was okay once we reached the discovery centre and he got to act out a very elaborate rescue helicopter scenario, involving walking along a (pretend) street with Mam, letting go of my hand (big no no) and bumping his head. Luckily the rescue helicopter could whisk him to the doctor. If we did this once, we did it 10 times.
- Claudette’s cookies, which Mom and Jason are currently trying to emulate. “I really enjoyed eating those when we were in Halifax”.

We had a rather dramatic ending to our trip when we were unceremoniously placed on stand by because the flight was oversold and told that our ranking for actually getting on the place depending on “our status with Air Canada”. It’s funny but I always thought that if one bought a ticket for a certain flight one could reasonably depend on traveling that same day. Anyway we got on at the last minute, and I had the presence of mind to note to Stockwell Day as I got on that “my wife and I are raising a wonderful family”.

The glory and pain that is 2 and 4 year old soccer…

Heather and Jason go to soccer on Saturday mornings and this was my first time participating. Jason was having a rough morning with a great deal of crying before the whole thing even started. At any given time, a minimum of 20% pf the kids aren’t playing soccer – they might be rolling around on the floor, sitting on parents laps, lying on their balls – but they are definitely not playing soccer. When the coach tells everyone to go line up on the black line, some line up on other coloured lines, some line up on blacklines but the not the one indicated, and six or seven just go climb into the net. Aside from crying, Jason’s main distraction was engaging a few yoga postures mid-game (downward dog, bridge, etc.). At one point he got playing and ran past us waving saying “I’m playing soccer” as the ball went the other way. There was a major face plant. Then he was doing a drill that involved the coach throwing the ball and the kids chasing it and making a shot on net. Jason had already “scored” to the delight of the crowd. During his second drill, after the coach threw it, a bigger kid swooped in and took the shot. He was so heartbroken (and so was I but we are working though it).

Finally, today we went for a walk in Gatineau Park. Jason was a very good hike leader. He was also very helpful by holding our hands as we climbed over boulders. We have also been doing some drawing which has been great – Jason crossed a new developmental threshold recently and will now announce what he is going to draw and then do it.