Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Field Day Fun


The end of the school year is always a fun time for the kids - for instance, last minute field trips and the annual field day. This year the forecast was for another rainy day. Care Bear prayed her heart out for a nice day, and her faith was honored. It was a blue sky all morning - raining later in the day.


I have spent many years going to these special events - I was privileged to be a stay-at-home mom in those days and was able to go for 8 years for the two kids. Fast forward to grandparenthood. I began going for our stepgrandson because Kristen was working those days and I wasn't.

I've attended for Care Bear for the last 3 years, and this year it was both Care Bear and Feisty. Kristen and I spent the morning switching places on the school yard to try to see everything they were each doing.

Back when my kids were in school, Field Day involved competition. There were first, second, and third place ribbons. Others got honorable mention, if I recall. It was good healthy competition. Now it's just a play time, basically, with no winners or losers. The kids aren't learning how to win and lose gracefully. I am sure it has to do with parents complaining about their little darlings not winning. It's sad.

But - the kids have a great time. Care Bear is very athletic and does well at anything she tries. Feisty had her first experience and she had a fabulous time - it was great to watch her enjoying herself.


I didn't catch a lot of Care Bear's games - this one seemed to be organized chaos to me. I guess it was some kind of tag where they had to grab hands when they were tagged. The boys didn't cooperate very well with the holding hands part. (Care Bear is on the end with the green shirt).





Here's another game that I couldn't quite catch on to - another form of tag. They certainly did get their exercise, at least!





This parachute game looks like fun - though I don't think I could take it being under there for very long.






I asked Care Bear what they did under there - she said they played Duck, Duck, Goose.






Feisty and the obstacle course --










Feisty and the wiggling jump rope.




Feisty and the relay race --




She was quite the cheerleader for her classmates --




Both girls had successful tug-of-war matches --










And again the cheerleader --




I stepped away for 5 seconds and Kristen wasn't there yet when she got a nose bonk - I had wondered why she didn't get trampled in this game - she's so tiny. But she got over it quickly and went on with the games --





So at this point I was getting pretty tired and my camera battery was almost dead - good excuse to go home. It was fun, but I turned the baton over to the mommy. I keep thinking of how many more years we'll be doing this - 3 more years for Care Bear, 5 for Feisty, and 6 for the twins - overlapping with 2 of Feisty's - how will we watch 3 at a time??

Have a wonderful week-end!


18 comments:

Susan said...

What fun and you captured the excitement well in the photos.

By the way, I posted a survey of sorts on my blog yesterday and would love for you to visit it and answer if you don't mine. Thanks!!

Hootin Anni said...

Sweet!!! Just the other day, at one of the city's parks there were busloads of kids trekking out of the bus onto the green green grass...by a huge fountain...and the volunteer parents and bus drivers were unloading boxes of sack lunches and huge coolers. I figured it was the 'end of the year' fun day for 'em all.

Your photos are terrific again Dawn. I especially like the one where she's jumping the rope...great action shot---even the hair flies! Love it.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a fun day with good old fashioned exercise. I am glad you got to join in.

And I am so glad you are enjoying your prize from the giveaway. I was SO jealous of you :)

I think it is so cool that God gave Care Bear a great day of weather for her fun. Small gifts from Him are so sweet at any age.

nannykim said...

Looks like much fun. I remember those days here in SC and they often were HOT!! It looks like you had nicer weather!

Needled Mom said...

I remember those days. It looks like it was a lot of fun for the girls. I'm glad that you are able to attend such special events and I am glad that the prayers were answered.

Glenda said...

Oh, to have a little of the energy of those cute kiddos!! It's wonderful, Dawn, that you can be a part of their fun times. My grands live away, so we "see" most of their activities in pics.

grammy said...

So great that you were able to go and watch
they were so cute
I don't think my girls had a field day
no one mentioned it anyway (o:
I did go to the science (bug) project with the 2nd grader. I also helped her with the project. I took pictures so i may post them (o:

Sam said...

So fun! I remember Field Day when I was a kid. If I recall, when we were in the younger grades we got "Participant" ribbons, and in the upper grades we were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. I don't remember the competition being stressful, but I do know some parents freak out majorly when their kids don't win. So sad!

Looks like the girls had a blast! I love the parachute! And Feisty cheering for her friends is absolutely adorable!

Kristen said...

That's my girls!! I was so proud!

Gigi said...

Ahh memories of Field Day! Just last week I kept my girlfriend's 19 month old twins so she could attend her 6 year old's first Field Day! I told her to take advantage of it because all too soon she'd have 3 going in different directions and how will she keep up then?! I know YOU understand that!

I agree with you about the competition thing...in many ways we "over-swaddle" our children nowadays. The reality is that they WON'T always win and losing graciously is a life skill that must be learned...they are being shortchanged!

Your pix are fabulous, as always, and really captured the fun of the day! Care Bear and Feisty were having a ball and it showed! I'm soooo glad the weather cooperated! :)

Jess said...

Busy times for grandma! But how great to be able to go and do!

So glad to catch up a bit with you

Lots of love
jess

prashant said...

What fun and you captured
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Hootin Anni said...

Confused? With NCIS? Nah!!! Not me. LOL....are you kiddin' me? I was beyond confused. But, that's all part of the ploy to get you back next season. The very end, with Gibbs' rule #51...makes me think we're gonna have a love interest for him next year? I'm thinking that Abby did send in her report, and when the 'lawyer' told Gibbs "I think we can fight this and win"....boy oh boy. I am now anxious to see it all next year. And Mike Franks? And DiNozo? And that Ziva...what about Leon? Oh my.

Ms. Kathleen said...

How I remember those very fun days. Thanks for the journey back in time... Hugs!

A Hint of Home said...

I remember the days of going to all the girls activities. It can keep you hopping for sure.

Looks like fun for all and it will keep you young. (smile)

Unknown said...

I'm so glad Care Bear's prayer was answered. What a fun day!

I'm in the middle of healthy competition with softball right now. It's hard to lose, but my girls are learning valuable lessons as they deal with disappointment. I'm still learning, too!

Carole Burant said...

What a fun day for the kids and I was like you, I was a stay at home mom so I was always able to go help out the teachers on these days:-) I even remember when I was a little girl, I always seemed to win the bronze crest! lol Surprising I even got third place as I was not very athletic!! It's such a shame that they are not teaching the kids to be competitive any more, to me that was when we would learn how to win or lose graciously. So many changes in today's world. Loved seeing all the pictures and glad that you were able to watch some of the events. You will need to clone yourself when it comes time for the twins to be participating in such events! lol xoxo

Sharon Lynne said...

What a day! I remember those field days. I dreaded them...but the kids loved them so.

Feisty really gets into it, doesn't she?