When & How?

So when and how did this little boy of mine

become old enough to do this?

Can't be that Lucas is old enough to play real contact sports. I know he takes Taekwondo and I have watched him get hit but that seems so controlled. I am not sure I am going to be able to watch him play football for his middle school.

These pictures were taken Monday on the first day of football practice in full gear. I can't believe that he has stuck it out with football, as it is really demanding. Since a week after school got out he has been doing voluntary conditioning 3 nights a week for an hour, followed by a week of football camp and now in August it is 3 hours every night and will continue that way even once school starts.