The Hillmans at Play.

Cameron played a little rugby in Tanzania. He's never been one for team sports: a little soccer when he was in kindergarden, a little baseball, but his heart was never really into it. He's a great athlete when it comes to individual non-ball activities--hiking, skiing, etc. but not much for team sports. We were surprised when he announced that he was going to play rugby this fall instead of auditioning for the play. A decent role in the play was a pretty sure thing--a role on a team sport, not so much.

We are so proud of him! He plays on a 2nd string JV team, which is where a kid playing team sports for the first time really should be. He has attended every practice, run 3 miles a week on his own, and sat through a weekend rugby tourney in his team suit (as in tie and coat) without playing. We were disappointed that the games yesterday were cancelled due to the terrible air quality (at a certain level all outdoor aerobic activities have to be cancelled) and he didn't have a chance to play. It's another one of those things that make you proud of your child--willing to take a risk to try something new at a period of time in his life that would probably considered relatively "late" sports-wise. We pray that he has inherited his father's speed and agility--he certainly has inherited his father's build, and he's noticeably slighter than many of the other players.

Really, rugby is a fantastic game to watch. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it. Like hockey, there's TONS of action--hits, tackles, pileups. Like hockey, the clock almost never stops. People assume that it's wild and brutal, but really it's not. Unlike American football, the focus is not on the tackling and hitting. It's much more fun to watch, I think, than football. It's no wonder that it's so popular around the world.

Sometimes I think America needs to get up and get interested in other sports that are (gasp) not football and basketball and baseball. Except for cricket. There's just no explaining that game.

Our elementary school has the BEST phy. ed. program. Brooke and Tim run the most dyanamic and amazing programs--kids clamor to be a part of them. One of the most popular is Jedi Jugglers--kids progress through juggling balls, rings, batons (including fire batons) to a spot on the Jedi Council of jugglers and a big all school show in the spring.

The other very popular event is Great Wall Runners. Kids show up twice a week after school to run laps. Prizes are awarded at the end for kids who reach marathon status (50 km) and ultramarathon status (70 km). Kids run on their own as well and have the opportunity to rack up a few kms during recess.

Ava was nervous about commiting but she's gone once a week all fall, running 6-7 laps each time. It must have paid off, because that hard work (and natural talent) earned her a medal. Look closely--it's GOLD. Ava was the first girl to cross the finish line in her 2K race. Good on ya, Ava!


Wild Noah is off to a great year. Wild Noah is NOT a risk-taker. Yes, I know I can record the events of his life in the scars on his body (boils, tree falls, barbed wire) but he prefers a life that is orderly and predictable and risk-free. Last year he had a hard time settling in--when he made friends, on e of his closest friends was an outstanding athlete and juggler, his place well-fixed at school. Noah definitely saw his place as behind him. When Joe moved to Guam over the summer, Noah saw the opportunity to move into his "spot". He's been running about 10 miles a week the last month. That amount of exercise, plus a very finicky eater, makes for a very skinny kid.

It also makes for a very fast kid. He definitely has his father's genes for speed! He won 2nd place in the 5th grade boys' race, running 4K.


Ho Sun, Ian, Jonathon, and Noah are all in 5th grade and all live next door to each other. They all also played basketball together and have a pretty good time hanging out.

Noah has been very passionate about soccer. This year, he and Ian started playing Little League World Series on Wii and are now lugging bats and gloves everywhere they go. All of my kids have always looked for a "best" friend and Noah has been lucky enough to find one wherever he's lived.