A taste of summer

The high was supposed to hit 78 degrees today. I am not sure what the actual high was, but I think it was at least that warm. Whatever the thermometer said, it was a gorgeous day that felt like summer. I wish it was here to stay, but it was just a taste of things to come. The kids got up earlier than normal today. Even Nadia was up at 6:30, which is unheard of for her, but it actually worked out well because we needed to be out the door a little after 8:00 to get to Nadia's first soccer game of the spring season. There are seven girls on her team, and they place five on five. Her game was at 9:00 in Mifflinburg, and one girl couldn't make it today. Paul's parents met us at the field. It wasn't Nadia's best game, but I am confident she'll get back in gear as the season progresses. Since Paul isn't coaching her team, it means I'll always have help watching the boys during her game, which is a big plus. Today the ration was four adults to two kids during Nadia's game, and most of the games in the fall I was watching both kids by myself (and trying to take pictures of her game), which was VERY challenging because Oliver didn't want to stay put. I also think he's matured some and will be easier to handle, although he did try to dart on the field once during Ian's game because he wanted DADDY.

Immediately after Nadia's game we hopped in the van and drove to Ian's 10:30 game, which was at a field about 15 minutes away from her game. I thought the game was going to be a total disaster because he did NOT want to shed the light coat I let her wear as he watched Nadia's game. It had warmed up a lot during Nadia's game, and he definitely didn't need a coat, but he always goes through a struggle when he has to switch to wearing short sleeve clothes. He entered the field crying his eyes out over this. Lovely. Thankfully he got it together by the time it was his turn to play on the field. There are ten kids on his team, but they split the team in half so that five kids are playing five kids from the opposing team. They play three on three. Ian did much better at kicking the ball than he did during most of the games in the fall. I was very relieved. At one point he could have scored a goal as he had a breakaway and was kicking the ball down the field, but then he ran a little ahead of the ball. As a side note, I know Ian's shorts just look plain ridiculous. I am going to buy him new ones that are much SMALLER. Those were the smallest ones our league had available. Nadia has been wearing her same uniform for a little over two years, and it finally fits her now!

After Oliver's shorter than usual nap, we headed to the playground. I let the kids pick which one, and they picked one that is a longer walk. I forgot to bring water bottles, but since Paul was home grading exams we were able to call him, and he drove to meet us and delivered water bottles. We were very grateful! I made the mistakes of having this long walk be my first time wearing sandals this year. Oops! I also discovered I need to buy Ian a pair of sandals. I did find some that fit Oliver. This evening I also discovered I should have gotten out the sunscreen for the first time this year. Oops! After dinner we watched some more of the Miracle Worker (about Helen Keller), and then we spent some more time outside. Paul took a break from grading to work with Nadia for about 30 minutes on her bike riding skills. She is getting better at learning how to ride without training wheels! She hasn't mastered it yet, but I think the end is in sight. Whew.

One of my FB friends posted a link to an article that listed the 100 best places to take kids in DE, MD, PA, VA, and DC. We have already taken the kids to sixteen of the places (the two in italics we haven't been to yet but plan to take them to this summer): Crayola Experience, Maryland Science Center, National Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Sesame Place, Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake, Port Discovery, Maryland Zoo, National Aquarium, Bushkill Falls, Hersheypark, Six Flags America, Knoebels, Strasburg Railroad, Air and Space Museum, and Colonial Williamsburg. I also saw twenty places listed in the article that we haven't been to yet that I'd like to go some day: Great Wolf Lodge, King's Dominion, Assateague Island, Newseum, International Spy Museum, Mount Vernon, Idlewild Story Book Forest, Independence National Historical Park, Luray Caverns, Landis Valley Museum, Gettysburg, Franklin Institute, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Turkey Hill Experience, Fort McHenry, Medieval Times, Historic Ships in Baltimore, Please Touch Museum, Dorney Park, and Busch Gardens. The article was written by a newspaper in Maryland so naturally the majority of places listed were in that state, which is probably why only 36 of the 100 caught my attention.