Strings, Strings and Baseball Teams

I am discovering the joys of being Noah's Mom. For instance who knew something as simple as string could bring such exhilaration and laughter. We have not had too many sunny and warm days this spring. Finally we had a day with both and even a hint of breeze. Noah knew this was a day that could not be passed up. He wanted to go fly a kite. Kite flying for me has always been more of kite dragging, but not Noah. He had a kite flying high last year. He went to the toy promotional aisle of Harmons and looked over the kites. He found a nice $5.00 helicopter kite. He was kind of looking at a Ulysses Butterfly kite as well and so he talked me into getting the butterfly.

Off we went to the Marv Jensen field where we had it all to ourselves.  I felt quite pleased to have my kite fly a few minutes and then I would hold my hand up high and try to coach it into the air. Noah would purposely guide his kite right into the path of my forehead and giggle...but soon we had caught the wind. It seems the higher it got, the more it soared so that you didn't have to do much coaxing. It was absolutely euphoric. There for a moment, I thought of how and what I have busied my life with because I had to get something done. There was never time to fly a kite...and yet here I was having the most peaceful moment in the beauty of spring. It wasn't something that I was anxious to end.

Noah and I had also brought silly string along with us when the kite string had had enough. Oh what fun...Noah had such pleasure seeing me tangled up in the web of string and I had fun letting him.  There is so much to do and so much to see when you have a young one for a companion and friend.

Noah's Dad is coaching his baseball team. They are going to be the Yankees and will play on the field where we flew our kites. They had a clinic for all the teams. I love children and I am always trying to find a way to connect. Here was this cute group of boys. There was one that was just staring and had a twinkle in his eye. I looked to his shirt. It was red with big letters and I said out loud for all to hear, "O Backs !!!! How did you get so lucky to be the O Backs." He stood there with a look that said to me, "Lady...whatever are you talking about?" Then I realized, it was another "cuh juh" "wooden roses" kind of moment. Connie whispered under her breath, "D-Backs, they are the Diamond Backs."










I guess my Mom was right. Sometimes this world just needs a little "out there" kind of moments and that is what I do best.

What are little boys made of? Snips and snail, and kites that sails, strings and strings and baseball teams, that is what little boys are made of.

What I learned from Noah: If you can't decide which kite you like, pretend one is for your Mom and then you get two kites.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

It was a sunny but very windy Saturday. The thought entered our mind, looks like a day for flying a kite.

Noah awoke with excitement. Today he was going to see his Grandma and Grandpa. After a winter Easter, the sunshine will feel good. Grandpa arrived and Noah had his fishing pole ready to thread. Not too far from home is a fish hatchery called "Grandpa's Pond." Noah and Grandpa selected a spot. What a moment for me to see Noah with his Grandfather fishing, something my Grandfather enjoyed doing with his Grandsons.

Unfortunately, the fish did not bite and Noah said, "I have been skunked." There will be other times at the fishing pond. Again, the thought, "Next adventure let us go pick out a kite for you and take them flying"

Not quite ready to end the day, there was a tailgating party for the REAL Soccer Team. It looked like fun...games, prizes, food, and a big bouncy house. Noah kicked off his shoes and climbed aboard.   He had the place to himself. He did somersaults, ran circles, and jumped continuously. He began saying, "Isn't this the greatest day ever" kind of thing.  It made me so happy to see him free and smiling with not a care in the world, or so it seemed.

I gave Grandpa my camera and asked if he would take a few photos while I fixed Noah a hamburger. Grandma went into wash her hands and the next thing I know, I hear "MMMOOOOOMMMMM !" I hear people run and a frantic "HOLD ON BABY." There, my little boy was trapped up in the air inside this big balloon bouncy house. A group of adults surrounded the balloon house. Some tried to calm him down and rescue him from being thrown against the fence or smashed between the balloon walls. It was difficult to see the entrance/exit to help him find his way out. Eventually, someone was able to reach up high enough to pull the balloon to a level where the rest of us could help. While setting the balloon down, a table by the pool was blown over and glass was broken. The sound effects added to the drama. Noah ran into my arms, his little body trembling.

"Mom, I could have been killed," he said. "I wonder if I will be on the news." I tried to diffuse the intensity of the moment with a joke, "Noah, I said 'Let's go FLY a kite, not let's go BE a kite," and laugh he did. Later while driving to the gas pump, Noah asked, "Do you think Heavenly Father was protecting me?" "Absolutely I do." In a moments time, I looked back upon the many instances, the multitude of tender mercies that I have witnessed and feel so grateful for...."THUMP THUMP THUMP...my, Noah what was THUMP THUMP THUMP that THUMP." While counting my blessings, I had run over a cement block that had entirely escaped my view. I was just going around this huge RV in the middle of the Smith's Grocery Store Parking Lot. I was aghast when I saw what I had taken my vehicle over (and thank heavens it was my vehicle and not Grandpas.)  I can officially say I took my boy four wheelin' now.

Noah and I were both laughing hysterically. It had been a crazy blustering, blundering, windy, doggone, skunked kind of day, AND WE had the good fortune of sharing it with Grandma and Grandpa.

What I learned from Noah: He will never set foot inside a bouncy house again and he is learning about his Heavenly Father even when I am not aware. If you don't have a kite, be a kite, if you don't get a bite, your skunked and if you have thumped you have two choices...laugh or go fly a kite.

And why are there no photos of Noah jumping in the bouncy house? Because Grandpa was quick on his feet to the rescue and Grandma, who saw through the bathroom window, called "That's my grandson in there, call 9-1-1."