Football Crazy. Football Mad. 4 Year Old.

We're not really a family who watches football on TV, although there is the odd match that Daddy won't miss. That said, the after school football has begun in earnest.

We went the week before last, for the first time and Aaron loved it, but there were two issues (1) he loved all the solo work they did for 3/4 of the class with a ball each, but he got a bit miffed when two teams were chasing one ball up and down the pitch, and didn't really get it (2) he felt like everyone had numbers on their back apart from him.

When reviewing the photos afterwards I could see that only about a third of the children had numbers on their backs, but off we went to the shops anyway. Because we were in a sports shop and not a Football Team store, the football shirts did not even have numbers on their backs. They'd need to be ordered for an extra TEN POUNDS....... we went away to think about it.

Well a few days later I looked in the wardrobe, and came across a H & M football shirt I'd bought in the summer for 2.99 GBP (sorry my pound sign does not work).  Because it said aged 8-10 on it I'd hung it up.

I dug it out the other day and Aaron said he loved it; both the colour, green, and the number, 10! WIN! What he didn't know was that I was rather over the moon too, as it says Ireland on it! #Result

We tried it on, and it fit - or maybe my oversized school uniform eyes tell me it does ;-) So after missing last week's football (he was too tired after his first week of full days at school), off we went.

I was so incredibly proud of him:

Even though he wasn't there the last week, the coach KNEW he was the one who did not GET the team thing a fortnight ago, so what did he do? Before he even put the 4 colours of bibs on, he picked captains. He picked Aaron as one, as he knew him (somehow) and knew that level of responsibility would get Aaron off the "bench" (literally a P.E. bench where the parents sit).

So up he went, happily put on his bib, even though we'd agreed at home he wouldn't do "this bit". The coach started from the far end, and let each Captain pick their team name. When he got to the 4th team, far left, Aaron's team, he said "what's on your shirt?" and got Aaron to name his team Ireland. It was genius. It was also no coincidence that he gave Aaron's team the green bibs.

So when they were off and running, Aaron ran up and down the pitch, tried to tackle, and just generally participated. It was a 1,000% improvement on a fortnight ago and I literally couldn't be more proud.

So these coaches, in any sport, if they know what they are doing, they can be life changing for a child, even in a matter of weeks.

I'm a very proud mum right about now:

Oh I must finish off by telling you something funny.

It's Saturday, so I should resurrect #SaidItSaturday... when we arrived at football he said "not everyone has numbers on their back". I thought "I know this" and then he followed with "I want football shoes" to which I said "But Aaron then you'll want football socks, where does it end?" To which he replied "it won't end I will then want football SHORTS!" *sigh* hides under duvet with my empty purse!!!

Cycling Mad and the Tour De France

I know it's a bit cliché to cycle on the day the Tour De France starts, here in the UK where I live. It's a bit like going for a run on the day of the London Marathon (in my fit days that was an annual habit of mine), picking up a racket when Wimbledon starts, or going football mad during the World Cup. BUT cycle today, we did indeed!

Very sad to hear about what happened to Mark Cavendish, but delighted about all of the publicity the Tour De France has deservedly brought to Yorkshire.

I watched pre-event coverage on the BBC the other day and was so excited with all of the yellow in Yorkshire. I was blown away and tweeted as such. Was thrilled to get a couple of replies FROM locals, who follow me and saw my tweet:

@NewMumOnline @parsnip45 my daughters school pic.twitter.com/x0CAhTWBeg
— Kellie (@BigFashionista) July 4, 2014

@NewMumOnline our street :) pic.twitter.com/5UA3I5HYy7
— Sue T (@parsnip45) July 4, 2014

Today, the weather was BEAUTIFUL - not too hot and far from cold. We took the opportunity to run for the hills - literally - and introduced Daddy to the BMX track we found the other day. Rather predictably he did all of the big humps and bumps that are out of me and Aaron's league. To be honest, as small as my bumps are (oooh err) they felt like a roller coaster to me, and I felt brave traversing them! Being that Aaron's only been on a proper bike (no longer a balance bike) for a couple of months, our bumps are in his comfort zone too.

Of course, they did our track together a few times, before Daddy moved over to the dare devil bumps. Was lovely to watch them cycling together and once I had some photos and footage I joined in too of course.

Once Daddy was "over there" Aaron wanted to follow him, but knew without even asking me that it was beyond his limits so did so on foot, literally running along behind him. He effortlessly ran up and down the humps, as he is a healthy outdoors mad boy. Bless him, it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen:

Two million people turned out to watch the start of the Tour De France today. I have a new found respect for cyclists now that I cycle with Aaron. I walk my bike up hills (due to a lack of fitness) and down hills (due to the fear factor) and those participants always make it look so easy.

I will say though that when I am riding alone, feeling the breeze, despite it being hot, I literally feel at one with the world. I notice it every time I cycle back from dropping Aaron at nursery. It's a short cycle ride (I should find a way of making it longer) and I enjoy every second, like time stands still. I literally hear the birds sing and a calmness envelopes me. Definitely great for my breathing too. My gout doesn't hurt when I am cycling either so it's all good!

Cycling is something the hubby and I often did together on our his and hers bikes before Aaron was born. When he got his balance bike I only joined him on my bike I think twice. Yet since he started cycling proper, we literally go everywhere on our bikes. It's something that we do as a family now too, and some of my happiest moments are when the 3 of us are out together on our bikes.

Pavements can be scary as there are driveways and side roads to worry about, so we do a parent sandwich where one of us checks ahead and the other takes up the rear. Aaron's really great at listening to instructions and is very road aware. It's at times like this that I am glad I don't drive, as we get about so much more, and are so active as a result of our walking and cycling here there and everywhere. Hasn't benefited my figure in any way. I am still a size 18, but it does mean I have a good tan LOL!

My happy cyclist today!

Aaron cycles on a 16 inch Avigo Mischief and it's perfect for him. We got it on promotion at Toys R Us. 

I am actually surprised to see his full forefoot on the floor in that photo above, as just a couple of months ago when we bought it, he was on tippy toes to reach the floor. The seat is literally on the lowest setting (to help him settle in to it, which he actually did immediately) so there's plenty room for him to get a couple of years out of this bike (fingers crossed).

Don't you think children are funny, how they don't like to part with their favourite things even if they grow out of them. Tonight I walked to the shops to get some lemons and Aaron insisted on coming with me... on his balance bike! So after mastering all of those stunts today at the BMX track he was back on what now feels like his baby bike. Hilarious though, as no matter how long his legs get, he still WHIZZES along on it, without dragging his feet. My attitude would be "I've outgrown this, I've got a bigger better bike" but to him it's like putting on a favourite old jumper. He literally couldn't have been happier. Whilst he looked at the world from a high vantage point I stole a photo:

We seem to have a red theme with his bikes. Not intentional. The balance bike is Chicco and was bought in Kiddicare. I can't recommend it enough to be honest. It's WAY zippier and cooler than those wooden ones. When it was shiny and new, kids (even teenagers) all used to stop and look at it. It's not expensive either so you don't mind that you only get 10 months to a year out of it.

Anyway this cycling mad girl needs to get her head on a pillow. It's 1:18 a.m. now. I am going to backdate this post though, so that all of the "today" references make sense for Saturday 5th July 2014.

Night night,

Liska xx