Finally Fall!

 My Dearest Evan,

Where does the time go? Somehow you're a kindergartener now! We finished off the summer by taking a trip to Kansas City to visit family and putting you and Avery in the hottest ever soccer camp here in Tucson. Football practice started right after Independence Day so you've been doing that for quite a while now! You started school and while you were pensive about it at first, you've really become comfortable with your new class and teachers! We took a small trip to San Diego over Labor Day and we're about to head to Disneyland with Grandma and Pop for their Halloween festivities!

In flag football, you started the season crying when you would get hurt. But one of the main reasons we wanted you to do football is we wanted you to have some grit - feel how success comes through the pain and struggle of being beat down in practice. I really think that's worked! You started to toughen up, which is really good because you have mostly been on Defense, which means you're constantly up against the biggest kid on the other team and constantly being thrown to the ground by them. BUT, you just keep getting back up again and trying again! And I think that's what the coaches love the most about you. You don't cry about it - you don't complain. I'm not even sure if you know that you're the slowest on the team (that's why the coach has you lead the team when he sends you all running). You just do it because you're a leader and you're there to work for it. I should make sure to note that it's a 5-7 year old flag football team and you're the youngest at 5 on the team. I'm really proud at how far you've come this season!

You were also selected as the Homecoming King! Or Duke, I think - ha! The Dolphins just started to do a Homecoming so the oldest team get a King and a Cheerleading Queen and each of the other teams got to pick Dukes! So you were on the Homecoming Court and you got a sash and a crown! Your coach picked you because of your hard work and dedication, ability to show up and be a leader, and because of how coachable you are! I'm so proud of you!

In school, you're doing really well. Your teacher, Mrs Watson, has sung your praises as a model student. You've come home with two notes in your CJ about how helpful you were to another student. You've got two best friends, Alex and Sebastian. There have been a couple of instances where you got intentionally hit by another student (once in the eye and once in the private). You say it wasn't provoked but we do know that you tend to tell the other kids what to do on the playground. We're trying to make sure you know that that won't help you make friends. I do your homework with you and you don't really seem to have a problem with that. I think the next big thing for you in school will be really learning to read!

You've really grown personally too! You're starting to mature into an age where you don't cry about leaving the park (which is HUGE) and you know when something isn't right. You are great with younger kids (sometimes you like to take them into your arms a little too much - ha) and you are also great with older kids (you really enjoy the attention of some of the older female siblings in soccer). You're still a very literal person and probabaly always will be :) You get that from me. Sometimes that really helps you but sometimes you don't understand. You are still defiant sometimes - like you think it's totally fine to say no to Dad or me (Avery never did this - she only tried it after seeing you do it). "No" comes so naturally to you that it takes me off guard sometimes.

Here's your life in pictures right now....

DBacks game!

July 4th!

You're working on your bike!

Oh look at that face!

My little Dolphin! (I do get a tad scared for you out there)

Fishing at Grandma and Pop's! Last visit to their lake house before they moved!

Children's Museum with Aunt Lindsay and her kids! You played a lot with Max!

Picking up leaves at Grandma and Pop's

Still gotta practice! Even on vacation!

Dave and Busters with the family!

A hidden gem in KC: the federal reserve!

Science City for the win!

Fritz's in Crown Center!

Summer ice cream at the lake house!

Augustin's birthday party!

Feeding the sheep at Deanna Rose before we head to the airport!

La Liga - so HOT! That's a cooling towel on your head!

We got our family photos back from Cape Cod!

First day of school!

I think the fact that Avery was there helped you be less nervous.

Walk buddies!

Football game!

Rock climbing with Basis!

My workout buddy in the San Diego hotel! You're a really good kid in the gym now!

Padres game!

San Diego Wave game!

Ms Laura and Uncle Don came to one of Avery's soccer games and got to see you before your game!

Donut face!

Ready for Disney!

Prep for Halloween!

UofA Soccer Game with Avery's team - you had a blast!

Sports day at school!

Homecoming!

Ha, you loved the sash!

You love taking pics in this sign at the park where you and Avery practice!

Push ups - probably for not listening

You enjoy the attention from the older female soccer players!

First visit to Basis - you really weren't that thrilled. You were very reserved but you're all good now. Just something new!

Pretty sure this is your first Coke ever!

Calming room in San Diego Children's Museum!

Harbor Cruise in San Diego!

Evan, you're really so much fun to be around - you say the craziest things and want to do the craziest things. Next up after football will be Ninja gymanstics! We'll see how that goes until we get back into baseball in the spring! I love watching you grow - my "5 and 3/4" boy!

All My Love,

Mom