Sailboat

Our neighbors have recently gifted us with a small sailboat their son has outgrown, and although East Tennessee is not much for wind, there are occasional afternoons when a breeze will kick up enough to allow a short cruise.

This is Boy Wonder, with his cousin, sailing on Fort Loudoun lake the other day.   I was glad to catch them upright, because most of their sailing experience currently centers on capsize recovery.  I suppose full body and boat immersion is just part of the fun.

'Tis the Season

For basketball, that is.  We've been having fun watching Boy Wonder play with a KYS team that's doing very well this year.  The team has some speed, a little bit of height, and is gaining confidence, which is great to watch.

The boys all seem to get along and have a good time.  Ten year-old boys are easy to please.

Except when their parents consistently forget their red basketball jerseys, and they're stuck wearing the spare team jersey,  lucky number 13.  

Then the parents must be scolded and reprimanded for not reading team e-mails more carefully and doing the wash on time.  

Jeez--try to pull it together, MOM.

"Mom, This Camera Is Broken"

Boy Wonder's nighttime photo efforts:

Artsy!

Siblings

There's something about a younger brother that riles up the usually gentle Miss M:

Miss M (blowing minor Boy Wonder annoyance completely out of proportion): Well, how would you like it if I stomped your face?

Me:  MADDIE.  Be an example.

Miss M:  I AM, MOM.

Me:  No, you're not.

Miss M:  You didn't say I have to be a GOOD example.

Funny This and That

Boy Wonder (from another room, excitedly): Hey! I bet you can’t guess what the theme of my . . . my . . . my . . . thingamajob is.

(confused silence from other members of household)

(long pause)

Spouse: Well. You’re right about that.

The Best Compliment

"Mom, you've got a little bit of kid in you."

Boy Wonder Is 10

Boy Wonder recently turned 10, and we celebrated his big move into double digits (10!) with an overnight visit to Gatlinburg.

Birthday pancakes at The Pancake Pantry, oh yeah.

We jumped on the hotel beds, visited arcades, and played laser tag.  Laser tag is surprisingly fun, you know.

Daylong birthday amnesty by usually testy older sister.

For that matter, so is Gatlinburg.  Despite its reputation as a tacky tourist destination, I rather enjoyed it.  I am seriously mellowing in my old age.

The gaggle.

We had four hotel rooms, and I was awakened near dawn by whoops and thumps from the boys' room next door.  There are worse ways to wake up.

My BFF and her sleepy boy.

We headed directly to The Pancake Pantry, then to the arcades.  There was a pause for pizza, then back to the arcades.  And of course, we didn't miss an opportunity to visit Kilwin's, an old-timey candy and ice cream shop.

Posturing tweens.

Whoopee cushion-related merriment.

It was a very fun day, and we were glad to be able to celebrate it on a day off from school.  Happy Birthday, Boy Wonder, we love you!

Boy Wonder at 9

The Boy and His Bike

Racquetheads!

Run, Timmy, RUN!

At a recent cross-country meet, where nine year-old Boy Wonder ran an 8:33 mile despite the heat, crowd, and general hostility toward running that does not involve a ball or tackling.

Go, Timmy!

2012 Start of School

Boy Wonder could not pass up an opportunity to ham it up this morning.

We're kind of getting used to the earlier start to the day.

Some of us, at least.

Back Seat Photographer

Boy Wonder took a number of photographs on our recent road trip to Montana and Banff.  His slightly skewed backseat perspective amuses me.

Memorial Day 2012

After the School Talent Show

Me:  So, how was the talent show today, guys?

Miss M: Well, I'm afraid our school has no talent.

Me:  Really?  Wasn't anything good?

Miss M and Boy Wonder [firmly]: No.

[Ensuing discussion of various talent show mishaps and failures, including their own.]

Me:  Nothing?  Hunh.  Well, you know it takes a lot of courage to get up there and try to--

Miss M [interrupting]:  Yeah, yeah, that's what Dad said.  "Courage."  But here's the thing, Mom.  TALENT show.  You know?

At which point, I gave up and laughed until I cried.

Girl's got a point.

He's Nine!

A big happy birthday to our best boy on his ninth birthday.

You're growing up awful fast, buddy.  Slow down, would ya!  Thank goodness we have photographs to remind us how you used to be so little.

Like this one, when you're four, tuckered out, and sunburned, sitting with your dad and Uncle Pat, on Pawleys Island.  

And this one when you're two, on Dewees Island, giving the photographer what-for.

And this one when you're three, and trying very, very hard to sit still.

And this one, when you're five, working on your camera smile.

And this one at three, at the Knoxville Zoo, plainly tickled about it.

Another one when you're three, with your sister, right before bed.

Four, at your birthday party.  You and your dad have always been good friends.

I love this one, when you're two, dressed up for Halloween and a bit uncertain about it.

And this one, when you're six, hiking at Glacier National Park.

This is your third birthday party, a festival of trucks.  Now you love Legos like you used to love trucks.

But you still like to ham it up, like you did at two.

You can be serious, too.  Five, on the beach in Tulum, Mexico.

Not quite one, having dinner out with your family.

Eight, with a new Christmas present.

We love you, buddy!  Happy birthday!