NewMexiKen

Five-year-old Sofie: Mommy – BIG problem.

Mommy: What?

Sofie: We don’t even have a dog house.

Mommy: We don’t even have a dog.

Sofie: That’s a much bigger problem.

Official Older Daughter Jill reports:

Mack had his return visit to the dentist today. He had his filling replaced and, apparently, while she was in there, the dentist saw something on the tooth next to the filling that she didn’t like. So she “opened” that one and put a little filling or coating in there, too.

Mack was very concerned with being numbed up. Last time he chewed up the inside of his cheek while numb, and hurt for days. So, according to the dentist, he asked to skip the numbing agent. She told him she was dubious, but would give it a try. But if he moved around she would numb it up.

Apparently he held perfectly still. Even the dentist, a kind of grumpy person, was impressed that he had two fillings with no numbing.

Nothing like a little pioneer dentistry.

Afterward Mack competed in a track meet, taking 18 seconds off his previous best in the mile (1600 meters actually), down to 7:13. He also had a personal record 7-6 in the long jump.

Aidan and Kiley also competed in the 100, and Aidan in the 400 and long jump (he made it to the pit!).

Saturday 9:15AM, leave for the soccer complex for 9:45 game. Any delay in traffic will mean that 5-year-old Aidan runs directly from the car to the kickoff. He scored four goals — down from six the previous week, but one chance was taken off his toe as he was about to shoot — by a teammate.

Saturday Noon, 3-year-old Alex’s game begins. His socks and his shorts meet, so it’s not clear Alex even has knees, but he scores a spectacular goal.

Saturday 1:45PM, 8-year-old Mack’s soccer match. He scores and plays some fantastic D in a losing effort.

Sunday 8AM, Mack runs a mile cross country race and takes first overall despite having to do the limbo along the way. Not quite sure why they thought the limbo added anything to a mile run, but it was a fun event. (Two types of people show up for rainy, cool, Sunday morning runs — those that run and socialize and those that just run. The two groups often appear to be of an entirely different species.)

Sunday 10AM, 6-year-old quarterback Kiley and defender Aidan play flag football. The team wins its third game (no losses) despite having basically just one play, Ethan down the sidelines. Ethan performs this play very, very well.

Sunday 1:45PM, Mack plays flag football, at quarterback and on defense. Not having an Ethan-like runner, this team relies mostly on passes, several of which are intercepted as smaller quicker defenders snag the ball as it’s dropped by the receiver. Highlight of game — other than the pure joy of watching kids learn and perform — is having the other team penalized two or three times for guarding their flags on long runs.

Meanwhile, Aidan and Kiley are at the pool where Aidan, who is a self-taught swimmer, swims 25 meters in under 40 seconds. Kiley also makes this summer’s club swim team on the strength of her kick.

Mack’s swim practice comes later — he spent the time after football and before swimming shooting hoops across the street.

Grandpa was exhausted.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Sweetie Sofie relaxes with the Sunday New York Times Magazine after her swim lessons.