The Start of New

Yesterday was the official day for the "New" in the Dunbar home.

Monkey started his new school year. (Finally.)

He also entered the realm of sports.
Organized team sports.
And so it begins.

Of course these two just have to play together.
Ms. Casey made sure that they are on the same team, she's just efficient like that.

Vans, even for Pee Wee soccer will not do. They kept slipping off, so we will be buying new shoes for soccer. No cleats yet.

Mr. Dunbar and I figure we will spend about the next 18 years at sporting events for our sons. It just goes along with our plan for Raising Men. We believe that sports teach young men a great deal. Things like teamwork, sportsmanship, persistence. Of course, those qualities will come in time.

Pee Wee soccer is all about fun. There are no games until the last two weeks. These 4 year olds are still learning the basics. The basics of basics. The laughed, we laughed. They ran and kicked and we cheered. They took "water breaks" often. The boys felt so big and mature running to the sidelines for their water and then running back. Smiles and high 5's were had by all. It was a good time. A good experience. A little memory to tuck away in time. Pretty soon I'll be like Patty with a high schooler being rushed to the hospital. I have no doubts I'll be making trips the emergency room.

This is the start. The beginning. The start of outside sources helping to mold my boys into men, with me watching on the sidelines, praying for safety, for victory, for confidence to let them be.

Introductions

When I had this blog redone and had those handy little button things put up there on top, I figured they would help me stay on some sort of track with what to write about or post. Topics that are important to me. Home Making, Lady Proclamations (speaking my mind), Raising Men, and Great Books to read (because I hate wasting my time and money.)Somehow I keep swaying back and forth on what I post up here on this lil blog. Anyhow, one thing that is really important to both myself and Mr. Dunbar is "raising men."

I am not raising boys

I am raising men,

who will hopefully one day

be warriors for God,

leaders of homes,

gentle lovers of wives,

and men of integrity.

This morning we went to Mr. Dunbar's office for the first time. Of course I starched them up real nice, well collared shirts and nice shorts. We stopped off and bought daddy a $3 plant. Before we got off of the car I reminded Monkey about introductions, and looking people in their eyes while giving a firm handshake. Yes, I gave this chat to a 3 year old. We play almost every waking hour at home, but when it comes to business, we talk business. We practiced two firm handshakes before we got off the car and then it was show time.

Monkey impressed everyone in Mr. Dunbar's office and thrilled his us, his parents. He walked up to everyone he saw, shook their hands, looked them in the eye, told them his name, how old he was, pushed his little brother into their eyesight, told them his little brother's name and how old he was. I didn't tell him to do any of that. I was amazed, as was Mr. Dunbar.

The icing on top of this was when Mr. Dunbar's boss's boss, came out of his office a second time, and says to Monkey, "I've got a cubicle back here with your name on it. You've passed the interview and we want to hire you." Just as one of Mr.Dunbar's coworkers is saying "You can tell his dad comes from sales." Everyone laughed, Monkey beamed.

It was one of those proud parent moments. But even more so, more importantly for Monkey, he learned first hand just how important that initial meeting is. He owned the room, not just because he's a cute 3 year old, but because he was friendly, charismatic, and personable. Characteristics I hope stay with him always.

Bogie did some wow things too, gave high 5's, waved hello, and smiled when he was being introduced by his big brother. Everything we hoped he would do.

My tip today on Raising Men: Teach them how important the initial meeting is.

Eye-contact , firm handshakes, and friendliness go a long way.

The Beach

This week is all about the boys and getting the last taste of summer.

Every day we are doing something fun and memorable.

So as the countdown to the end of summer nears, of course we had to go to the beach. And what's better than going to the beach when your friends have their trailer there with a clean potty, shower, microwave, fridge and beds?

This was Bogie's first taste of salty sea water. (Please don't remind me what else is in there.) I could not keep him out of the water for more than two minutes to eat something. Here he's got seaweed on the face and he's still running in.

Crazy water bugs.Two minute snack.

Group shot towards the end of the day, they still put board shorts back on and got back into the water even after this picture was taken.

I told our friends, next year my boys would just be staying the entire week with them.

Doing summer right

We are going to laugh.

We are going clean.

We are going to savor.
We are going to church.
We are going to play.
We are going to snuggle.
We are going to watch sunsets, and probably sunrises.
We are going to race.
We are going to paint.
We are going to baseball games. Dodger baseball games.
We are going to swim.
We are going to visit with our grandparents and the lil lads great-grandparents.
We are going to play in the sprinklers.


We are going to build.

We are going to be a family who leaves a legacy of doing summer right.

WW- Fun with Bubbles and The Neigbors Have a New Meter Man

While Monkey was doing this....
Bogie climbed through the bushes to do this...