Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

Have you every heard of The Paper Kites? I haven't. I found them this week. I think the band is so delightful! They are a folk band out of Australia. What I love is that they have a lot of visuals within their music. Their albums include: Woodland, Young North and States.

The band was formed in 2009 by Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy and consists of Bentley, Lacy, Dave Powys, Josh Bentley and Sam Rasmussen. At the start they found their success online, through listeners spreading their songs and music videos.

Before the formation of The Paper Kites, the current members were close friends. In high school, Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy began writing and playing music together and continued to do so for a few years after high school. They gained some attention by playing in their home town of Melbourne, Australia. 

Source

St. Clarity

Bloom

Check out The Paper Kites website.
Like The Paper Kites on Facebook.
Follow The Paper Kites on Twitter.
Follow The Paper Kites on YouTube.

Jiu Jitsu Blocks

Mica's been doing really well in Jiu Jitsu. He continues to get colored stripes on his belt. It's different than karate. Jiu Jitsu mixes wrestling (ground fighting a sparring) with blocks, rolls, kicks and punches.

Sensei says mentions that they should try and make it easy on themselves. They do a lot of moves just learning how to step away from someone coming towards them.

Last week they practiced their arm blocks. Mica's getting so much better with this! Last year when he first started he was all over the place. His form didn't have follow through. Now I see new kids coming in being just like how Mica was. Mica's asked to come to the front to be a leader. It's amazing how much he's changed.

He Had a Date With the Ground

I got my first call ever from the nurse yesterday.

Evidently Isaak fell on the playground.

It's still unclear what Isaak did exactly to get this face damage. He says he hit the concrete. It's more of a rug burn though.

Aunt Terra called and said that she to got a call from the nurse's office at her kid's school. Cousin Elijah was spinning around a poll and had Nursemaids Elbow. She had to rush him off to the doctor to get his elbow popped back into place. They showed her how to pop it back if they need to.

I wish we were shown when Isaak had that.

Elijah saw Isaak's picture on Facebook (the one above). He said, "Oh owe Isaak" with a very concerned tone to his voice. He misses his cuz!

I started to tell Isaak what Elijah said and Isaak stops me and said, "Why are you even telling me this? I'm laying in bed. What you are telling me isn't even important Mom."

That totally sounds like his Father coming out. Daddy isn't know for being sensitive.

Swimming Lessons, Now What?

After Isaak's swimming lesson I was expecting to get a form that said Isaak had to stay in the same swimming lesson because he's not six yet. He's not able to move on. I heard that more than enough times. I really wish they went by level; not age. Instead she told me, "Isaak's gifted with swimming. I really think he should be on our swim team. He is starting to get bored sitting on the side, and waiting for things to happen."

They practiced water safety at their last lesson. That raft got tipped over and they had to swim out of that situation.

I don't mean to sound cocky, but I know Isaak's good at swimming. I've known that for awhile now. It bothered me that he couldn't move up. I know this, just like I know when he isn't good at something (like tumbling)!

She was trying to sell the swim team to me. The Mom in me was proud of Isaak. I want him to excel at something he's good at. Then the Mom in me was thinking, Wait a minute two practices a week, and a meet somewhere else in Nebraska once a month! Isn't that too much for a Kindergartener?

My personal philosophy is that kids do like to stay busy, but they also need time to be what they are KIDS. 

Of course the Y didn't have any reading material on their swim team. I wanted to know where all these meets are at? How long practices last? So on and so forth before I sign my child into something like that.

I left not knowing what I'd do. I just knew I'd have to decide soon because I'd have to cancel the swimming lessons I just signed up for prior to talking to Isaak's coach.

I  almost moved my kids to an entirely different swimming place. The one my sister takes her kids to. They have more options with that one. They have a website to view all about their program.

But the Y is walking distance from my house. They boys like the Y.

I found out that the Y has something that wasn't even recommended to us. Wave Makers is non competitive swim team. They are once a week. They work on perfecting their strokes. I wonder why they didn't tell me about this?

Another question in my mind, why wouldn't they let Isaak move up in swimming lesson? He couldn't move up until he is 6. I get that. BUT, swim team is for ages 6 and up as well.

Sometimes I just don't understand some rules!

It's a Girl, No it's a Boy!

The boy's swimming lessons were up this week.

Mica's coach gave me his evaluation. I didn't look at it too closely. Instead I took Isaak to go sign up for yet another session. They enjoy it. Why not?

I came back and started looking at Mica's evaluation and realized it kept saying, "She" and "Her". I know Mica can be used as a girl's name, but I didn't have a clue if the evaluation was about my kid, or someone else.

I asked Mica to come on over to me. I told him to go tell his coach that he is in fact a boy. With him there's no mistaking that.

After his lesson I showed her the evaluation. I said, "I'm not mad. I'm just making sure that you were in fact talking about my kid here." She was so embarrassed. She knew he is a boy. I said, "It's ok. I'm a teacher. Sometimes we just write fast, and think fast." That was the case.

WW: Second Week of School {Linky}

I wasn't worried about Mica starting second grade. I knew he'd love it. He has enjoyed it; regardless if many of his friends are in the other class. He's happy to be able to play with them at recess. I told him that when he's in the classroom, that's where his ears need to be turned on anyhow. Since he just turned eight, he got to take treats to school on the second day.

Isaak on the other hand started out wanting to be 4 again; he longed to go back to preschool. Isaak's now on week 2 of school. He's loving it. In fact when I went to pick the boys up on Thursday and Friday Isaak cried because he was A) Tired and B) Didn't want to leave to come home.

Funny things Isaak's said: 

Isaak said on the first day he had an awful day with a smile on his face. He dropped a penny he found at recess in a crack, and was unable to retrieve it. Then he dropped one of his chocolate covered berries on the ground at lunch time. But...he had all good things to say about class. He was snapping all evening to. Yet another sign of happiness. He's really into snapping once again. I say that because he learned how to snap last year. Snapping is making its comeback.

He said in the car, "Mom I knew I had EP today, but I didn't know I'd actually have to do it." I was thinking, What in the heck is EP? Mica piped in and said, "You mean P.E.!" Isaak said, "Ya that!" That gave Mica and I a good chuckle.

Isaak's bummed that art is only once a week. He said, "Mom I'm sad about that!" I said, "Ya that's too bad I like art to."

I asked Isaak if he has any friends yet? He said, "Ya, but I don't know their names. One has white teeth and the other one has gold teeth." My Kindergartener is profiling people by their teeth color.

Have kids started back at school in the area where you live?


Please take a moment to enter the Rock N Learn DVD Site Words DVD giveaway.

Rock N Learn DVD Review and Giveaway!

I love products that are fun, and help my kids learn! 

I had a wonderful chance to review Sight Words Level 3 by Rock N Learn.

Isaak just started Kindergarten, so the DVD is a little advanced for him. We already started working with him on site words. Even though this DVD is for first graders, Isaak was still zoned into the TV!  In fact Mica, who is in second grade joined in on watching it. It's just a matter of time before words come together for Isaak. I truly believe any reading is great for them.

They both didn't want me to hit the pause button for them to eat breakfast. It's 50 minutes of fun and learning. They thought it was super cool!

To be honest I didn't know what sight words were before Mica started school. I was taught with phonics. Once I saw Mica learning the words, I was sold. He learned to read so fast! It's all about visually learning words that are used every day. Repetition is key.

What I like about Rock N Learn is that they do have different levels of DVDs. They start out with Level 1 (pre-k) and move onto Level 2 (Kindergarten). I'm going to go buy Level 2. Isaak seemed to really enjoy the DVD they sent us.
 

The Words Covered on Sight Words Level 3: 

Some of the words from Level 1 and Level 2 are reviewed on this DVD. Then they get into new words.

just • stop • think • about • know • put • them • then
as • going • by • would • ask • walk • his • when • back • thank
open • door • close • over • river
once • an • old • has • again • if • could • fly • how • day • try
people • each • other • take • some • time
him • her • number • these • their • way • games
round • table • may • give • lives • after • write • many • birds
left • from • heart • of • every • had • part • any • were • more • work • which • why • gave

About the Rock N Learn Sight Level 3:

The DVD is filled with bright, colorful animation to help capture interest. It has humor, and catchy songs. There are different characters like zany armadillo Festus and his friends that make this video fun to watch. 

Find a store near you!

It's Giveaway Time! One of you is going to win your choice of DVD or CD. - US only. A $19.99 value. 

They were nice enough to send me a coupon code for you to get 25% off anything off their site! It is: JQ7711 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. You need to be over the age of 18 to enter. This giveaway is for the US only. I did get products to help with the review. The winner will need to respond back within 48 hours, or I will pick a new winner. 
 

Sometimes Parenting isn't Fun

Isaak is doing what Mica used to do. He's being a total pill in stores. I talk to him about store behavior. That works for maybe a minute or two. He's not a bad kid really! Something in stores makes him want Mica's attention. In order to get that attention, he tries to get it in a negative way. Isaak wants to rough house with Mica right in the middle of the isle. He laughs and kicks him. That doesn't work for me of course. I keep telling myself, This to shall pass. Mica once acted out running from me in the stores, and laughed about it. Now he walks very nicely by my side. That is unless Isaak has him going. I tell ya this is when just having one kid is much easier.

I remember when Mica was younger/in this stage; he ran off once, laughing, and hiding behind end caps. Isaak was in the front part of the cart. I ran up, grabbed Mica in the football hold, kept caring him like that, while pushing the cart. Mica yelled out, "Don't spank me Mom!" We had a book called Just Shopping With Mom. In that book the boy gets warned to have good behavior; otherwise he would get a spanking.

Source

My times have changed! I think when Mica said that; all eyes were on me. I'm sure some people thought, "Way to go Mom!", while others were thinking, "Spanking is awful!" I'm not one to judge how others punish their kids. We just don't spank at our house. We've found that other ways to punish works for us. Even at a young age of 2 Mica used to sit in the time out chair and discuss the negative thing he did, and how he shouldn't do it.

When possible we try and match the punishment with the crime. We've taken Mica's bedroom door off its hinges a few times for slamming his door. When Isaak has written on things, he's had to remove his scribble.

Yesterday I was at my wits end with Isaak. He was not listening AT all. I think the boy had more time-outs than he had in a whole month. After our errands, Isaak was allowed to go potty, eat his lunch then he was in his room for a LONG time. I was going to let him out, but he kept yelling, "Mom this is your fault. You are mean to me!" To me he wasn't owning up to his mishaps, and needed more time to think.

Daddy came home and said he had a surprise for Isaak. He would only give him the surprise if he cleaned up his room.

What he didn't know was that the surprise was hard labor for a little guy. We weren't letting him off the hook.

Isaak had to move some mulch and take care of some branches.

I'm hoping the next shopping trip is better. Crossing my fingers.