Monday, December 28, 2015
First Titans Game!
The Titans are terrible this year which means that tickets are cheap (in this case four free with a parking pass). When we saw that the weather would be unseasonably warm we thought it would be a great time to take both kids to their first game together (Tyler has been to a half once, but Katie had never been to a game). We lost, bad, but had a good time!
Christmas!
We've had a fantastic Christmas! We had family in town the weekend before Christmas and truly enjoyed hanging out with everyone and hosting the crew at our house for the first time ever. The kids, especially, had a blast with their cousins and played hard the entire weekend.
Christmas Eve was spent at So So's house with Lance's family and we enjoyed great company and a wonderful meal. The kids were already spoiled with awesome gifts before Santa even arrived, including these super cool Star Wars jackets their Uncle gave them!
Christmas morning the kids awoke at a relatively normal time (7:30) and discovered that Santa had visited. They were excited!
Katie loves music and has commandeered my iPad to listen to Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton on repeat too many times, so she was excited to get her own kindle (and I was too)!
They were also super excited about their shared gift - a WiiU. Tyler asked Santa to fix his old wii and Santa decided that he might just enjoy a new system (and the new games that can be played on it) even more.
This year the kids also bought gifts for each other. Katie was super excited to give Tyler the bean bag chair she picked out and he was grateful that she gave him what he calls his "gaming chair." His gift to her (a Blake Shelton autographed pillow case) has yet to arrive but he told her about it and she can't wait to get it. Marley is opposed to any hugging in the house :)!
The kids also got electric scooters for Christmas. Katie was anxious to ride while it had to charge for 12 hours and then the wet roads had to dry - but her first time on got a little scared and wasn't so sure that she wanted to try again - it went a little faster than she (or I) anticipated. In true Katie fashion, though, she kept trying and was soon making me nervous backing up as far as she could in the driveway to have a longer ride and then eventually riding circles around the driveway and forgoing the grass in lieu of brakes that I kinda liked for safety reasons ;)!
Tyler is still Mr. Cautious - but he did try it! He turned the throttle right before he got to the grass every time so he didn't really get the full experience, but he says he will try again today - I'm just glad that he is giving it a go since Katie will need a partner to ride with once she gets comfortable with it!
Katie was pretty insistent that her extra soft, extra big pillow she got from Santa was her favorite gift, but now that she is figuring out the scooter she isn't so sure!
Christmas Eve was spent at So So's house with Lance's family and we enjoyed great company and a wonderful meal. The kids were already spoiled with awesome gifts before Santa even arrived, including these super cool Star Wars jackets their Uncle gave them!
Christmas morning the kids awoke at a relatively normal time (7:30) and discovered that Santa had visited. They were excited!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Updates!
Well, I've been negligent again. I missed a couple of important posts!
We had a great Fall sports season. Katie finally found a team with more than 4 other players - and they did great! She is such a good little player that it was upsetting when her team dissolved, so we were very glad that she found a group that she enjoys playing with and that can give her the fundamentals practice that she wasn't getting when they had no coach. Playing games with no subs in 90 degree heat was brutal, too - so she had a lot more fun when she could catch her breath! Tyler's baseball team was awesome, too. They were undefeated throughout the entire season, and Tyler learned a ton. He really enjoyed actually playing "real" baseball, and he improved every game. They were the champions and Tyler got three game balls throughout the season!
This year's Halloween was our first in the new house. We had exactly 1 trick or treater visit the house. But K & T went around the neighborhood with a group of friends and had a blast. It was rainy all day, but cleared up just in time for us to load up on candy!
It's kind of hard to believe that the school year is halfway over! We got 2nd grade pictures back - and I think they turned out well for a change!
Thanksgiving was fantastic, too. We had Lance's family to the house on Thanksgiving day and then traveled to see my family over the weekend. It was truly great to see everyone and to enjoy delicious meals. Unfortunately, Katie picked up some bug over the holiday and went to school Monday, but hasn't been back this week. Crossing fingers that the fever is gone in the morning, but she is wilting right now so it may be a no go, again. Apparently a lengthy fever virus is going around - boo!
Basketball season for both kids starts this weekend, along with holiday parties and preparations galore - so I can't promise consistent posts, but I'll try!
We had a great Fall sports season. Katie finally found a team with more than 4 other players - and they did great! She is such a good little player that it was upsetting when her team dissolved, so we were very glad that she found a group that she enjoys playing with and that can give her the fundamentals practice that she wasn't getting when they had no coach. Playing games with no subs in 90 degree heat was brutal, too - so she had a lot more fun when she could catch her breath! Tyler's baseball team was awesome, too. They were undefeated throughout the entire season, and Tyler learned a ton. He really enjoyed actually playing "real" baseball, and he improved every game. They were the champions and Tyler got three game balls throughout the season!
You can't really see Tyler - but he is there, holding the light saber!
The kids and their cousin
Basketball season for both kids starts this weekend, along with holiday parties and preparations galore - so I can't promise consistent posts, but I'll try!
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Yuck, again...
We had an awesome short trip to the beach. The weather was pretty perfect - sunny and mild every day. Getting in to the water was a little less appealing since it was colder than ideal, but it was doable. Katie "adopted" her float/dog "Sandy" early in the trip and we couldn't keep her out of the water! Very few waves and not much current meant easy water play - and there were actually lots of kids there so they all had a ball making up games to play every day from morning until late in the day.
We had lots of good food, of course, and got to spend time together - which seems pretty rare right now since the kids are always playing with friends when home and not doing homework or sleeping! It is always fun to re-connect and to see the kids enjoying being with each other and us!
The "yuck" kind of started while we were at the beach. We got an email from Tyler's teacher advising us to check heads for lice. We did and didn't see anything - but apparently the sand and sunscreen hid them because once we got home I checked them again before leaving for school Tuesday morning and sure enough, Katie was infested. I kept her home and treated her hair while washing everything in the house and after two hours I thought they were gone. She went to work with me (and was a big helper when I needed to fill-in for a teacher break in the baby classroom) and then we went to get Tyler. He was scratching his head constantly and I feared that I either missed them or he had acquired them at school. I did a quick check of both of them and promptly went to the store to get three more kits (those things are pricey, but I decided I needed to do it too). The second treatment for Katie and first for Tyler was much easier but there were still a few nits - so gross. A friend of Katie's whose mom I suggested check her daughter also had it and they called the "lice doctor." She highly recommended them - but $175 an hour (!) wasn't worth it to me after having already spent multiple hours on my own. If we can't get rid of them, though, I may change my tune. She did send me their aftercare protocol and we will give that a go since it is at home stuff - olive oil overnight!
Despite that unwelcome start to the week I'm surprisingly still feeling pretty relaxed and content , probably thanks to the vacay. This weekend we are supposed to have a baseball tournament for Tyler (but it is also supposed to rain), two football games, two birthday parties, basketball evaluations, and probably other things I am forgetting, so we are back full-force busy! We did get Halloween costumes while at the beach. They are definitely not creative this year - they are Darth Vader and Princess Leia - but they are very excited. We will see how they handle the big hills in the new neighborhood - and I am anxious to find out how many visitors we will have!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Busy, Busy
It has been a very busy week around here! We have had our final soccer practice of the season, two baseball games at 7:00 at night, parent/teacher conferences and physicals for both kids already, and we still have two jam-packed days left and then have friends coming in town this weekend (yay!). I actually like all the activities - even if it stresses me out that my house is a disaster because we just haven't had time to tackle cleaning. Tyler's games are super fun this year as the boys are starting to learn how to really play baseball. Tyler got two really great hits last night, and scored a run! His team is really good, and probably a little too intense for their age, but it has been good for him since he is really enjoying playing this year, and gaining confidence. Katie continues to amaze me at soccer. She is playing "up" to be with kids in her grade, but that means that a lot of the other girls are 8 years old and some are even in third grade. If she plays according to her age, though, she is with mostly first graders who are six years old. So, she is the youngest and smallest, but she is feisty and fast and is often the MVP on the field. Watching her is really fun because she is super competitive, and has a lot of natural talent and is really in her element when she's playing. Her new team (her other one dissolved thank goodness) - is great. They are going to try to stay together in the next seasons (which is what the other teams do and why she has had trouble finding a team) and that's exciting because it is an awesome group of girls.
At our parent/teacher conferences Katie's teacher referenced how much energy she has and how she always seems to be on the go. That has been mentioned to us by quite a few people, but I don't really notice because that is just Katie, and had never put two and two together that it likely explains why soccer is such a good outlet for her! It was great to talk to their teachers since we still have some lingering doubt that we did the right thing by not having them repeat 1st grade at the new school. Both teachers referenced how young they are, but said they are both doing great socially and academically. Katie's teacher said she is a class leader and mentioned that she definitely does not lack confidence (haha). She still needs to work on her handwriting (just rushes through it and is illegible a lot of the time), but scored above average in math and reading and is doing really well.
We were anxious to hear how Tyler is doing because he has always been the one that has a little more trouble making friends and fitting in, and he is not the "model student" that Katie tries to be. His teacher said that he draws a little too much, but acknowledged that it is likely because he is bored and that she is okay with it if he stops when she asks him to. Tyler scored 99% in his assessments (highest possible), and they asked to let him participate in gifted testing. We had been having concerns that he may have ADD/ADHD, and the teacher said that she thinks it is more likely related to not being challenged in class, so we agreed to the testing. We probably won't do much different regardless of what the testing shows since he is already being pulled out for math and reading once a week to work with the gifted counselor, but it may be good to know if it help explains his "behavior" issues (talking too much, not staying on task) for other teachers down the road. He really enjoys the time he spends in small group with the advanced coach so I don't think it would hurt to have some enhanced learning opportunities, but I also think he needs to learn to adapt to his classroom and peers. He has already surpassed what I know in math (especially math that is taught the common core way, which confuses me endlessly), and when he is asked to do math worksheets he just seems to know the answers and writes it down without all of the steps they want to see. Maybe with these advanced classes he will have an opportunity to challenge himself with math, but also realize that while in his regular class he has to show all of the steps and do what the teacher is asking everyone else to do - hopefully!
They also got a good report for their annual check-up. They each got flu shots, but were happy to hear that no other shots have to be given until they are 10. Tyler is exactly an inch taller than Katie, and two pounds heavier. Tyler is in about the 20th percentile for height and weight and little Katie is 5th percentile for weight and 10th for height. They are both growing well, though and are on track. Tyler gained 4 pounds and 3 inches in the last year - which explains why his pants are too short, but not why the waists on all the pants that are the right length are still way too big! They both had great vision and hearing, too and we had the doctor look at a couple of moles that have popped up on Tyler and he said all looks good - so that's good news! Hopefully we avoid the pediatrician's office this winter (which seems to be fast approaching), and everyone stays healthy.
At our parent/teacher conferences Katie's teacher referenced how much energy she has and how she always seems to be on the go. That has been mentioned to us by quite a few people, but I don't really notice because that is just Katie, and had never put two and two together that it likely explains why soccer is such a good outlet for her! It was great to talk to their teachers since we still have some lingering doubt that we did the right thing by not having them repeat 1st grade at the new school. Both teachers referenced how young they are, but said they are both doing great socially and academically. Katie's teacher said she is a class leader and mentioned that she definitely does not lack confidence (haha). She still needs to work on her handwriting (just rushes through it and is illegible a lot of the time), but scored above average in math and reading and is doing really well.
We were anxious to hear how Tyler is doing because he has always been the one that has a little more trouble making friends and fitting in, and he is not the "model student" that Katie tries to be. His teacher said that he draws a little too much, but acknowledged that it is likely because he is bored and that she is okay with it if he stops when she asks him to. Tyler scored 99% in his assessments (highest possible), and they asked to let him participate in gifted testing. We had been having concerns that he may have ADD/ADHD, and the teacher said that she thinks it is more likely related to not being challenged in class, so we agreed to the testing. We probably won't do much different regardless of what the testing shows since he is already being pulled out for math and reading once a week to work with the gifted counselor, but it may be good to know if it help explains his "behavior" issues (talking too much, not staying on task) for other teachers down the road. He really enjoys the time he spends in small group with the advanced coach so I don't think it would hurt to have some enhanced learning opportunities, but I also think he needs to learn to adapt to his classroom and peers. He has already surpassed what I know in math (especially math that is taught the common core way, which confuses me endlessly), and when he is asked to do math worksheets he just seems to know the answers and writes it down without all of the steps they want to see. Maybe with these advanced classes he will have an opportunity to challenge himself with math, but also realize that while in his regular class he has to show all of the steps and do what the teacher is asking everyone else to do - hopefully!
They also got a good report for their annual check-up. They each got flu shots, but were happy to hear that no other shots have to be given until they are 10. Tyler is exactly an inch taller than Katie, and two pounds heavier. Tyler is in about the 20th percentile for height and weight and little Katie is 5th percentile for weight and 10th for height. They are both growing well, though and are on track. Tyler gained 4 pounds and 3 inches in the last year - which explains why his pants are too short, but not why the waists on all the pants that are the right length are still way too big! They both had great vision and hearing, too and we had the doctor look at a couple of moles that have popped up on Tyler and he said all looks good - so that's good news! Hopefully we avoid the pediatrician's office this winter (which seems to be fast approaching), and everyone stays healthy.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Umm, maybe not...
When we bought our house I was super excited about it being in the neighborhood and school zone that we wanted, with a gorgeous view to be enjoyed in the outdoor living space that we longed for, with no stairs to climb (if I don't want) every day, and yes, room for the kids to play now and when they are older (basement). I do love that the kids are able to have neighborhood friends over, and play until it gets dark in our yard and those of their friends. I was way too idealistic, though, about what that playtime would look like! I envisioned basketball games and legos, video games and putting contests (and that happens), but did not realize that I would also be thrust into the role of "mean mom" with other people's kids!
Two weekends ago we had a stray cat hanging around. Lance is very allergic, and did not want anyone encouraging the cat to stay, mostly because Marley hates cats and is too old to protect herself, but also because Lance isn't a big fan either. One of Tyler's friends has a younger sister who sometimes plays with Katie. She was over at the house and repeatedly picked up the cat. I told her, also repeatedly, not to pick up the cat and eventually told her that she would have to go home if she wouldn't listen. Well, about ten minutes later the two boys come running into the house acting as if they are looking for something. I stop them and ask what they are searching for and they sheepishly tell me that they thing the "cat got in the house." I yell down to the girls thinking they are in the basement and out walks the little sister from Katie's bedroom (where she is without Katie) with the cat in her arms. Lance and I immediately begin to yell to her to go back in and close the door because Marley saw the cat right at that moment. Marley runs up to her, the little girl drops the cat who immediately starts clawing at Marley and running. Lance manages to grab Marley - I grab the cat and take it outside, and firmly tell the little girl that the cat is not allowed in the house and that she is not to pick it up again.
We had a few other nuisances - silly string and something goopy all over the basement carpet and outside, spilled drinks and ants, chalk paint created from water that was all over our front walkway, stairs and anything that anyone touched (doors, windows, furniture), and more doors slammed than you would think possible. So, this weekend, I told my kids ahead of time that nobody would be allowed upstairs but that everyone was welcome to play outside and downstairs. We had, at one point, seven children (four boys and three girls), running around like banshees with me reminding some to go downstairs, and others not to lock the girls in the closet or swing golf clubs and baseball bats at people's heads. It was complete chaos, and when the little girl of cat debacle fame came out of the upstairs bathroom right as I walked back in from having to yell at someone and threw down her used toilet paper in my kitchen, complained of being hungry and then inexplicably started crying because she fell in the garage and was hurt (I don't doubt that she fell, but it wasn't just then) - I had to send her home. I asked her brother to take her to his mom, and he came back to get her shoes and said he wasn't allowed to stay without his sister. Then their mom invited the kids over for chocolate chip cookies but I wouldn't let them go because they had friends at our house that they couldn't leave who weren't invited and everyone was grumpy so it became time for everyone to leave. I probably over-reacted, but I was definitely at my wits end!
It's a shame that the Sunday chaos has clouded what was otherwise an awesome neighborhood friends weekend. Friday night they were back and forth between a neighbors house having dance parties, and playing basketball and golf and soccer and tennis, and went to bed exhausted after a fun and active evening. Saturday a friend was camping in their backyard and invited the kids over for hot dogs and marshmallow roasting, and they played in the tent some and then headed home when it started raining in earnest. It was fun, and the kids really love having the independence to play without being watched, and to go between houses and run around and just be kids. I love it, too, but I don't love being a rules enforcer and feeling like kids are destroying my house at every turn. Hopefully we can find a good balance - they learn to understand that they need to stay downstairs (not much to ruin down there) or outside, my kids learn what pushes my buttons (being wild and out of control, mostly) and can tell their friends when they are crossing the line - and maybe I will get up the nerve to tell my neighbor that I just don't think her little girl (she is 5) is quite ready for neighborhood playtime :)!
Two weekends ago we had a stray cat hanging around. Lance is very allergic, and did not want anyone encouraging the cat to stay, mostly because Marley hates cats and is too old to protect herself, but also because Lance isn't a big fan either. One of Tyler's friends has a younger sister who sometimes plays with Katie. She was over at the house and repeatedly picked up the cat. I told her, also repeatedly, not to pick up the cat and eventually told her that she would have to go home if she wouldn't listen. Well, about ten minutes later the two boys come running into the house acting as if they are looking for something. I stop them and ask what they are searching for and they sheepishly tell me that they thing the "cat got in the house." I yell down to the girls thinking they are in the basement and out walks the little sister from Katie's bedroom (where she is without Katie) with the cat in her arms. Lance and I immediately begin to yell to her to go back in and close the door because Marley saw the cat right at that moment. Marley runs up to her, the little girl drops the cat who immediately starts clawing at Marley and running. Lance manages to grab Marley - I grab the cat and take it outside, and firmly tell the little girl that the cat is not allowed in the house and that she is not to pick it up again.
We had a few other nuisances - silly string and something goopy all over the basement carpet and outside, spilled drinks and ants, chalk paint created from water that was all over our front walkway, stairs and anything that anyone touched (doors, windows, furniture), and more doors slammed than you would think possible. So, this weekend, I told my kids ahead of time that nobody would be allowed upstairs but that everyone was welcome to play outside and downstairs. We had, at one point, seven children (four boys and three girls), running around like banshees with me reminding some to go downstairs, and others not to lock the girls in the closet or swing golf clubs and baseball bats at people's heads. It was complete chaos, and when the little girl of cat debacle fame came out of the upstairs bathroom right as I walked back in from having to yell at someone and threw down her used toilet paper in my kitchen, complained of being hungry and then inexplicably started crying because she fell in the garage and was hurt (I don't doubt that she fell, but it wasn't just then) - I had to send her home. I asked her brother to take her to his mom, and he came back to get her shoes and said he wasn't allowed to stay without his sister. Then their mom invited the kids over for chocolate chip cookies but I wouldn't let them go because they had friends at our house that they couldn't leave who weren't invited and everyone was grumpy so it became time for everyone to leave. I probably over-reacted, but I was definitely at my wits end!
It's a shame that the Sunday chaos has clouded what was otherwise an awesome neighborhood friends weekend. Friday night they were back and forth between a neighbors house having dance parties, and playing basketball and golf and soccer and tennis, and went to bed exhausted after a fun and active evening. Saturday a friend was camping in their backyard and invited the kids over for hot dogs and marshmallow roasting, and they played in the tent some and then headed home when it started raining in earnest. It was fun, and the kids really love having the independence to play without being watched, and to go between houses and run around and just be kids. I love it, too, but I don't love being a rules enforcer and feeling like kids are destroying my house at every turn. Hopefully we can find a good balance - they learn to understand that they need to stay downstairs (not much to ruin down there) or outside, my kids learn what pushes my buttons (being wild and out of control, mostly) and can tell their friends when they are crossing the line - and maybe I will get up the nerve to tell my neighbor that I just don't think her little girl (she is 5) is quite ready for neighborhood playtime :)!
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
The things that are important
We are at the point in the school year where we need more time in each day! I still haven't gotten the kids to do thank you cards from their birthday party - I am ashamed, but we will get them out soon (minus the personalized thank you for the gift received since Tyler puked on the list). I feel like my brain is constantly running through things we need to do, places we need to be, and arrangements that need to be made (sitters, school lunch payments, etc.), and seemingly every day it is bedtime for the kiddos before I know it (and sometimes before I have even gotten around to preparing dinner or demanding that the kids take baths).
Yesterday, though, I was reminded repeatedly to take a moment to appreciate our fun and love-filled busy lives. I met Lance for lunch and we talked about it being exactly one year from when Ray-Ray had the stroke. Tyler and Lance have both been crying and sad, but we try to tell the kids and remember ourselves, to be grateful for the time we had and for each day that we have with all of our family now. Then, I was rushing around at work trying to leave a bit early so I could pick up the kids and get them home and fed before Tyler's baseball game (started at 7:00 - was supposed to be there at 6:30) and was mentally congratulating myself on actually making good time and being on the ball for a change, when a pretty bad accident happened right in front of me. A car from the other two lanes of traffic shot across four lanes and t-boned the car in front of me going the other direction. It was determined later that the car that caused the accident clipped the bumper of another vehicle turning into the gas station which catapulted him across - but from my viewpoint (and the other witnesses and driver who was hit) it looked like he slammed on the gas and lost control! I got out of my car and ran to the driver who was hit (an off-duty fireman stopped to help the guy in the other vehicle who was very seriously injured), and then called 911 and was asked by the fireman to relay information about the condition of the man in the car that hit the driver in front of me. The driver of the car that was hit was shaken up and had some cuts and scrapes (and his glasses flew off into the middle of the road which I just happened to find) - but did not have serious injuries and climbed out of his passenger seat on his own accord. I was blocked in by emergency vehicles and thought I needed to stay as a witness to the accident (although the police officer didn't ask any questions of me), so I was suddenly in an unexpected time crunch. The schedule delay, though, was definitely put into perspective when I recognized that a difference in just a few seconds could have meant I was the one hit (there was no time to react and the driver in front of me could have done nothing to avoid the accident), or I could have walked up to a much more serious situation with the other driver (I do think the driver who was injured will be okay - he just definitely needed an ambulance ASAP). It impressed upon me that bad things can happen in seconds, and you never know when your life will change drastically.
So, instead of being stressed about being late (which we were), or that the kids had not eaten anything (unless pop-tarts and icees after the game count) - we enjoyed a beautiful evening at the ball park - watching Tyler learn to play and love baseball, spending time as a family, and yes, being grateful that we all have each other.
Yesterday, though, I was reminded repeatedly to take a moment to appreciate our fun and love-filled busy lives. I met Lance for lunch and we talked about it being exactly one year from when Ray-Ray had the stroke. Tyler and Lance have both been crying and sad, but we try to tell the kids and remember ourselves, to be grateful for the time we had and for each day that we have with all of our family now. Then, I was rushing around at work trying to leave a bit early so I could pick up the kids and get them home and fed before Tyler's baseball game (started at 7:00 - was supposed to be there at 6:30) and was mentally congratulating myself on actually making good time and being on the ball for a change, when a pretty bad accident happened right in front of me. A car from the other two lanes of traffic shot across four lanes and t-boned the car in front of me going the other direction. It was determined later that the car that caused the accident clipped the bumper of another vehicle turning into the gas station which catapulted him across - but from my viewpoint (and the other witnesses and driver who was hit) it looked like he slammed on the gas and lost control! I got out of my car and ran to the driver who was hit (an off-duty fireman stopped to help the guy in the other vehicle who was very seriously injured), and then called 911 and was asked by the fireman to relay information about the condition of the man in the car that hit the driver in front of me. The driver of the car that was hit was shaken up and had some cuts and scrapes (and his glasses flew off into the middle of the road which I just happened to find) - but did not have serious injuries and climbed out of his passenger seat on his own accord. I was blocked in by emergency vehicles and thought I needed to stay as a witness to the accident (although the police officer didn't ask any questions of me), so I was suddenly in an unexpected time crunch. The schedule delay, though, was definitely put into perspective when I recognized that a difference in just a few seconds could have meant I was the one hit (there was no time to react and the driver in front of me could have done nothing to avoid the accident), or I could have walked up to a much more serious situation with the other driver (I do think the driver who was injured will be okay - he just definitely needed an ambulance ASAP). It impressed upon me that bad things can happen in seconds, and you never know when your life will change drastically.
So, instead of being stressed about being late (which we were), or that the kids had not eaten anything (unless pop-tarts and icees after the game count) - we enjoyed a beautiful evening at the ball park - watching Tyler learn to play and love baseball, spending time as a family, and yes, being grateful that we all have each other.
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