Abra Michelle Photographer: Field Day at East Newton Elementary

Do you remember field day? You know, that one day at school where you do nothing academic but get to have fun outside doing all kinds of activities and getting hot and getting treats?

I remember it vaguely as being a random day of the year when we had all kinds of sports oriented contests. We ran relay races, three legged races, potato sack races. There were ribbons to be won and popsicles to be eaten and all that good stuff. I have no recollection of it being towards the end of the year and I really don't remember being all excited about it because I was not the most sports minded thing, as I am not today, nor was I very competitive, as I am not now. Needless to say, this girl didn't win too many blue ribbons unless it was a fluke. The coolest part of the day for me was no work and popsicles and whatever other treats were to be had.

On the other hand, field day was a huge event in Spencer's family. Mom and Dad would come to school and they would video tape the events and bring treats for the kids and so forth and so on.

When Liam's field day came around, I did not think much of it until Spencer told me that he felt bad to be taking that Friday off for our anniversary and not for Liam's field day. After learning what a big deal it had always meant for him, I told him to take that Friday for field day and we would make it a family day instead and spend that Saturday together. This we did.

Funny how things are so different when you grow up and how much things change. Liam's field "day" only lasted for 45 minutes and there were no events to be cheered on. The playground was turned into a fun place full of different stations where you could do standard things such as hula hooping or blow bubbles...lots of bubbles, or the more odd task of tying a weighed down tube sock to your forehead and trying to knock down a water bottle hands free. No. I am not kidding. I have pictures to prove it.

Talking things over with Spencer and Liam's teacher, we came to the conclusion that maybe the school thought competition wasn't quite the thing since not everyone could win ribbons. Hmmm. Now, as mentioned above, I am not a competitive person but I also don't think a little healthy competition really hurts in the development of your child. It is something that they will inevitable encounter at some stage of their life. However, the most important thing is that Liam had a blast and that 45 minutes was more than long enough to be chasing him around a hot playground to take pictures of him and dodge hyper 1st graders not watching where they were going.

Liam and his good buddy Austin, were having a blast playing leapfrog. I love how you can tell on Liam's face a few times that he was giggling so much that he could barely leap.

Why yes, they are shooting golf balls off of their tees with water bottles. Interesting activity I must say and looks to be more challenging than you might expect.

My poor baby boy is about as athletically gifted as I was with one critical difference. . .he has a much better attitude towards it and enjoys physical activity. I had a terrible attitude and if I felt I looked ridiculous trying to do something then I would literally refuse to do it. I think I was probably my P.E. teachers' worst nightmare.

Liam's teacher said that he told her he know he wasn't going to be fast in the relay races but he was going to run anyway. What an incredible view to take and I am proud my son thinks that way and I will do all I can to encourage him to continue in that thought pattern.

Spencer thought climbing this pole was an activity that should not be encouraged for little first graders to accomplish. I didn't see what the big deal was. Funny thing is, Liam is an excellent rock climber but he couldn't climb the pole because he couldn't grasp the concept of wrapping his legs around the pole.

When it came Liam's turn for this activity he didn't care so much that he didn't get it through the ring but was more excited that the boy caught it when he threw it.