Collin Golfing 2009

Collin went back this Friday for his first golf lesson of 2009. He was so excited about going back to his normal routine, which was out of whack because of the holidays. We even arrived extra early just to be there and not miss a minute of his golf. He was actually having golfing withdrawals.

This is his new hat that he got before Christmas for the cold mornings. This is a huge deal because he would never wear a hat or beanie, even when he was a baby. He would pull it off faster than we could put it on. I just love his face in this photo, he looks like a little thug.

He amazes me when he knows a lot of the rules, regulations and proper names when it comes to the game of golf. He loves to raise his hand to answer the questions his instructor asks the group

Here his instructor is explaining the game that they were playing that tied into the lesson of the day. It was called chip, tac, toe. It is very similar like tic tac toe except they had to chip the ball into the squares and the first team to make a line wins. Collin and his teammate won the first time around and took second place when they had to blackout all of the squares.

Here he is teeing up his ball.

Since he was having huge withdrawals (definitely gets that from Jed), I told him that we could hit the driving range and he could hit the big bucket of balls all by himself. You would think you told him it was Christmas all over again. I am so happy that he has something that he truly loves to do and takes pride in doing it.

Taking a swing at it.

He was totally concentrating on his swing. We spent a long time at the driving range because now he is taking practice swings and really just taking his time between each ball.

xoxo
Veronica and Jed

Fun at the Park!

During our stay at my mom's house we took Collin and my cousin to the park because they needed to run and be free from the house. My moms backyard is only so big for one child let alone two so we went towards downtown Merced. This park was gorgeous! It had so many leaves on the ground and constantly falling down from the tree. The boys had a blast running, playing with the leaves and kicking a ball around.

It was very cold outside and Collin was very excited because he was able to wear his new gloves that he got for Christmas.

Playing with the leaves!

was worried that the leaves would get in his eyes.

Finally was able to get him to look up at the leaves, well sort of!

taking a breather with the leaves.

He really wanted to take a picture next to this tree.

he was playing hide and seek with the leaf. he still thinks if you cover just your eyes everyone else cannot see you. i love their way of thinking.

I love the sport feature on the new camera!!!

He cannot wait to play soccer, he has to be 5 years old to join the city team.

waiting for the ball from my cousin.

he likes to take a running start for he can really kick the ball!!

Collin had a blast at my moms house and a little bummed that we had to leave but excited to come back. Seeing as next semester is Jed's last (yippee!!!) it will be another hectic one :( I am not sure how I feel about the reality of another hectic semester, we barely survived the last one. At least we have a short break from school to recuperate. Then back to the books. We cannot wait for the new year.

xoxo
veronica and jed

Another Golf Lesson

This past Friday, Collin started the final session of golf before they stop because of the holidays and new year. The weeks lesson was learning how to properly introduce yourself so you can meet someone new the right way. In the two pictures above you see Collin introducing himself to Jed. (Jed is a volunteer at the first tee and sometimes teaches the classes throughout the week). In the picture where he is taking a knee they were discussing about the exercise they just completed. They had to run up the hill, introduce themselves to their instructor with the proper handshake and eye contact.

Then they were able to decide on two options: practice putting on the putting greens or go see a real golf hole. Now I know that the second one does not sound too appealing, but some of these kids have never been on a real golf hole. Not Collin of course, so of course he was going for the putting greens.

In this picture, he was putting from behind the cones. He putted it and he had to double check that it did go in the hole with 1 stroke!

Here he is confirming that yes it did go into the hole with just 1 stroke! He was so proud.

with lots of love

Veronica and Jed

Golfing at Home

We are so fortunate to be able to live in an area where we do not have to go to a golf course with our son to practice his swing. However, we did have to move from the backyard to the park across the street. Pretty soon we will have to leave the park across the street to go down the road to the soccer field. Eventually we will have to completely stick with the driving range because sometimes he even amazes Jed with the power of his swing.

Here he is making great contact with the ball.

He has such a blast golfing with his daddy and daddy has such a blast watching him hit so well.

with much love

Veronica and Jed

Swimming Lessons

So Collin started his new section of swim lessons yesterday, he is officially a polar bear. It is the last step of swim lessons in the preschool program. He is constantly amazing me with his athletic capabilities whether it be swimming or golfing or even messing around in the backyard with a soccer ball or his tee ball set. He started his swim lessons over the summer and have just continued throughout the fall. Here are a couple of pictures of some of the lessons over the past couple of months.

This was one of his favorite things to do. It is basically the noodles and it has two handles in the front and it helps support his kicking.

When the instructor is helping another student, the rest of the class has to stick by the steps.

He absolutely loves his goggles.

We have the best time at his swim lessons. I truly believe it is a boost in his confidence because he has to rely on himself for learning and listening to the instructor. When he finally gets the lesson for the day and he does it on his own, he gets so excited that he always finds us at the bleachers and gives us a thumbs up! He is just so awesome.

with love
Veronica and Jed

Putting Lessons

Hello everyone! Well the second lesson of golf for Collin was all about putting. Truth be told I was nervous because he has not had much experience on the putting greens at all. There is both the practice putting green and the actual green on each individual hole. Surprise! Surprise! Of course he was a natural on the putting green, however, he did have an issue on counting how many strokes it took to sink the ball. What did the instructor expect though, he is only four years old and is concentrating intensely on sinking the ball, expecting him to also count how many times he hit the ball while concentrating was a lot. When he wouldn't count he did great, when he started counting I think he was too concerned on remembering how many times he hit the ball, that he would not give his full attention on aiming and sinking the ball.

After the lesson, we let him go to the driving range to hit as many balls as he wants.

Look at the contact with the ball and his head is down!


Nevertheless, he did fantastic and he even won the little contest that they had on who can sink their golf balls, on the practice putting green with the least amount of strokes for all nine holes. We are so proud of our little golfer.

This was what he won, a model race car and a First Tee Hat. He shot a 33 for the nine holes on the practice putting green. He did so awesome!

lots of love
Veronica and Jed

First Tee

Jed and I signed Collin up for the First Tee Organization, which has to do with golf. They teach the children not only how to play the sport but to also learn the conduct on the golf course which can in turn be used in every day life. They have nine core values which are: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. He is a wee swinger which is for ages 3.5-6 years old. So now I have two golfers in my life.





Collin at the driving range.





He is keeping his head down! Daddy is so proud.
(apparently that is what you are supposed to do)

He is having such an awesome time and we are so proud of him wanting to be involved with the organization.

Lots of love
Veronica and Jed