first time for everything

As I was thinking today about how to catch up on my blogging and reflecting on the events of the last few weeks, I realized that we've had quite a few "firsts" lately...

We've been to many a birthday party at Gattitown, but Gage has never been tall enough to drive the bumper cars...until now! He was so excited when he realized he had finally reached the magical height of 44 inches, and after the first ride he was completely hooked. I lost track of how many times he drove, which is probably for the best...at $2.25 a ride, I'd hate to do the calculations...

At another recent birthday party, the boys got to play miniature golf for the first time. I use the term "play" very loosely, since it implies some measure of orderliness and adherence to the rules of the game, when in fact what we had was more like barely controlled chaos. Gage actually managed to get a hole in one, and Beck was just fascinated with the larger-than-life characters on the course.

Four games into the soccer season, Gage scored his first goal this weekend...in fact, he scored his first two! Up until this game, he seemed a little disconnected from the action most of the time...but just after half time this Saturday morning, it seemed like the soccer "light bulb" finally came on in his head. Was it the cool air, the half time Gatorade, or the fact that the whole family (including grandparents) was there cheering him on? I guess we'll never know, but after that first goal he seemed to have a whole new energy and enthusiasm for the game.

The approach...

and the goal! (He's behind number 17!)

And lest you think all the "firsts" have been about the kids, read on...

After fifteen-plus years in the fire department, Scott embarked on a whole new career this month when he accepted a position in the Arson Investigation unit. After about nine months of training, he will basically be a fireman, a fire cause and origin expert, and a cop! As if one ridiculously dangerous job wasn't enough... But this is something he's been wanting to do for as long as I've known him, and I wouldn't dream of standing in his way. There are, however, a number of things about this new position that are a little scary...starting with the gun that he will now be required to carry. I am not a gun person...I've never been around them and I'm basically scared to death of them. I never would have imagined that I would ever have a gun in my house (even locked in a safe) and I certainly never had any intention of handling or firing one...

Then my friend Holly (whose husband is also in law enforcement) caught me at a weak moment (exhausted after watching Texas barely beat Oklahoma!) when she suggested we all go to the shooting range after the game. I can't say I'll ever want to do it again, but now I can say I've fired a gun! Of course Holly and I reverted back to our girlie selves after firing off a few rounds!

And there you have it, our month of "firsts." Makes me wonder what next month has in store...