Sunday, February 8, 2009

Check Mate!

The big boys and I went up to Lansing this weekend for the Chess Tournament at MSU. It is a very fun, but stressful adventure every year. Ricky did great! I was very proud.
He lost his first match, but after lots of tears, a few threats from me, him threatening to not play the rest of the day, and the bribe of a dinner out with just mom we got him back in chess playing order.


My little man is a perfectionist, and does not like to lose. He strives to be the best at everything, which will take him far some day, but makes for a very uptight seven year old at other times! After losing his first match, his heart was pounding a mile a minute. I hate to see him get so upset, but when the opposing team sat down, I knew we were going to be out played. It was painful to watch. All four of our players were picked off like flies!

To take the edge off, we went for a latte between matches. He and I both got some heavenly creation called a Teddy Bear. White Chocolate Caramel latte. I decided to un-diet this weekend! Good thing I can't afford to buy fancy coffee all the time, or I would be the biggest gainer! The coffee helped calm his nerves, (kind of like a Ritalin without the prescription) and he played with dignity and grace the rest of the day. He did lose again, but there were no tears, which to me was a victory. The two children that he did lose to were playing at the top table (meaning highest ranked kids) during the last round. His ending stats...2 wins 1 tie and 2 losses.

The rest of the weekend was spent at the hotel. There is an indoor pool and the kids swim until their eyeballs can't take it anymore. In addition, they just enjoy hanging out and DS'ing together. Us parents enjoy chatting, playing cards, and sharing stories. Squishy and the "weleeted picture" was a story that I was forced by others to repeat many times this weekend!





To finish off the weekend, we went to The Parlor in Jackson. Ricky didn't go because he had a birthday party to attend, but he only went after I PROMISED him a trip to The Parlor over spring break. Here are Noah and the girls with their BABY Dare to be Great sundae.... I've included a before and after picture. They were still smiling at the end, but even with four they didn't actually manage to finish it all!

God is good. All the time.







2 comments:

ilene said...

Sounds like a great weekend Megamom!!! The kids look like they are having a ball! Count me in on the peanut butter sundae over spring break... I'm smilin' just thinking about it!! :)

SpeechMom said...

Glad you had a good weekend and the tournament went well. Jared is now "playing" chess. Would love to have you and your chess players over for a tournament - provided we get to go to the parlor too!!