budding soccer star?

as i mentioned in a previous post, our beach (ha...i call it "our" beach) is now populated. here's the view:



but i'm through lamenting. there is a tangible energy in the air, be it from the general euphoria springs typically brings, or from the more specific (i.e., personal) glee that we get to go home for good soon! you gotta admit...it's a nice view, from no matter which position you're looking.

warren likes it too. he really wasn't too terribly interested in the beach last year, beyond the first few outings. but a few days ago he awoke from his nap saying he wanted to go for a walk on the beach. good deal! unfortunately, my back was acting up, so i advised him he would have to wait on his father to get home from work. so he sweetly said "ok!".

the minute ben walked in, he said "daddy! daddy! let's go play soccer-ball on the beach!" and so they did!

i was supposed to be resting while they played, but i have had so few moments to observe the two of the them together i couldn't resist taking my camera out on the balcony. we're on the 11th floor, folks, so you'll have to forgive the tiny images, the grainy texture and the otherwise ill-produced images my viewpoint (and equipment) lent me - it was still neat for me to see.

here's the dynamic duo as they head towards the beach:



(note: daddy's already falling behind. keep up, old man!)

(second note: for those of you who think i'm being unkind, i'm not. ben is only a year and a month+ older than i, but we are currently in that month+ period where he is officially two years older than me. so i tease him mercilessly. don't worry...i'll get mine soon enough!)



and here we note my lack of zoom capability - this is my budding soccer star, racing across the beach in a nearly straight line, punting the ball ahead of him! i was so proud! i think i observed at least 4 consecutive efforts?



still going...i know, i know, it looks like the same shot, but look at the waves people. time has passed...



and then wee beckham (ha ha) got bored and wanted to play in the ocean. daddy wasn't too interested here in the chilly water:



but braved it soon thereafter when it looked like warren was seriously going for a swim!



and the coup de grace of the outing?

they buried the soccer ball.



so maybe i'm being a little...umm...oh shoot. what's the word when you're trying to convey the sense of saying something too early, or predicting something without any ground to stand upon? precipitous? anyway, maybe i'm just thinking wishfully.

here's a little video clip of what our evenings have been, and still are on the beach. it's more for memories sake than anything else. and perhaps a gentle reminder to always try and enjoy my "now"...