Fantasy Football Year One

The boys have really gotten into our mini-Fantasy Football league. I thought it was a good way to do something amongst just the three of us. I figured it was a good way to to get the boys excited about football. They get into the Patriots. And we have general football discussions beyond the Patriots, but mostly in regards to historical facts and players. I think to appreciate the game, one's knowledge has to include more than your team and rooting loyalties. They got a taste of that playing Madden. But this interaction has really been fun. They get the free agent process, scoring, injury report, and thinking about match ups. Sure it's not the full exposure since there are only 3 teams in our league - we have very deep teams, but it works for us.

The Celebration Continues

It's been quite the week. The milestone birthday is being celebrated like Mardi Gras, not limited to one day and at least once a day there is cake and a party. I am not sure what I did to deserve it but hey, I will take it. The boys have really gotten into it. They have been on their best behavior. It could be the "Santa's watching you" effect (at least for Coco), but who knows?
The adult party is tonight. I am very much looking forward to have a few drinks with friends, getting my swerve on, and dancing up a storm. The band is a local cover band with a college alum in the mix. Coco will be staying with our cousins. Caz is choosing to spend the night in a unique manner - The Great Freeze Out. It's a scout overnight in the town forest. And oh yeah, the last few nights have seem temperatures around 11 degrees. It is supposed to warm up to the low 20's tonight, so it should be tropical. I have to say, I am worried a bit. I put my foot down with Caz. "You dress exactly how I tell you to, or you don't go." This was not a time for negotiation. And it was actually pretty nice this afternoon, especially when the sun was out. But when I go to drop him off there will be about an hour of daylight left. It seems insane to drop off my son to spend the night outdoors in the Town Forest with a handful of adults. But in the end, you have to start letting go a bit and trust that you have done a fair job at parenting thus far.

Dad Turns 40

Not really the big deal folks make it out to be. It is just a number. I certainly don't feel any different. The boys and Demi were great though, making it a special day. Demi baked. That in itself is an event. Each of the boys picked out a present for Dad. Each boy bought it with his own money. Coco picked out The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. He knew I had read the other books. Caz picked out a Bruins hat. We had been watching the B's play recently. Both put thought into it, which of course is the important thing.
Hopefully, I will keep learning and improving at being a Dad now that I am in my 40's. I am anticipating some official membership card or something. I have gotten smarter though. I have no plans on asking Demi for this card.......

Christmas Vacation Weekend

The Griswalds got our family Christmas Tree this weekend. It started vacation style. We went to a new tree farm that was recommended by a friend. We found it with no problem. The farm either had trees not ready for prime time or past their prime. I mean they had some good looking trees, but it would have taken up the whole room and then some. You know that scene when Clark cuts the rope on the tree loose and the branches smash through the window? That's what would have happened. And oh yeah, there was no one working there. We could not find a soul to help us. So we had to pile back in Yaya's pick up and head to the place we had gone in years past. That place is so popular now that most of trees are not quite ready yet. We searched and searched. Eventually we found a nice tree. Not our best. A bit on the small side. We hucked it in a pail of water in the garage and then Caz and I headed to Gillette for the Super Bowl.
On Sunday, I played with Christmas lights oustide in the cold all day. I tried to figure out which lights in the network of lights on the porch, still worked. They had been there for some time, and placed in a unique set up. I am sure at the time i put them there it made sense but clearly the logic escaped me this day. I plugged in the sets to test them and nothing happened. I tried another outlet. Then I realized the outdoor timer was in the mix. Big dummy. It would have been dark the time I figured it out if I hadn't smartened up. Then I get a string where half would light, half would not. Or better yet, one with every third light would be on. I felt like having a Clark freak out session.
Caz helped me with the tree house. I needed to get up a trim board by the roof to finally make it look respectable in the front. What a pain that board was. I needed Caz to get on a ladder and feed it to me. Which he willingly did. The second part of the board made be get creative. I had to use a rope, throw it over the roof and around a tree to hoist it up. Hopefully that is something that will stick with Caz. It's helping like this that a boy learns from his father. How to solve problems. How to do some basic buidling and repair. And yes, how to make mistakes. I am probably lucky I didn't throw the rock with the rope tied to it, through the one glass window on the tree house. I remember the times I worked with my Dad. It wasn't as often as my brother. But I had my times and I do remember. I hope Caz remembers these times.

Super Bowl Saturday 2010

DHS was back in the Super Bowl today, completing another undefeated season. They are really quite a team to watch. Caz was really fired up to go to the game. Coco, for some reason, just wanted to stay home and watch it on TV. Caz and I went up with our cousins, the Garfields- Adie and James. The 4 of us had a really great time. It was an easy ride it. The atmosphere was electric, the weather was better than expected for this time of year. The game was exciting. The crowd was into it. And we finished up at 5 Guys. What else is there?
Caz and I, though, had a really excellent Father/Son day. He was so well behaved. So much so, I okayed a Mountain Dew and Nachos. He got to hang with his buddies at bit. But every good play, he'd turn to me and smile or high five. I just couldn't ask for a better day. I think he sensed it too.

LTAD

Tonight, I attended a very interesting lecture on youth sports in America by Bob Bigelow (former Boston Celtic and first round draft pick from MA). I cannot do the talk justice in one post, so you should really go here him speak, if you ever get a chance. He is really a dynamic speaker. His basic premise that USA youth sports are unique. The rest of the world practices Long Term Athletic Development. The basic premise is that you don't give up on an athlete. Kids develop at different times. He used a story about Michael Jordan, that most folks are familiar with, where MJ was cut from his high school basketball team. I actually thought about one of MJ's teammates, Dennis Rodman, about how he didn't grow until college. That is when he sprouted about a foot. But LTAD is not just about physical development. It is about mental development too.
I like to think that I coach using a lot of this. I make a concerted effort to coach to an age appropriate level. Kids learn differently at each age. So as a coach, I need to change each year. The kids get one year older each season. I need to change how I teach every season. I pay very close attention to what is being taught each year, and how the school teachers are teaching it.
It was very interesting from a parent perspective as well. He talked about how parents cheer, and in some cases, actively participate from the sidelines. So parents, not only coaches, should attend this lecture. It really puts youth sports in perspective and could help how youth sports exist today. As a coach, I can tell you, it's ugly. Some parents and coaches really get carried away. Attitudes do need to change.

'Tis The Season

The annual kick-off to the holiday season begins today. Not Black Friday. Not Cyber Monday. Not with the changing of radio stations to 24/7 Christmas tunes, 4 weeks ago. Today is the day that I start reading Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol. It is an annual event. I enjoy reading this classic every time. It never gets old. It really serves as the gateway to the holiday season for me. I hope the boys develop their own traditions, similar to this. We have one amongst ourselves. Each Christmas Eve, we read T'was the Night Before Christmas. I always look forward to that as well.