Wii Envy

One of Zach's good friends from the neighborhood recently got a Nintendo Wii. In response, Zach has launched into a full-fledged campaign to get one of his own. His longing for the shiny new toy is palpable. (Understandably so -- I haven't played with one yet, but they look really, really cool.)

Now, it has been our unofficial family policy to not buy the newest and latest videogame systems as they come out, but rather to stay about 2-3 years behind the cutting edge, waiting for prices to drop significantly before upgrading to a new videogame system.

But this time, it might just be unavoidable. The holidays (and Zach's birthday) are coming up, the extended family is looking for gift suggestions for the kids, and Linda likes the idea of video games that involve the kids being up and moving around rather then just sitting still.

I won't put up much of a fight, either. Video games are a guilty pleasure of mine, and have I mentioned that the Wii looks really, really cool?

Anyone in the market for a well-used GameCube?

The Four Types of Soccer Parents

In my brief experience as a Soccer Dad, I have found that in general, Soccer Parents can be grouped into one of four categories:

1) The Socializer spends the entire game gabbing with friends, never really paying attention to the game unless the coach is heard calling out the kids name. The Socializer loves having kids in soccer, as it provides an opportunity to catch up on all of the neighborhood gossip. The Socializer is mostly seen talking with other Socializers, but is often spotted talking with Normal Parents as well.

2) The Angry Parent is upset that his/her child forgot the shin pads, or isn't running fast enough, or didn't heed the coach's instructions, or drank all of the Gatorade before the game even started. Angry Parent also gets upset at the coach and the refs, and basically questions every decision made regarding the league, including game location, starting times, and uniform color. Angry Parent is often looking for a sympathetic ear, and is therefore drawn to The Socializer.

3) The Fan is way too into the game, pacing the sidelines, cheering for the kids at an inappropriately loud volume throughout the game. Other parents occasionally give The Fan a bemused glance, causing The Fan to quiet down for a while. But a short time later, The Fan is caught up in the game again, clapping, yelling, and ultimately looking silly. The Fan's natural enemy is The Socializer, who prevents The Fan from paying attention to the game.

4) Finally, the Normal Parent sits back and enjoys the game, allows the coach do the coaching, and does not overwhelm the kids with lots of yelling. Normal Parent does not pace up and down the sidelines, does not indulge in excessive yelling, and does not get angry at the kids or the refs. Nevertheless, Normal Parent interacts easily with parents with any of the other three groups.

So which am I?

I am The Fan. I can't help myself. I never imagined that I'd be someone who gets all keyed up at my kids' soccer games. It is soccer, after all. But there I am each week, yelling and cheering like a crazy person.

Below: This is what Ben (his game finished up earlier in the day) was doing while I was carrying on at Zach and Phoebe's game last Sunday.

Soccer Star

Last year, Zach (at 6 years old) was one of the youngest kids on his soccer team. (The age range is from 6-8 years old.) He did ok, but most of the other kids were older, stronger, and faster, and so Zach didn't play very aggresively, and wasn't a big part of the action.

This year, it's a different story. Zach is much more confident, and has a much better grasp of what's happening on the field. Even more than that, he isn't nearly as passive as he was last year. He's not afraid to get after the ball and challenge the players on the opposing team.

In his game last Sunday, he even had a nice scoring opportunity (where his shot hit the post). Last year, shots on goal just didn't happen for him, as he was always a step or two behind the play.

Zach's team lost 3-2, but I was pretty proud of our soccer star.

Phoebe's Birthday Bash

Our house was full of Phoebe's friends today as we threw her a Fairy Realm-themed birthday party.

Loosely following the storyline in the Fairy Realm book series, each of the guests had to steal an enchanted bracelet from the evil Valda, thus enabling them to find magical wish stones, paint butterflies, transport griffin eggs on a spoon, play pin-the-horn-on-the-Unicorn, and eat bubble-gum flavored ice-cream cake.

Various and sundry gifts were given and received, including roller skates, several dolls, new pajamas, a Webkinz pet, and a bunch of other stuff that I didn't really pay attention to, as it was mostly pink and frilly and princess and/or fairy-oriented. Pictured to the left: a dress-up princess gown which Phoebe changed into almost immediately after unwrapping and wore for the rest of the day.

Special thanks goes out to Aunt Melissa for the outstanding homemade birthday card featuring this (somewhat terrifying) photoshopped image of Phoebe as a Disney Princess.

Party Preparations

In preparation for today's party, Phoebe decorated her own birthday cake -- which was (by Phoebe's specific request) made with only the finest bubble-gum-flavored ice cream known to humanity.

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this was quite possibly the most obscenely decadent birthday cake ever.

Rained Out

Even though there was no rain in the forecast, it poured shortly before the kids' soccer games were scheduled to start this morning.

As the photo illustrates, reactions among Team Houserspawn(tm) were mixed.

Six

Today is Phoebe's sixth birthday.

This morning, I asked her if she thinks anything will be different now that she's six.

She thought for a moment and replied:

"I'll get to stay up later. I'll get to watch more television. And I'll get to have a birthday party."

Well, she's right about the last one at least.

Go, Sharks, go!

Regardless of whether or not the Phillies are able to make the post-season, there is playoff baseball in Philadelphia this year.

OK, well, not in Philadelphia exactly, but rather across the river in Camden, NJ, where I took the kids last night to see the Camden Riversharks play the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League semifinals.

As an aside, if you're a baseball fan in the Philly area, a Riversharks game is a Must See. Games are (relatively) cheap, and Campbell's Field offers a gorgeous view of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Philly skyline.

The Sharks played the Pats to a 2-2 stalemate through 10 innings, at which time Phoebe had fallen asleep and Ben was about to do the same. We weren't around to see the Patriots score in the 11th to force the series to a 3rd and deciding game, to be played tonight at Campbell's field.

But in the end, I got to see 10 innings of minor-league baseball, and the kids got to eat hot dogs and ice cream and stay up until 10:30 on a school night. Everybody went home happy.

School Days

On Wednesdays, one of our neighbors' daughters walks to school with Ben. (That's a temporary tattoo on her left arm.)

As I was walking with them and listening in on their conversation, the White Stripes song "We're Going To Be Friends" was going through my head:

Fall is here / hear the yell
Back to school / ring the bell
Brand new shoes / walking blues
Climb the fence / books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends

Dragon Dietary Preferences

In this 15-second video, Ben explains why small castles are safe from dragon attacks.

The sound level is a little low in the video, so here is the transcript:

Dragon: "Roar!"

Ben: "...then he says, Hey, Castle! I'm not gonna eat that castle! It looks too small. Because he only eats big castles, and this is a small castle."

The Interrogation

Ben started back to preschool today. Phoebe was particularly interested in Ben's school activites, as Ben is in the same preschool classroom Phoebe was in last year.

On our way home, Phoebe told him "Ben, I have a lot of questions for you", then proceeded to grill him for the next five minutes. Here is their conversation, more or less verbatim:

Phoebe: "Did you have a good day?"
Ben: "Yes."
Phoebe: "Are your teachers nice?"
Ben: "Yes."
Phoebe: "Was it anyone's birthday?"
Ben: "No."
Phoebe: "What did you have for snack?"
Ben: "Pretzels."
Phoebe: "Did you make any new friends?"
Ben: "Yes."
Phoebe: "What were their names?"
Ben: "I don't remember."
Phoebe: "Did you make a project?"
Ben: "What, are you kidding? Of course I did!" (holds up drawing)
Phoebe: "Do you know your teachers names?"
Ben: "Only one - Miss Micki."
Phoebe: "Miss Micki and Miss Lisa. I know because I was in your class last year."

The cross-examination was finished by the time we got home. I have to hand it to her, Phoebe got about as much information out of Ben than I've ever been able to get out of any of the kids when asking about school.

Ye Olde Birth-Day Partie

We celebrated Benjamin's 4th birthday over the weekend with a big knight-themed birthday bash.

As the guests arrived, they were given swords, asked to find a magical chalice, sent on a quest to slay an evil, fire-breathing dragon (courageously played by Uncle Andrew in a dragon costume), and recover the treasures of the kingdom.

In celebration of the dragon's defeat, gifts were opened, birthday candles were extinguished, and cake was eaten.

It was great fun for everyone. Except maybe for Uncle Andrew, who, as the dragon, was pummed with inflatable swords and water balloons.

Soccer Draft Countdown

Our local youth soccer league is drafting teams tonight, so workouts were held over the weekend to give the players one final opportunity to impress their coaches.

Once the kids passed their drug tests, they were cleared to participate in a variety of drills designed to help the coaches evaluate the talent pool available to them.

Team Houserspawn(tm) performed particularly well in the 40 yard dash and vertical jump, but they didn't stand out as much as I would have liked in the bench press and dead lift.

I didn't see their final Wonderlic scores, but I'm hoping that these help their draft position.


The big disappointment in this whole process is that the draft is not being televised live on our local access cable station.

Can we maybe get this on ESPN2 next year?

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Cousins Richard, Alex, Jason, and Jessica joined Ben and I as we took Ben to his first Phillies game on Saturday.

The Fightin' Phils got home runs from Chris Coste, Greg Dobbs, and Jimmy Rollins on their way to a 9-1 victory over the visiting Florida Marlins.

Houserspawn(tm) United

This is Team Houserspawn(tm) after their first soccer practice of the season.

My primary goal for next practice is to get shin pads and cleats on all three kids in under 30 minutes.

Halloween in September

Last night, I took Ben to one of these seasonal Halloween stores where I bought him a knight costume for trick-or-treating this year.

Ben also has a knight-themed birthday party coming up on Saturday, so, I reasoned, he can get another wear out of the costume during the party.

The thing is, he hasn't taken the costume off since we opened it last night. And while it's funny to watch the neighbors' expressions when they see a 4-year-old knight with us as we walk Zach & Phoebe to school, there's no way this costume stays in one piece until Halloween unless we start limiting the amount of time he can wear it between now and then.

On the plus side, there have been no dragon sightings on our block since Sir Knight Benjamin began patrolling.

Rookie of the Year

Having been promoted to the local single-A elementary school, Phoebe will begin her public school rookie season today.

According to the 2007 Houserspawn(tm) Press Guide, Phoebe will be the opening day starter for Team Houserspawn(tm). Our scouts tell us that she has all of the tools necessray to be successful at the next level, and we project that she will put up solid numbers.

Phoebe has had an impressive start to her minor-league scholastic career, and even did some additional off-season workouts over the summer, practicing her reading with Daddy and learning to write a handful of words.

We look for Phoebe to continue to improve all aspects of her game this season, and to be promoted first grade by this time next year.

Back to School Preparations

Ben submits to a haircut over the weekend to prepare for his return to preschool this week.