Rain

Last night Mica had jujitsu at the Y.

While we were there it started down pouring rain for a good 20 to 30 minutes. As soon as the rain started all the kids in his class stopped what they were doing, and stood by the windows to stare at the rain. It was as if they never saw rain before. One kid said, "Sensei we're not in a drought anymore!" All the adults that were in the room giggled. Including me. Sensei said, "We're going to need a lot more rain to pull us out of a drought."

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

Many of my posts lately I've written last week and scheduled to post for this week. I knew I'd be busy this week with school starting. I have a moment to post, so I am.

This last weekend we were gone a lot. We came home after a busy afternoon. Mica was whining about how he didn't get to do all he wanted to do. I just took one look at him and said, "Be thankful for what you do have. Go lay down for an hour while I make dinner. I'm tired of listening to someone being ungrateful." He didn't argue much after that. Soon Mica fell asleep.

Isaak on the other hand was playing nicely with Duplos. Isaak and my conversation got interesting.

I mentioned to Isaak, "Hey bud you should try and go potty. I haven't heard you go in awhile." 

He said, "I already went." 

I said, "I didn't hear you go." 

Then I thought maybe I missed something when I was talking with Mica. I told Isaak, "If you have an accident, you are taking care of it." He rarely has accidents, but sometimes he's stubborn and lazy.

15 minutes after I talked with Isaak, I heard him run in the bathroom and go potty. He rummaged around his room for a bit; came out wearing entirely different shorts. I said, "So did you have an accident?"

Isaak said, "No."

I said, "Well you are wearing different shorts."

He said, "No I'm not."

I said, "Yes you are. I didn't set the shorts you are wearing out this morning."

He said, "Ya you did."

It finally came out that he had an accident. He was like, "Ok, how did you know?"

I said, "Isaak those are not the shorts I set out for you this morning. I know because you weren't wearing those shorts 10 minutes ago."

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire. I have to say that I giggled inside because his shorts didn't match his shirt at all. He was trying to cover up something that I clearly could see through.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park

This last weekend we went to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park for a family reunion.

We went there last year just for a Staycation. It was fun to compare pictures of how the boys have grown. Mostly they are the same. Isaak's grown taller and he lost his floppy hair. Mica's grown taller and learned a lot from Kindergarten to first grade.

Here's Isaak 1 year ago when he was 3:

Here's Isaak now {no more floppy hair}:

Here's Mica last year when he was almost 6.

 

Can you believe Mica picked the same horse? Here's Mica now:

What was really sad was comparing the Platte River from last year to this year! These are pictures from the Walter Scott Jr. Observation Tower. It stands 70 feet in the air.

Here's my view from the tower last year; when we had too much rain:

Here's my view from the tower this year; we need rain in the worst way:

WW: "Noculars" {Linky}

I've been trying to find uses for toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. A few toilet paper rolls were laying around the house. Isaak picked them up and decided to make them his, "Noculars" otherwise known as "Binoculars".

You Can Follow Me Here:

I just joined Pinterest. If you follow me, I'll follow back. :)

I Wish the Y Had Riding Bike Lessons

Mica's very apprehensive to ride a bike. He's so close and just won't do it. He'll get going, it looks like he'll take off, but he stops short of riding.

We try and be encouraging. He doesn't act like he wants to ride. It's almost like a chore to him.

Isaak has a bike to. Here he is riding on a trike. He chose to take it up to the school. Inside I'm thinking, "Come on just ride a bike." At least he can pedal this year.

In their defense we have a horrible street for riding. We have no sidewalks and it's a somewhat busy street. We've been working on swimming and Jujitsu. It's hard for kids and adults to focus on too much at once.

Blah Blah Blah

I couldn't help myself, I ordered these 2 shirts for the boys last night:

The blue one is for Isaak and the grey one is for Mica. Seriously it is constant talking at our house. Sometimes it sounds just like what the t-shirts say.

Hank Player Campus Store is having a 40% off sale right now. Just type in FAMILY40 at the check out. Make sure if you do this that it is all caps. I made the mistake of typing family40 and it didn't work. Also the code expires on the 7th. If you want something, you better go get it. They have t-shirts for babies, children and adults.

*This is not a review. I got nothing for posting this. It's just information I wanted to pass along.

Flop

Mica's back float was great in swimming lessons today.

When it came time to dive, he kept flopping. It looked painful.

He's been telling us that his last coach said that he needed to breathe under water when he swam freestyle. Daddy and I both told him that he must of misunderstood his coach. I explained that your head stays underwater until you have to breathe; at that time you tilt your head to the side to breath. I demonstrated. I mentioned that you tilt your head to one side to breathe, then to the other when it's time to take another breath. I watched him swim the freestyle today. What does he do? He kept his head out of the water the whole time, tilting his head back and forth constantly to breathe. He totally misunderstood me. It was funny to watch. I knew what he was trying to do. He swam better before I talked to him about tilting his head to breathe.

Isaak cried almost the entire time last week. It was all because he didn't know his coach. He was crying out my name. I kept thinking, Do I go over there, or do I just ignore that my son is interrupting  the entire lesson? I went to stand up and the lifeguard pointed for me to sit down. She was his coach previously. I know Isaak and all the rest of the kids would do better if they had the same coach. I also know that's impossible.

I had two options sympathize with Isaak (baby him), or be the strict mom (give him a wake up call). I chose to be the strict mom. Isaak cries to get out of things. I always hated hearing kids whine; now I have a kid that whines! I told him after lessons last week in a firm voice, "Listen Isaak you can not cry the whole lesson! Other kids are trying to pay attention to the teacher (he calls them "teachers," when they are really coaches.) They can not pay attention when you are crying the whole time. Mommy is in the room, I'm not going to leave you. Your teacher is nice. You can't learn when you are fussing like a baby. You are a big boy!" Possibly I came off harsh, but I think he needed to hear that. Today I gave Isaak an ultimatum, "If you cry, you will not get school supplies at the store today." Again harsh. Guess what? He didn't cry at all.

He swam the length of the pool twice with no floater devices. All the other kids needed them.

Then the little punk a monk wouldn't go in the locker room until he got to say, "Goodbye" to his teacher (coach). It turns out he likes her after all.

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. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

This week I thought I'd secretly let Daddy pick. He didn't know he was picking a song for this week. I just heard him say, "I downloaded this band that I really like. It reminds me of Bjork." I of course love Bjork. She is different and so is this band. This band reminds me of the band Sugar Cubes before Bjork became a solo artist. The band is called Rubblebucket. They are a little out there, I'm a little out there, therefore I like out there things.

Come Out of a Lady

Rubblebucket came out of Brooklyn, has been on Jimmy Kimmel and is on tour throughout the US now.

School Starts For Me Next Week

I may be a little, or a lot busy next week. School starts. I'm a college art instructor for those that don't know. What I'm hoping for: I hope students get financial aid that need it, and students get our art supply package. Those two things are the biggest needs. After those two things fall in place, then everything else will work out.

I'm confident that anyone who is not good with hands on art, can and will be taught. Sure they may not get A's, but if they try, they will learn. It's amazing to see some of the students really grow. A lot of them do.

Financial aid is getting harder to get these days. Too many people in the past were not good about paying off their loans. They've really tightened up on who gets access to loans. Many wait to the last minute. If their parent's credit is bad, they are denied loans until they get a different co-signer.

Every year I run into a handful of students that have no supplies, and can't afford to get supplies. In my opinion it's pretty important to have means to get these things to do the projects. I try and help when I can. I have a stash of supplies people have left behind to lend to people who come with nothing. I don't just hand this stuff over for good. I might run into another student that needs help at a later date. I can't imagine going to school and not being prepared for it. I have mixed feelings about lending stuff out. Does it show favoritism? Is it just me being a do gooder to people that really need it? The only reason I bring this up is because we've been talked to time and time again about not showing favoritism. It can be such a sticky subject in a teaching atmosphere.

Mica starts first grade in the middle of August. Isaak starts preschool at the beginning of September. I'm taking both boys to get school supplies this weekend. Isaak barely needs anything, but I'll let him pick somethings out. I want him to feel excited about school as well.

Kung Fu Panda Party in the Works

My son Mica wants a Kung Fu Panda party. I created invites to it last night. He loves the out doors, so the party will be outside; where kids can run freely.

This is the image I based it off of:

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A few weeks ago we met up in a park and Mica saw these poles sicking out of the ground. He plopped up on them and pulled a Karate Kid. Except he had his tongue hanging out. :P

That's part of what gave me the idea to create his invites that way.

Now I just need to have the party. 10 first graders and a 4 year old brother seemed a little much to me. Daddy works on the weekends. I decided to call for back-up. My niece that's in high school will be helping me on this one!

I got Panda treats at the Asian Market for party favors. Once I know who's coming I'll get Asian fans or coin purses for the girls and Karate Kid Spinning drums for the boys.

I thought I'd make a water balloon pinata.

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Should I make PBJ Sushi Rolls or Rice Crispy Sushi Rolls? We're having cake to. I'll set out carrots and a fruit of some kind to. It's not for a meal, so I don't need a lot.

I thought it would be so funny if I could find fu manchu mustaches for all the kids to take pictures of them. I don't know if that's going to happen though.

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