Job has decided that he wants to kayak down a river.  However, there are a couple of things that need to happen before he does that.  First he needs to be comfortable in the kayak. Second, he needs to be comfortable upside down in the kayak.  Third, he needs to be able to take pull his skirt and do a wet exit in the kayak.  The eskimo roll, well, that would be nice.  So he's been reading about kayaking, watching videos and practicing his rolling.  The first time he mentioned it to me, I was a nervous wreck.  The thought of him in the pool upside down about killed me!  He assured me that it was no problem and promptly placed the kayak in the pool, put on the spray skirt and worked on bracing, and paddling.  Then came the rolling part.  I held my breath as I watched him line up his paddle, lean to one side and flip the kayak over.  When he didn't flip back over, my heart raced as I watched him suck in air and "doggy paddle-like" over to the side of the pool and haul himself up.  That did it.  I couldn't keep watching that awkward side stroke as he lifted his head above water.  A rule was formed immediately.  If he could not immediately roll back up, he was to try again and then if he couldn't roll up a second time, he had to pull the skirt and do a wet exit.  I really didn't want him to develop a bad habit of the side stroke.  It was so difficult not to race over and help him.  It took every bit of will power to stay and watch and let him work it out. I was never going to be on the river with him and I can't rush in and rescue him when I am uncomfortable. This is his deal, his interest, his goal.  So I did what I could to encourage him and I grabbed my camera instead.  There is something about having a piece of glass between me and the activity.  Somehow I become a little bit more objective and detached.  I use this trick on the soccer field, the wrestling mat and now I guess with the kayak in the pool.  With this "crutch" for me, we spent the next couple of hours working on rolling for him with me watching, taking photos, and encouraging.  It is still difficult not to rush in, but I guess at some point, we parents need to step back and let them try.

Second tournament of the season and more to come. Her fourth year in the Ranger program and for this tournament she was asked to play for the Gold team which is the top team in her age division for this program.  I think she was honored to be asked but when the tournament was done, she realized the work involved to get on the team. It would take hours and hours for months at a time and the next year, she may not make it.  However she is playing for the blue team and there is no more white team.  At the beginning there were so many girls and then as the years go by, they start to look at other sports or have other interests. So it isn't surprising that the teams dwindle.  However, for now she's still excited but knows what she needs to do to improve.  The summer tournaments can be brutal so we will see how it turns out.  For me, I think our fields are the prettiest. The light comes at the side so you get great light as they play and the view of the mountain can't be beat.  It makes it fun taking photos.

I think John and Isaac are looking a lot a like these days and it makes me smile.  It is good to have Isaac home. We've missed his laughter.  I love to see both Isaac and John laugh.  Usually its when Isaac is explaining something that happened to him and he tells it so well that we can imagine it happening. He's always been good at that.  This weekend, John's brother Kevin came out from Montana.  He stopped in Seattle and picked up John's dad so they could spend the day here with us.  We spent the day between soccer games and hanging out in the back yard, talking, shooting BB guns, and laughing.  I have to say that John's dad looks better than he has in a long time. It was nice.

I love hiking.  There is so much to see and notice. Sometimes I can get lost in just noticing big stuff that needs to be done. Then I go hiking, bringing my macro lens with me and start to notice small things such as a mushroom colony on a log, a snail moving across the trail, a beautiful blue fly on a white mushroom.  There is a whole other world waiting to be noticed, encountered, and marveled at.  I'm lucky because I have a family that wants to marvel at the same things. Lona, John and I headed out to Raptor Ridge to enjoy the day.  I can't remember where the boys were but it wasn't with us. We aren't far away from civilization on this hike but you feel like you are. The trail lined with ferns almost as big as a person, the moss covered trees creating a canopy and the stones creating stairs all contribute to being far from anything man made. The little spur that offers a vantage point was our destination and still the hills covered any kind of view of civilization. I feel so blessed to live in an area that can be enjoyed and isn't swallowed up by concrete and machines.