Safety Town (aka Safety doesn't happen by accident)

Andrew graduated from Safety Town on Friday. All week, he had attended Safety Town from 9:30-11:30. He came home with homework every day. It was a little preview of what it's going to be like for us in the fall. And for the next 12 years.

I remember Safety Town from my day. It used to be held at the city park (it is now held inside one of the elementary schools). There was a huge replica of a town, with streets and signs, while we drove toys cars or rode bikes or walked. I remember fighting to drive the cars. No one wanted to be the pedestrian. But it was fun.

I also remember my younger brother's graduation day. We watched as the kids showed us the safety lessons they learned. Or didn't learn, in this case. Peter's car hit another car and his wheel fell off. I'm pretty sure that wasn't intentional. Funny? Yes. But not intentional.

Andrew's graduation was a little different. They didn't demonstrate the safety lessons they learned. Instead, the children filed into the school's cafeteria to "Pomp and Circumstance." I'll admit, that song made me choke up. I pictured Andrew walking into an assembly hall on his high school graduation day. Gaah! Not yet!

After the police officer gave a speech and read a poem about loving your children (again, making me choke up), the children recited 3 poems they learned over the week. Adorable. Then they each came down to accept their diploma from the officer. And they pronounced our name correctly!

Anyway, I was very proud of him and look forward to all the other things he and Niko will do in the coming years. I know people say that it all happens so fast, but I didn't believe it. It's true, though. It all happens so fast.

I don't like it.

Take me out to the ball game

Tuesday, I witnessed the most exciting event in sporting history. Andrew's first baseball... game? Practice? Yeah, it was more like practice. For 5-year-olds. Who don't really understand the roles of coaches. Or how to play a uniformed game... and speaking of uniforms, he has a uniform!

When we got there, it was mass chaos. The first group of teams was just finishing up their practice, while the second group was arriving. Picture 100 5-year-olds running amok. I didn't even know we had that many kids the same age as Andrew in our entire city, so imagine my surprise (and excitement).

We made our way over to the registration table to pick up our uniform (which, of course, consisted of a shirt). We ran into someone we knew, who has a son starting kindergarten with Andrew in the fall, so he'll know someone when he starts school, which is fun.

After the first round of teams left, our practice started. There were 5 coaches to rope in 50 children. They should've had 10. The kids were divided into 4 teams: green (Andrew), blue, gray and maroon. Now, I'm not telling these people how to do their jobs, but I would've picked primary colors that kids can identify with. The coaches kept yelling, "Maroon team! Maroon team!" and the kids were all, "What the eff is maroon?"

After some light calisthenics (5-year-old jumping jacks = hilarious) and a lot of trying to get the kids excited, the teams were divided to practice a different baseball skill. This week, the kids were taught how to hold a bat correctly and swing and how to throw. I'm thinking this might be a little too basic for Andrew. He already has one helluva throw and can swing pretty well, too, and not just off a tee. While he was waiting in line to throw a ball at the net, he was tossing his ball up in the air and catching it with the same hand. Now that's talent.

Once the kids practiced their drills for an hour, they learned how to run the bases. This was probably the most educational. Every time we play baseball out in our yard, Andrew runs to 3rd base first. So, at least we learned something.

Next week, team pictures. That should be entertaining.

And, for your amusement, here are 5-year-olds doing jumping jacks. Andrew is #8.