It's About...

You can fill in the blank anyway you want. You could say it's about time (too long between posts). You could say it's about summer vacation and spending time with family (I'm enjoying some of both in the coming weeks).

This week it's about two things for me. First, it's about the Tour de France. Anymore I find it difficult to sit down to watch a weekend of football or basketball or even baseball. But I can stop down for several evenings at a time to watch The Tour. We're at stage 3 and we've learned a few things:

• Mark Cavendish isn't human
• Lance still has IT
• Lance is showing us this time it's truly not about the bike

The second thing can be summed up in this photo. And, for those that know what this means you'll also be interested to know that this will be sprayed on the road of the tour for thousands of fans and 180 cyclists to see for tomorrow.

Uh-uhhhh!

Field Day - Relays, Friends and Fun

I took the day off today for a couple of reasons. Originally it was to be the 2nd of 6 "Man Days" given to me by my wife for Christmas. I was going to go to Corbin's Field Day at school and then spend the afternoon organizing the garage.

Well, as it happens, plans were changed. Emily Kate has been sick and we kept her home today. Fever was gone and she accompanied me to the field day to watch Corbin. She had a ball walking around and cheering her "Baboo" on.

After field day Corbin headed off to his afternoon school and Emily Kate and I came back home. It's been an afternoon of naps (her), playing, tea parties and after picking Corbin up some daddy/kid time playing, wrestling and laughing together. Most of all, hugs abound for all.

Maybe not a man day...but a REAL MAN day to be sure.

Photo Collage for Bucky Red

Also on the DVD...

Richardson - Ferrel Indie Films Presents: 80 Years with Bucky Red

Here's the video being sent to Bucky Red

Tying Shoes

Yesterday I picked Corbin up at school (normal Friday evening activity). As I walked in the door to his classroom Corbin's teacher said he had BIG news. Indeed! Corbin announced that he could tie his own shoes. After exchanging a hug and a high five I watched as my 5 year old wonder sat in the floor and meticulously tied his shoes. As he tied, he explained each move:

• First you cross the strings
• Then tuck one under the other
• Then tie one bunny ear
• Then tie a second bunny ear and cross it behind the first bunny ear
• Then make one bunny ear go through the hole
• And last...pull it tight.

I was amazed. I was proud. I was smiling from ear to ear.

But why? Why did something that I do multiple times/day EVERY single day stop me in my tracks?

Pride in Corbin was part of it, but there was more.

It helped me to see through a fresh set of eyes just how big a deal learning something new is. I witnessed friends, teachers, grandparents, and Mommy & Daddy celebrate at the announcement of this new learning. I relished the time that father and son sat together discussing how we each tie our shoes, collaborating together now as equals in this shoe tying fraternity. I soaked in another in a growing line of amazed moments as I witness my children grow and mature more moment by moment.

So we embark on a new stage of life. More independence. More self care. Yes, it now takes about 10 times longer to tie shoes before we leave but I'm discovering that patience for this practice comes easy. It's like watching the learning happen each time and I am soaking in each moment.

Thank you Corbin for showing me how wildly fun learning ANYTHING can be.