Despite our abundance of snow during the time in Japan, we did not really get to show him the art/game of snowball tossing. Being from Texas, not only do I have no idea what I am talking about, I am also convinced I know nearly all there is to know: make snowball, throw ...
Over the weekend we got a bit of snow overnight. The temperatures traveled a bit above the freezing point and the sun would occasionally shine through. After some snow mushing, then snow biking, he and I decided to make a few snowballs in the back yard as that is where the remaining snow was still mostly frozen. He immediately knew what to do: attack me.
The battle began.
Now he may have won the first few strikes, as ... well ... he is very polite and asks, "snowball pease?" so as I made and stacked them he would begin his onslaught. I should also mention that he had a superior tactical advantage, being that he was above me on the deck and behind the slats/railing.
So I would retreat after providing a supply of ammo ... At times I would gently toss a volley, at times I would test my arm and have it explode on the wood slats near him - this was very desirable and much laughter could be heard. As the exchange continued he began to get eerily accurate. Obviously when I was providing more ammo he would get direct hits, as I retreated I was getting hit more consistently, to the point where when I stopped to return fire about eight feet from the deck, I was hit in the chest.
We had successfully made enough racket to have Mimi appear at the door (a sliding glass door leading onto the deck). Stone figured that he had a new target and thus he attacked the glass. As I went around to come inside to grab him and get him in a bath he took another great shot as Mimi opened the door a snowball made it through and glanced off of her and smashed into the kitchen! Success! He was very pleased.
Today after gym time, we remained outside. After some snow mushing and bike riding he realized the piles of snow from some of the shoveling made great snowballs .. and the second battle began.
This time we were on even ground, so after I made a few and retreated, he started getting the process of making his own. After a few exchanges and general good times, he asked for more supply. I provided, turned, stopped and turned to retur-n-fi ... fire ... hit directly in the face.
You might have had the opportunity to hear a child (or anyone in their life for that matter) laugh uncontrollably with good volume and seemingly unashamed to share their joy with the planet - this was one of those times.
I could not deny the addictive power of the laugh, so then we escalated to snowballs: 2.0. I would create something the size of his head and toss it against a tree, then something the size of my head and hit a tree: the reward being laughter that gets the dogs barking from inside their homes across the street.
He would try to pick up the snowcanonballs and attack me - I let one partially hit and knock me over then rolling over in the snow - goldmine of pure joy.
Snow riding images.
J
